最新美国发明专利
Document Document Title
US08913442B2 Circuit for sensing MLC flash memory
A circuit for sensing a multi-level cell (MLC) flash memory is disclosed. The circuit comprises a plurality of first decoding units, a second decoding unit and a data latch. Each of the first decoding units provides a timing information and includes a controlled transistor to allow a current to pass therethrough, and a capacitor to be charged by the current or to discharge through the controlled transistor. The second decoding unit provides a latch signal and includes a controlled transistor to allow a current to pass therethrough, the magnitude of the current being associated with data in an MLC, and a capacitor to be charged by the current or to discharge through the controlled transistor. The data latch, in response to the timing information from each of the first decoding units and the latch signal from the second decoding unit, determines the data in the MLC.
US08913440B2 Tracking mechanisms
A tracking edge of a tracking signal is activated. A buffer is turned off and a latching circuit is turned on, based on the tracking edge of the tracking signal. A buffer output of the buffer is coupled to a latch output of the latching circuit at a node. The buffer receives a data line of a memory macro.
US08913439B2 Memory device and corresponding reading method
An electrically erasable and programmable non-volatile memory device includes memory cells arranged in rows and columns, and each column of memory cells is associated with a respective local bit line. The local bit lines are divided into packets of local bit lines, each packet of local bit lines associated with a respective main bit line. Each local bit line is selectively couplable to the respective main bit line by a corresponding selector. Each local bit line is selectively couplable to a reference terminal, for receiving a reference voltage, by a corresponding discharge selector. Each discharge selector is active when the memory device is in a standby state. The non-volatile memory device further includes biasing circuitry to bias each main bit line to a pre-charge voltage during operation, and reading circuitry to select and access a group of memory cells during reading operations.
US08913437B2 Inter-cell interference cancellation
A method includes selecting a first memory cell located along a first bit line and a first word line of a memory array. The method further includes selecting a second memory cell located along (i) the first word line, (ii) a second word line that is adjacent to the first word line, or (iii) a second bit line that is adjacent to the first bit line. A location of the second memory cell is selected based on a predetermined sequence of programming the memory cells. The method further includes writing data in the first memory cell, subsequently writing data in the second memory cell, and reading the first memory cell and the second memory cell. The method further includes detecting one or more states of the second memory causing interference to the first memory cell.
US08913433B2 Nonvolatile memory devices, read methods thereof and memory systems including the nonvolatile memory devices
Reading methods of nonvolatile memory devices including a substrate and a plurality of memory cells which are stacked in a direction intersecting the substrate. The reading methods apply a bit line voltage to a plurality of bit lines and apply a first string selection line voltage to at least one selected string selection line. The reading methods apply a second string selection line voltage to at least one unselected string selection line and apply a read voltage to a plurality of word lines. The reading methods apply a first ground selection line voltage to at least one selected ground selection line and apply a second ground selection line voltage to at least one unselected ground selection line.
US08913431B1 Pseudo block operation mode in 3D NAND
A 3D NAND stacked non-volatile memory device, comprising: a string comprising a plurality of non-volatile storage elements, the string comprises a channel and extends vertically through layers of the 3D stacked non-volatile memory device, and the plurality of storage elements are subdivided into different groups based on group assignments, each group of the different groups comprises multiple adjacent storage elements of the plurality of storage elements; and a control circuit in communication with the string, the control circuit, to perform a Pseudo Block Operation Mode.
US08913428B2 Programming non-volatile storage system with multiple memory die
A system and methods for programming a set of data onto non-volatile memory elements, maintaining copies of the data pages to be programmed, as well as surrounding data pages, internally or externally to the memory circuit, verifying programming correctness after programming, and upon discovering programming error, recovering the safe copies of the corrupted data to be reprogrammed in alternative non-volatile memory elements. Additionally, a system and methods for programming one or more sets of data across multiple die of a non-volatile memory system, combining data pages across the multiple die by means such as the XOR operation prior to programming the one or more sets of data, employing various methods to determine the correctness of programming, and upon identifying data corruption, recovering safe copies of data pages by means such as XOR operation to reprogram the pages in an alternate location on the non-volatile memory system.
US08913427B2 Semiconductor memory device and method of operating the same
A semiconductor memory device of the present invention includes a memory cell array with cell strings having word lines stacked on a substrate and a vertical channel layer formed through the word lines, a peripheral circuit configured to select one of the word lines and perform a program operation on the selected word line, and a control circuit configured to control the peripheral circuit to perform the program operation by applying a program voltage to a word line selected for the program operation, applying a ground voltage to a word line of which a program operation has been completed and applying a pass voltage to the other word lines.
US08913426B2 Read distribution management for phase change memory
Subject matter disclosed herein relates to a memory device, and more particularly to write performance of a phase change memory.
US08913420B2 Random access memory controller having common column multiplexer and sense amplifier hardware
Systems and methods are provided for a random access memory controller. A random access memory controller includes a column multiplexer and sense amplifier pair, where the column multiplexer and sense amplifier pair includes a column multiplexer and a sense amplifier that are configured to utilize common circuitry. The common circuitry is shared between the column multiplexer and the sense amplifier so that the memory controller includes a single instance of the common circuitry for the column multiplexer and sense amplifier pair. The common circuitry includes a common pre-charge circuit, a common equalizer, or a common keeper circuit.
US08913417B2 Memory cell that employs a selectively deposited reversible resistance-switching element and methods of forming the same
A memory cell is provided that includes a steering element, a reversible resistance-switching element coupled to the steering element and a silicide-forming metal layer disposed between the steering element and the reversible resistance-switching element. The reversible resistance-switching element includes tantalum, and is formed using a selective deposition process. Numerous other aspects are provided.
US08913416B2 Variable-resistance memory device and its operation method
Disclosed herein is a variable-resistance memory device including a first common line; a second common line; a storage element connected between the first common line and the second common line to serve as a storage element whose resistance changes in accordance with a voltage applied to the storage element; and a driving control circuit.
US08913414B2 Semiconductor apparatus and semiconductor system for outputting internal information according to various mode and method for outputting internal information thereof
A semiconductor apparatus may include a plurality of through-semiconductor chip lines which pass through a plurality of stacked semiconductor chips. An uppermost semiconductor chip among the plurality of stacked semiconductor chips is configured to transfer its internal information signal to an assigned corresponding through-semiconductor chip line, and at least one semiconductor chip other than the uppermost semiconductor chip is configured to logically combine respective internal information signals transferred through through-semiconductor chip lines and their internal information signals and sequentially transfer resultant signals to assigned corresponding through-semiconductor chip lines. The at least one semiconductor chip other than the uppermost semiconductor chip logically combines the internal information signals transferred through the through-semiconductor chip lines from adjoining semiconductor chips and its internal information signals.
US08913413B2 Memory system with sectional data lines
The system includes multiple sets of local data lines in one or more routing metal layers below the three-dimensional memory array and multiple sets of global data lines in one or more top metal layers above the three-dimensional memory array. Each set of one or more blocks include one set of the local data lines. Each bay includes one set of global data lines that connect to the group of sense amplifiers associated with the blocks of the respective bay. Each block includes a subset of first selection circuits for selectively coupling a subset of array lines of the first type to respective local data lines. Each block includes a subset of second selection circuits for selectively coupling a subset of the respective local data lines to global data lines associated with a respective bay.
US08913412B1 Incremental adaptive match line charging with calibration
A content addressable memory (CAM) device having any number of rows, each of the rows including a match line connected to a plurality of CAM cells, a match line detector circuit, and an incremental match line charge circuit. The detector circuit generates a feedback signal based on a detected match line voltage. The charge circuit partially pre-charges the match line to an intermediate voltage during a pre-charge phase of a compare operation, and then selectively charges the match line higher towards a supply voltage in response to the feedback signal.
US08913410B2 Converter device for an uninterruptible power supply
A converter device for an uninterruptible power supply, the device having first and second main switching units connected to first and second voltage lines of a first type and each equipped with a first main switch; a main switching point connected to a voltage line of a second type and connected to the first and second main switching units; and a third main switch common to the first and second main switching units, and connected between the main switching point and a third voltage line of the first type; first, second and third capacitors connected between the main switching point and each of the first, second and third voltage lines of the first type; a first auxiliary switching unit connected by individual auxiliary switches between the first and second voltage lines of the first type, and a first auxiliary switching point; a second auxiliary switching unit connected between the first, second and third voltage lines of the first type, and a second auxiliary switching point; and a transformer having windings each having one free end and one end connected to the main switching point, with the free ends respectively connected to the first and second auxiliary switching points.
US08913408B2 Power supply device, organic light emitting display device having the same, and method of supplying power
A power supply device includes an SMPS circuit including an electric transformer having first and second stages, the SMPS circuit generating a second stage output voltage using the electric transformer, a power switcher receiving and switching the second stage output voltage to generate a first power voltage having logic high and low levels in one frame, and a PWM controller controlling a voltage level of the second stage output voltage by providing a control signal to the first stage. The first power voltage is simultaneously provided to a plurality of pixels, and a magnitude of the logic low level is increased or decreased according to a magnitude of an image load, where the magnitude of the image load is dependent on a color and a gradation level of an image to be displayed in a next frame.
US08913404B2 Constant voltage constant current control circuits and methods with improved load regulation
The present invention discloses CVCC circuits and methods with improved load regulation for an SMPS. In one embodiment, the CVCC can include: a voltage feedback circuit to generate an output voltage feedback signal; a current feedback circuit to generate an output current feedback signal; a control signal generating circuit that receives the output voltage feedback signal and the output current feedback signal, and generates a constant voltage/constant current control signal; a first enable signal generating circuit that compares a first reference voltage and the constant voltage/constant current control signal to generate a first enable signal; and a PWM controller that generates a PWM control signal based on the constant voltage/constant current control signal to control a main switch of the flyback SMPS.
US08913400B2 Systems and methods for shielding circuitry from interference with a shield assembly having a removable tab
This is directed to systems and methods for shielding circuitry from interference with a shield assembly. In some embodiments, a shield assembly may include a shield fence having a fence body, at least one fence finger extending from the bottom of the fence body for coupling to a circuit board, and a tab extending from the fence body. The tab is configured to be removed from the shield fence after the shield fence is coupled to the circuit board.
US08913396B2 Card holding mechanism and electronic device
An electronic device includes a housing, and a card holding mechanism for holding an electronic card. The housing defines a through hole, and the card holding mechanism may be inserted into the housing via the through hole. The card holding mechanism includes a tray for receiving the electronic card, an operating component, and a transmission component. The operating component moves from a latched position to an unlatched position, the transmission component is driven by the operating component to rotate and drive the tray to eject from the housing.
US08913383B1 Heat capture system for electrical components providing electromagnetic pulse protection
An apparatus includes an electrically-powered component, a hermetically-sealed, liquid-impermeable, high thermal-conductivity, container encapsulating the electrically-powered component, and a liquid bath surrounding the hermetically-sealed container. The electrically-powered component can include a computer motherboard, a central processing unit of a computer, or an electrical power transformer. The container can include a substance in direct contact with the electrically-powered component and can include a silicone compound, an epoxy compound, or a polyurethane compound.
US08913380B2 Docking station and electronic device
According to one embodiment, a docking station includes: a first support; a second support; a second connector; a cover; and a second mark. The first support supports a second face of an electronic device so that a display screen of the electronic device is positioned in an inclined manner. The second support supports a side portion of the electronic device in the state. The second connector is exposed outward from an area positioned in the second support, and to be connectable to a first connector of the electronic device in the state. The cover covers at least a part of the first face in the state. The second mark is capable of being a guide corresponding to the first mark. The second mark guidably indicates to the operator to move the electronic device to a position at which the electronic device is connected while the display screen is inclined.
US08913379B2 Telecommunications chassis having mezzanine card interfaces
A telecommunications chassis includes an array of mezzanine card interfaces and a carrier module coupled to the mezzanine card interfaces to control and manage mezzanine cards connected to the mezzanine card interfaces.
US08913377B2 Server retention mechanism
A retention mechanism is provided for removably securing a smaller sized server or other rack-mounting computing asset into a larger sized server tray and rack, which are larger in width than the computing asset. The tray includes an edge configured to align and couple with the end of one or more clips, which may be removably installed on the tray. The clips include a bowed portion that contacts the surface of the computing asset when installed so as to apply a securing force on the computing asset and into the tray. The resulting friction between the server and the clip and between the server and the tray secures the server in place in the tray.
US08913365B2 Circuit breaker
A circuit breaker, including: a circuit breaker body and a circuit control board; the circuit breaker body comprising a box body, and a circuit breaker actuating mechanism used for switching the on/off state of the circuit breaker, a wire inlet end, and a wire outlet end arranged in the box body. An automatic closing control unit is arranged on the circuit control board, and the circuit breaker actuating mechanism operates through an electrical operating mechanism under the condition of controlling a motor; the automatic closing control unit includes: a power collection subunit obtaining a power signal from a phase line and conducting rectifying and filtering; and a motor motion control subunit obtaining the power signal, allowing the motor to move after receiving the closing command, and ultimately realizing the closing action of the circuit breaker actuating mechanism.
US08913361B2 Overvoltage protection circuit and portable electronic device comprising same
An overvoltage protection circuit is configured to protect a battery pack from overvoltage when the battery pack is in charge. The overvoltage protection circuit includes a power supply, an overvoltage protection chip, a controller and switching circuit. The power supply is configured to charge the battery pack. The overvoltage protection chip is electronically connected between the power supply and the battery pack, the overvoltage protection chip comprising a voltage detection pin. The controller is electronically connected to the battery pack and configured to detect whether the battery pack is a high voltage type battery pack or a normal voltage type battery, and outputting corresponding control signals according to the detection. The switching circuit comprises a switch and two voltage dividing circuits, the switch connecting a corresponding voltage dividing circuit to the positive pole of the battery pack and the voltage detection pin under control of the control signal.
US08913359B2 Latch-up free RC-based NMOS ESD power clamp in HV use
An RC-based electrostatic discharge protection device provides an extended snapback trigger voltage range, thereby avoiding latch-up. Two parallel current discharge paths are provided between supply terminals during an electrostatic discharge event by virtue of an added external resistor. The first current discharge path includes body resistance of the protection device and the second current discharge path includes the external resistor.
US08913357B2 ESD protection circuit
An ESD circuit is disclosed. The ESD circuit includes a pad and a ground and a sensing element coupled between the pad and ground for sensing an ESD current. The sensing element generates an active sense output signal when an ESD current is sensed and an inactive sense output signal when no ESD current is sensed. The ESD circuit also includes a bypass element comprising a bi-polar junction transistor. The bypass element is coupled in parallel to the sensing element between the pad and ground. The active sense output signal causes the bypass element to be activated to provide a current path between the pad and ground.
US08913354B2 Enclosed metering and protective electrical apparatus including an external disconnect handle
An enclosed metering and protective electrical apparatus includes an enclosure, a meter socket within the enclosure structured to input a power circuit and to engage a power meter, and a circuit interrupter within the enclosure including an operating handle and a trip mechanism. The circuit interrupter is structured to output the power circuit from the meter socket to a load and to interrupt the power circuit. A neutral current sensor within the enclosure is structured to detect a ground fault operatively associated with the power circuit and responsively cause the trip mechanism of the circuit interrupter to interrupt the power circuit. A disconnect handle substantially external to the enclosure includes linkage extending within the enclosure and cooperating with the operating handle of the circuit interrupter to open and close the circuit interrupter.
US08913345B1 System and method for reading data from a magnetic medium by utilizing plural read sensors which define an effective read width
Systems and methods for reading data from a magnetic medium are provided. A system for reading data from a magnetic medium includes an electromagnetic head array, where the electromagnetic head array includes a plurality of read sensors. Each read sensor of the plurality of read sensors is configured to sense a magnetic field of the magnetic medium and to generate a signal based on the magnetic field. Circuitry is configured to combine the signals of the plurality of read sensors to generate a resulting signal. The resulting signal defines an effective read width of the electromagnetic head array, where the effective read width is narrower than a read width of any of the plurality of read sensors.
US08913330B1 Mobile device and optical imaging lens thereof
Present embodiments provide for a mobile device and an optical imaging lens thereof. The optical imaging lens comprises five lens elements positioned in an order from an object side to an image side. Through controlling the convex or concave shape of the surfaces of the lens elements to allow the thickness of the second lens element and the sum of all air gaps between all five lens elements along the optical axis satisfying the relation: 0.20
US08913328B2 Four group zoom lens system
A zoom lens system includes a positive first lens group, a negative second lens group, and positive third and fourth lens groups. Upon zooming from the short to long focal length extremities, the distance between the first and second lens groups increases and the distance between the second and third lens groups decreases. The first lens group includes a positive first sub-lens group which remains at a stationary position during focusing and a positive second sub-lens group which moves during focusing. Condition (1) is satisfied: 0.35
US08913327B2 Zoom lens system, optical apparatus and method for manufacturing zoom lens system
In a zoom lens system, an optical apparatus, and a manufacturing method, there are provided, in order from an object side: a first lens group having positive power, a second lens group having negative power, a third lens group having positive power, a fourth lens group having negative power, a fifth group having positive power, and an aperture stop disposed to an image side of the second lens group. Upon zooming from a wide-angle end state to a telephoto end state, a distance between the first lens and second lens groups increases, a distance between the second and third lens groups decreases, a distance between the third and fourth lens groups varies, and a distance between the fourth and fifth lens groups varies. With given conditions being satisfied, high optical performance with suppressing variation in aberrations are achieved.
US08913319B2 Continuous adjustable pulfrich filter spectacles for optimized 3DEEPS stereoscopic viewing and its control method and means
Continuous Adjustable Pulfrich Filter Spectacles are provided with lenses with continuously changeable optical densities, so that viewing of 2D movies is optimized for visualization in natural 3D. Method and means are disclosed for the continuous Adjustable Pulfrich Filter Spectacles to perform two independent optimizations to achieve optimized 3Deeps visual effects on 2D movies. First they compute the optical density setting of the lenses for optimal viewing of 2D movies as 3D. Then they continuously render the lenses of the spectacles to these optical densities optimized for characteristics of the electro-optical material from which the lenses of the spectacles are fabricated. The invention works for both 3DTV and 3D Cinema theater viewing.
US08913315B2 Terahertz band filter
A terahertz band filter for filtering, in a frequency band, a terahertz wave propagating between a pair of metal plates with an upper parallel surface facing a lower parallel surface includes a sheet parallel to the upper and lower parallel surfaces, which is disposed between the metal plates and is spaced apart therefrom, and at least one slit located in the sheet to face the upper and lower parallel surfaces, wherein the sheet comprises a single slit to function as a notch filter for blocking in a specific frequency band.
US08913311B1 Natural ink limit encoding for digital color managed workflow systems
Disclosed is a processor-implemented method for limiting ink output of marked image data using a target printer. A processor determines a constrained output (CMYK) LUT node data set for outputting the image data using the target printer to thereby mark the image data using a limited amount of ink. The constrained set is determined by re-encoding an encoded emulation output data, i.e., constraining an initial LUT node data set for the target printer based on a second. ICC profile with a smaller gamut. This allows the printer to inherit the smaller gamut. By constraining the initial LUT as disclosed herein, the final, constrained set emulates the smaller gamut in the target printer without suffering from pathological outcomes. The method enables the printer to inherit a natural ink limit methodology for the output colors that is more relatively proportional, and in a single destination profile.
US08913310B2 Image reading device
An image reading device includes a conveyor unit that conveys a document along a conveying path for ADF-type image scanning including a curved path. The conveyor unit includes a conveyor roller that reverses a conveying direction of the document in the curved path. The device further includes a first contact surface that comes into contact with a first side of the document when the document is conveyed, a second contact surface that comes into contact with a second side of the document when the document is conveyed, a first reading unit that reads an image on the first side of the document, and a second reading unit disposed above the second contact surface and reading an image on the second side of the document. A part of the conveyor roller is disposed lower than the first and second contact surfaces in an up down direction of the image reading device.
US08913306B2 Document reading apparatus
Provided is a document reading apparatus capable of surely detecting the document cover open/closed state and the open/close operation, without being affected by the external environment. This document reading apparatus includes a light source, a linear reading device and a document cover. In this document reading apparatus, the light amount value of the light received by the linear reading section while the light source is turned on, and the light amount value of the light received by the linear reading section when the light source is turned off are used to detect the open/closed state and the open/close operation of the document cover, wherein the preparation for printing starts when the document cover has shifted from the open state to the closed state.
US08913303B2 Image reading apparatus
An image reading apparatus includes a stacking unit on which a document to be fed is stacked, a sensor configured to output a signal indicating that the document has been stacked on the stacking unit, a discharging unit to which the document is to be discharged, wherein the discharging unit includes a lamp, and a control unit configured to turn on the lamp in response to the signal indicating that the document has been stacked on the stacking unit output from the sensor.
US08913297B2 Image formation method and apparatus for printing images using reduced amount of developer
An image formation apparatus includes a memory to store image data including objects each having information on a type and densities of colors of the object, a developer-remaining-amount sensor to sense and output remaining-amount information indicating a color of a developer having a small remaining amount among colors of respective developers for image formation, a controller to transform first pixel values of the densities of the colors of each object included in the image data stored in the memory into second pixel values indicating use amounts of the colors of the developers, for each object based on the type of the object and the remaining-amount information, an image formation unit to form images on a recording medium for the objects included in the image data by using the developers in accordance with the use amounts of the developers corresponding to the second pixel values transformed by the controller.
US08913292B2 Image reading apparatus and method, and image forming apparatus
An image reading apparatus includes an image reading unit and a computational unit. The image reading unit includes a reference reflecting member that acts as a color reference, an illuminating unit that illuminates a part of the reference reflecting member and a sheet being transported in proximity thereto, a line sensor that reads an image formed on the sheet and the part of the reference reflecting member in proximity to the sheet in the sheet width direction, and a spectroscope that measures the spectral distribution of each of multiple patches for correcting color tones formed on the sheet and arranged in the sheet transport direction. The computational unit generates color tone correction data by performing computations based on the spectral distribution of each patch measured by the spectroscope, and the read values of the reference reflecting member obtained by the line sensor.
US08913291B2 Image processing apparatus for viewing progress status of image output processing
An image processing apparatus includes: a display and a display controller that controls the display to display thereon a page. When a first processing is currently performed on the page, the page includes: a first part, on which the first processing has not yet been performed; and a second part, on which the first processing has already been performed. When a second processing is currently performed on the page, the page includes: a third part, on which the second processing has not yet been performed; and a fourth part, on which the second processing has already been performed. The display controller controls the display to display the first part and the second part in different display modes. The display controller controls the display to display the third part and the fourth part in different display modes.
US08913288B2 Method and system for changing physical page properties in a priting application
A method for changing physical page properties in a large format printing application on a client device, the client device having executable instructions for creating a print job for producing a printout of an image. The steps include selecting the image for the print job; selecting a logical page size for the printout of the image; dividing the logical page size into a plurality of physical pages based on a selected medium; selecting at least one physical page from the plurality of physical pages and changing at least one print property on the at least one physical page; and adjusting the at least one print property on adjacent physical pages to the selected at least one physical page to avoid a sudden change in image quality and/or image appearance of the image in the printout.
US08913286B2 Optical detection method during print finishing
An optical control method for use in print finishing, comprising the following steps: First, guiding a planar printed product along a conveying path past at least one optical sensor (14). Secondly, detecting an electronic image (2) by the optical sensor, wherein the electronic image (2) comprises at least one region of the printed product. Third, extracting orientation information of the printed product from the electronic image. Fourth, comparing (51) the orientation information of the printed product from the electronic image with reference orientation information, and generating at least one signal on the basis of a result of the comparison.
US08913285B1 Automated method of decomposing scanned documents
Some embodiments produce an image capture application that implements a novel auto scan feature. The auto scan feature directs a scanner to perform an initial scan and then decomposes the scanned document into component regions. Some embodiments then identify a set of attributes of each region from the initial scan, select a set of optimal scanning parameters for each region based on the identified set of attributes, and then direct the scanner to perform a detailed secondary scan of each region with the identified set of scanning parameters. Following the secondary scan, some embodiments perform post-scan operations on the image of the scanned region.
US08913276B2 Information processing apparatus and method
In an information processing apparatus, information concerning the data format of a document designated by a terminal apparatus and a data format compatible with the image forming apparatus are received in accordance with an instruction from a user, and a connection route, of a plurality of connection routes to the image forming apparatus designated by the user and the terminal apparatus, which allows the image processing apparatus to process the document data is selected based on the received data format of the document and the data format compatible with the image forming apparatus. The terminal apparatus displays the selected connection route.
US08913273B2 Workflow to allow continued printing in presence of severe printer error
Exemplary apparatuses herein comprise, for example, a printing apparatus that includes processing elements, such as printing elements, a media path positioned to supply sheets of media to the printing elements, a media storage device maintaining the sheets of media and providing the sheets of media to the media path, a processor device operatively connected to the media storage device and the media path, and a graphic user interface operatively connected to the processor device. The processor device monitors operations of the media storage device and the media path to detect media path faults. The processor device evaluates the media path faults to determine the severity of the media path faults. The processor device performs the bypass operation based on a combination of at least one of the media path faults exceeding a previously established severity level and the user-selectable bypass option on the graphic user interface being selected.
US08913272B2 Virtual printer interface node
A virtual printer interface node enables a non-cloud-ready printer to communicate with a cloud-based service, residing on an internet. The virtual printer interface node includes a housing; a communication interface to provide communication directly to the network router; and a microcontroller operatively connected to the communication interface. The microcontroller converts commands, received through the communication interface, from the cloud-based service, residing on the internet, to native protocols of the non-cloud-ready networked printer and communicates the converted native protocols to the non-cloud-ready networked printer.
US08913269B2 Method for printing PDF files containing corrupted pages
A method for print portable document format (PDF) files with corrupted pages, comprising the steps of rasterizing images of non-corrupt pages but not corrupted pages of a PDF file, printing only non-corrupt pages of the PDF file, gathering and recording file and page information including which pages are non-corrupt pages and which pages are corrupted pages in the PDF file, allowing correction of the corrupted pages of the PDF file for reprint, retrieving saved file and page information for reprint of the PDF file. Based on the file and page information retrieved and print options and merge mode selected, the reprint process proceeds with rasterizing images of the corrected corrupted pages, and printing the corrected corrupted pages while merging with the already-printed non-corrupt pages to produce a complete set of print out of all non-corrupt pages and corrected corrupted pages of the PDF file in a correct sequence according to the file and page information retrieved.
US08913268B2 Printing apparatus, control method for the printing apparatus, and storage medium
A printing apparatus configured to perform printing by using a recording material, includes a storing unit configured to store a recording material, a moving unit configured to move the storing unit determined to have run out of a recording material to a position where a recording material is supplied to the printing apparatus, and a setting unit configured to, according to an instruction from a user, set continued use of the storing unit determined to have run out of the recording material. The moving unit does not move the storing unit to the position even when the storing unit is determined to have run out of the recording material if continued use of the storing unit determined to have run out of the recording material is set.
US08913267B2 Printing system and program
A printing system and a program ensuring an improved security. A printing system (1) has printers (20A, 20B, 20C) for printing according to printing data further having a printer managing device (30) having a printing data managing section (311) for limiting the printing data supplied to the printers (20A, 20B, 20C) to printing data having a security level matching the security level based on the installation environment of the printer (20A) and a communication section (34) for providing the limited printing data to the printer (20A).
US08913264B2 Method and system for storing and retrieving data
A database management system includes a first data storage structure for storing timestamped counter data entries for each of devices in an unordered manner and such that each counter data entry is assigned a uniquely identifiable storage address; a second data storage structure for storing and mapping between: address data identifying the storage addresses of counter data entries, excluding those which are null or empty, timestamps corresponding to the counter data entries, and device identifiers identifying the devices to which the counter data entries correspond; and data access means for, in response to receiving a request for data in respect of a specified time period and at least one of the devices, using the second data storage structure to identify, for the or each specified device, the storage addresses of the temporally first and last counter data entries falling within the specified time period and not null or empty.
US08913260B2 Image processing device for reading and transmitting an image in a non-display state
An image processing device includes a display control unit that displays any one of plural processing screen data including screen data provided by a server device on a display unit and executes an instructed process according to a display screen data, a receiving unit that receives, on the screen data provided by the server device, displayed on the display unit, a read instruction of causing an image reading unit to read a document image and a transmission instruction for storing image data corresponding to the read document image in the server device, an instruction maintaining unit that maintains the transmission instruction received by the receiving unit, and a reading and transmission executing unit that executes reading of the document image based on the read instruction and executes the transmission instruction maintained in the instruction maintaining unit with respect to the image data obtained by the reading after the reading is completed.
US08913255B2 Recording medium
This disclosure discloses a non-transitory computer-readable recording medium, storing a fixed form print information processing program for executing steps on a control device. The steps comprises a fixed form print producing step for producing fixed form print information, a margin area deleting step for deleting a width direction margin area of the width direction margin area and a longitudinal direction margin area respectively set on each side of both ends in a tape width direction as well as each side of both ends in a tape longitudinal direction of font data corresponding to a character string included in the fixed form print information, a fixed form print displaying step for displaying on the display device the fixed form print information from which the margin area has been deleted, and a fixed form print transferring step for transferring the fixed form print information to the print label producing apparatus.
US08913253B2 Optical position detection apparatus and appliance having position detection function
An optical position detection apparatus detects the position of a target object in a Z-axis direction and the position of the target object in an X-axis direction based on the result of the light reception in a light receiving unit when light source units that are spaced apart in the X-axis direction are sequentially turned on and the result of the light reception in the light receiving unit when light source units that are spaced apart in the Z-axis direction are sequentially turned on among a first light source unit, a second light source unit, and a third light source unit. The emission directions of the detection lights in the first light source unit, the second light source unit, and the third light source unit are equal to one another in the Z-axis direction.
US08913249B2 Optical system for illuminating a measured object and interferometric system for measuring surfaces of a measured object
An interferometric system for measuring surfaces of a measured object using an optical system. The optical system has a beam splitter, which directs measuring beams in a first beam path and measuring beams in a second beam path onto the surfaces of the measured object with the aid of two mirrors. The beam paths which are formed by the light beams which are reflected on the surfaces at least partially overlap in an area having identical beam direction. In this manner, measured surfaces of the measured object are at least partially imaged on an identically irradiated surface of a detector, such as an image recorder.
US08913248B2 Systems and methods for improved balanced detection in optical coherence tomography imaging
Systems and methods for reducing noise in balanced detection based optical coherence tomography (OCT) systems are described. Embodiments including both optical hardware and electronic based solutions to spectrally filter and attenuate the source reference light in optical coherence tomography in an effort to reduce RIN and FPN noise in OCT systems are presented. A novel application to electronic balanced detection schemes in which a single source of reference detection is balanced against the interferometric signals from multiple interferometers is also presented.
US08913244B1 Methods, systems, and apparatus for end of line testing
A testing box for testing light sources, the testing box comprising: an enclosure comprising an opening for receiving a light source; a sensor of a light property for light emitted inside the enclosure; and a comparator of the light property sensed by the sensor and a shifted test box boundary for the light property, wherein the shifted test box boundary is based on a correlation between a measured light property of a test light source in an integrating sphere and a measured light property of the test light source in the testing box. A method for testing a light source for compliance with a standard, comprising: obtaining a first measurement of a first property of a first light source in a reference measuring device; obtaining a second measurement of the first property of the first light source in a testing measuring device; determining the difference between the first measurement and the second measurement; and determining an adjusted standard value based on a correlation between the first measurement and the second measurement.
US08913243B2 Polarimetric calibration of a remote sensor
Described are methods and systems for vicarious polarimetric calibration and performance validation of a remote sensor. The system includes a plurality of reflective mirrors configured and arranged to reflect radiation from a source of radiation onto the remote sensor with accurately known polarimetric properties. Each of the reflective mirrors are located so that the target images do not overlap. The remote sensor is configured to receive the radiation reflected from the plurality of reflective mirrors and store the received radiation as image data (e.g., the image of each mirror appears as a point target). The system includes a processor configured to process the received data to provide direct calibration and performance validation for each polarimetric or spectral channel of the remote sensor. In addition, the calibration method removes all atmospheric effects except for transmittance and provides reference targets that have high polarimetric contrast, full spectrum performance and easy to deploy.
US08913241B2 Hyperspectral imaging system and method for imaging a remote object
A hyperspectral imaging system and method are described herein for providing a hyperspectral image of an area of a remote object (e.g., scene of interest). The hyperspectral imaging system includes at least one optic, a scannable slit mechanism, a spectrometer, a two-dimensional image sensor, and a controller. The scannable slit mechanism can be a micro-electromechanical system spatial light modulator (MEMS SLM), a diffractive Micro-Opto-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MOEMS) spatial light modulator (SLM), a digital light processing (DLP) system, a liquid crystal display, a rotating drum with at least one slit formed therein, or a rotating disk with at least one slit formed therein.
US08913237B2 Device-like scatterometry overlay targets
In one embodiment, a semiconductor target for detecting overlay error between two or more successive layers of a substrate or between two or more separately generated patterns on a single layer of a substrate is disclosed. The target comprises at least a plurality of a plurality of first grating structures having a course pitch that is resolvable by an inspection tool and a plurality of second grating structures positioned relative to the first grating structures. The second grating structures have a fine pitch that is smaller than the course pitch, and the first and second grating structures are both formed in two or more successive layers of a substrate or between two or more separately generated patterns on a single layer of a substrate. The first and second gratings have feature dimensions that all comply with a predefined design rules specification.
US08913232B2 Methods and systems for measuring speckle translation with spatial filters
Two or more spatial filters are used in determining velocity based on speckle translation. A light source may be turned on, turned off, or both for a variable amount of time during operation. The velocity may then be determined with trend identification, correlation, recursive frequency estimation, or measurement bandwidth variation. A confidence level may also be calculated for the measured velocity, and the measured velocity reported or used only when the calculated confidence level meets or exceeds a given value.
US08913222B2 Liquid crystal display device
A liquid crystal display (LCD) device is disclosed. In one embodiment, the LCD device includes a first substrate including a plurality of interconnections and a protection layer covering the interconnections, a second substrate disposed opposite the first substrate, a liquid crystal (LC) layer interposed between the first and second substrates, and a sealant configured to contact the protection layer and interposed between the first and second substrates to surround and seal the LC layer. Convex portions are formed at positions between the interconnections of the protection layer and protrude convexly toward the sealant. In the above-described structure, even if light irradiated to cure the sealant is blocked by the plurality of interconnections, the light can be diffused into the entire sealant at an interface between the sealant and the protection layer.
US08913220B2 Liquid crystal display device having a contact hole having an undercut shape
An array substrate for a liquid crystal display (LCD) device include: a substrate; a gate line formed in one direction on one surface of the substrate; a data line crossing the gate line to define a pixel area; a thin film transistor (TFT) configured at a crossing of the gate line and the data line; a pixel electrode formed at a pixel region of the substrate; an insulating film formed on the entire surface of the substrate including the pixel electrode and the TFT, including a first insulating film formed of a high temperature silicon nitride film and a second insulating film formed of a low temperature silicon nitride film, and having a contact hole having an undercut shape exposing the pixel electrode; a pixel electrode connection pattern formed within the contact hole having an undercut shape and connected with the pixel electrode and the TFT; and a plurality of common electrodes separately formed on the insulating film.
US08913217B2 Liquid crystal display device
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device that can achieve sufficient front contrast ratio and front white brightness at the same time. The present invention is a liquid crystal display device including a front polarizing plate, a liquid crystal cell, a back polarizing plate, and an optical element having polarization characteristics, which are arranged in the stated order, wherein the back polarizing plate has a lower contrast than the front polarizing plate, and there is substantially no air layer between the back polarizing plate and the optical element having polarization characteristics.
US08913215B2 Bistable switchable liquid crystal window
A bistable switchable liquid crystal device is provided in which the device can be switched between a transparent and an opaque state by a predetermined voltage pulse. The device is based on polymer stabilized cholesteric materials. No additional amount of voltage has to be applied to the device in order to sustain the optical states. Therefore, the device is energy-saving.
US08913211B2 Backlight unit and liquid crystal display device including the same
Discussed are a backlight unit and an LCD device including the same, which prevent the thermal deformation and movement of a light guide plate and realize uniform luminance. The backlight unit includes a supporting case supporting a supporting side wall having a receiving space, a light guide plate placed in the receiving space of the supporting case, a light source member irradiating light on a light incident surface prepared in a side surface of the light guide plate, an optical sheet member disposed on the light guide plate, and a plurality of holder members disposed at certain intervals between the supporting side wall and some side surfaces of the light guide plate except the light incident surface. The holder members are deformed in shape by thermal deformation of the light guide plate.
US08913210B2 Back frame and backlight system
The present invention provides a back frame of flat panel display device, which includes primary assembling pieces, secondary assembling pieces, and a bracing piece for fixing a circuit board. The primary assembling pieces have a number of at least two, and the at least two primary assembling pieces are connected through joining. The secondary assembling pieces are joined to the primary assembling pieces. The bracing piece includes a bracing body, a first suspension section, a first bearing section, and a first resilient bent section. The bracing body is mounted to the primary assembling pieces or the secondary assembling pieces or is mounted to both the primary assembling pieces and the secondary assembling pieces. The available mounting points between the bracing body and the primary assembling pieces or the secondary assembling pieces are of a number of at least two. The bracing piece fixes a circuit board. The present invention also provides a backlight system. The back frame and the backlight system of the present invention have a back frame mold having a simple structure, reduce the expenditure of a back frame mold, and save the material used for back frame so as to lower down the cost of flat panel display device.
US08913209B2 Flat panel display device, stereoscopic display device, and plasma display device
The present invention provides a flat panel display device, which includes a backlight system and a display panel. The backlight system includes a light source, a light homogenization mechanism, and a back frame. The back frame carries the light source and the light homogenization mechanism, and the light homogenization mechanism guides light from the light source into the display panel. The back frame includes primary assembling pieces, secondary assembling pieces, and an adjustable bracing piece. Through the arrangement of a reinforcement structure on a joint section of the primary assembling piece, the strength of the back frame is improved. Available mounting points between the bracing piece and the primary assembling pieces or the secondary assembling pieces are of a number of at least two so that the bracing piece is selectively mounted to the back frame at different positions. The present invention also provides a stereoscopic display device and a plasma display device. The present invention has a back frame having a simple structure, reduces the expenditure of the back frame mold, and also saves the material used for back frame so as to lower down the cost of flat panel display device.
US08913202B2 Input-function integrated liquid crystal display device and method for manufacturing the same
It is characterized in that there is provided a liquid crystal panel including a pair of transparent substrates having electrodes for liquid crystal display disposed thereon, respectively, the electrodes for liquid crystal display being made of a transparent conductive film and serving as electrodes for liquid crystal display, and a liquid crystal sandwiched between the pair of transparent substrates; and that one of the pair of transparent substrates has an electrode for a projection capacitive sensor disposed on a side thereof with the electrode for liquid crystal display disposed thereon, the electrode for a projection capacitive sensor being made of the same conductive film as the electrode for liquid crystal display and serving as an electrode for a projection capacitive sensor.
US08913196B2 Video processing device and video processing method including deserializer
A video processing device includes: a deserializer that both converts a serial digital interface signal received as input to parallel data and extracts a clock; format detection means that both detects a video data format that is included in the parallel data that were converted by the deserializer and supplies clock ratio information that indicates the ratio of the clock frequency and the pixel clock frequency stipulated by the format; pixel clock generation means that generates a pixel clock based on the clock that was extracted by the deserializer; saving means that saves video data and supplies the saved video data in synchronization with the pixel clock; write control means that, based on the clock ratio information, divides the video data that are contained in the parallel data that were converted by the deserializer into two or four portions and saves the divided data in the saving means; and an unpack processor that, synchronized with the pixel clock, subjects the data that are supplied from the saving means to processing that accords with the video format.
US08913193B2 Electronic device having language switching function
The present invention is an electronic device having a function of switching a language to be displayed on a screen, and is provided with an input unit through which a command for language switching can be inputted, and a switching processing unit which, on the basis of the command from the input unit, performs processing of switching between a first state in which the language to be displayed on the screen is displayed while being switched to a different language in a predetermined order, and a second state in which a specified language is displayed without switching the language to be displayed on the screen.
US08913192B2 Television channel selection canvas
A channel selection canvas for display on a video display device is disclosed. The video display device can be a television, a laptop computer, or personal digital assistant device. The channel selection canvas allows a user to preview and choose video signals to be watched. The channel selection canvas displays a set of television channel video thumbnails, which can be full motion video, slow motion video or sampled video snapshots. A channel selection canvas can also display video thumbnails for security cameras, baby monitors, video phones and the like. A channel selection canvas generator that generates channel selection canvases is also disclosed. The channel selection canvas generator can reside within a television, set top box or similar video processing device.
US08913190B2 Method and apparatus for regenerating a pixel clock signal
A method and device regenerating a pixel clock signal, the method comprising, and the device being configured for: determining a first drift value D1 representative of a first time difference between a reference clock signal RC and a local clock signal LC based on a local pixel clock signal LPC; adjusting the local pixel clock signal LPC according to an adjustment command to provide a regenerated pixel clock signal RPC; determining a second drift value D2 representative of a second time difference between the reference clock signal RC and a regenerated clock signal based on the regenerated pixel clock signal RPC; and providing the adjustment command to the adjustable clock generator 32; 132; 316 for adjusting the local pixel clock signal LPC, wherein the adjustment command is based on the difference between the determined first and second drift values.
US08913188B2 Closed caption translation apparatus and method of translating closed captioning
In one embodiment, a method is provided that includes receiving a transmitted combined video and closed caption (CC) signal. The combined signal is separated into a CC signal and a video signal. The CC signal is converted into an original CC text stream. The method also includes translating the original CC text stream from a first language into a second language to from a translated CC text stream. In more specific embodiments, the method includes inserting each translated CC text stream into the video signal. The translated CC text can appear instead of the original CC text when the video signal is displayed.
US08913184B1 Systems and methods for determining video field sharpness
Systems and methods are provided for detecting sharpness among video fields. In certain implementations of the systems and methods, a plurality of video fields is received and a sharpness metric for each of the plurality of video fields is determined. The sharpness metric of a first video field is compared to the sharpness metric of a second video field among the plurality of video fields and a video field source of the first video field and the second video field is determined based on the comparison.
US08913182B2 Portable hand-held device having networked quad core processor
A portable hand-held device is provided having a processor chip. The processor chip has, on-chip, a network interface and four interconnected processing units. The processing units are configured to process information communicated over the network interface.
US08913179B2 Power modules for modular motion cameras
Modular digital motion camera systems are disclosed. Individual modules may be removed from the system and replaced, such as to benefit from upgraded technology, while preserving the remaining modules in the system. The modules may be disassembled and reconstructed to convert the physical form of the camera, such as between ENG configurations, DSLR configurations and studio configurations. Universal lens mount modules are provided, to enable use of lens systems from a variety of commercial manufacturers.
US08913178B2 Camera module capable of easily dissipating heat generated in camera module
There is provided a camera module including a lens barrel, a housing, an IR filter, an image sensor, a circuit substrate, a shield can, a heat transfer member mounted in the image sensor to transfer heat generated from the image sensor, and a protective cover mounted between the housing and the shield can while surrounding the bottom of the heat transfer member and connecting the housing and the shield can.
US08913175B2 Solid-state image sensing element and image sensing apparatus for detecting a focus state of a photographing lens
An image sensor that output a signal for detecting a focus state of a photographing lens. The image sensor includes a microlens; a light-receiving pixel; a first focus state detection pixel pair for outputting a focus state detection signal, in which aperture areas of the first focus state detection pixel pair are small in comparison to the light-receiving pixel; and a second focus state detection pixel pair for outputting a focus state detection signal, in which aperture areas of the second focus state detection pixel pair are small in comparison to the light-receiving pixel, wherein the second focus state detection pixel pair is arranged at a position that is shifted by a predetermined amount relative to each aperture position, with respect to the microlens of the first focus state detection pixel pair.
US08913168B2 Solid-state image sensor and image sensing apparatus
In an image sensor including a first column readout line and a second column readout line provided to each pixel column, a plurality of pixel rows are divided into pixel rows of a first group and pixel rows of a second group, pixels of the pixel rows of the first group output signals to the first column readout line, and pixels of the pixel rows of the second group output signals to the second column readout line. A shortest distance between a conversion region of a first pixel of a pixel row of the first group and the first column readout line to which a signal from the first pixel is output is not more than a shortest distance between the conversion region of the first pixel and the second column readout line to which signals from the pixels belonging to the pixel rows of the second group are output.
US08913158B2 Shooting device and program
The present invention provides a shooting device and a program that can recognize shooting scenes according to the situation with a high degree of precision. In at least one of a case where GPS information has not been acquired by a GPS receiver 58 within a predetermined period after the GPS receiver 58 has been activated, a case where the GPS information has been acquired by the GPS receiver 58 within the predetermined period after the GPS receiver 58 has been activated but the acquired GPS information has not been stored in a database C, and a case where a subject image has been acquired by shooting without the GPS receiver 58 being activated, the shooting device recognizes the shooting scene at the current shooting location on the basis of at least one of the subject image acquired by the shooting and shooting support information.
US08913157B2 Mechanical noise suppression apparatus, mechanical noise suppression method, program and imaging apparatus
A mechanical noise suppression apparatus includes: a framing section adapted to divide an input signal into frames of a predetermined time length; a Fourier transform section adapted to transform framed signals obtained by the framing section into a frequency spectrum of a frequency domain; a mechanical noise reduction section adapted to correct the frequency spectrum of the input signal obtained by the Fourier transform section based on frequency spectrum information of mechanical noise to suppress the mechanical noise; an inverse Fourier transform section adapted to return the frequency spectrum corrected by the mechanical noise reduction section into framed signals of a time domain; and a frame synthesis section adapted to carry out frame synthesis of the framed signals of frames obtained by the inverse Fourier transform section to obtain an output signal in which the mechanical noise is suppressed.
US08913156B2 Capturing apparatus and method of capturing image
The disclosure provides a capturing apparatus and a capturing method for the capturing apparatus. The method includes steps: controlling the capturing unit to capture an image; performing an image processing function in relation to the captured image to obtain pixels of the captured image; comparing the pixels of the captured image with the pixels of the pre-stored standard images and determining whether a percentage of the pixels of the image is similar to the pixels of one of the standard images. If the percentage of the pixels of the image reaches a threshold of similarity to the pixels of one standard image, acquiring the parameters associated with the standard image; and controlling the capturing unit to capture subsequent images according to the parameters associated with the standard image.
US08913155B2 Image forming optical system, image pickup apparatus using the same, and information processing apparatus
An optical system includes, in order from the object side, an aperture, a first lens having a positive refractive power, a second lens having a negative refractive power, a third lens having a positive refractive power, a fourth lens having a positive refractive power and having a meniscus shape with a convex surface facing the image side, and a fifth lens having a negative refractive power. The optical system satisfies a certain condition.
US08913153B2 Imaging systems and methods for generating motion-compensated high-dynamic-range images
Electronic devices may include image sensors. Image sensors may be used to capture images having rows of long-exposure image pixel values that are interleaved with rows of short-exposure image pixel values. The long-exposure and short-exposure values in each interleaved image frame may be interpolated to form interpolated values. A combined long-exposure image and a combined short-exposure image may be generated using the long-exposure and the short-exposure values from the interleaved image frames and the interpolated values from a selected one of the interleaved image frames. The combined long-exposure and short-exposure images may each include image pixel values from either of the interleaved image frames in a non-motion edge region and image pixel values based only on the image pixel values or the interpolated values from the selected one of the interleaved images in a motion or non-edge region. High-dynamic-range images may be generated using the combined long-exposure and short-exposure images.
US08913149B1 Apparatus and techniques for enhanced resolution imaging
Disclosed are systems and methods for synthesizing a high resolution image associated with a large imaging aperture using an optical imaging apparatus having a smaller aperture. In certain implementations, introduction of a coherent homodyne reference beam to a coherent imaging of an object can result in formation of a Fourier space side lobe that includes information about a portion of a spectrum representative of the object's Fourier spectrum. Images can be obtained at a number of different orientations to yield a number of such side lobe images so as to allow construction of the object's spectrum. A synthesized image corresponding to such a constructed spectrum can have an improved resolution that exceeds the performance limit imposed by the aperture of the optical imaging apparatus.
US08913144B2 Information communication method
An information communication method that enables communication between various devices includes: determining a pattern of a change in luminance; transmitting a signal by a light emitter changing in luminance; determining a sequence of first and second image units; and displaying an image including the first and second image units arranged according to the determined sequence, wherein in the displaying: for 0, the sequence of the first and second image units is determined so that a first image unit group and a second image unit group that have a same number of image units as each other are consecutive; and for 1, the sequence of the first and second image units is determined so that a first image unit group and a second image unit group that have different numbers of image units from each other are consecutive.
US08913139B2 Image stabilizer and digital photographing apparatus having the same
An image stabilizer includes: a correction lens module that comprises a correction lens and a correction lens supporting plate to which the correction lens is coupled; a magnet that is fixed to the correction lens supporting plate; a driving unit that is disposed to face the magnet and reacts to the magnet so as to move the correction lens module in a first direction perpendicular to an optical axis and in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; a detecting unit that is disposed to face the magnet opposite the driving unit and detects movement of the correction lens module; and a magnetic body that is disposed to face the magnet to restore the correction lens module to an initial position thereof and is placed on a same plane as the detecting unit.
US08913137B2 Handheld imaging device with multi-core image processor integrating image sensor interface
A handheld imaging device includes an image sensor for sensing an image; a processor for processing the sensed image; a multi-core processing unit provided in the processor, the multi-core processing unit having a plurality of processing units connected in parallel by a crossbar switch; and an image sensor interface for converting signals from the image sensor to a format readable by the multi-core processing unit, the image sensor interface sharing a wafer substrate with the processor. A transfer of data from the image sensor interface to the plurality of processing units is conducted entirely on the shared wafer substrate.
US08913135B2 Method and apparatus for measuring response curve of an image sensor
The present disclosure discloses a method and an apparatus for measuring response curve of an image sensor. The method comprises: taking at least one photograph of a Grey Scale card with an image sensor to be measured, wherein the photograph comprises a plurality of greyscale image blocks; calculating relative exposure values for each greyscale image block respectively corresponding to the greyscale blocks of the Grey Scale card; plotting a plurality of reference points based on pixel values of pixel points within each greyscale image block and the relative exposure values, and executing an interpolation calculation based on the reference points to obtain a response curve of the image sensor.
US08913133B2 Camera system for a motor vehicle, and motor vehicle equipped with a camera system
A camera system for a motor vehicle includes: a camera, which includes an image sensor for outputting image signals, and camera optics for detecting a first environment and for imaging the first environment on the image sensor at a first subject distance. The camera system has camera supplementary optics, which are at least partially provided in the optical path in front of the camera optics, the camera optics and the camera supplementary optics jointly forming an optics system by which a second environment, e.g., a region of a surface of a window, is able to be imaged or focused on the image sensor at a second object distance that differs from the first object distance.
US08913131B2 Locomotive wireless video recorder and recording system
An imaging system for generating images taken from a rail vehicle, the system including a camera configured to generate video data associated with a rail vehicle, and a processor configured to control recording of video data according to at least one of a variable frame rate or a variable resolution based on operating conditions of the rail vehicle. A method and non-transitory computer readable medium with instructions are also included.
US08913128B2 Image-based barrier detection and warning system and method thereof
The present invention discloses an image-based barrier detection and warning system and a method thereof, wherein an image processing technology is used to establish ROI and verify whether a horizontal line signal exists, and wherein the image processing technology determines whether an object is a barrier via detecting contours of an object and detecting distance to the object, and wherein the system timely outputs warning signals and presents distance to a barrier when detecting the barrier. The image-based barrier detection and warning system enables the driver to watch the surroundings of the vehicle directly and clearly and learn the relative positions of barriers, whereby the driver can park more easily and safely.
US08913125B2 Electronic device and method for regulating coordinates of probe measurement system
In a method for regulating coordinates of a probe measurement system using an electronic device, the method determines a first center of a reference object using a probe measurement system, and a second center of the reference object using an image measurement system. The method further determines regulation values between the probe measurement system and the image measurement system by calculating difference values between coordinates of the first center and the second center of the reference object, and stores the regulation values in a storage device of the electronic device.
US08913122B2 Image-acquisition device for microscope and microscope observation method
Proper exposure is achieved within a short period of time even when image-acquisition elements are switched. Provided is an image-acquisition device for a microscope, which includes an optical-path branching section that branches light from an object into two optical paths; a first image-acquisition element and a second image-acquisition element that are respectively disposed in the two optical paths branching from the optical-path branching section and that acquire images of the light from the object under different image-acquisition conditions; and an exposure-time calculator that calculates an exposure time for the second image-acquisition element on the basis of an exposure time for the first image-acquisition element and a ratio of the image-acquisition conditions of the first and second image-acquisition elements.
US08913120B2 Method for emulation of a photolithographic process and mask inspection microscope for performing the method
In mask inspection, the defects that are of interest are primarily those that will also show up on wafer exposure. The aerial images generated in the resist and by emulation should be as identical as possible. This also applies to methods in which an overall structure that is divided into at least two substructures on at least two masks. A system and a method are provided for emulating a photolithographic process for generating on a wafer an overall structure that is divided into at least two substructures on at least two masks. The method includes generating aerial images of the at least two substructures, at least one of the aerial images being captured with a mask inspection microscope; correcting, by using a processing unit, errors in the at least one aerial image captured with a mask inspection microscope; and overlaying the aerial images of the at least two substructures to form an overall aerial image with the overall structure.
US08913112B2 Image pickup unit for endoscope
An image pickup unit includes a dioptric system that reflects a luminous flux of an optical image incident on an optical lens group and performs optical path conversion, an image sensor in a bare state that is joined to the dioptric system, and includes a light receiving element that forms the optical image, and a light shielding member that is placed to be opposed to and cover at least surfaces around an optical axis of the optical lens group, except for a joining surface of the dioptric system to the image sensor, so that an air gap apart from the image sensor by a predetermined distance is provided, shields incidence of a harmful light onto the light receiving element, and is formed from a metal thin film.
US08913099B2 Systems and methods to manage video chat contacts
Systems and methods are provided to automatically discover if an email address contact is video chat capable. A server receives a request from an electronic device to determine video chat capability associated with an email address. It compares the email address with a listing of email addresses, wherein the listing includes email addresses associated with other electronic devices having video chat capability. If an entry in the listing matches the email address, it returns a message configured to automatically enable addition of the email address as a video chat contact on the electronic device.
US08913096B2 Optical scanning device and image forming apparatus
An optical scanning device that scans a scanning surface in a main scanning direction. The device includes a surface emitting laser as a light source, an optical deflector that deflects a light flux from the light source while rotating around a rotation axis, a monitor light receiving element, a synchronization detection light receiving element, a monitor optical system that directs the monitor light flux to the monitor light receiving element, a synchronization detection optical system that directs the synchronization detection light flux to the synchronization detection light receiving element, and a scanning optical system that directs a scanning light flux to the scanning surface. A combined focal length of the monitor optical system in the main scanning direction is smaller than a combined focal length of the synchronization detection optical system in the main scanning direction.
US08913093B2 Liquid crystal display device
Disclosed is a liquid crystal display apparatus which improves uniformity in luminance of RGB pixels by asymmetrically designing RGB pixels, and to enhances display quality, the apparatus comprises a red pixel switching element that switches a driving signal of the red pixel; a green pixel for transmitting green-colored light; a green pixel switching element that switches a driving signal of the green pixel; a blue pixel for transmitting blue-colored light; and a blue pixel switching element that switches a driving signal of the blue pixel, wherein a switching element of at least one pixel having relatively low luminance among the red pixel, green pixel and blue pixel is formed in the pixel area having relatively high luminance.
US08913092B2 Compensation table generating system, display apparatus having brightness compensation table, and method of generating compensation table
A compensation table generating system includes a test signal applying part which applies a test signal corresponding to reference gray scales to a display panel, an image obtaining part which obtains a test image of each of the reference gray scales displayed on the display panel based on the test signal, a position information extractor which measures a brightness distribution of each of the reference gray scales of the display panel based on the test image of each of the reference gray scales and extracts a representative position information of an stain area, in which a stain appears, based on the brightness distribution of each of the reference gray scales, a compensation data calculator which calculates a compensation data corresponding to a position of the stain area, and a brightness compensation table which stores the representative position information and the compensation data.
US08913088B2 Adjusting displayed content length as a function of map scale
A system for adjusting displayed content length as a function of map scale may include one or more computing devices and a memory. The one or more computing devices may receive a query, retrieve a content item based at least in part on the query. The one or more computing devices may further determine a first amount of the content item to display based at least in part on a first zoom level, determine a second amount of the retrieved content item to display based at least in part on a second zoom level and provide the map to the user device for display, where the first amount of the content item is overlaid on the map when the map is displayed at the first zoom level and the second amount of the content item is overlaid on the map when the map is displayed at the second zoom level.
US08913087B1 Digital image cropping
A digital image to be presented on an electronic display of an electronic device is expanded so that the content of the digital image fits the electronic display and the margins are cropped (e.g., rendered invisible) on the electronic display. The initial determination may be for a first total length of a left margin and a right margin of the digital image. The second determination may be for a second total length of a top and a bottom margin of the digital image. An expansion factor based at least in part on the smaller of the first and second total lengths may be derived. The application of the expansion factor enables the creation of an expanded digital image having content that maximally fit the electronic display. In some aspects, the expanded digital image is stored in a data cache.
US08913086B2 Systems and methods for managing errors utilizing augmented reality
Systems for managing errors utilizing augmented reality are provided. One system includes a transceiver configured to communicate with a systems management console, capture device for capturing environmental inputs, memory storing code comprising an augmented reality module, and a processor. The processor, when executing the code comprising the augmented reality module, is configured to perform the method below. One method includes capturing an environmental input, identifying a target device in the captured environmental input, and querying the systems management console regarding a status condition for the target device. Also provided are physical computer storage mediums including a computer program product for performing the above method.
US08913082B2 Information display device, information display method, information display program, recording medium and information display system
An information display device switches content to be displayed without causing an eyesore to users. The information display device has a display means that displays information including a content display area which displays content, in a display area in a screen, a deciding means that decides whether or not the content display area hides, and a switching means that switches content displayed in the content display area when it is decided that the content display area hides.
US08913079B2 Apparatus, a method and a program thereof
Apparatus and method capable of extracting a part where information highly necessary for a user is displayed without using information registered in advance. The method includes detecting an operation part in a screen, comparing a first screen and a second screen, determining a priority order of objects in the first and second screens based on a result of the comparing and displaying at least one of the objects in the first and second screens on a display device based on the priority order. The screen is changed to the first screen by first operation of the operation part and the screen is changed to the second screen by a second operation of the operation part.
US08913067B1 GPU accelerated compositing on a multithreaded browser
A method for an accelerated rendering of graphics on a webpage. The method comprises providing a layer tree, wherein the layer tree includes a plurality of layers and is in a sandbox environment. The method further comprises identifying a dirty layer within the layer tree, and generating rendering data and the plurality of rendering instructions for processing the dirty layer. The method further comprises storing the rendering data and the plurality of rendering instructions in a storage region outside of the sandbox environment for processing using a graphics processing unit.
US08913061B2 Automatic tracing algorithm for quantitative analysis of continuous structures
This invention provides an automatic tracing algorithm for quantitative analysis of continuous structures, such as the images of tree-like or network-like structures. The algorithm includes the steps of encoding 3-D image voxels by using a source field encoding methodology followed by a defined image threshold, tracing the codelets along encoded voxels such that the characteristic element of a 3-D image such as the center line of fiber, fiber branch, loop, and end point can be determined systematically, and achieving the automatic analysis without manual intervention. In addition, quantitative measurements are exquisitely calculated by the location and distance of these characteristic elements between coded voxels. The algorithm is more suitable to automatically analyze the 2D/3D images of complex neurons, blood vessels, collagens in skin tissue, and fibril morphology in polymeric materials.
US08913059B2 Solving networks of geometric constraints
Systems, program products and program products for accepting a request to move a first geometric entity that is constrained to other geometric entities in a drawing that may contain both one-way and two-way geometric constraints. A set of affected geometric entities that need to be repositioned or otherwise changed as the result of moving the first geometric entity is identified. The affected geometric entities and the geometric constraints are classified into groups which are solved using a variational geometric constraint solver. If the geometric constraints cannot be satisfied, the movement of the first geometric entity is restricted. Otherwise the affected geometric entities are updated.
US08913057B2 Information processing device, information processing method, and program
There is provided an information processing device includes a virtual space recognition unit for analyzing 3D space structure of a real space to recognize a virtual space, a storage unit for storing an object to be arranged in the virtual space, a display unit for displaying the object arranged in the virtual space, on a display device, a detection unit for detecting device information of the display device, and an execution unit for executing predetermined processing toward the object based on the device information.
US08913056B2 Three dimensional user interface effects on a display by using properties of motion
The techniques disclosed herein use a compass, MEMS accelerometer, GPS module, and MEMS gyrometer to infer a frame of reference for a hand-held device. This can provide a true Frenet frame, i.e., X- and Y-vectors for the display, and also a Z-vector that points perpendicularly to the display. In fact, with various inertial clues from accelerometer, gyrometer, and other instruments that report their states in real time, it is possible to track the Frenet frame of the device in real time to provide a continuous 3D frame-of-reference. Once this continuous frame of reference is known, the position of a user's eyes may either be inferred or calculated directly by using a device's front-facing camera. With the position of the user's eyes and a continuous 3D frame-of-reference for the display, more realistic virtual 3D depictions of the objects on the device's display may be created and interacted with by the user.
US08913053B2 Image display device and video signal processing method used in same
The degree of an influence from wiring crosstalk between signal lines of a data signal transmission line (video signal line) is decided on the basis of an input signal generated in display controlling unit (a timing controller) at a predetermined timing (at each frame period, at each clock pulse period, or at each horizontal period) and, based on a result of the decision, the voltage amplitude of a data signal is adjusted so that it may exceed an input amplitude specification value for data line driving circuits (data drivers) by a predetermined value.
US08913049B2 Motion detection circuit and motion detection method
A motion detection method is adapted for an image display circuit including a motion detection circuit and an arbitration circuit. In this motion detection method, a number of motion quality observation windows are defined. Each motion quality observation window includes a start point and an ending point. In the motion quality observation windows, a write frame count value is adjusted according to a write frame command. At the end point of each motion quality observation window, if the write frame count value is equal to or bigger than a preset count value, an enable signal is outputted to the arbitration circuit to determine whether the image display circuit performs motion display. In the motion quality observation windows, the end point of the i-th motion quality observation window is located between the start point and the end point of the (i+1)-th motion quality observation window, where i is a positive integer.
US08913043B2 Electronic writing apparatus, non-transitory recording medium, and electronic writing system
This disclosure discloses an electronic writing apparatus. The electronic writing apparatus comprises a position acquisition portion that acquires a plurality of pieces of positional information of a writing instrument moving, a first visual object detecting portion that detects a visual object for identification entered at a desired position of the media, a first data creating portion that creates image data corresponding to writing on the media and having a predetermined positional relationship with the visual object for identification, a first storage device that temporarily stores image data created by the first data creating portion, a first communication device that transmits the image data for storing the image data in the external storage device, and a first transmission control portion that controls the first communication device and performs transmission for storing the image data stored in the first storage device in the storage destination.
US08913040B2 Downsampling data for crosstalk compensation
A touch sensitive device having circuitry to compensate for crosstalk from the device display to the device touch sensor panel is disclosed. The crosstalk compensation circuitry can include a downsampler and a crosstalk compensator. The downsampler can downsample a display image to a manageable size for transmission and processing and can then send the downsampled image to the crosstalk compensator so as to provide information about the display operation that can be used to estimate the expected amount of crosstalk caused by the display. The crosstalk compensator can estimate the amount of crosstalk based on the downsampled image and can then compensate a touch image captured by the touch sensor panel for the estimated amount, the touch image being indicative of a touch or hover event at the panel.
US08913039B2 Method and device for locating at least one touch on a touch-sensitive surface of an object
This method for locating at least one touch on a touch-sensitive surface of an object comprises the following steps: monitoring (100) of at least one touch by propagating (102), in the touch-sensitive surface of the object, elastic mechanical waves from at least one transmitting point of the object, and by detecting (104) said elastic mechanical waves in at least one reception point of the object, in order to obtain at least one sensed signal, and locating (200) at least one touch on the touch-sensitive surface of the object by comparing certain spectral characteristics of the sensed signal to a set of reference characteristics. The monitoring step (100) comprises measuring (104, 106) the sensed signal during a time interval (t3) starting during a transient phase of the propagation of the transmitted waves, for supplying, to said at least one reception point, information on radiation interfered with by said at least one touch.
US08913035B2 Optical touch panel and light guide module thereof
An optical touch panel includes a panel and a light guide module. The light guide module is disposed on the panel, and the light guide module includes a printed circuit board, at least one light emitting element, and a light guide strip. The light emitting element is electrically disposed on the printed circuit board. The light guide strip is disposed on the printed circuit board, and wraps the light emitting element. Additionally, the light emitting element emits light rays, and the light rays penetrate the light guide strip and are emitted to the panel.
US08913033B2 Projected capacitive touch sensor circuit
A method for measuring a mutual capacitance between electrodes of a touch sensitive device includes generating a periodic pulse, communicating the pulse to a drive electrode, and measuring a mutual capacitance between the drive electrode and a sense electrode at a point of intersection between the drive electrode and the sense electrode. Measuring further includes continuously integrating a sense signal from the sense electrode to thereby generate an integrated sense signal, periodically sampling the integrated sense signal at a first time that is prior to a falling edge of the pulse, and at a second time that is prior to a rising edge of the pulse to thereby sample a maximum value and a minimum value of the integrated sense signal, digitizing the maximum value and the minimum value, and determining a difference between the maximum value and the minimum value to thereby determine a mutual capacitance between the drive electrode and the sense electrode.
US08913032B2 Position information correction device, position information correction method, and program
There is provided a position information correction device including an input point acquisition section which acquires position information of an input point specified by an operating object, a direction detection section which detects a movement direction of the operating object based on displacement of the position information acquired by the input point acquisition section for each input point, a determination section which takes a majority vote of the movement directions of past input points acquired by the input point acquisition section in the past, and determines the movement direction of the operating object with respect to a current input point acquired by the input point acquisition section at a current time point, and a position information correction section which, when the movement direction detected by the direction detection section differs from the movement direction determined by the determination section, corrects position information of the current input point.
US08913031B2 Sensor apparatus and electronic apparatus
A sensor apparatus includes: a display cover including an operation area that is pressed by an operator and a circumferential area located on the circumference of the operation area; a frame including an opening covered by the operation area and a fixing portion that fixes the circumferential area; a touch panel that is supported by the display cover to be positioned at the opening and detects a position at which the operator comes into contact with the operation area; and a pressure-sensitive sensor that is provided between the display cover and the frame, includes a first electrode and a second electrode opposed to the first electrode, and detects a pressing force with respect to the operation area based on a change of a capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode that corresponds to a deflection amount of the display cover.
US08913029B2 Electronic device
There is provided an electronic device that enables sufficient prevention of user's unintended manipulation during hover manipulation which enables performance of manipulation at a position distant from a touch panel. The electronic device a planar display section and a touch panel that is placed while being superimposed on the display section and that enables detection of two dimensional coordinates (x, y) of a finger, which serves as an indicator, on a surface of the display section and a vertical distance (z) from the finger. A valid zone that makes the two dimensional coordinates (x, y) valid is made narrower as the vertical distance (z) between the finger and the touch panel becomes greater. By adoption of such a configuration, it becomes possible to sufficiently prevent performance of user's unintended manipulation during hover manipulation that enables performance of manipulation at a position distant from the touch panel.
US08913026B2 System for linking and controlling terminals and user terminal used in the same
A system for linking and controlling terminals includes a user terminal that includes an image unit configured to output image data to be shared with a receiving terminal larger than the user terminal, and a signal unit configured to transmit an image signal and a control signal to the receiving terminal, the image signal having the image data outputted from the image unit, and the control signal including position information of a touch means near the user terminal. An image representing the position information of the touch means is displayed on the receiving terminal to enable a control of the user terminal by way of the receiving terminal viewed by a user of the user terminal.
US08913020B2 Touch module and touch detecting method
A touch module including an image sensing unit, a plurality of first reflecting elements, a plurality of second reflecting elements, and a processing unit is provided. The image sensing unit is positioned in correspondence with a first corner of a sensing area and capable of capturing a sensing image to output an image signal. The first reflecting elements and the second reflecting elements respectively have different first angles and different second angles, are disposed along a first and the second edges of the sensing area respectively, and are capable of reflecting a touch object to form a first and a second image in the sensing image. A second corner formed by the first the second edges is diagonal to the first corner. The processing unit is coupled the image sensing unit and receives the image signal to determine the position of the touch object relative to the sensing area.
US08913019B2 Multi-finger detection and component resolution
In embodiments of multi-finger detection and component resolution, touch input sensor data is recognized as a component of a multi-finger gesture on a touch-screen display. An ellipse is determined that approximately encompasses the component, and the ellipse has a primary axis and a secondary axis that are orthogonal. A distribution is then generated that projects sensor data elements from the primary axis based on detected intensity of the touch input sensor data. A histogram function can then be generated based on the distribution, where the histogram function indicates individual contacts of the component and separation of the individual contacts.
US08913013B2 Keyboard
A keyboard comprises a key module and a backlight module in which the key module comprises a light-transmissive key part and an electric circuit substrate, and the backlight module comprises a light guide plate, a reflection unit and at least one light source. The backlight module is disposed between the key part and the electric circuit substrate. Thus, lights emitted by the light source are projected into the light guide plate from the lateral side of the light guide plate, and the lights are reflected by the reflection unit for directly passing through the light output surface of the light guide plate and the key part.
US08913011B2 Wireless entertainment device, system, and method
Embodiments of the present invention provide a unique play experience carried out utilizing an interactive “wand” and/or other seemingly magical actuation/tracking device. The wand or other actuation device allows play participants to electronically and “magically” interact with their surrounding play environment(s), thereby giving play participants the realistic illusion of practicing, performing and mastering “real” magic. Optionally, multiple play participants, each provided with a suitable “wand” and/or other actuation/tracking device, may play and interact together, either within or outside one or more compatible play environments, to achieve desired goals, master certain magical spells and/or produce desired seemingly magical effects within the play environment.
US08913008B2 Image data generation using a handheld electronic device
The present disclosure provides improved generation of images using a handheld electronic device. Motion of the handheld electronic device is detected using a sensor of the handheld electronic device and data, dependent upon the sensed motion, is transmitted from the device to a remote electronic device. An image, representative of the sensed motion of the handheld electronic device and generated from the transmitted data, is rendered on a display of the remote electronic device and provides a user with visual feedback of the motion of the handheld electronic device. The image data may be generated by the handheld electronic device or by the remote electronic device.
US08913006B2 Reciprocal interface panels suitable for multi-purpose actuators
A non-destructive inspection and testing instrument includes a housing and a first panel with a first type input to be assembled onto the housing and a second panel with a different, second type input to be assembled onto the housing. A first GUI module for the first panel implements a function upon an actuation of the first type input. A second GUI module for the second panel implements the same function upon an actuation of the second type input. A controller is configured to select the first GUI module when the first panel is associated with the instrument and to select the second GUI module when the second panel is associated with the instrument.
US08913004B1 Action based device control
The determination of a gaze direction or field of view of a user with respect to a computing device can control aspects of the device, such as to reduce power or resource consumption. A computing device can include an imaging element and software for locating aspects of a user's facial features relative to the device, such that an orientation of the user's features relative to the device can be determined. Various actions on the device can be executed based at least in part upon a determined gaze direction of the user. In some embodiments, a display element of the device can turn off, and one or more inputs can be disabled, when the user is not looking at the device.
US08913000B2 Video playback on electronic paper displays
A system for displaying video on electronic paper displays to reduce video playback artifacts comprises an electronic paper display, a video display driver, a video transcoder, a display controller, a memory buffer and a waveforms module. The video display driver receives a re-formatted video stream, which has been processed by the video transcoder, from the memory buffer. The video display driver directs the video transcoder to process the video stream and generate pixel data. The video display driver loads waveforms into the frame buffer and updates display commands repeatedly to activate the display controller until the end of the video playback. The video display driver directs copying video frames sequentially one by one from the memory buffer to the frame buffer in real time during the video playback. The video transcoder receives a video stream for presentation on the electronic paper display and processes the video stream generating pixel data that is provided to the display controller. The present invention also includes a method for displaying video on an electronic paper display.
US08912998B2 Luminance control device, display apparatus using the same, luminance control method and luminance control program
Power consumption is cut down by reducing backlight light source luminance in accordance with the variability of luminance of the picture displayed on a display panel. A picture luminance detector calculates information (luminance information) representing luminance of the picture at intervals of a time unit. A picture luminance storage is a memory capable of storing the past records of luminance information within a fixed period of time (some seconds to some ten seconds). A processor is configured of a variation detector and a light source luminance determiner. Variation detector performs detection of the variability of picture luminance based on the luminance information on the current picture detected by picture luminance detector and the past records of picture luminance information stored in picture luminance storage to output variation information. Light source luminance determiner determines light source luminance based on the luminance information on the current picture detected by picture luminance detector and the variation information output from variation detector and outputs a light source information control signal.
US08912996B2 Scan driver and driving method thereof
A scan driver including sequentially arranged scan driving blocks, each of the blocks including a first node receiving a signal input into a driving signal input terminal based on a clock signal input into a second-clock-signal input terminal, a second node receiving a clock signal input into a first-clock-signal input terminal, a first transistor including a gate electrode connected to the second node, one electrode receiving an output control signal, and another electrode connected to an output terminal, a second transistor including a gate electrode connected to the first node, one electrode connected to a third-clock-signal input terminal, and another electrode connected to the output terminal, and a third transistor including a gate electrode connected to the third-clock-signal input terminal and one electrode connected to the first node and configured to transfer a voltage of the output terminal to the first node.
US08912994B2 Electronic apparatus system
An electronic apparatus system is provided. The electronic apparatus system includes a register, a display mode computation unit, a display device and a control circuit. The register stores image information having a data input refresh frequency. The display mode computation unit generates a display mode control signal by computation based on an image characteristic categorization of the image information. The display device includes a display panel having a plurality of pixel units. The control circuit controls a display mode and a drive mode of the display panel according to the display mode control signal to further adjust a display refresh frequency of the display panel.
US08912993B2 Scan driving device and driving method thereof
A scan driving device including scan driving blocks including a first node receiving a second-voltage according to a signal input to a first-input terminal, a second node receiving a first-voltage according to a signal input to the first-input terminal, and receiving an input signal according to a clock signal input to a second-input terminal, a first transistor connected to the first node, the first power source, and an output terminal, and a second transistor connected to the second node and the output terminal and configured to receive a clock signal input to a third-input terminal, wherein, during the initial driving period, the input signal is applied with a gate-off-voltage, and clock signals input to the first-, second-, and third-input terminals are applied with a gate-on-voltage to reset a voltage at the first node with the gate-on-voltage and reset a voltage at the second node with the gate-off-voltage.
US08912983B2 Organic light emitting diode display
An organic light emitting diode display includes a substrate including a display area and a non-display area, a display unit that is formed in the display area and includes a plurality of subpixels arranged in a matrix form, a main ground line that is positioned at a first side of the non-display area and is formed using the same material as source and drain electrodes included in each subpixel, and an auxiliary ground line that is formed to surround the non-display area, overlaps at least a portion of the main ground line at the first side of the non-display area, is electrically connected to the main ground line, and is formed using the same material as a lower electrode included in each subpixel.
US08912982B2 Display device
According to one embodiment, a display device includes a display unit, an imaging element, and a first reflecting unit. The display unit emits a light. The imaging element has a major surface and is configured to form a real image of an object at a symmetric position of the object with the major surface serving as a plane of symmetry. The imaging element includes a portion not overlapping the display unit as viewed along a normal direction of the major surface. The first reflecting unit includes a portion facing the major surface, and is configured to reflect the light emitted from the display unit and to cause the light to be incident on the portion of the imaging element not overlapping the display unit.
US08912981B2 Image display apparatus and head mounted display
An image display apparatus includes: an image forming device; an optical system converting light emitted from the image forming device into parallel light; and an optical device to which the light beams converted into the parallel light by the optical system enter, in which the light beams are guided, and from which the light beams are emitted, wherein a central light beam emitted from the center of the image forming device, passing through the nodal point of the optical system and entering the optical device at an optical device center point intersects an XY plane defined by an X axis that passes through the optical device center point, and is parallel to the axis direction of the optical device and a Y axis that passes through the optical device center point, and coincides with the normal axis of the optical device at angles other than 0 degree.
US08912973B2 Anisotropic metamaterial gain-enhancing lens for antenna applications
Examples of the present invention include metamaterials, including metamaterial lenses, having material properties that approximate the behavior of a material with low (0
US08912972B2 Coupling degree adjustment circuit, antenna device, and wireless communication device
A dielectric body includes a first radiating element on a first side and a second radiating element on a second side. The first radiating element and the second radiating element are linear conductors that each extend from a first end to a second end (an open end), and are parallel or substantially parallel to each other in a direction from the first end to the second end. The first end of the first radiating element is connected to a first port of a coupling degree adjustment circuit, and the first end of the second radiating element is connected to a second port of the coupling degree adjustment circuit. The first radiating element and the second radiating element are mainly coupled to each other in the coupling degree adjustment circuit.
US08912970B1 Antenna element with integral faraday cage
An antenna structure and method are disclosed. A faraday cage is operable to shield a conductive resonator, the faraday cage comprising an electromagnetically-shielding ground plane. A shorting pin is coupled to the conductive resonator and the electromagnetically-shielding ground plane, and is operable to electrically couple the conductive resonator to the electromagnetically-shielding ground plane.
US08912965B2 Substrate antenna
The simply configured substrate antenna has a plurality of antennas. A loop-like first joint pattern one spot of which is divided is formed in one-side substrate surface of a substrate composed of a dielectric material. Antenna elements that configure a first antenna are respectively connected to both ends of the first joint pattern at the divided position. A loop-like second joint pattern one spot of which is divided is formed in the other-side substrate surface at a position opposite to the first joint pattern. Antenna elements that configure a second antenna are respectively connected to both ends of the second joint pattern at the divided position. The first and second antennas are set to approximately the same or different resonance frequency bands. Feeding and ground points connected to and formed in the first joint pattern are held in common to transmit or receive a transmission/reception signal.
US08912964B2 Vehicle-mounted antenna substrate unit
The present invention is directed to achieving a favorable grounding state in a vehicle-mounted antenna. One end of a bent antenna element 22 is connected to an inner conductor of a coaxial cable 14 via a wiring conductor pattern of a substrate 12. An outer conductor of the coaxial cable 14 is connected to a front grounding conductor pattern of the substrate 12. In the substrate 12, a plate capacitor is formed by the front grounding conductor pattern, a rear grounding conductor pattern, and a dielectric plate sandwiched between these grounding conductor patterns. The outer conductor 52 of the coaxial cable 14 is electrically connected to one end of a grounding bracket 20 via the plate capacitor. A tip portion 24 of the grounding bracket 20 is secured to a vehicle body by means of a bolt 26 and is electrically connected to the vehicle body.
US08912961B2 Apparatus for wireless communication
Apparatus including a ground member oriented in a first orientation; and an antenna including a first portion having a non-overlaying arrangement with the ground member, the first portion being oriented in a second orientation, different to the first orientation.
US08912958B2 Radio communication device
A radio communication device according to the present invention which is inserted into an expansion slot of an electronic device, includes: a printed circuit board having a rectangular shape, and provided with a connection terminal on one short side that connects to the expansion slot; an antenna element provided on the printed circuit board extending in a direction orthogonal thereto in the vicinity of an other short side of the printed circuit board, and having a substantially ¼λ electrical length; and a radial line extending on the printed circuit board with a position where the antenna element is arranged as an end point.
US08912957B2 Reconfigurable millimeter wave multibeam antenna array
A reconfigurable millimeter wave multibeam antenna array is disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, an apparatus is provided that includes a first millimeter (MM) wave antenna, a second MM wave antenna, and a hybrid coupler coupled to the first and second MM wave antennas, the hybrid coupler configured to receive a MM wave transmit signal and a phase shifted version of the MM wave transmit signal, and to direct power to the first and second MM wave antennas based on a phase difference between the MM wave transmit signal and the phase shifted version of the MM wave transmit signal.
US08912955B2 Time synchronization with ambient sources
Systems and methods for extracting synchronization information from ambient signals, such as broadcast television signals, and using the synchronization information as a reference for correcting the local time base so that a GNSS positioning receiver system maintains relative time base accuracy with respect to a GNSS time.
US08912953B2 GPS receiver and calculation method of navigation solution thereof
Provided is a GPS receiver, including: a navigation signal receiving unit receiving navigation signals from satellites; a navigation signal processing unit acquiring position information of each satellite from the received navigation signal and measuring a pseudo-range; a pseudo-range estimating unit determining whether a satellite of which the pseudo-range may be estimated exists among the satellites from which the navigation signals are transmitted in the case where the number of satellites from which the navigation signals are transmitted is 3 or less and estimating the pseudo-range of the determined satellite; and a navigation solution calculating unit calculating a navigation solution by using the measured pseudo-range and the estimated pseudo-range.
US08912951B2 Moving target detection using a two-dimensional folding approach
A system and method for discrimination and identification of a target including: receiving a radar return signal including target information and clutter information; determining a two-fold forward or forward-backward data matrix from the received signal, using a multi-dimensional folding (MDF) process; computing singular values of the two-fold forward or forward-backward data matrix; using the computed singular values to determine a noise power level of the radar return signal; determining the number of scatterers in the radar return signal according to a predetermined threshold value above the noise power; estimating complex Doppler and azimuth frequencies of each scatterer from the determined number of scatterers using the MDF process; determining dispersive scatterers and non-dispersive scatterers using the estimated Doppler and azimuth complex frequencies of each scatterer; and distinguishing the target information from the clutter information, according to the determined dispersive scatterers and non-dispersive scatterers.
US08912950B2 Interference mitigation in through the wall radar
This invention relates to sense through the wall radar. A main channel of a radar system (12) is operated at a frequency capable of penetrating opaque barriers such as the wall (24) of a building (22) to sense targets (16) therein. The main channel performance may be impaired by multipath interference, i.e., radar returns resulting from targets (20) outside the building (22) illuminated by reflection from the wall (24). A guard channel of the radar, operating at a higher frequency which does not penetrate the wall (24), is used to identify targets (20) outside the building (22) and suppress the multipath interference they produce in the main channel.
US08912947B1 System and method for partitioning acquisition volumes using rotated covariance
A method for searching a radar acquisition volume after rotating the radar acquisition volume is disclosed. The method may comprise identifying an acquisition face of the acquisition volume and partitioning the acquisition face so that each partitioned portion of the acquisition face can be searched within a predetermined time period. The partitioning step may comprise determining the maximum number of beams that can be searched in a predetermined period of time and iteratively repositioning an elevation line on the acquisition face to identify the highest elevation line for which the number of radar beams is less than or equal to the maximum number of beams. The partitioning step may also comprise defining a beam lattice for the acquisition face and determining a maximum elevation line based on the beam lattice. The area of the acquisition face bounded by the highest or maximum elevation line defines the partitioned portion.
US08912946B2 Submillimeter radar using signals reflected from multiple angles
A submillimeter wavelength radar system has a receiver (20, 27, 90) for receiving and downconverting signals from content in a field of view of the system and a signal processor (30) arranged to determine information about the content from the downconverted signals, the radar system being arranged to obtain signals of the same points in the field of view from different illumination or receiving angles by having multiple illumination or receive positions, and the signal processor being arranged to use the determined information from the signals from the two or more angles to determine location or orientation of the content. By using information from different angles, it becomes possible to address or overcome the drawback of submillimeter wavelengths that most of the reflection is specular and so only surfaces of an object facing the radar system are detectable, meaning that many objects are unrecognisable.
US08912945B2 Method and an apparatus for determining a deviation between an actual direction of a launched projectile and a predetermined direction
In a method of determining a deviation of a path of a projectile from a predetermined path, the method uses an image of a target area in which the desired path or direction is pointed out. Subsequently, the real direction or real path is determined and the deviation is determined.
US08912941B2 Analog-digital conversion circuit and method for driving the same
An analog-to-digital conversion circuit includes: a clock generating circuit which generates a clock signal including a first initial period and plural normal periods following the first initial period, the first initial period being one of a high period and a low period and being a first period immediately after a reset release, each of the normal periods being one of a high period and a low period and shorter than the first initial period; and an incremental analog-to-digital converter which operates using the clock signal.
US08912940B2 String DAC charge boost system and method
Embodiments of the present invention may provide a string DAC with charge boosting. The string DAC may include multiple strings, such as an MSB DAC and an LSB DAC, for converting a digital word into a corresponding analog voltage. The string DAC may also include a charge boost system to couple a charge into or out of the DAC during a code transition, such as a MSB code transition. The string DAC may operate in a break-before-make connection technique where all relevant connections are substantially open-circuited before new connections are made. Therefore, the charge boost may shorten the settling time of impedance elements in the string DAC between code transitions and may substantially reduce (or eliminate) glitches.
US08912934B2 Systems with bias offset and gain mismatch removal from parallel transmitted signals
A system includes converters, first modules, second modules, and a multiplexer. The converters receive an analog signal and a respective one of multiple clock signals. Each of the converters samples the analog signal based on a respective clock signal to generate a respective digital signal. Each of the clock signals is out-of-phase with other ones of the clock signals. The first modules receive the digital signals generated by the converters, remove bias offsets from the digital signals to generate first output signals, and output each of the first output signals on a multiple channels. The second modules receive the first output signals, and based on the first output signals, remove or equalize gain mismatch between the channels to generate second output signals. The multiplexer receives the second output signals, and generates an output based on the second output signals. The output is a digital representation of the analog signal.
US08912932B2 Lempel-Ziv data compression with shortened hash chains based on repetitive patterns
Methods and apparatus are provided for Lempel-Ziv data compression with shortened hash chains based on repetitive multi-byte runs. Data is compressed by processing a sequence of data to identify a repetitive pattern, such as a multi-byte run; and providing indicators associated with the sequence of data of a start position and an end position of the repetitive pattern. The indicators of the start and end positions of the repetitive pattern may comprise, for example, flags associated with the positions. The indicators of the start and end positions of the repetitive pattern are processed to determine a sequence length of the repetitive pattern. In addition, a match can be identified in the sequence of data having a length that is greater than or equal to an offset of s bytes to identify a run comprised of an s-byte sequence.
US08912928B2 Encoder, driving apparatus, method for calculating absolute position, and method for manufacturing encoder
An encoder includes a position data obtainer that obtains superordinate data representing a position of a moving body in a superordinate section and subordinate data representing a position in a subordinate section repeated in a superordinate section with higher resolution than that of the superordinate data, a storage in which a correction value that can correct a deviation amount occurring in the superordinate data against the subordinate data is recorded to be associated with an absolute position with resolution nearly equal to that of the superordinate data, a corrector that obtains the correction value from the storage and corrects the superordinate data, and a section identifier that identifies, based on the superordinate data corrected by the corrector and the subordinate data when the superordinate data is obtained, the subordinate section in which the subordinate data is obtained against the superordinate section.
US08912927B1 Method for determining incline angle of electromagnetic pointer
A method for determining an incline angle of an electromagnetic pointer is provided. The electromagnetic pointer is positioned on or above a digitizer which has a plurality of loop antennas. The method comprises steps of: locating a peak-value loop antenna which has a maximum inductive signal value; scanning plural loop antennas that are near to the peak-value loop antenna so as to obtain a signal distribution; simulating at least two signal curves by using signal values sensed by the peak-value loop antenna and the neighboring loop antennas; calculating a rate of change between every two signal curves; and determining an incline angle of the electromagnetic pointer by looking up a conversion table with the calculated rate of change. The present invention only needs to scan five to seven loop antennas to determine the incline angle, thereby increasing the efficiency of incline angle determination.
US08912926B2 Identifying a potential vehicle incident within a communication black spot
A method for identifying a potential vehicle incident within a communication black spot. It is identified when a vehicle has entered a communication black spot. It is further identified when the vehicle has failed to exit the communication black spot within a determined time period. It is then determined whether it is likely that the vehicle has failed to exit the communication black spot within the determined time period due to being involved in an incident (or whether there is another reasonable explanation for a vehicle's failure to exit). If it is determined that it is likely that the vehicle has been involved in an incident within the communication black spot, a third party can be alerted (by a service provider) to the potential that an incident has occurred within the communication black spot.
US08912924B2 Authorization of service using vehicle information and/or user information
Among other things, one or more techniques and/or systems are provided for authorizing an action using vehicle identification information (e.g., supplied by a vehicle) and user identification information (e.g., supplied by a mobile device associated with a user of the vehicle). Such an action may relate to, among other things, refueling the vehicle, parking the vehicle, using a fee-based road segment, and/or other vehicle-centric actions, for example. Moreover, in one embodiment, as part of the authorization, a payment transaction may be initiated by an authorization system configured to authorize the action.
US08912918B2 Method and system for optimized monitoring and identification of advanced metering infrastructure device communication failures
A method for optimized monitoring and identification of AMI device communication failures in an AMI network is provided. A graphical representation of AMI devices is generated comprising nodes corresponding to AMI devices and links representing connectivity between AMI devices. The graphical representation is generated based on data associated with AMI devices retrieved via AMI network in real time. Further, properties of the AMI devices are computed using the graphical representation based on values associated with the nodes corresponding to the AMI devices. The graphical representation is modified based on the computed properties and predefined rules. Nodes in the modified graphical representation are selected and processed in an order based on AMI device hierarchy, priority and criticality. Further, the graphical representation is modified based on processing of selected nodes. AMI device with communication failures are identified from at least one of the generated and modified graphical representation of AMI devices.
US08912917B2 Monitoring module, system and method
A method for operating a monitoring module in a monitoring system. A monitoring module is configured with means for detecting impulse signals from sensors of the monitoring module and from other monitoring modules of the monitoring system, and with one or more groups of functions. A function defines a relation between an impulse signal detected by a monitoring module and a monitoring response of the monitoring module, and each group of functions corresponds with one level of hierarchy of monitoring modules of the monitoring system. One or more impulse signals from a sensor of the monitoring module and/or from another monitoring module of the monitoring system are detected; and a prevailing set of functions in a group of functions is determined. One or more monitoring responses are then determined with the prevailing set of functions.
US08912913B2 Alert for display protection
Examples provide mechanisms for detecting an object disposed between a display of a computing device and a base of the computing device. In response to detection of the object between the display of the computing device and the base of the computing device, the computing device may output an alert via a speaker.
US08912910B2 System and method for controlling and managing medical supplies stored inside medical refrigerator or freezer
The present invention is directed to a system and method for controlling and managing medical supplies stored inside medical refrigerator or freezer. The system includes a reader and at least two antenna situated in different locations of the exterior of the refrigerator or freezer and are connected to the reader individually; electronic labels attached on the medical supplies which store identification codes of corresponding medical supplies; processing unit which is connected to the reader for receiving identification codes of medical supplies from reader through the antenna, and determines a general position of the corresponding medical supply in the storage space according to the situated location and beam coverage area of the antenna, thus allowing one to quickly retrieve said medical supply.
US08912906B2 Signal processing circuit and antenna apparatus
To form a signal processing circuit and an antenna apparatus that do not need a circuit to adjust resonant frequency of a resonant circuit or resonant-frequency adjustment work and that are downsized, an antenna coil and a capacitor define an antenna resonant circuit. An impedance matching circuit including capacitors, a first coil, and a second coil is provided between the antenna resonant circuit and a wireless IC. The first coil and the second coil are magnetically coupled.
US08912904B2 Security tag having magnetically releasable latch
A security system including a security tag is provided. The security tag includes a housing and a pin in which the pin is removably insertable into the housing. The security tag further includes a latching element disposed within the housing and positionable in a lock position and in an unlock position. The latching element includes a pivot axis. The latching element has a substantially balanced rotational response about the pivot axis when exposed to an external physical mechanical impulse. The security tag further includes a bias element that releasably positions the latching element in the lock position. The latching element releasably engages the inserted pin when in the lock position.
US08912901B2 Portable security and protection enclosures
Portable security and protection cases and enclosures for storage and transport of high value articles susceptible or vulnerable to theft, loss or irreparable damage. The cases and enclosures include reinforced structural shells electronic anti-theft and climate control and monitoring measures, electronic and non-electronic anti-breakage performance characteristics and automated locking and control systems.
US08912900B2 Information acquisition device, positional information storage method and storage medium
An information acquisition device, includes: a positioning unit that measures a current position and acquires positional information thereof; an information acquisition unit that acquires information; a storage unit that stores information acquired by the information acquisition unit and positional information acquired by the positioning unit; and a control unit that causes the positioning unit to perform positioning, while the information acquisition unit is activated, at an interval shorter than while the information acquisition unit is stopped, and causes positional information acquired while the information acquisition unit is activated, outside a time period determined in advance with a time in which acquisition of information was performed by the information acquisition unit as a reference point, among positional information acquired in the positioning unit, to be thinned and stored in the storage unit.
US08912899B2 Wireless sensor network calibration system and method
A system has at least one sensor and a controller communicatively coupled to the sensor. The system further has logic configured to calculate a calibration value based upon an initial state of the sensor and store the calibration value in memory.
US08912898B2 Managing advertising devices
In one general aspect, a request to determine a status of a first of a plurality of advertising devices is received. The advertising devices are spatially separated. Operating conditions of the first advertising device are identified. The status of the first advertising device is determined based, at least in part, on the operating conditions. A presentation including information indicating the status of the first advertising device is transmitted.
US08912896B1 TPMS setting tool
A TPMS setting tool includes a housing carrying a display unit and an input device on the outside and a circuit board and a power supply device on the inside, the power supply device and the circuit board being electrically coupled together to provide the TPMS setting tool with the necessary working power supply. The housing has a receptacle provided at one side thereof and a connection port with multiple pins mounted inside the receptacle for the connection of a TPMS, enabling the desired communication protocol and ID code to be written into the inserted TPMS.
US08912894B2 Apparatus and method of a combined burglar/fire alarm having isolation
Apparatus located in a common box for providing a combination of fire and burglar alarm protection including a fire alarm control panel for providing fire alarm protection, a burglar alarm control panel which provides burglar alarm functionality mounted on the fire alarm control panel, a power supply coupled to the burglar bus to power only the burglary alarm control panel and burglar devices, a first switch located between the burglar alarm control panel and the fire alarm control to initiate operation of the burglar alarm system when closed; and a second switch located to provide power to all burglar alarm devices connected to the burglar module when closed. The first switch, when open, suspends only the operation of the burglar alarm control panel, and the second switch, when open, removes power from all burglar devices connected to the burglar module.
US08912891B2 Apparatus having at least one packaging unit with an RFID chip which is used for radio-frequency identification, and method therefor
An apparatus having at least one RFID chip (30), which is surrounded by a metallic outer casing (11) of a packaging unit (1), used for radio-frequency identification and having a circuit (32) and an antenna structure (31), and a transmitting/receiving unit (41) for transmitting a transmission signal (42) and/or receiving a response signal (43) from the RFID chip (30), wherein the response signal (43) can be evaluated using an evaluation unit (44) which is connected to the transmitting/receiving unit (41), where the RFID chip (30) has an operating frequency in a frequency band (50) below a range of a blocking frequency (54) which is determined by the conductivity of the metallic outer casing (11) and the thickness thereof.
US08912887B2 RFID tag
An RFID tag comprising a coil and an RFID chip having two inputs/outputs, each input/output being connected to the coil. The tag further comprises an electrical circuit connected to the inputs/outputs, the circuit being adapted to operate in one of two modes, one mode outputting substantially no signal whereby the RFID chip is allowed to operate and a second mode being a mode wherein a signal is output so that the operation of the RFID-chip is interrupted. Alternatively, the circuit may have a lower operating voltage than the RFID-chip and may thus starve the RFID-chip and prevent its operation when desired.
US08912885B2 Personal authentication apparatus and personal authentication method
A personal authentication apparatus comprises an input unit configured to input image data; a face detection unit configured to detect a face region of a person included in the image data input by the input unit, and to detect feature data from the detected face region; a facial expression determination unit configured to determine a facial expression from the face region detected by the face detection unit; a storage unit configured to store feature data used to authenticate a person in correspondence with respective facial expressions of a plurality of faces; a selection unit configured to select feature data corresponding to the facial expression determined by the facial expression determination unit from the storage unit; and an authentication unit configured to authenticate a person by comparing the feature data of the face region detected by the face detection unit, and the feature data selected by the selection unit.
US08912883B2 Techniques for automating rental car transactions
A customer uses a wireless portable device to interact with a remote cloud-based car rental service. Details at check in are recorded and the customer is authorized to take possession of the car. At checkout, additional details are noted, a receipt is produced, and the customer leaves the car at the car facility. The check-in and checkout process can be achieved without any car rental attendant. That is, the customer via the wireless portable device and with the assistance of the remote cloud-based car rental service completely achieves check in and checkout for a car rental.
US08912881B2 Methods and apparatus for dynamically authenticated identification
Methods and apparatus for visually authenticating an entity which displays a radio frequency identification (RFID) tag are disclosed. In one embodiment, an apparatus includes a locator that determines when a radio frequency (RF) receiver is present within a vicinity. The apparatus also includes a server configured to identify a security element and configured to obtain an information element associated with the RF receiver when the RF receiver is present within the vicinity, as well as a transmitter. The transmitter transmits a first representation of the security element to a display arrangement, a second representation of the security element to the RF receiver, and the information element to the RF receiver. The second representation of the security element is arranged to overlay the information element when the second representation of the security element and the information element are displayed.
US08912877B2 System and method for activating an electronic device using two or more sensors
The disclosure provides a system and method for activating an electronic device. The activation circuit comprises: a first sensor to monitor for a first condition relating to an environment as affected by a user of the device; a second sensor to monitor for the first condition relating to an environment isolated from effects of the user; and an activation circuit to evaluate signals from the first and second sensors to determine whether to change an activation state of a component on the device. This may involve activating or deactivating the component.
US08912876B2 Surface mounting varistor
A surface mounting varistor for high voltages and current pulses without any risk of burning a mounting board is provided. A covering material for a varistor 1 has a duplex (two layer) structure made from a first mold layer 13 and a second mold layer 15, and a leg with a predetermined height is formed on the bottom of the covering material. As a result, a space (void) formed between a varistor element 2 and a mounting board 20 when the varistor 1 is mounted on the board 20 allows avoidance of the risk of burning the board 20, even if the varistor short-circuits.
US08912871B2 Electromagnetic actuator with magnetic latching and switching device comprising one such actuator
An electromagnetic actuator comprising a core moving between a latched position and an open position, a permanent magnet, a coil designed to generate a first magnetic control flux to move the core from an open position to a latched position, and a second magnetic control flux designed to facilitate movement of the moving core from the latched position to the open position. The permanent magnet is positioned on the moving core so as to be at least partly outside the fixed magnetic circuit in which the first magnetic control flux flows in the open position, and to be at least partly inside the fixed magnetic circuit used for flow of a magnetic polarization flux of the magnet in the latched position.
US08912869B2 Electromagnetic relay
An electromagnetic relay includes a bobbin including a winding part, jaw parts extending from both ends of the winding part, and a pair of opposing side wall parts; a coil wound on the winding part; an iron core attached to the bobbin; an armature; a movable contact which contacts or is separated from a fixed contact; and a case. The jaw part is formed to extend to a part in the vicinity of a side wall of the case so as to separate a first space where the coil exists from a second space where the fixed contact and the movable contact exist. Each of the side wall parts extends from the jaw part along an axis of the bobbin in a direction toward the second space and has a distal end abutting on the case.
US08912866B2 Dual-band surface acoustic wave filter and composite high-frequency component
A dual-band surface acoustic wave filter is mounted on a circuit board together with a high-frequency switch, constitutes a composite high-frequency component together with the high-frequency switch, and significantly reduces and prevents deterioration of filter characteristics of the composite high-frequency component. A first input terminal is located on a first corner portion of a second principal surface of a wiring board. A second input terminal is located on the second principal surface of the wiring board and along a first long side or a first short side so as to be next to the first input terminal. First and second output terminals are arranged on an edge portion of the second principal surface of the wiring board on a second long side and along the second long side.
US08912860B2 Millimeter-wave bare IC mounted within a laminated PCB and usable in a waveguide transition
A system enabling interface between a millimeter-wave bare-die and a Printed Circuit Board (PCB). A cavity of depth X is formed in at least one lamina of a PCB. Three electrically conductive pads are printed on one of the laminas of the PCB, the pads optionally reach the edge of the cavity. A bare-die Integrated Circuit having a thickness of optionally X, or a heightened bare-die Integrated Circuit having a thickness of optionally X, output a millimeter-wave signal from three electrically conductive contacts arranged in a ground-signal-ground configuration on an upper side edge of the bare-die Integrated Circuit. The bare-die Integrated Circuit is placed inside the cavity, optionally such that the electrically conductive pads and the upper side edge containing the electrically conductive contacts are arranged side-by-side at substantially the same height. Three bonding wires or strips electrically connect each electrically conductive contact to one of the electrically conductive pads.
US08912859B2 Transition between a laminated PCB and a waveguide including a lamina with a printed conductive surface functioning as a waveguide-backshort
A system for directing electromagnetic millimeter-waves towards a waveguide using an electrically conductive formation within a Printed Circuit Board (PCB). The system includes a waveguide having an aperture and at least two laminas belonging to a PCB. A first electrically conductive surface printed on one of the laminas is located over the aperture such that the first electrically conductive surface covers at least most of the aperture. A plurality of Vertical Interconnect Access (VIA) holes, optionally filled or plated with an electrically conductive material, are electrically connecting the first electrically conductive surface to the waveguide, forming an electrically conductive cage over the aperture. Optionally, a probe printed on one of the laminas of the PCB is located inside the cage and over the aperture.
US08912857B2 PLL system and method for controlling a gain of a VCO circuit
A phase locked loop system, comprises: a voltage controlled oscillator circuit, comprising a first plurality of switchable varactors for selecting a frequency band of the VCO, that has a gain that changes with frequency band, and a second plurality of switchable varactors for varying the gain in the selected band. The PLL system has a PLL feedback circuit comprising a switching device for switching the feedback circuit to an open loop state wherein a plurality of predefined tuning voltages can be applied to the VCO; a frequency measurement device for measuring the synthesized VCO frequency; and a control unit operable to determine the gain with respect to the synthesized frequency and the tuning voltages.
US08912856B2 Electro-mechanical resonance loop
The invention relates to a controller, and more particularly, to systems, devices and methods of controlling a sensor having a resonating mass. The controller includes: an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) unit for extracting a digitized sensor signal from the sensor signal; a phase controller for generating, based on the digitized sensor signal, a phase-controlled signal that is locked in phase with the digitized sensor signal; an amplitude controller for applying a gain to the digitized sensor signal to thereby generate an amplitude-adjusted signal; a modulator for modulating the amplitude-adjusted signal to thereby generate a modulated signal; and a phase shifter for shifting the phase of the modulated signal by 90 degrees. The output signal from the phase shifter is amplified and input to the drive for exciting the resonating mass, to thereby form a closed resonance loop for controlling the oscillation amplitude of the resonating mass.
US08912855B2 Relaxation oscillator
A relaxation oscillator is provided. A first current source provides a first current. A second current source provides a second current. A resistive element is coupled between the first current source and a ground. A capacitive element is coupled between the second current source and the ground. A comparator has a non-inverting input terminal, an inverting input terminal and an output terminal for outputting a compare result. A clock generator provides a clock signal according to the compare result. A switching unit alternately couples the non-inverting input terminal and the inverting input terminal of the comparator to the resistive element and the capacitive element according to the clock signal.
US08912851B2 Apparatus and method for providing amplifier linearity information
An apparatus for providing a linearity information associated with an amplifier includes an operating state determinator and an evaluator. The operating state determinator is configured to obtain information describing a gain of the amplifier for at least one bias condition of the amplifier. The evaluator is configured to obtain the linearity information based on both the information describing the gain of the amplifier and information about the at least one bias condition of the amplifier using a gain-bias characteristic of the amplifier. A bias circuit including the apparatus for providing the linearity information is also disclosed. A corresponding method for providing the linearity information includes: using the information describing the gain of the amplifier and the information about the at least one bias condition with the gain-bias characteristics to determine a relation of a current operating point described by the information with respect to the gain-bias characteristic; and deriving the linearity information from said relation.
US08912850B2 Amplification circuit
An amplification circuit, which may be in a receive path of a communication device, includes an amplifier including at least a first amplification device and a switchable attenuation circuit. The switchable attenuation circuit includes one or more switches and a plurality of attenuation devices and is operable to provide different levels of attenuation to an input signal prior to input to the amplifier depending on the status of the one or more switches. The attenuation devices may be capacitors, wherein the capacitors may be arranged to form a capacitive divider with a level of attenuation dependent on the status of the switches. The switchable attenuation circuit may be a switched capacitive attenuation ladder of n stages, n being any integer, each ladder stage including a capacitive divider. The amplification circuit may also include a switch, which when closed provides an unattenuated path for the input signal to the amplifier input.
US08912847B2 Power amplifier circuit and front end circuit
A power amplifier circuit (DIPPA), comprising a driver stage (DR) which is applicable to provide a preamplified driver signal (S_DR) dependent on a predetermined transmit signal. The power amplifier circuit (DIPPA) comprises also a frequency selector (DIP) which is electrically coupled to the driver stage (DR) and which is applicable to separate the driver signal (S_DR) into a first and second signal (S—1, S—2). The first signal (S—1) is associated to a first predetermined and the second signal (S—2) is associated to a second predetermined frequency band. The power amplifier circuit (DIPPA) comprises at least a first and second power amplifier stage (PA1, PA2). The first and second power amplifier stage (PA1, PA2) are electrically coupled to the frequency selector (DIP). The first and second power amplifier stage (PA1, PA2) is operable to provide a first and second amplified signal (S_A1, S—2), respectively, dependent on the first and second signal (S—1, S—2), respectively.
US08912846B2 Doherty amplifier arrangement
A Doherty amplifier (1) is described which comprises an input terminal (102) for receiving an input signal (101) and an output terminal (103) for providing an amplified signal (104) of the input signal (101). The Doherty amplifier (1) comprises a carrier amplifier stage (300) with a first signal input (311) and a second signal input (312) and a peak amplifier stage (400) with a third signal input (411) and a fourth signal input (421). A signal splitter (200) splits and delays the input signal (101) so that the signal at the first signal input (311) and the signal at the second signal input (321) are 180° apart in phase and that the signal at the third signal input (421) and the fourth signal input (431) are also 180° apart in phase.
US08912843B2 Ultra low cut-off frequency filter
An ultra low cut-off frequency filter. A filter circuit includes a control circuit responsive to an input signal and a feedback signal to generate a control signal. The filter circuit includes a controllable resistor coupled to the control circuit. The controllable resistor is responsive to a reference signal and the control signal to generate the feedback signal. The filter circuit includes a feedback path coupled to the control circuit and the controllable resistor to couple the feedback signal from the controllable resistor to the control circuit, thereby removing noise from at least one of the input signal and the reference signal, and preventing voltage error in the filter circuit.
US08912838B1 Passive offset and overshoot cancellation for sampled data circuits
A zero-crossing detector with effective offset cancellation includes a set of series connected capacitors and an amplifier having an input terminal. An offset capacitor is operatively connected between the amplifier and the set of series connected capacitors. A switch is operatively connected to the input terminal, and an offset sampling capacitor is operatively connected to the switch. The switch connects the offset sampling capacitor to the input terminal of the amplifier during a charge transfer phase.
US08912835B2 Method and system for controlling radio frequency power
A method for controlling pulsed power that includes measuring a first pulse of power from a power amplifier to obtain data. The method also includes generating a first signal to adjust a second pulse of delivered power, the first signal correlated to the data to minimize a power difference between a power set point and a substantially stable portion of the second pulse. The method also includes generating a second signal to adjust the second pulse of delivered power, the second signal correlated to the data to minimize an amplitude difference between a peak of the second pulse and the substantially stable portion of the second pulse.
US08912829B1 Method and apparatus for using a synchronous reset pulse to reset circuitry in multiple clock domains
An integrated circuit and method for using a synchronous reset pulse to reset a circuitry comprising a plurality of clock domains are disclosed. For example, the method of the present disclosure provides a reset signal that is synched to one clock, takes the synchronous signal and resets circuits in a plurality of clock domains. In order to reset a portion of the circuit which is in a particular clock domain, the reset needs to be synchronized to the clock of the particular domain.
US08912827B2 Driver circuit
A circuit may include an input node configured to receive a signal and an output node configured to be coupled to a load. The circuit may also include a first circuit coupled between the input node and the output node. The first circuit may be configured to receive the signal and to drive the signal on the output node at a first voltage. The circuit may also include an active device coupled to the output node and a second circuit coupled to the active device and the input node. The second circuit may be configured to receive the signal and to drive the signal to the active device at a second voltage. The circuit may also include a tap circuit configured to selectively apply a modified version of the signal to the signal driven by the second circuit before the signal driven by the second circuit reaches the active device.
US08912822B2 Semiconductor integrated circuit
One embodiment provides a semiconductor integrated circuit, including: a first input wire; a second input wire; a first look-up table (LUT) comprising: a plurality of first memories; a first number of first switches connected to the first input wire; and a second number of second switches connected to the second input wire, the second number being less than the first number, the first LUT being configured to output information which is stored in one of the first memories; and a second LUT including: a plurality of second memories; a third number of third switches connected to the second input wire; and a fourth number of fourth switches connected to the first input wire, the fourth number being less than the third number, the second LUT being configured to output information which is stored in one of the second memories.
US08912821B2 Logic cells based on spin diode and applications of same
In one aspect, the invention relates to logic cells that utilize one or more of spin diodes. By placing one or two control wires on the side of the spin diodes to generate magnetic fields in the spin diodes due to input currents, the logic cell can be changed from one logic gate to another logic gate. The unique feature leads to field logic devices in which simple instructions can be used to construct a whole new set of logic gates.
US08912820B2 System and method for reducing reconfiguration power
A system and method for reducing power consumption in a reconfigurable integrated circuit. Some embodiments provide placement and routing programs that reduce the number of bits to be reconfigured. Some embodiments provide placement and routing programs that increase the number of groups of circuits that do not need reconfiguration at some times. Some embodiments include circuits that selectively block reconfiguration.
US08912818B2 High speed multiple memory interface I/O cell
A calibration circuit includes an amplifier, a current steering digital-to-analog converter (DAC), a comparator, a slew calibration network, and an on-die termination (ODT) network. The amplifier generally has a first input, a second input, and an output. The first input generally receives a reference signal. The current steering digital-to-analog converter (DAC) generally has a first input coupled to the output of the amplifier, a first output coupled to the second input of the amplifier, and a second output coupled to a circuit node. The comparator generally has a first input receiving the reference signal, a second input coupled to the circuit node, and an output at which an output of the calibration circuit may be presented. The slew calibration network is generally coupled to the circuit node and configured to adjust a slew rate of the calibration circuit. The on-die termination (ODT) network is generally coupled to the circuit node.
US08912816B2 Charge distribution control for secure systems
Advantageous analog and/or digital logic cells and methods of powering circuit blocks using the same are provided. A digital logic cell can include a charge storage device, a logic block, and connections to a power supply. The charge storage device may be a capacitor. The capacitor or other charge storage device can be disconnected from the logic block and a power supply to discharge the capacitor, and then connected to the power supply, via the power supply connections, to charge the capacitor. The capacitor can be disconnected from a ground connection of the power supply while the capacitor is discharged. After being charged via the power supply, the capacitor can also be disconnected from the power supply (including ground) and connected to the logic block to power the logic block.
US08912814B2 Clocked charge domain logic
Advantageous digital logic cells and methods of powering logic blocks using the same are provided. A digital logic cell can include a charge storage device, a logic block, and connections to a power supply. The charge storage device may be a capacitor. The capacitor or other charge storage device can be disconnected from the logic block and a power supply to discharge the capacitor, and then connected to the power supply, via the power supply connections, to charge the capacitor. The capacitor can be disconnected from a ground connection of the power supply while the capacitor is discharged. After being charged via the power supply, the capacitor can also be disconnected from the power supply (including ground) and connected to the logic block to power the logic block.
US08912813B2 Test device for liquid crystal display device and test method thereof
A test device for a liquid crystal display device includes a first shorting bar, a first, a second and a third control line, transmission lines and thin film transistor switch elements; in which the gate electrodes of thin film transistor switch element are respectively arranged on the first, the second and the third control line; the data lines are respectively connected to the first, the second and the third control line via the drain electrodes of thin film transistor switch elements, in which data lines for controlling the blue pixel units are connected to the first control line, data lines for controlling the red pixel units are connected to the second control line, data lines for controlling the green pixel units are connected to the third control line; and the source electrodes of multiple thin film transistor switch elements are connected to the first shorting bar via multiple transmission lines.
US08912810B2 Contactor with multi-pin device contacts
A contactor assembly for automated testing a device under test (DUT) that includes a plurality of separate electrodes including a first electrode includes a tester load board and a contactor body coupled to the tester load board. A plurality of contactor pins carried by the contactor body includes a first contactor pin and a second contactor pin that are electrically coupled to the tester load board. The tester load board is configured to couple the plurality of contactor pins to automatic test equipment (ATE) for testing the DUT. The first contactor pin and second contactor pin are positioned to both contact the first electrode. A first path to the first contactor pin and a second path to the second contactor pin are electrically shorted together by the contactor assembly to be electrically in parallel to provide redundant paths to the first electrode during automated testing of the DUT.
US08912809B2 Methods and apparatus for performing wafer-level testing on antenna tuning elements
A test system for testing an antenna tuning element is provided. The test system may include a tester, a test fixture, and a probing structure. The probing structure may include probe tips configured to mate with corresponding solder bumps formed on a device under test (DUT) containing an antenna tuning element. The DUT may be tested in a shunt or series configuration. The tester may be electrically coupled to the test probe via first and second connectors on the test fixture. An adjustable load circuit that is coupled to the second connector may be configured in a selected state so that a desired amount of electrical stress may be presented to the DUT during testing. The tester may be used to obtain measurement results on the DUT. Systematic effects associated with the test structures may be de-embedded from the measured results to obtain calibrated results.
US08912807B2 Sensor devices and methods for use in sensing current through a conductor
Sensor devices and related methods disclosed. One example sensor device includes a Rogowski coil defining an aperture and a dielectric material at least partially enclosing the Rogowski coil. The dielectric material has a dielectric constant of at least about 3.5. The dielectric material is configured such that, when a conductor is at least partially inserted within the aperture, at least a portion of the dielectric material is positioned between the Rogowski coil and the conductor.
US08912801B2 Method and arrangement for an internal failure detection in a Y-Y connected capacitor bank
A method for detecting an internal failure in a capacitor bank connected to a power system, wherein the capacitor bank includes a plurality of capacitor units that are divided into two Y sections. Each phase in each of the Y sections defines a leg and each leg includes series and/or parallel-connected capacitor units. The internal failure may occur in one or more capacitor elements or units or involve one or more legs. The method includes measuring the phase current in one of the phases, calculating the root mean square value, denoted by RMS, of the measured phase currents, measuring the unbalanced current between the two sections, calculating the RMS value of the measured unbalanced currents, and detecting the phase angle between the measured phase current and the measured unbalanced current.
US08912797B2 Printed circuit board with integrated shielding
A printed circuit board (PCB) is flat, providing a top side and a bottom side. A plurality of terminations is disposed on the top side in proximity to one end face of the PCB. Each termination has at least one contact that is connected to a respective conductor track of the PCB. The respective conductor track is connected to a respective local coil or to a contact disposed on the top side or the bottom side of a respective further termination. The local coil and/or at least one of the further terminations are disposed in proximity to the other end face. A basic shield impervious to frequencies in a magnetic resonance range is disposed on the top side and/or the bottom side, and an auxiliary shield electrically connected to the basic shield and impervious to frequencies in the magnetic resonance range is disposed on narrow sides of the PCB.
US08912796B2 NMR measuring configuration with optimized sample container geometry and method for calculating the shape of the sample container
A sample container (2) for NMR measurements defines a volume (V) of sample substance. The sample container (2) has a first interface (G1) towards an environment (1) and a second interface (G2) towards the sample substance (3). A susceptibility jump at the second interface G2 is sufficiently large that the maximum value of |B′G2/B0| within the volume (V) is at least 0.5 ppm. The geometry of the sample container (2) is selected in such a fashion that, when a homogeneous magnetic field B0 has been applied, a location-dependent relative field change F is present in the volume (V), which is larger than 20 ppb at least at one point in a center partial volume (V1) and a first residual field (R1) in the center partial volume (V1) is smaller than 1.6 ppb. A second residual field (R2a) in the lower partial volume (V2a) is smaller than 30 ppb.
US08912795B2 Nuclear magnetic resonance scanning of metal containers using medium-field technology
A method and apparatus are provided for medium-field NMR scanning of liquids that is capable of discriminating benign liquids such as lotions, drinks, and pharmaceutical liquids from threat liquids such as components of home-made explosives.
US08912791B2 Magnetic sensor for determining the position and orientation of a target
The invention relates to a magnetic sensor for determining the position of a part (2) movable firstly in rotation over a limited angular stroke by virtue of a rotary movement (R), and secondly in translation along a translation axis (X) and over a limited linear stroke, this sensor including both a magnetized target (3) mounted on and fastened to the movable part (2) and taking the form of a radially-magnetized part-cylinder having an axis of symmetry coinciding with the translation axis (X) and also a system (5) for measuring the magnetic field of the magnetized target to determine the position of the target in three dimensions. According to the invention, in order to determine the position and the orientation of the target, the system (5) acts at a single point to measure the direction of the magnetic field in two orthogonal planes, one of which (P1) is normal to the rotary movement (R) and the other of which (P2) is normal to the movement in translation (X).
US08912790B2 Measuring device for measuring film thickness of silicon wafer
A measuring device for measuring a film thickness of a silicon wafer (1) comprises: position and velocity sensors (4) linearly arranged along a longitudinal direction into first and second position and velocity sensor arrays spaced apart from each other in a lateral direction, in which the position and velocity sensors (4) in the first position and velocity sensor array are in one-to-one correspondence with the position and velocity sensors (4) in the second position and velocity sensor array in the lateral direction; an eddy current sensor (2) disposed in a symmetrical plane between the first position and velocity sensor array and the second position and velocity sensor array and perpendicular to the lateral direction; and a controller connected to the position and velocity sensors (4) and the eddy current sensor (2) respectively for controlling measurement of the thickness of the film according to detection signals from the position and velocity sensors (4) and the eddy current sensor (2).
US08912780B2 Switching control circuit
A switching-control circuit to control switching of a transistor whose input electrode is applied with an input voltage, and turn off the transistor, when an output current from the transistor is greater than a reference current, includes: a reference-voltage-generating circuit to generate such a first-reference voltage that the reference current is reduced with reduction in an output voltage; a comparing circuit to compare a voltage corresponding to the output current with the first-reference voltage; and a driving circuit to turn on/off the transistor based on a feedback voltage corresponding to the output voltage and a second reference voltage corresponding to a target level so that the output voltage reaches the target level, when the comparing circuit determines that the output current is smaller than the reference current, and turn off the transistor when the comparing circuit determines that the output current is greater than the reference current.
US08912778B1 Switching voltage regulator employing current pre-adjust based on power mode
A switching voltage regulator is disclosed including a charging element operable to generate an output voltage. The charging element is configured during a cycle, including to charge the charging element for an on-time, discharge the charging element for a discharge time, and tristate the charging element for a tristate time. Prior to a power mode changing which increases the current demand of the load, the on-time is increased.
US08912773B2 Synchronous buck converter including multi-mode control for light load efficiency and related method
According to one embodiment, a synchronous buck converter comprises a multi-mode control circuit for detecting a load condition of a variable load, an output stage driven by the multi-mode control circuit, wherein the variable load is coupled to the output stage, and a feedback circuit connected between the output stage and the multi-mode control circuit. The multi-mode control circuit is configured to adjust a current provided by the output stage to the variable load based on the load condition. In one embodiment, the multi-mode control circuit selectably uses one of at least a first control mode and a second control mode according to the load condition, wherein the first control mode is a pulse-width modulation (PWM) mode selected for switching efficiency when the load condition is heavy and the second control mode is an adaptive ON-time (AOT) mode selected for switching efficiency when the load condition is light.
US08912772B2 LDO with improved stability
A low drop-out (LDO) voltage regulator which parallels a second pass device to a first pass device, where the second pass device has in series a small resistor. The small value resistor is a substitute for bond wires or capacitors with very low equivalent series resistances (ESR). A fast feedback loop is coupled to the junction of the second pass device and the small resistor and provides, via a Miller capacitor, a feedback signal to the amplifier of the voltage regulator. The added second pass device returns circuit stability by moving the fast-loop high frequency zero node back within the bandwidth of the circuit.
US08912769B2 Current mode buck-boost converter
A current mode buck-boost converter has an input terminal, an output terminal, and an output capacitor coupled to the output terminal. The input terminal is used to receive an input voltage, and the output terminal is for producing the output voltage. The current mode buck-boost converter comprises a voltage converter and a control circuit. The voltage converter comprises an inductor. The control circuit is for detecting the current passing through the inductor to determine the electric energy transmitted to the output terminal by the voltage converter. Accordingly, the current mode buck-boost converter has fast response, and the electrical energy can be recycled and stored to the voltage source when the current mode buck-boost converter operates in down-tracking process.
US08912767B2 Reactive energy compensator and associated method for balancing half-bus voltages
A reactive energy compensator that can be electrically connected to an AC electrical network, including at least one input direct voltage bus, at least one voltage inverter including switches and first and second capacitors having first and second voltages at their terminals, control means for the switches, including computation means capable of generating a target control current, means for combining the target control current and the output current from the inverter, means for transmitting a control signal capable of driving the switches, and correction means for the control signals of the switches, the correction means being capable of adding a balancing current to the target control current, the balancing current being able to correct the target control current so as to reduce the difference between the values of the first and second voltages, the target control current being increased for an even harmonic of the network frequency.
US08912765B2 EPGS architecture with multi-channel synchronous generator and common unregulated PMG exciter
A generator system includes a generator having a stationary portion and a rotating portion. The generator includes a permanent magnet based exciter with permanent magnets disposed on the stationary portion. A first channel includes a first main field winding and a first main field power converter disposed on a rotating portion. The first main field power converter selectively delivers voltage from the exciter winding to the first main field winding. A second channel includes a second main field winding and a second main field power converter disposed on the rotating portion. The second main field power converter selectively delivers voltage from the exciter winding to the second main field winding. A generator control unit is connected to the first channel and the second channel. The generator control unit monitors an output voltage at each of the first channel and the second channel and generates the first and second control signals based on the output voltage.
US08912762B2 Charging method for non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery by repeating a set of constant current charge and constant voltage charge and battery pack implementing the charging method
In the present method, a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery is charged by repeating n+1 times a constant current charge and a subsequent constant voltage charge, where n is an integer of 1 or more. (1) An nth charge comprises charging the secondary battery at a current Ic(n) to a voltage Ec(n), and subsequently charging the secondary battery at the voltage Ec(n) until the current decreases from Ic(n) to Ic(n+1). (2) An (n+1)th charge comprises charging the secondary battery at the current Ic(n+1) to a voltage Ec(n+1), and subsequently charging the secondary battery at the voltage Ec(n+1) until the current decreases from Ic(n+1) to Ic(n+2). Consequently, the charge time of the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery can be shortened while deterioration of the battery can be suppressed.
US08912759B2 Power supply system with variable supply voltage
A power supply system with a variable supply voltage is provided. The power supply system includes a power adaptor, a battery unit, a switching circuit, and a main equipment. The power adaptor is suitable for producing a power voltage. The switching circuit selects the power adaptor or the battery unit for powering the main equipment. Wherein, the power adaptor adjusts the power voltage according to whether the battery unit performs a charge operation.
US08912758B2 Power storage apparatus, power storage system having the same and method of assembling power storage system by using the same
The present disclosure describes a power storage apparatus including a housing made of a durable material and defining an installation space of a plurality of secondary batteries; a plurality of secondary batteries accommodated in the housing and connected to each other in series or in parallel; a Battery Management System (BMS) for controlling charge and discharge of the plurality of secondary batteries and monitoring an electric characteristic value thereof; and a status setting switch for setting a status of the BMS. According to the present disclosure, a power storage system may be easily configured by means of a simple BMS setting. Also, if any one of the power storage apparatuses is not working properly, the power storage apparatus with a problem may be easily distinguished by the naked eyes of a manager, which facilitates easy maintenance and repair.
US08912757B2 Traction battery with increased reliability
The invention relates to a traction battery having at least two serially connected battery modules, each of which has a first battery module pole, a second battery module pole, and at least one inserted series circuit and/or parallel circuit of battery cells. A first terminal of the series circuit of battery modules is connected to a first battery pole, while a second terminal of the series circuit of battery modules is connected to a second battery pole. According to the invention, at least one battery module of the at least two serially connected battery modules is a first battery module which has at least one disconnecting device and a bridging device. When triggered accordingly, the at least one disconnecting device interrupts the connection between the series circuit and/or parallel circuit of battery cells and the first battery module pole and/or the second battery module pole and/or interrupts the series circuit and/or parallel circuit of battery cells. Furthermore, the first battery module pole and the second battery module pole are short-circuited via the bridging device inserted between the first battery module pole and the second battery module pole when the bridging device is triggered accordingly. Additionally or alternatively, at least one battery module of the at least two serially connected battery modules is a second battery module that has at least one charging and disconnecting device and a bridging device. When triggered accordingly, the at least one charging and disconnecting device interrupts the connection between the series circuit and/or parallel circuit of battery cells and the first battery module pole and/or the second battery module pole and/or interrupts the series circuit and/or parallel circuit of battery cells and limits charging or compensating currents occurring when the battery module or the battery comprising the battery module is connected. Furthermore, the first battery module pole and the second battery module pole are short-circuited via the bridging device inserted between the first battery module pole and the second battery module pole when the bridging device is triggered accordingly.
US08912755B2 Charging device used in handheld devices
A charging device used in a handheld device comprises a main body, a coupling portion connected to an end of the main body and the coupling portion has a connector, and a battery unit connected to another end of the main body. When the charging device is in a first status, the battery unit and the connector are coupled together; when it is in a second status, the battery unit is detached from the connector so that the connector is electrically connected with the handheld device in order to have the handheld device charged.
US08912753B2 Remote power usage management for plug-in vehicles
Methods and systems are provided for controlling the charging of onboard energy storage systems of a plurality of plug-in vehicles using a remote command center. A system for directing the charging of a plurality of remotely located plug-in vehicles is provided. The system includes a communication system configured to transmit charging authorizations to charge each of the plurality of plug-in vehicles and to receive data related to power consumption from each of the plurality of plug-in vehicles. The system also includes a controller communicatively coupled to the communication system and configured to receive the data related to power consumption and to direct the charge authorizations based thereon. A database is also included in the system and is communicatively coupled to the controller, with the database configured to store the data related to power consumption.
US08912749B2 Electrical apparatus and verification method for battery module thereof
An electrical apparatus including a battery module and a battery verification module is disclosed. The battery module has a verification circuit and an identification resistor. When the battery module is connected to the battery verification module, the battery verification module obtains a type information of the battery module according to the voltage level on a coupled point between a reference resistor and the identification resistor. The battery verification module transmits a verification request to the verification circuit to allow the verification circuit to transmit a verification signal to the battery verification module through a coupled path between the reference resistor and the identification resistor. The reference resistor is built in the battery verification module.
US08912747B2 Driving apparatus, printing apparatus having driving apparatus, and method of controlling driving apparatus
A driving apparatus including: a stepping motor configuring a drive source; an operating portion configured to reciprocate corresponding to forward and reverse rotations of the stepping motor; a home position detecting unit configured to detect a home position which corresponds to an outward movement starting position and a homeward movement terminating position of the operating portion; a homeward movement detecting unit configured to detect the driving amount of the stepping motor in a homeward movement of the operating portion from a start of the homeward movement of the operating portion driven by the stepping motor until a detection of the home position by the home position detecting unit; and an operation determining unit configured to determine that the operating portion is not operated normally when the driving amount detected by the homeward movement detecting unit is smaller than a predetermined driving amount.
US08912745B2 Method for operating a motor control unit for a drive system
A method for operating a drive motor of a drive system, including the following: providing a control variable, which is ascertained as a function of one or multiple state variable(s) of the drive system and as a function of a default variable, to an output stage for operating the drive motor; reading the control variable previously provided to the output stage back from the output stage to obtain a read-back control variable; ascertaining a back-calculated torque from the read-back control variable; comparing the back-calculated torque and a predefined monitoring torque; and providing the control variable or an alternative control variable ascertained from the monitoring torque to the output stage as a function of a result of the comparison for the purpose of operating the drive motor.
US08912744B2 Method and apparatus for dynamically adjusting a dead time of brushless direct current motor during a phase change
A method and apparatus for dynamically adjusting a dead time of a BLDC motor during a phase change detect the winding current of the BLDC motor during the dead time, and terminate the dead time when the winding current is detected to be substantially or close to zero. Thus, the method and apparatus can optimize the dead time and switch the BLDC motor between two phases at a zero-current point, without reducing the maximum rotation speed of the BLDC motor.
US08912741B2 Motor driver control method, motor driver control device, motor control device, and image forming apparatus
A disclosed motor driver control device is configured to control a plurality of switching devices that drive a motor. The motor driver control device includes a duty control unit configured to restrict a duty of a first pulse width modulation signal generated by comparing an oscillator signal generated at a predetermined cycle and a pulse generator signal so as to generate a second pulse width modulation signal, and a switching device control signal generator unit configured to include a logic circuit that operates the second pulse width modulation signal as a clock and configured to generate a switching device control signal controlling the plurality of switching devices based on the clock of the logic circuit of the switching device control signal generator unit.
US08912738B2 Drive system, method for operating a drive system, and use
A drive system and method for operating a drive system, including an electromotor, inverter, energy store, the electromotor being able to be supplied from the inverter, which is supplyable from the energy store, a current able to be controlled by a switch being supplyable to at least one stator winding of the electromotor, which is supplied from an electrical energy source that differs from the energy store.
US08912737B2 Linear actuator driving device
A linear actuator driving device is provided. The linear actuator driving device includes an electromagnetic driving unit which makes a moving element reciprocate in response to a driving command and an offset correcting unit which corrects the driving command to carry out offset energization to make the center of reciprocation of the moving element be moved in the direction in which deviation between the center of reciprocation of the moving element and the center of the movement possible range is eliminated. The offset correcting unit is configured such that the amplitude information is acquired and, with respect to the amplitude value corresponding to the acquired amplitude information, if the movable amplitude is in a movable area insufficient condition, correction of the driving command is performed and, on the other hand, if the movable amplitude is not in the movable area insufficient condition, correction of the driving command is released.
US08912732B2 Current sensing for LED drivers
Embodiments of the present invention provide a system and method for determining a magnitude of current driving LEDs by sensing a current through a switching transistor and extracting the information of the LED current based on a relationship between the current through the switching transistor and the current driving the LEDs.
US08912731B2 LED backlight driving circuit and backlight module
An LED backlight driving circuit has a voltage converting unit having an output terminal connected to a positive electrode of an LED to provide a driving voltage required by the LED, a driving unit to control the voltage converting unit to achieve a voltage conversion, and a protection unit connected in series between a negative electrode of the LED and the driving unit. A maximum allowable power of the protection unit is less than a power when the driving voltage of the LED is directly applied to the protection unit. The circuit also includes a control unit for outputting a control signal for stopping working to the driving unit when the protection unit forms an open circuit. Thus, the circuit parts can be protected, and the short-circuit protection function is more safe and reliable.
US08912730B2 Wireless power supply system for lighting and lighting apparatus
A wireless power supply system for lighting includes: a power transmission unit including a power transmission coil; and a power reception unit including a power reception coil. The power transmission coil generates an AC magnetic field in response to a supplied AC power. The power reception coil receives an electric power from the power transmission unit through an electromagnetic induction due to the AC magnetic field generated by the power transmission coil. The power reception unit further includes a power circuit and a receive-side control section. The power circuit receives an output power from the power reception coil and to perform Buck-Boost operation so as to output a predetermined electric power to a lighting load. The receive-side control section controls the Buck-Boost operation of the power circuit. The power circuit is configured to be capable of boosting and stepping-down of the output power from said power reception coil.
US08912729B2 Backlight module and an LCD thereof
A backlight module and a liquid crystal display (LCD) device thereof are proposed. The backlight module includes a DC/DC converter producing a positive/negative voltage level. The backlight module can output the positive and negative levels of driving voltage from an output end of the inverter to drive LEDs through alternately switching. Besides, a constant current can be obtained with designs of power on/off periods and energy-storing inductors to prevent LEDs employing current limiting resistors from having too low current efficiency and from being burnt out.
US08912721B2 Exclusive or (XOR) lamp driver and lamp
A lamp and lamp driver are disclosed, in which single intensity marker lamps that are desired to be flashed can be connected to a lamp driver employing an exclusive OR (XOR) logic circuit. In one application, this lamp driver is coupled to a vehicle turn function wire and marker function wire, and a plurality of marker lamps in a row can be of the same style, but one lamp can be flashed in the row of marker lamps. In some embodiments, if all of the marker lamps are on, the lamp being driven by the XOR driver circuit will flash out of sequence with the turn signal flash. If all of the marker lamps are off, the lamp being driven by the XOR driver circuit will flash in sequence with the turn signal flash. Other embodiments are disclosed.
US08912720B2 Metal halide lamp with double arc tubes
The present invention relates to a metal halogen lamp comprising, inside an outer casing (7), first (3) and second (5) arc tube members, which are electrically parallel-connected and are connected via conductive members (9) to a base part (11), each arc tube member having a first end (15), facing toward the top part (17) of the outer casing (7) opposite the base part (11), and a second end (19), facing toward the base part (11). The first arc tube member (3) is arranged closer to the top part (17) than the second arc tube member (5), and the second end (19) of the first arc tube member (3) and the first end (15) of the second arc tube member (5) adjoin an imaginary plane (P) defined substantially transversely to the center line (CL) of the outer casing (7), which center line extends from the top part (17) to the base part (11).
US08912719B2 Low pressure lamp using non-mercury materials
A mercury-free low-pressure lamp having a bulb is provided. The bulb includes an emissive material and one or more phosphors. The emissive material includes at least one of an alkali metal or an alkaline earth metal, wherein when the bulb is in a non-operational state, the emissive material condenses into a liquid or solid, and when the bulb is in an operational state the emissive material forms an emitter, the emitter in combination with one or more gases generate photons when excited by an electrical discharge. The one or more phosphors are configured to convert at least a portion of the photons to other visible wavelengths.
US08912718B2 Light emitting device with a plurality of circuits connected in parallel
It is an object of the present invention to provide a light emitting device which is less affected by a malfunction caused in a light emitting element. It is another object of the invention to provide a light emitting device in which light emitting elements are connected in series. As to a light emitting device of the invention, groups of circuits each having a light emitting element and a limiter are connected in parallel. Here, a light emitting element and a limiter are connected in series. The number of the circuits may be at least two or more. Further, each circuit group includes at least one light emitting element.
US08912715B2 Spark plug
A spark plug having a center electrode, a ground electrode, and a ground electrode side tip. The tip partially projects from a front end face and an inner circumference-side side surface of the ground electrode. The ground electrode has a center of the front end face, which center is located at a front end side in a direction of the axis with respect to a front end of the center electrode.
US08912714B2 Spark plug
A spark plug including: a center electrode which extends in an axial direction; a cylindrical insulator which is disposed around an outer circumference of the center electrode; a cylindrical metal shell which is disposed around an outer circumference of the insulator; and a ground electrode having one end connected to the metal shell, and an end surface of the other end being positioned between the one end and the center electrode or on the center electrode, when viewed in the axial direction of the center electrode, wherein the end surface has a maximum width portion which is formed only at a position where a distance from a center position of the end surface is 12% to 88% of a distance from the center position to an outer side surface of the ground electrode.
US08912711B1 Thermal stress resistant resonator, and a method for fabricating same
In an embodiment, a thermal stress resistant resonator is disclosed. The thermal stress resistant resonator may include or comprise a piezoelectric member having one or more non-linear piezoelectric support members extending there from.
US08912707B2 Friction-driven actuator
An apparatus for actuating a positioning device includes a housing; a piezoelectric element connected to the housing; a driven element configured to move relative to the housing; and a flexible element connected to the piezoelectric element and configured to transfer a motion of the piezoelectric element to the driven element.
US08912705B2 Method and apparatus for insulating induction machine coil connectors
Method and apparatus for insulating induction machine conductive connectors by sliding a closed-end insulating sheath over the connector. The sheath is circumferentially secured to the conductive connector with a biasing element, such as an elastomeric stretchable fabric, stretch tape or heat shrink material. Additional insulative materials as well as resin curing catalysts or accelerants may be added to the sheath.
US08912698B2 Motor assembly with integrated cooling means and enclosed compartment for electronic circuitry
A motor assembly includes a structural unit for mounting a motor, for mounting and enclosing electronic circuitry, and for providing a corridor for air to flow and cool the motor and/or the electronic circuitry. The motor assembly includes a substantially water-resistant motor that rotationally drives a fan for cooling the motor and/or rotationally drives a propeller for providing propulsion to watercraft. The electronic circuitry of the motor assembly receives and transmits instructions to a command post by way of electronic signals and distributes power to the motor. The structural unit seals the circuitry from the surrounding environment.
US08912696B2 Motor, electric equipment, and method of manufacturing motor for reducing electric corosion of bearings
In a motor driven by a drive circuit such as an inverter, there is a problem that electric current flowing through a bearing causes electric corrosion, which impairs the durability of the bearing. A motor of the invention includes: a stator in which a winding is applied through an insulating part to a stator core formed by laminating a predetermined number of electromagnetic steel plates which have been punched into a predetermined shape; a rotor assembly in which a rotor and bearings and formed by rolling bearings are fitted to a shaft; a printed wiring board which is arranged at an end part of the stator in an axial direction and to which a drive circuit is mounted; a bracket imposed to at least the end part of the stator in the axial direction to which the printed wiring board is arranged; and a conductive sheet provided between the printed wiring board and the bracket.
US08912693B2 Broadband linear vibrator and mobile terminal
A broadband linear vibrator that is small sized and yet capable of generating a greater vibrating force and outputting various broadband vibrations, and a mobile terminal capable of outputting various vibrations and sounds, wherein the broadband linear vibrator includes a case; a spring coupled to the case; an oscillator including a magnet for elastically supporting the spring and a stator formed inside the case for vibrating the oscillator, wherein a frequency band to a maximum use frequency that is detectable as a vibration or a sound source based on a resonant frequency is 1.2 times than a frequency band to a minimum use frequency, such that various feelings of vibrations and sounds can be advantageously provided by the broadband linear vibrator.
US08912690B2 Voice coil motor
Disclosed is a voice coil motor, the motor including a rotor having a cylindrical bobbin that has a support block protruding from an upper end of an outer circumference thereof and a coil block that is coupled to the outer circumference of the bobbin in a direction from a lower surface to an upper surface of the bobbin and is supported by the support block, a stator having a magnet facing the coil block and a yoke holding the magnet, elastic members coupled to upper and lower surfaces of the bobbin, respectively, a base supporting the stator and the elastic members, and a foreign substance inflow-prevention portion formed on an upper surface of the base in such a way as to protrude around an opening formed in a central portion of the base in a shape of a closed loop.
US08912689B2 Electronic switch control system and electronic switch drive method
An electronic switch control system, including an alternating voltage source, an electronic switch, a load, a control circuit, an alternating voltage source being electrically associated to a first conduction terminal of the electronic switch, a second conduction terminal of the electronic switch being associable to a load, the load being associated to a second power terminal. The control circuit includes first, second and third electric potential terminals, and is arranged to command the electronic switch by way of a trigger terminal. The control circuit is electrically associated to a voltage regulator block that is electrically associable to the electronic switch by way of first and third electric contact terminals and first and second conduction terminals respectively, the voltage regulator block being arranged to provide a minimum electrical voltage (Vmin) to run the control circuit in at least a conduction instant of the electronic switch.
US08912686B2 Wireless power system and method with improved alignment
A wireless power system that may align a portable electronic device with an inductive wireless power supply. The induction coils used for transferring power wirelessly may be used as DC electromagnets to align the portable electronic device with the inductive wireless power supply. A DC current may be supplied to the primary coil and to the secondary coil to generate DC electromagnetic fields and attractive force between the primary and secondary coils. This attractive force may be used for alignment.
US08912679B2 Wind turbine system
A modular wind turbine system comprises modules with electrically conductive structural rails supporting wind turbines. The wind turbines drive generators electrically connected to the rails. Individual modules are electrically and mechanically linked to adjacent modules, simultaneously bracing the overall structure and providing a means of conveying the electricity, produced by the generators, to the location or locations required for consumption, storage or onward transmission of that electricity.
US08912674B2 System and method of selecting wind turbine generators in a wind park for change of output power
In one aspect, a method for selecting wind turbine generators in a wind park for a change in output power comprises providing a wind park comprised of a plurality n of wind turbines; selecting, on a non-spatial basis, n−1 or fewer wind turbines from the wind park for a change in power output; and changing power output of one or more of the selected n−1 or fewer wind turbines.
US08912669B2 Sealing resin sheet, method for producing electronic component package and electronic component package
Provided are a sealing resin sheet, wherein a clean, smooth and flat ground surface is obtained by grinding after resin sealing, a method for producing an electronic component package using the same, and an electronic component package obtained by the production method. The present invention provides a sealing resin sheet, wherein a ground surface has a mean surface roughness Ra of 1 μm or less when grinding is performed under conditions of a grind bite peripheral velocity of 1000 m/minute, a feed pitch of 100 μm and a cut depth of 10 μm after a heat curing treatment is performed at 180° C. for 1 hour; and a Shore D hardness at 100° C. after the heat curing treatment is 70 or more.
US08912666B2 Structure and manufacturing method of chip scale package
A Chip Scale Package (CSP) and a method of forming the same are disclosed. Single chips without the conventional ball mountings, are first attached to an adhesive-substrate (adsubstrate) composite having openings that correspond to the input/output (I/O) pads on the single chips to form a composite chip package. Ball mounting is then performed over the openings, thus connecting the I/O pads at the chip sites to the next level of packaging directly. In another embodiment, the adhesive layer is formed on the wafer side first to form an adwafer, which is then die sawed in CSPs. Then the CSPs with the adhesive already on them are bonded to a substrate. The composite chip package may optionally be encapsulated with a molding material. The CSPs provide integrated and shorter chip connections especially suited for high frequency circuit applications, and can leverage the currently existing test infrastructure.
US08912662B2 Wafer-level package and method of manufacturing the same
A wafer-level package and a method of manufacturing the same. The wafer-level package includes a first semiconductor chip on an upper side of which an active surface facing downward is disposed, a redistribution formed on the active surface of the first semiconductor chip, a second semiconductor chip disposed on the redistribution using a flip-chip bonding (FCP) technique, a copper (Cu) post and a first solder ball sequentially disposed on the redistribution, a molding member formed on the active surface of the first semiconductor chip to expose a bottom surface of the first solder ball and an inactive surface of the second semiconductor chip, and a second solder ball disposed on the first solder ball and electrically connected to an external apparatus.
US08912659B2 Stacked semiconductor package and method for manufacturing the same
A stacked semiconductor package includes a first semiconductor chip having a first surface and a second surface which faces away from the first surface and including first bonding pads which are formed on the first surface and first through electrodes which pass through the first surface and the second surface; a second semiconductor chip stacked over the second surface of the first semiconductor chip, and including second bonding pads which are formed on a third surface facing the first semiconductor chip and second through electrodes which pass through the third surface and a fourth surface facing away from the third surface and are electrically connected with the first through electrodes; and a molding part formed to substantially cover the stacked first and second semiconductor chips and having openings which expose one end of the first through electrodes disposed on the first surface of the first semiconductor chip.
US08912658B2 Interconnect structure with enhanced reliability
An improved interconnect structure including a dielectric layer having a conductive feature embedded therein, the conductive feature having a first top surface that is substantially coplanar with a second top surface of the dielectric layer; a metal cap layer located directly on the first top surface, wherein the metal cap layer does not substantially extend onto the second top surface; a first dielectric cap layer located directly on the second top surface, wherein the first dielectric cap layer does not substantially extend onto the first top surface and the first dielectric cap layer is thicker than the metal cap layer; and a second dielectric cap layer on the metal cap layer and the first dielectric cap layer. A method of forming the interconnect structure is also provided.
US08912657B2 Semiconductor device
The semiconductor device according to the present invention includes a semiconductor substrate, a first insulating layer laminated on the semiconductor substrate, a first metal wiring pattern embedded in a wire-forming region of the first insulating layer, a second insulating layer laminated on the first insulating layer, a second metal wiring pattern embedded in a wire-forming region of the second insulating layer and first dummy metal patterns embedded each in a wire-opposed region opposing to the wire-forming region of the second insulating layer and in a non-wire-opposed region opposing to a non-wire-forming region other than the wire-forming region of the second insulating layer, the wire-opposed region and the non-wire-opposed region each in a non-wire-forming region other than the wire-forming region of the first insulating layer.
US08912656B2 Integrated circuit package and physical layer interface arrangement
An integrated circuit (IC) package includes an IC chip, a package carrier, and a plurality of conductive bumps connecting the IC chip to the package carrier. The IC chip includes a substrate and an IC layered structure configured on an active surface of the substrate. The active surface has a core area and a signal area surrounding the core area. The IC layered structure includes a first physical layer interface. The first physical layer interface includes a plurality of first bump pads and a plurality of first inner pads electrically connected to the first bump pads, respectively. The first inner pads are arranged in multiple rows in the signal area.
US08912655B2 Semiconductor memory device, method of manufacturing the same and method of forming contact structure
When a first wiring and/or a second wiring is formed, a connection portion is formed in the first wiring and/or the second wiring which covers a part of a lower electrode layer outside the memory cell array. An etching suppressing portion is formed above the connection portion. A contact hole is formed in which a portion under the etching suppressing portion reaches up to a connection potion, and the other portion reaches up to the lower electrode layer by performing etching to a laminated body in a range including the etching suppressing portion. The laminated body includes the insulating layer, the first wiring, a memory cell layer, the second wiring, and the etching suppressing portion. The contact layer is formed by burying a conductive material in the contact hole.
US08912654B2 Semiconductor chip with integrated via
An integrated circuit with a substrate with a lower and an upper surface is described. A via extends between the upper and the lower surface of the substrate. The via contains a conductive filling material that comprises carbon.
US08912652B2 Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
Embodiments relate to a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device including at least one of: (1) Forming a lower electrode pattern on a substrate. (2) Forming an etch stop film on/over the lower electrode pattern. (3) Forming a first interlayer insulating layer on/over the etch stop film. (4) Forming an upper electrode pattern on/over the first interlayer insulating layer. (5) Forming a second interlayer insulating layer on/over the upper electrode pattern. (6) Forming an etch blocking layer positioned between the lower electrode pattern and the upper electrode pattern which passes through the second interlayer insulating layer and the first interlayer insulating layer. (7) Forming a cavity which exposes a side of the etch blocking layer by etching the second interlayer insulating layer and the first interlayer insulating layer. (8) Forming a contact ball in the cavity.
US08912651B2 Package-on-package (PoP) structure including stud bulbs and method
Embodiments concern Package-On-Package (PoP) structures including stud bulbs and methods of forming PoP structures. According to an embodiment, a structure includes a first substrate, stud bulbs, a die, a second substrate, and electrical connectors. The stud bulbs are coupled to a first surface of the first substrate. The die is attached to the first surface of the first substrate. The electrical connectors are coupled to the second substrate, and respective ones of the electrical connectors are coupled to respective ones of the stud bulbs.
US08912650B2 Semiconductor device and method of forming protective coating over interconnect structure to inhibit surface oxidation
A semiconductor device has a semiconductor die with a first conductive layer formed over the semiconductor die. A first insulating layer is formed over the semiconductor die with a first opening in the first insulating layer disposed over the first conductive layer. A second conductive layer is formed over the first insulating layer and into the first opening over the first conductive layer. An interconnect structure is formed over the first and second conductive layers within openings of a second insulating layer. The second insulating layer is removed. The interconnect structure can be a conductive pillar or conductive pad. A bump material can be formed over the conductive pillar. A protective coating is formed over the conductive pillar or pad to a thickness less than one micrometer to reduce oxidation. The protective coating is formed by immersing the conductive pillar or pad into the bath containing tin or indium.
US08912645B2 Semiconductor element cooling structure
A semiconductor element cooling structure includes a side wall provided on a downstream side of flow of cooling air in a cooling air passage, a plurality of cooling fins forming cooling air branch passages, and a plurality of cooling fins forming cooling air branch passages. The cooling fins each have an end portion at a tip extending toward the cooling air passage. A virtual line obtained by connecting the end portions of the plurality of cooling fins and a virtual line obtained by connecting the end portions of the plurality of cooling fins each have a gradient with respect to a direction of the flow of the cooling air in the cooling air passage which is greater on an upstream side of the flow of the cooling air in the cooling air passage than on the downstream side thereof.
US08912639B2 IC package with embedded transformer
Aspects of a method and system for configuring a transformer embedded in a multi-layer integrated circuit package are provided. In this regard, a windings ratio of a transformer embedded in a multi-layer IC package bonded to an IC may be configured, via logic, circuitry, and/or code in the IC, based on signal levels at one or more terminals of the transformer. The transformer may comprise a plurality of inductive loops fabricated in transmission line media. The integrated circuit may be flip-chip bonded to the multi-layer package. The IC may comprise a signal strength indicator enabled to measure signal levels input to or output by the transformer. The windings ratio may be configured via one or more switches in the IC and/or in the multi-layer package. The IC and/or the multi-layer package may comprise ferromagnetic material which may improve magnetic coupling of the transformer.
US08912638B2 Semiconductor device with hollow structure
A device comprising a chip, which is held in casting compound and on which a hollow structure is arranged is disclosed.
US08912634B2 High frequency transition matching in an electronic package for millimeter wave semiconductor dies
A mmWave electronics package constructed from common Printed Circuit Board (PCB) technology and a metal cover. Assembly of the package uses standard pick and place technology and heat is dissipated directly to a pad on the package. Input/output of mmWave signal(s) is achieved through a rectangular waveguide. Mounting of the electronic package to an electrical printed circuit board (PCB) is performed using conventional reflow soldering processes and includes a waveguide I/O connected to an mmWave antenna. The electronic package provides for transmission of low frequency, dc and ground signals from the semiconductor chip inside the package to the PCB it is mounted on. An impedance matching scheme matches the chip to high frequency board transition by altering the ground plane within the chip. A ground plane on the high frequency board encircles the high frequency signal bump to confine the electromagnetic fields to the bump region reducing radiation loss.
US08912630B2 Integrated circuit including thermal gate, related method and design structure
An integrated circuit (IC) and a method of making the same. In one embodiment, the IC includes: a substrate; an insulation layer over the substrate; a resistor over the insulation layer; a thermal gate over the resistor; and a heat sink connected to the thermal gate via a substrate contact, the heat sink adapted to receive thermal energy from the resistor via the thermal gate.
US08912629B2 Semiconductor devices and methods for fabricating the same
A semiconductor device includes a substrate and a plurality of storage nodes on the substrate and extending in a vertical direction relative to the substrate. A lower support pattern is in contact with the storage nodes between a bottom and a top of the storage nodes, the lower support pattern spaced apart from the substrate in the vertical direction, and the lower support pattern having a first maximum thickness in the vertical direction. An upper support pattern is in contact with the storage nodes above the lower support pattern relative to the substrate, the upper support pattern spaced apart from the lower support pattern in the vertical direction, and the lower support pattern having a second maximum thickness in the vertical direction that is greater than the first maximum thickness of the lower support pattern.
US08912622B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a first-conductivity-type semiconductor substrate, a first first-conductivity-type semiconductor layer, a second first-conductivity-type semiconductor layer, a second-conductivity-type bottom layer, a Schottky metal, and a cathode electrode. The first first-conductivity-type semiconductor layer is provided on the semiconductor substrate and has a lower first-conductivity-type impurity concentration than the semiconductor substrate. The second first-conductivity-type semiconductor layer is provided on the first first-conductivity-type semiconductor layer and has a higher first-conductivity-type impurity concentration than the first first-conductivity-type semiconductor layer. The Schottky metal is provided on the second first-conductivity-type semiconductor layer. The Schottky metal contacts with partly the first first-conductivity-type semiconductor layer. The second-conductivity-type bottom layer is provided in the first first-conductivity-type semiconductor layer and is connected to the Schottky metal. The cathode electrode is connected to the semiconductor substrate.
US08912621B1 Trench schottky devices
During fabrication of a semiconductor device, a width of semiconductor mesas between isolation trenches in the semiconductor device is varied in different regions. In particular, the width of the mesas is smaller in a termination region of the semiconductor device than in a cell or active region. When an oxide layer is subsequently grown, the semiconductor mesas between the trenches in the termination region are at least partially consumed so that the semiconductor mesas in the cell region and the termination region have different heights. Therefore, a contact photomask is not needed to isolate the semiconductor mesas in the termination region. Furthermore, after a planarization operation (such as chemical mechanical polishing), the semiconductor device may have a planar top surface than if contact holes are created. This may allow the metal layer deposited on top of the cell region and the termination region to be flat.
US08912619B2 Ultra-violet light sensing device and manufacturing method thereof
The present invention provides an ultra-violet light sensing device. The ultra-violet light sensing device includes a first conductivity type substrate, a second conductivity type region, and a first conductivity type high density region. The first conductivity type substrate includes a light incident surface. The second conductivity type region is disposed in the first conductivity type substrate and adjacent to the light incident surface. The first conductivity type high density region is disposed under the second conductivity type region. The present invention also provides another ultra-violet light sensing device, which further includes a first conductivity type high density shallow region which is sandwiched between the light incident surface and the second conductivity type region. Manufacturing methods for these ultra-violet light sensing devices are also disclosed in the present invention.
US08912614B2 Magnetic tunnel junction devices having magnetic layers formed on composite, obliquely deposited seed layers
Semiconductor stack structures such as magnetic tunnel junction structures having a magnetic free layer that is grown on composite, obliquely deposited seed layers to induce an increased in-plane magnetic anisotropy Hk of the magnetic free layer. In one aspect, a semiconductor device includes a composite seed layer formed on a substrate, and a magnetic layer formed on the composite seed layer. The composite seed layer includes a first seed layer obliquely formed with an incident angle from a surface normal of the substrate along a first direction of the substrate, and a second seed layer obliquely formed with the incident angle on the first seed layer along a second direction of the substrate, opposite the first direction.
US08912611B2 Semiconductor device having a high-K gate dielectric layer
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a lower interfacial layer on a semiconductor layer, the lower interfacial layer being a nitride layer, forming an intermediate interfacial layer on the lower interfacial layer, the intermediate interfacial layer being an oxide layer, and forming a high-k dielectric layer on the intermediate interfacial layer. The high-k dielectric layer has a dielectric constant that is higher than dielectric constants of the lower interfacial layer and the intermediate interfacial layer.
US08912610B2 Structure and method for MOSFETS with high-K and metal gate structure
The present disclosure provides a semiconductor structure. The semiconductor structure includes a semiconductor substrate; and a gate stack disposed on the semiconductor substrate. The gate stack includes a high k dielectric material layer, a capping layer disposed on the high k dielectric material layer, and a metal layer disposed on the capping layer. The capping layer and the high k dielectric material layer have a footing structure.
US08912609B2 Low extension resistance III-V compound fin field effect transistor
A gate stack including a gate dielectric and a gate electrode is formed over at least one compound semiconductor fin provided on an insulating substrate. The at least one compound semiconductor fin is thinned employing the gate stack as an etch mask. Source/drain extension regions are epitaxially deposited on physically exposed surfaces of the at least one semiconductor fin. A gate spacer is formed around the gate stack. A raised source region and a raised drain region are epitaxially formed on the source/drain extension regions. The source/drain extension regions are self-aligned to sidewalls of the gate stack, and thus ensure a sufficient overlap with the gate electrode. Further, the combination of the source/drain extension regions and the raised source/drain regions provides a low-resistance path to the channel of the field effect transistor.
US08912607B2 Replacement metal gate structures providing independent control on work function and gate leakage current
The thickness and composition of a gate dielectric can be selected for different types of field effect transistors through a planar high dielectric constant material portion, which can be provided only for selected types of field effect transistors. Further, the work function of field effect transistors can be tuned independent of selection of the material stack for the gate dielectric. A stack of a barrier metal layer and a first-type work function metal layer is deposited on a gate dielectric layer within recessed gate cavities after removal of disposable gate material portions. After patterning the first-type work function metal layer, a second-type work function metal layer is deposited directly on the barrier metal layer in the regions of the second type field effect transistor. A conductive material fills the gate cavities, and a subsequent planarization process forms dual work function metal gate structures.
US08912599B2 Semiconductor device and method of fabricating the same
A semiconductor device is provided. The semiconductor device includes a drain region, a source region, a channel region and a hybrid doped region. The drain region of a first conductivity type is located in a substrate. The source region of the first conductivity type is located in the substrate and surrounding the drain region. The channel region is located in the substrate between the source region and the drain region. The hybrid doped region includes a top doped region and a compensation doped region. The top doped region is of a second conductivity type, having a doping concentration decreased from a region near the channel region to a region near the drain region, and located in the substrate between the channel region and the drain region. The compensation doped region of the first conductivity type is located in the top doped region to compensate the top doped region.
US08912595B2 Trench MOS structure and method for forming the same
A trench MOS structure is disclosed. The trench MOS structure includes a substrate, an epitaxial layer, a doping well, a doping region and a trench gate. The substrate has a first conductivity type, a first side and a second side opposite to the first side. The epitaxial layer has the first conductivity type and is disposed on the first side. The doping well has a second conductivity type and is disposed on the epitaxial layer. The doping region has the first conductivity type and is disposed on the doping well. The trench gate is partially disposed in the doping region. The trench gate has a bottle shaped profile with a top section smaller than a bottom section, both are partially disposed in the doping well. The bottom section of two adjacent trench gates results in a higher electrical field around the trench MOS structures.
US08912592B2 Non-volatile memory device including etch stop layer pattern
According to example embodiments of inventive concepts, a non-volatile memory device includes a substrate including a second impurity region crossing a first impurity region, and channel regions extending in a vertical direction on the substrate. Gate electrodes may be separated from each other in a vertical direction and a horizontal direction along outer walls of the channel regions. A first insulating interlayer may be on the gate electrodes and the channel regions, where the first insulating interlayer defines a contact hole between at least one adjacent pair gate electrodes and a contact plug is formed in the contact hole to be electrically connected to the second impurity region. An etch stop layer pattern may be on the contact plug and the first insulating interlayer.
US08912590B2 Semiconductor device including monos-type memory cell
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having a main surface, a MONOS-type memory cell formed over the main surface and having a channel, an n-channel transistor formed over the main surface, and a p-channel transistor formed over the man surface. Nitride films are formed in a manner to contact the top surfaces of the MONOS-type memory cell, the n-channel transistor, and the p-channel transistor. The nitride films apply stress to the channels of the MONOS-type memory cell, the n-channel transistor, and the p-channel transistor.
US08912588B2 Semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device includes a bit line, an active region formed in a semiconductor substrate, a plug formed on the active region and connecting the bit line to the active region, a memory cell which includes a first gate insulating film on the active region, a charge storage layer on the first gate insulating film, a first insulating film on the charge storage layer, and a control gate electrode on the first insulating film, a select transistor formed between the plug and the memory cell on the active region and including a second gate insulating film on the active region, a first electrode layer on the second gate insulating film, a second insulating film on the first electrode layer, and a second electrode layer on the second insulating film, and a wiring formed above the active region between the plug and the second electrode layer of the select transistor.
US08912587B2 Scalable multi-functional and multi-level nano-crystal non-volatile memory device
A memory cell including a tunnel insulator comprising a plurality of materials, a control gate, a charge blocking material between the tunnel insulator and the control gate, and a discrete trapping material embedded in one of the tunnel insulator or the charge blocking layer.
US08912583B2 Top gate thin-film transistor, display device, and electronic apparatus
The present invention provides a thin-film transistor manufactured on a transparent substrate having a structure of a top gate type crystalline silicon thin-film transistor in which a light blocking film, a base layer, a crystalline silicon film, a gate insulating film, and a gate electrode film arranged not to overlap at least a channel region are sequentially formed on the transparent substrate; wherein the channel region having channel length L, LDD regions having LDD length d on both sides of the channel region, a source region, and a drain region are formed in the crystalline silicon film; the light blocking film is divided across the channel region; and interval x between the divided light blocking films is equal to or larger than channel length L and equal to or smaller than a sum of channel length L and a double of LDD length d (L+2d). Thereby, the cost for manufacturing the thin-film transistor is low, and the photo leak current of the thin-film transistor is suppressed.
US08912582B2 Integrated circuit structure and method for protection from damage to gate dielectric
An integrated circuit device comprises a common-gated dual-oxide MOSFET including a protective device and a MOSFET. A common gate electrode serves as a gate electrode of the protective device and as a gate of the MOSFET. The protective device comprises a first gate dielectric having a first thickness over a first channel region and the MOSFET comprises a second gate dielectric thicker than the first gate dielectric over a second channel region. During a plasma process, a first current can flow through the first dielectric that is higher than a second current through the second dielectric.
US08912581B2 3D transmission lines for semiconductors
A transmission line structure for semiconductor RF and wireless circuits, and method for forming the same. The transmission line structure includes embodiments having a first die including a first substrate, a first insulating layer, and a ground plane, and a second die including a second substrate, a second insulating layer, and a signal transmission line. The second die may be positioned above and spaced apart from the first die. An underfill is disposed between the ground plane of the first die and the signal transmission line of the second die. Collectively, the ground plane and transmission line of the first and second die and underfill forms a compact transmission line structure. In some embodiments, the transmission line structure may be used for microwave applications.
US08912576B2 Structures and techniques for using semiconductor body to construct bipolar junction transistors
A bipolar junction transistor built with a mesh structure of cells provided on a semiconductor body is disclosed. The mesh structure has at least one emitter cell with a first type of implant. At least one emitter cell has at least one side coupled to at least one cell with a first type of implant to serve as collector of the bipolar. The spaces between the emitter and collector cells are the intrinsic base of a bipolar device. At least one emitter cell has at least one vortex coupled to at least one cell with a second type of implant to serve as the extrinsic base of the bipolar. The emitter, collector, or base cells can be arbitrary polygons as long as the overall geometry construction can be very compact and expandable. The implant regions between cells can be separated with a space. A silicide block layer can cover the space and overlap into at least a portion of both implant regions.
US08912573B2 Semiconductor device containing HEMT and MISFET and method of forming the same
A semiconductor structure with a MISFET and a HEMT region includes a first III-V compound layer. A second III-V compound layer is disposed on the first III-V compound layer and is different from the first III-V compound layer in composition. A third III-V compound layer is disposed on the second III-V compound layer is different from the second III-V compound layer in composition. A source feature and a drain feature are disposed in each of the MISFET and HEMT regions on the third III-V compound layer. A gate electrode is disposed over the second III-V compound layer between the source feature and the drain feature. A gate dielectric layer is disposed under the gate electrode in the MISFET region but above the top surface of the third III-V compound layer.
US08912565B2 Light emitting diode and method for manufacturing the same
A light emitting device is provided, including a first semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor layer disposed on the first semiconductor layer, an active layer between the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer, and a plurality of electrodes. The first semiconductor layer has a step-down region such that one of the plurality of electrodes is placed on the first semiconductor layer. The light emitting device includes a substrate including a first portion having a flat top surface, a second portion having a flat bottom surface and disposed under the first portion, and a side portion disposed between the first portion and the second portion. An area of the flat top surface of the first portion is larger than an area of the flat bottom surface of the second portion.
US08912564B2 Light-emitting device
A light-emitting device includes a plurality of physically separated light-emitting units formed on a single substrate: a contact layer formed on a first side of the light-emitting units ; a first electrode formed on a second side of the light-emitting units: a conductive post formed between the first electrode and the contact layer; an electrical connection structure electrically connecting a first one of the light-emitting units with another a second one of the light-emitting units; a reflective layer formed between the first one of light-emitting units and the first electrode; a first conductive layer comprising a plurality of contacts formed between the first one of the light-emitting units and the reflective layer; and a second conductive layer formed between the reflective layer and the first conductive layer.
US08912563B2 Nitride semiconductor light-emitting device
A nitride semiconductor light-emitting device includes: a semiconductor light-emitting chip held on a mounting surface of a mounting substrate, having a growth surface that is a nonpolar or semipolar plane, and emitting polarized light; a reflector surrounding the semiconductor light-emitting chip when viewed in plan and having a reflective surface off which the polarized light is reflected; and a coupler held on the mounting surface of the mounting substrate and holding the reflector such that the reflector is rotatable around the semiconductor light-emitting chip.
US08912562B2 Remote phosphor LED constructions
A white light source includes a short wavelength LED and a phosphor layer that emits light at longer visible wavelengths. A dichroic reflector transmits the longer wavelength light, and reflects some LED light onto the phosphor such that as light travels from the LED to the dichroic reflector it does not pass through the phosphor. The LED may emit blue light, and the dichroic reflector may transmit a second portion of the LED light, such that the light source output light includes both the second portion of the LED light and the longer wavelength phosphor light. The LED may be mounted on a flexible substrate having a cavity region and neighboring region, the LED being mounted in the cavity region. A dielectric layer may be thinner in the cavity region than in the neighboring region, or a hole may extend completely through the dielectric layer in the cavity region.
US08912556B2 Light emitting device and method of manufacturing the same
A light emitting device and a method of manufacturing the same are disclosed. The light emitting device includes a buffer layer formed on a substrate, a nitride semiconductor layer including a first semiconductor layer, an active layer, and a second semiconductor layer, which are sequentially stacked on the buffer layer, a portion of the first semiconductor layer being exposed to the outside by performing mesa etching from the second semiconductor layer to the portion of the first semiconductor layer, and at least one nanocone formed on the second semiconductor layer.
US08912554B2 Long wavelength light emitting device with photoluminescence emission and high quantum efficiency
Various embodiments of light emitting devices with high quantum efficiencies are described herein. In one embodiment, a light emitting device includes a first contact, a second contact spaced apart from the first contact, and a first active region between the first and second contacts. The first active region is configured to produce a first emission via electroluminescence when a voltage is applied between the first and second contacts, and the first emission having a first center wavelength. The light emitting device also includes a second active region spaced apart from the first active region. The second active region is configured to absorb at least a portion of the first emission and produce a second emission via photoluminescence, and the second emission having a second center wavelength longer than the first center wavelength.
US08912551B2 Substrate assembly for crystal growth and fabricating method for light emitting device using the same
A substrate assembly on which a first conduction-type semiconductor layer, an active layer and a second conduction-type semiconductor layer are formed is disclosed, the substrate assembly comprising a first substrate, a second substrate and a bonding layer interposed there between. In the substrate assembly, the thermal expansion coefficient of the bonding layer is smaller than or equal to that of at least one of the first and second substrates.
US08912550B2 Dislocations in SiC semiconductor substrate
A semiconductor substrate has a main surface and formed of single crystal silicon carbide. The main surface includes a central area, which is an area other than the area within 5 mm from the outer circumference. When the central area is divided into square areas of 1 mm×1 mm, in any square area, density of dislocations of which Burgers vector is parallel to <0001> direction is at most 1×105 cm−2. Thus, a silicon carbide semiconductor substrate enabling improved yield of semiconductor devices can be provided.
US08912549B2 Optical device and method of making
An optical device and method is disclosed for forming the optical device within the wide-bandgap semiconductor substrate. The optical device is formed by directing a thermal energy beam onto a selected portion of the wide-bandgap semiconductor substrate for changing an optical property of the selected portion to form the optical device in the wide-bandgap semiconductor substrate. The thermal energy beam defines the optical and physical properties of the optical device. The optical device may take the form of an electro-optical device with the addition of electrodes located on the wide-bandgap semiconductor substrate in proximity to the optical device for changing the optical property of the optical device upon a change of a voltage applied to the optional electrodes. The invention is also incorporated into a method of using the optical device for remotely sensing temperature, pressure and/or chemical composition.
US08912547B2 Light-emitting device, display device, and semiconductor device
A light-emitting device which includes a semiconductor layer; a first insulating layer over the semiconductor layer; a gate electrode and a first conductive layer over the first insulating layer; a second insulating layer over the gate electrode and the first conductive layer; source and drain electrodes and a second conductive layer over the second insulating layer; a third insulating layer over the source and drain electrodes and the second conductive layer; a first electrode and a third conductive layer over the third insulating layer; a planarization film covering an end portion of the first electrode; an electroluminescent layer over the first electrode; and a second electrode over the electroluminescent layer and the planarization film is provided. The second electrode is electrically connected to the third conductive layer through an opening portion provided in the planarization film. The opening portion overlaps with the first, second, and third conductive layers.
US08912542B2 TFT structure and LCD device
A thin film transistor (TFT) structure includes a first metal layer. The first metal layer is configured with an insulating layer, a second metal layer covers a surface of the insulating layer, an area of the second metal layer that corresponds to an area above the first metal layer is configured with a gap. An area of the insulating layer that corresponds to the gap is configured with a groove. An active layer made of an indium gallium zinc oxide (IGZO) covers surfaces of the second metal layer, the gap, and the groove.
US08912541B2 Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
One object of the present invention is to increase an aperture ratio of a semiconductor device. A pixel portion and a driver circuit are provided over one substrate. The first thin film transistor (TFT) in the pixel portion includes: a gate electrode layer over the substrate; a gate insulating layer over the gate electrode layer; an oxide semiconductor layer over the gate insulating layer; source and drain electrode layers over the oxide semiconductor layer; over the gate insulating layer, the oxide semiconductor layer, the source and drain electrode layers, a protective insulating layer which is in contact with part of the oxide semiconductor layer; and a pixel electrode layer over the protective insulating layer. The pixel portion has light-transmitting properties. Further, a material of source and drain electrode layers of a second TFT in the driver circuit is different from a material of those of the first TFT.
US08912534B2 Tandem white organic light emitting device
A tandem white organic light emitting device having high efficiency and long lifespan by adjusting characteristics of a hole transport layer adjacent to a charge generation layer consisting of p-type and n-type charge generation layer is disclosed, the p-type charge generation layer is formed of organic materials only, and at least one organic material contained in the p-type charge generation layer has a LUMO level of −6.0 eV to −4.5 eV.
US08912532B2 Patterning the emission colour in top-emissive OLEDs
The invention relates to a top-emissive organic light-emitting diode (OLED) (10) arranged to emit light having different emission colors, comprising a multi-layered structure provided with a first electrode, a second electrode and a functional layer enabling light emission disposed between the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein thickness (H1, H2) of the functional layer is modulated by allowing at least a portion of the functional layer to interact with a thickness modulator (5a, 5b, 5c), wherein the functional layer comprises a hole injection layer or the electron injection layer.
US08912530B2 Electrode structure including graphene and field effect transistor having the same
According to example embodiments, an electrode structure includes a graphene layer on a semiconductor layer and an electrode containing metal on the graphene layer. A field effect transistor (FET) may include the electrode structure.
US08912529B2 Selective emitter photovoltaic device
A method for fabricating a photovoltaic device includes forming a patterned layer on a doped emitter portion of the photovoltaic device, the patterned layer including openings that expose areas of the doped emitter portion and growing an epitaxial layer over the patterned layer such that a crystalline phase grows in contact with the doped emitter portion and a non-crystalline phase grows in contact with the patterned layer. The non-crystalline phase is removed from the patterned layer. Conductive contacts are formed on the epitaxial layer in the openings to form a contact area for the photovoltaic device.
US08912527B2 Multi-quantum well structure and light emitting diode having the same
A multi-quantum well structure includes two first barrier layers, two well layers sandwiched between the two first barrier layers, and a doped second barrier layer sandwiched between the two well layers. The second barrier layer has its conduction band and forbidden band gradually transiting to those of one of the well layers, and a dopant concentration of the second barrier layer gradually changes along a direction from one well layer to the other. The invention also relates to a light emitting diode structure having the multi-quantum well structure.
US08912524B2 Defect gradient to boost nonvolatile memory performance
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a resistive switching nonvolatile memory element that is formed in a resistive switching memory device that may be used in a memory array to store digital data. The memory element is generally constructed as a metal-insulator-metal stack. The resistive switching portion of the memory element includes a getter and/or a defect portion. In general, the getter portion is an area of the memory element that is used to help form, during the resistive switching memory device's fabrication process, a region of the resistive switching layer that has a greater number of vacancies or defects compared to the remainder of resistive switching layer. The defect portion is an area of the memory element that has a greater number of vacancies or defects compared to the remainder of the resistive switching layer, and is formed during the resistive switching memory device's fabrication process.
US08912523B2 Conductive path in switching material in a resistive random access memory device and control
A non-volatile memory device structure. The device structure includes a first electrode, a second electrode, a resistive switching material comprising an amorphous silicon material overlying the first electrode, and a thickness of dielectric material having a thickness ranging from 5 nm to 10 nm disposed between the second electrode and the resistive switching layer. The thickness of dielectric material is configured to electrically breakdown in a region upon application of an electroforming voltage to the second electrode. The electrical breakdown allows for a metal region having a dimension of less than about 10 nm by 10 nm to form in a portion of the resistive switching material.
US08912520B2 Nanoscale switching device
A nanoscale switching device has an active region disposed between two electrodes of nanoscale widths. The active region contains a switching material that carries mobile ionic dopants capable of being transported over the active region under an electric field to change a resistive state of the device. The switching material further carries immobile ionic dopants for inhibiting clustering of the mobile ionic dopants caused by switching cycles of the device. The immobile ionic dopants have a charge opposite in polarity to the charge of the mobile ionic dopants, and are less mobile under the electric field than the mobile ion dopants.
US08912517B2 Resistive switching memory
In one embodiment of the present invention, a memory cell includes a first resistive switching element having a first terminal and a second terminal, and a second resistive switching element having a first terminal and a second terminal. The memory further includes a three terminal transistor, which has a first terminal, a second terminal, and a third terminal. The first terminal of the three terminal transistor is coupled to the first terminal of the first resistive switching element. The second terminal of the three terminal transistor is coupled to the first terminal of the second resistive switching element. The third terminal of the three terminal transistor is coupled to a word line.
US08912513B2 Charged particle beam writing apparatus and charged particle beam writing method
A charged particle beam writing apparatus according to an embodiment, includes a laser displacement meter configured to measure a position of a substrate to be written; a correction unit configured to correct a misregistration amount of the position of the substrate measured by the laser displacement meter from a reference position of the substrate; and a writing unit configured to write a pattern onto the substrate corrected for the misregistration amount by using a charged particle beam.
US08912502B2 Ion chamber based neutron detectors
A neutron detector with monolithically integrated readout circuitry, including: a bonded semiconductor die; an ion chamber formed in the bonded semiconductor die; a first electrode and a second electrode formed in the ion chamber; a neutron absorbing material filling the ion chamber; and the readout circuitry which is electrically coupled to the first and second electrodes. The bonded semiconductor die includes an etched semiconductor substrate bonded to an active semiconductor substrate. The readout circuitry is formed in a portion of the active semiconductor substrate. The ion chamber has a substantially planar first surface on which the first electrode is formed and a substantially planar second surface, parallel to the first surface, on which the second electrode is formed. The distance between the first electrode and the second electrode may be equal to or less than the 50% attenuation length for neutrons in the neutron absorbing material filling the ion chamber.
US08912501B2 Optimum imaging position detecting method, optimum imaging position detecting device, photomask manufacturing method, and semiconductor device manufacturing method
According to one embodiment, an optimum imaging position detecting method includes acquiring an image of a predetermined area of a substrate surface, calculating, on the basis of the image of the predetermined area, peak intensity corresponding to a value obtained by subtracting average signal intensity of an area outside an intensity acquisition part from signal intensity of the intensity acquisition part, calculating variation of the peak intensity, executing acquiring the image of the predetermined area, calculating the peak intensity, and calculating the variation of the peak intensity at each of a plurality of imaging positions, and determining that a position of the maximum variation of the peak intensity is an optimum imaging position.
US08912497B2 Measurement structure, method of manufacturing same, and measuring method using same
A measurement structure including an aperture array structure made of a metal and having a plurality of aperture portions, and a support base supporting the aperture array structure. The measurement structure is used in a measuring method by applying an electromagnetic wave to the measurement structure on which a specimen is held, detecting frequency characteristics of the electromagnetic wave transmitted through the measurement structure or reflected by the measurement structure, and measuring characteristics of the specimen. At least a first part of a surface of the aperture array structure proximal to the support base is joined to the support base, and at least a second part of the surface of the aperture array structure defines at least part of the plurality of aperture portions, the second part of the surface being proximal to the support base and not in contact with the support base.
US08912495B2 Multi-spectral defect inspection for 3D wafers
Multi-spectral defect inspection for 3D wafers is provided. One system configured to detect defects in one or more structures formed on a wafer includes an illumination subsystem configured to direct light in discrete spectral bands to the one or more structures formed on the wafer. At least some of the discrete spectral bands are in the near infrared (NIR) wavelength range. Each of the discrete spectral bands has a bandpass that is less than 100 nm. The system also includes a detection subsystem configured to generate output responsive to light in the discrete spectral bands reflected from the one or more structures. In addition, the system includes a computer subsystem configured to detect defects in the one or more structures on the wafer using the output.
US08912494B2 Apparatus for ultrasensitive long-wave imaging cameras
An apparatus for ultrasensitive long-wave imaging cameras is provided. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a filter configured to allow high frequencies of interest to pass through the filter. The apparatus also includes an antenna that is configured to receive the high frequencies of interest. The apparatus further includes a plurality of bolometers that are configured to measure data regarding the high frequencies of interest.
US08912486B2 Elemental flow cytometer
An elemental flow cytometer includes a device to vaporize, atomize, and ionize material and an introduction system for introducing packets of discrete entities into said device to vaporize, atomize and ionize materials to vaporize, atomize and ionize the entities in the packets. A spectrometer is adapted to individually analyze elemental composition of one or more of the vaporized, atomized and excited or ionized packets.
US08912483B2 Display measuring device
A display measuring device for measuring a display, includes a photosensitive unit, a first rotation plane mirror, a second rotation plane mirror, a first lens module, a second lens module, and an optic reflecting unit. The first lens module projects a first incident image from the display to the first rotation plane mirror. The first rotation plane mirror reflects the projected first incident image from the first lens module to the optic reflecting unit. The second lens module projects a second incident image from the display to the second rotation plane mirror. The second rotation plane mirror reflects the projected second incident image from the second lens module to the optic reflecting unit. The optic reflecting unit reflects the reflected first incident image to the photosensitive unit, and reflects the reflected second incident image to the photosensitive unit.
US08912481B2 Reflective display including an integral motion sensing switch
Disclosed is a motion detection switch, and more particularly a motion detection switch which can recognize motion of a reflector moved at an upper side of a display part of a mobile phone, and can control the mobile phone without any touching operation. The motion detection switch recognizes motion of a reflection body moved at an upper side of a display part of a portable terminal and controls the portable terminal, including a base which is disposed at an upper side of a main body of the portable terminal having the display part, which is outside the display part; a light receiving device which is disposed at the base; a plurality of light emitting devices which are disposed at the base so as to be symmetric with respect to the light receiving device; and a control device which operates the light emitting devices.
US08912480B2 Light sensor systems for electronic devices
The underside of an inactive portion of a display cover layer in an electronic device may be covered with an opaque masking material. Openings in the opaque masking material may be form ambient light sensor and proximity sensor windows. An ambient light sensor window may be filled with a material that transmits at least some visible light. A proximity sensor window may be filled with a material that transmits more infrared light relative to visible light than the material in the ambient light sensor window. The materials in the ambient light sensor window and proximity sensor window may include one or more layers of ink, patterns of holes, layers of material that are shared with the opaque masking layer, and materials that are black, white, or other colors. A light guide structure may be used to route light received from a sensor window to an associated sensor.
US08912479B2 Sensing system for a media presenter
A media presenter is described that includes a carriage moveable forwards and backwards along a linear presenter track between a first purge position, a stacking position, and a present position. The media presenter includes a sensing system that comprises: an inductive sensor; a resonant target mounted on the moveable carriage for co-operating with the inductive sensor to provide positioning information about the target relative to the inductive sensor; and an optical sensor mounted on the moveable carriage in the vicinity of the presenter track. The sensing system further comprises: a first purge target having a first optical property and mounted on the presenter track in the vicinity of the first purge position; and a present target having a second optical property and mounted on the presenter track in the vicinity of the present position.
US08912478B2 Light sensor with a photoresistive element having a comb structure
The light dose received by perishable goods is an important parameter in determining the lifetime of those goods. A light sensor is described having a photosensitive element which changes its material property according to the light dose received. This change can be detected electrically by electrodes in the light sensor. Because the change in material property is permanent, this removes the need for a memory to store a value representing the light dose received by the light sensor.
US08912477B2 Methods and devices for optically determining a characteristic of a substance
Optical computing devices are disclosed. One exemplary optical computing device includes an electromagnetic radiation source configured to optically interact with a sample and at least two integrated computational elements. The at least two integrated computational elements may be configured to produce optically interacted light, and at least one of the at least two integrated computational elements may be configured to be disassociated with a characteristic of the sample. The optical computing device further includes a first detector arranged to receive the optically interacted light from the at least two integrated computational elements and thereby generate a first signal corresponding to the characteristic of the sample.
US08912475B2 Optical sensing system with a phase sensitive amplifier and associated methods
An optical sensing system includes a transmitter configured to transmit a free-space optical signal toward a target, and a receiver configured to receive a reflected free-space optical target signal from the target. The receiver includes a phase sensitive amplifier (PSA), a homodyne detector coupled downstream from the PSA, and a controller configured to adjust a phase of the PSA based upon the homodyne detector.
US08912467B2 Hair styling heating apparatus
A hair styler and its heating device which can heat the thermal storage piece inside the hair roller quickly to a desired temperature by electromagnetic heating. The thermal storage piece is made of high thermal conductivity material which absorbs heat quite quick and disposed inside the hair roller to prevent the hair from directly contacting the thermal storage piece during hair styling, consequently preventing the hair from being burned. Then a low thermal conductivity isolating layer retains the heat within the hair roller and enables the heat to be uniformly and constantly transmitted to the outer surface of the hair roller, providing an effect of low energy consumption and long-lasting heat. A temperature sensing piece is used to detect and indicate the temperature of the hair styler by using different colors, making it easier for the user to know the temperature of the hair styler.
US08912465B2 Laser engraving device
A laser engraving device which can adjust its machining position is disclosed. The device includes a laser machine for supplying laser beam, a guide rod adjacent to and parallel to the laser machine, a galvanometric scanner coupled to the guide rod and being movable with the guide rod, and a driver disposed at an end of the guide rod for driving the guide rod.
US08912461B2 Arc chute assembly and method of manufacturing same
An arc chute assembly includes a housing having a first wall, a second wall, and a pair of side walls coupled to the first wall. The walls configured to form an arc area. The housing further having a divider wall coupled to the first wall between the side walls. The divider wall configured to form a first sub-arc area, a second sub-arc area, and an arc plate area. The first sub-arc area and the second sub-arc area are configured to be in flow communication with the arc plate area. The arc chute assembly further comprises a support coupled to the first wall and the side walls, and an arc plate coupled to the support. The arc plate having a body extending between the side walls and over the divider wall.
US08912457B2 Controlling device of turning knob and controlling method of touch panel
A controlling device of turning knob is disposed on a touch panel removably so as to control the touch panel. The controlling device of turning knob includes a base and a turning knob. The base has a bottom side, a top side, a plurality of first pads disposed at the bottom side, and at least two second pads disposed at the top side. The second pads are electrically connected to parts of the first pads. The base is assembled to the touch panel with its bottom side, such that the first pads touch the touch panel. The turning knob disposed on the top side rotates about a rotating axis. The turning knob has a plurality of third pads surrounding the rotating axis. When the turning knob rotates along a direction relative to the base, the third pads are electrically connected to the corresponding second pads sequentially.
US08912454B2 Seal structure
Provided is a seal structure which can reduce the thickness of an electronic device, can be easily assembled and disassembles, and can exhibit an excellent seal performance. Thus, the seal structure for an electronic device, which seals a gap between a flexible wiring substrate inserted to a through-hole provided in a case member of an electronic device and the through-hole, is comprised of an annular gasket composed of a rubber elastic material, a part of which is integrally molded with the flexible wiring substrate, and a retainer plate for retaining the gasket in conjunction with the case member.
US08912448B2 Stress relief structure
A stress relief structure is provided. The stress relief structure includes a stress relief body, at least one first stress relief base and at least one second stress relief base. The stress relief body has an upper surface and a lower surface opposite to each other. The first stress relief base is disposed on the upper surface of the stress relief body. The second stress relief base is disposed on the lower surface of the stress relief body. The at least one first stress relief base and the at least one second stress relief base are interlaced to each other.
US08912446B2 Termination structure for superconducting cable
A termination structure for a superconducting cable is described. The termination structure for a superconducting cable includes a first tube including a conductive rod therein to form a room temperature section, a second tube including a conductive rod therein to form a temperature gradient section, and a spacer provided between the first and second tubes, the spacer including a conductive connector configured to connect the conductive rods inside the first and second tubes to each other. The first and second tubes are joined to be separable from each other.
US08912444B2 Systems and methods for storing a cable
Systems and methods for storing a cable are provided. The casing may be configured to naturally coil and to uncoil when one or more forces are applied to the casing. The casing may include an opening that may lead to a channel that may run longitudinally through a length of the casing. At least a portion of the cable (e.g., a headphone cable or in-ear earphone cable) may be stored in the casing by longitudinally aligning the cable with the casing, and inserting various portions of the cable through the opening and into the channel.
US08912440B2 Bracket and assembly for electrical devices
The present disclosure is directed to a bracket and electrical assembly including such bracket for mounting or securing to a concrete masonry unit (CMU).
US08912439B2 Method and apparatus for finished installation of electrical outlet box without use of external cover plate
An electrical outlet box installation in which there is no exposed cover plate, only the operative portion of the electrical component is visible at the wall surface. The operative portion of the component may be an electrical outlet, jack, switch, knob, or light, for example. The body of the electrical component is housed within the outlet box, also referred to as a junction box, with the open side of the outlet box being covered by a plate assembly having an opening that closely surrounds the operative portion of the component. The surface of the plate assembly is covered with wallboard mud, or other wall finishing material, which is blended into the surrounding surface of the wall so that only the operative portion of the component is exposed. The wall covering may also be paneling, stone, tile or similar materials.
US08912437B2 Suspension insulator and suspension insulator group
The present disclosure discloses a suspension insulator and a suspension insulator group. The suspension insulator comprises a silicone rubber umbrella string and a fiber-reinforced resin-based composite rod, wherein the silicone rubber umbrella string is arranged on the fiber-reinforced resin-based composite rod. Since the umbrella string is made of silicone rubber and is arranged on the fiber-reinforced resin-based composite rod, as compared with porcelain suspension insulator or glass suspension insulator, it has a low density and a light weight, and may reduce the load of the tower and is convenient to install and remove. The suspension insulator provided by the present disclosure is especially applicable to the field of power transmission.
US08912433B2 Lattice matchable alloy for solar cells
An alloy composition for a subcell of a solar cell is provided that has a bandgap of at least 0.9 eV, namely, Ga1-xInxNyAs1-y-zSbz with a low antimony (Sb) content and with enhanced indium (In) content and enhanced nitrogen (N) content, achieving substantial lattice matching to GaAs and Ge substrates and providing both high short circuit currents and high open circuit voltages in GaInNAsSb subcells for multijunction solar cells. The composition ranges for Ga1-xInxNyAs1-y-zSbz are 0.07≦x≦0.18, 0.025≦y≦0.04 and 0.001≦z≦0.03.
US08912430B2 Si cells with III-V multijunction cells
A solar conversion assembly comprises: a) a type III-V multiple cell stack solar cell device b) a silicon solar cell device c) a band splitting device located relative to the type III-V solar cell device and the silicon solar cell device. The band splitting device splits light falling on the splitting device into a plurality of wavelength bands and directs a first of said bands to the type III-V solar cell device and the second of said bands to the silicon solar cell device.
US08912416B2 One touch drum tuning system
A cam operated drum tuning system which is rotatable clockwise or counterclockwise to tunes a musical drum. A cam ring mechanism employs multiple helical tracks. A removable radius plate and tool facilitates rotation. The tuning system may be attached directly to drum lugs, to a retrofit ring attached to the lugs, or to a full floating I or II framework which use edge or full floater rings, and/or adjustable pull rods to connect the top and/or bottom tuning systems so that nothing need contact the drum shell. Eccentric micro tuners adjust the rim rollers which ride on the inner hoop, which has a lip on the underside to add overlap. Elevators are used to raise and/or lower the cam ring to align it perpendicular to the bearing edge of the drum shell.
US08912415B2 Acoustic structure fiddle and manufacturing method thereof
The present invention relates to a violin of acoustic configuration, which is different from the classic violin and a manufacturing method thereof. The violin of acoustic configuration is produced according to the rules of acoustic regularity, standard pitch data and uniform orderly reflecting surface of the violin cavity. The reflecting surface of cavity is depended on the international standard pitch data and the rule of acoustic wavelength changing. According to the configuration rules, the violin made of normal materials and technology process condition may provide better volume and tone, and provide much better performance in the standard pitch playing status.
US08912413B1 Maize inbred PH1DDG
A novel maize variety designated PH1DDG and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH1DDG with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH1DDG or a locus conversion of PH1DDG with another maize variety.
US08912410B2 Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH149728
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH149728. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH149728, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH149728 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH149728.
US08912409B2 Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH711103
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH711103. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH711103, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH711103 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH711103.
US08912406B2 Plants and seeds of hybrid corn variety CH353362
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH353362. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH353362, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH353362 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH353362.
US08912402B2 Bean variety RX 08081162
The invention provides seed and plants of the bean line designated RX 08081162. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of bean line RX 08081162, and to methods for producing a bean plant produced by crossing a plant of bean line RX 08081162 with itself or with another bean plant, such as a plant of another line. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of a plant of bean line RX 08081162, including the pods and gametes of such plants.
US08912399B2 Soybean variety A1036465
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1036465. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1036465. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1036465 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1036465 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08912398B2 Soybean variety A1036175
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1036175. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1036175. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1036175 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1036175 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08912391B1 Maize inbred PH1KD2
A novel maize variety designated PH1KD2 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH1KD2 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH1KD2 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH1KD2 or a locus conversion of PH1KD2 with another maize variety.
US08912390B1 Maize inbred PH1MCM
A novel maize variety designated PH1MCM and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH1MCM with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH1MCM through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH1MCM or a locus conversion of PH1MCM with another maize variety.
US08912385B2 Rapid production of monoclonal antibodies
The present invention relates to genetically altered hybridomas, myelomas and B cells. The invention also relates to utilizing genetically altered hybridomas, myelomas and B cells in methods of making monoclonal antibodies. The present invention also provides populations of hybridomas and B cells that can be utilized to make a monoclonal antibody of interest.
US08912381B2 Process for the oxidative coupling of methane
A method for the oxidative coupling of hydrocarbons, such as the oxidative coupling of methane, includes providing an oxidative catalyst inside a reactor, and carrying out the oxidative coupling reaction under a set of reaction conditions. The oxidative catalyst includes (A) at least one element selected from the group consisting of the Lanthanoid group, Mg, Ca, and the elements of Group 4 of the periodic table (Ti, Zr, and Hf); (B) at least one element selected from the group consisting of the Group 1 elements of Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, and the elements of Group 3 (including La and Ac) and Groups 5-15 of the periodic table; (C) at least one element selected from the group consisting of the Group 1 elements of Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, and the elements Ca, Sr, and Ba; and (D) oxygen.
US08912377B2 Method for producing high value aromatics and olefin from light cycle oil produced by a fluidized catalytic cracking process
The present invention relates to a method of producing aromatic products (benzene/toluene/xylene) and olefin products from petroleum fractions obtained by fluid catalytic cracking, and, more particularly, to a method of producing products comprising high-concentration aromatic products and high value-added light olefin products from light cycle oil obtained by fluid catalytic cracking.
US08912374B2 Process for producing paraffinic hydrocarbons
Process for producing paraffinic hydrocarbons, the process comprising the following steps: (a) contacting hydrogen and a feedstock comprising triglycerides, diglycerides, monoglycerides and/or fatty acids with a hydrogenation catalyst under hydrodeoxygenation conditions; and (b) contacting the whole effluent of step (a) with a hydroprocessing catalyst comprising sulphided Ni and sulphided W or Mo as hydrogenation components on a carrier comprising amorphous silica-alumina and/or a zeolitic compound under hydro-isomerization conditions.
US08912373B2 Process for the dehydration of aqueous bio-derived terminal alcohols to terminal alkenes
A method and apparatus for dehydrating bio-1-alcohols to bio-1-alkenes with high selectivity. The bio-1-alkenes are useful in preparing high flashpoint diesel and jet biofuels which are useful to civilian and military applications. Furthermore, the bio-1-alkenes may be converted to biolubricants useful in the transportation sector and other areas requiring high purity/thermally stable lubricants.
US08912371B2 Method of producing a chlorinated hydrocarbon having 3 carbon atoms
A method of producing a chlorinated hydrocarbon having 3 carbon atoms, comprising a conversion step for converting a chloropropane represented by the following formula (1) into a chloropropane represented by the following formula (2) by reacting it with chlorine in the presence of anhydrous aluminum chloride. CCl3—CCl(2-m)Hm—CCl(3-n)Hn  (1) (In the above formula (1), m is 1 or 2, and n is an integer of 0 to 3.) CCl3—CCl(3-m)H(m-1)—CCl(3-n)Hn  (2) (In the above formula (2), m and n are the same integers as in the formula (1), respectively.)
US08912365B2 Process for preparing a polyol ether
The present invention relates to a process for preparing a polyol ether of formula (I), comprising a step of reductive alkylation involving a compound of general formula (II) and a compound of general formula (III): in which R1, R2, R3 and R4 are as defined in claim 1.
US08912363B2 Chlorinated polyether and polyurethane obtained therefrom
Provided is a chlorinated polyether which has excellent solubility in solvents and excellent thermal stability, has the excellent effect of improving the adhesion of coating materials, inks, and adhesives to polyolefins, can be expected to be usable as a flame retardant, and is useful also as a novel starting material for polyurethanes. The polyether is a novel chlorinated polyether containing, as a repeating unit, at least one of the chlorinated-ether residue represented by the following formula (1) and the chlorinated-ether residue represented by the following formula (2). Also provided is a novel polyurethane obtained therefrom.
US08912362B2 Synthesis of triethylenetetramines
Methods and intermediates for synthesizing triethylenetetramine and salts thereof, as well as novel triethylenetetramine salts and their crystal structure, and triethylenetetramine salts of high purity.
US08912355B2 Linoleic phospholipids and uses thereof for inhibiting inflammatory and neurodegenerative processes
Described herein are compositions of an linoleic phospholipid for inhibiting inflammatory pathways or neurodegenerative processes. Also provided are uses of such compositions and methods of inhibiting inflammatory or neurodegenerative processes by administering a composition that includes an linoleic phospholipid and optionally a carrier to a cell, cell culture or subject in need of such treatment.
US08912353B2 Organoaminosilane precursors and methods for depositing films comprising same
Described herein are precursors and methods of forming dielectric films. In one aspect, there is provided a silicon precursor having the following formula I: wherein R1 is independently selected from hydrogen, a linear or branched C1 to C6 alkyl, a linear or branched C2 to C6 alkenyl, a linear or branched C2 to C6 alkynyl, a C1 to C6 alkoxy, a C1 to C6 dialkylamino and an electron withdrawing group and n is a number selected from 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5; and R2 is independently selected from hydrogen, a linear or branched C1 to C6 alkyl, a linear or branched C2 to C6 alkenyl, a linear or branched C2 to C6 alkynyl, a C1 to C6 alkoxy, a C1 to C6 dialkylamino, a C6 to C10 aryl, a linear or branched C1 to C6 fluorinated alkyl, and a C4 to C10 cyclic alkyl group.
US08912352B2 Group 4 metal compound containing thiophene-fused cyclopentadienyl ligand derived from tetraquinoline derivative and olefin polymerization using the same
The present invention relates to a novel ligand derived from a tetrahydroquinoline derivative, and a transition metal compound prepared using the ligand, where an amido ligand is linked to an ortho-phenylene ligand to form a condensed ring and a 5-membered cyclic pi-ligand linked to the ortho-phenylene ligand is fused with a heterocyclic thiophene ligand. Compared with the catalysts not fused with a heterocyclic thiophene ligand, the transition metal compound of the present invention as activated with a co-catalyst has higher catalytic activity in olefin polymerization and provides a polymer with higher molecular weight.
US08912344B2 Dye for photoelectric conversion device and photoelectric conversion device
A photoelectric conversion device capable of improving conversion efficiency is provided. The photoelectric conversion device includes a work electrode, a counter electrode, and an electrolyte-containing layer. In the work electrode, a metal oxide semiconductor layer supporting a dye is provided. The dye contains a cyanine compound. The cyanine compound has heterocyclic skeletons containing indolenine skeletons bonded with both ends of a methine chain, an anchor group introduced to a nitrogen atom contained in the indolenine skeletons, and a phenanthrene skeleton contained in one of the heterocyclic skeletons. In the case where light enters the dye, electron injection efficiency to the metal oxide semiconductor layer is improved.
US08912343B2 Solid forms of (1r,4r)-6′-fluoro-(N, N-dimethyl)-4-phenyl-4′,9′-dihydro-3′H-spiro[cyclohexane-1,1′-pyrano-[3,4,b]indol]-4-amine and sulfuric acid
Solid forms of (1r,4r)-6′-fluoro-N,N-dimethyl-4-phenyl-4′,9′-dihydro-3′H-spiro[cyclohexane-1,1′-pyrano[3,4b]indol]-4-amine and sulfuric acid such as (1r,4r)-6′-fluoro-N,N-dimethyl-4-phenyl-4′,9′-dihydro-3′H-spiro[cyclohexane-1,1′-pyrano[3,4b]indol]-4-amine sulfate or hemi-sulfate, particularly crystalline forms and/or amorphous forms thereof, pharmaceutical compositions and medicaments containing these solid forms, the use of these solid forms, and a process for obtaining such solid forms.
US08912342B2 Pyrazole synthesis by coupling of carboxylic acid derivatives and enamines
A method of synthesizing Pyrazoles by means of the oxidative conversion of Enamines with suitable N-containing carboxylic acid derivatives in the presence of copper ions and 2-picolinic acid derivatives is provided.
US08912334B2 Biphenyl compounds useful as muscarinic receptor antagonists
This invention provides compounds of formula I: wherein a, b, c, d, m, n, p, s, t, W, Ar1, R1, R2, R3, R4, R6, R7, and R8 are as defined in the specification. The compounds of formula I are muscarinic receptor antagonists. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds, processes and intermediates for preparing such compounds and methods of using such compounds to treat pulmonary disorders.
US08912333B2 Polymorphs of pitavastatin calcium
The present invention provides a solid of pitavastatin tert-butyl ester and process for its preparation. The present invention also provides a novel crystalline form of pitavastatin calcium, process for its preparation and pharmaceutical compositions comprising it.
US08912332B2 Synthesis of trivalent flexible frameworks with ligands comprising catechol units for functionalizing surfaces
The present invention describes tripodal catechol derivatives with a flexible basic framework for the functionalization of surfaces, and methods for their production and use. The central atom of the flexible framework is hereby a tertiary aliphatic carbon atom. The remaining fourth bridgehead position is easily suitable to be further functionalized via so-called click reactions, e.g. with biomolecules, dyes, radiomarkers, polyethylene glycol or active agents.The compounds according to the present invention have the general formula X—C[(CH2)n—YZ]3, wherein X stands for a group —(CH2)p—R5, wherein p=0 to 10 and R5 is selected from —H, —NH2, —NO2, —OH, —SH, —O—NH2, —NH—NH2, —N═C═S—, —N═C═O—, —CH═CH2, —C≡CH, —COOH, —(C═O)H, —(C═O)R6Y stands for —CH2—, —CH═CH—, —C≡C—, —O—, —S—, —S—S—, —NH—, —O—NH—, —NH—O—, —HC═N—O—, —O—N═CH—, —NR1—, -Aryl-, -Heteroaryl-, —(C═O)—, —O—(C═O)—, —(C═O)—O—, —NH—(C═O)—, —(C═O)—NH—, —NR1—(C═O)—, —(C═O)—NR1—, —NH—(C═O)—NH—, —NH—(C═S)—NH—, R1 stands for an aryl group, R6 for an alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl or heteroaryl group, and Z stands for a catechol derivative.The production of the compounds occurs by reacting a compound X—C[(CH2)n—Y′]3 with a reagent Y″Z to the corresponding compound X—C[(CH2)n—YZ]3 and subsequent purification of the reaction product.Y′ and Y″ are hereby precursors of Y. The compounds according to formula (I) according to the present invention are suitable to be used in a method to functionalize surfaces. The X group of the compounds according to the present invention is suitable to be optionally coupled to an effector, for example, by means of click chemistry.
US08912330B2 Azaindole derivatives as kinase inhibitors
This invention relates to compounds of the general formula (I) in which the variable groups are as defined herein, and to their preparation and use.
US08912329B2 Composition for treatment of tuberculosis
The invention relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of formula (1) wherein R1 is optionally substituted phenyl, optionally substituted pyridyl or optionally substituted indolyl; R2 is (CH2)n wherein n is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4; R3 is (CH2)mR3A wherein m is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4, and R3A is methyl, isopropyl, tert-butyl, OCH3, OH, optionally substituted phenoxy, C≡CH, C≡N, optionally substituted phenyl, furanyl or thienyl; A is a ring containing X1 with the meaning O, S, NH, N(CH3) or CH2; and X2 is O, S or NH; and a compound of formula (2) wherein R4 is optionally substituted phenyl, optionally substituted pyridyl, optionally substituted indolyl, —NR7R8; or —NH—N═CH—R9; and substituents R5 to R9 have the meanings indicated in the description, in particular ethionamide. The pharmaceutical composition is useful, e.g., in the treatment of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis.
US08912327B2 Process for the production of sitagliptin
A novel process is described for the synthesis of Sitagliptin, IUPAC name 7-[(3R)-3-amino-1-oxo-4-(2,4,5-trifluorophenyl)butyl]-5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-3-(trifluoromethyl)-1 2,4-triazolo[4,3-a]pyrazine, of formula (I).
US08912325B2 Process for preparation of imatinib and its mesylate salt
Disclosed is a process for the preparation of imatinib of formula (I), or its mesylate salt with controlled level of genotoxic impurity of formula (II), a key intermediate for imatinib.
US08912324B2 Optically active pyrazolylaminoquinazoline, and pharmaceutical compositions and methods of use thereof
Provided herein is an optically active pyrazolylaminoquinazoline, and pharmaceutical compositions thereof. Also provided herein is a method for treating, preventing, or ameliorating one or more symptoms of a JAK-mediated condition, disorder, or disease. Further provided herein is a method for treating, preventing, or ameliorating one or more symptoms of a proliferative disease, inflammatory disease, or renal disease.
US08912321B2 Preparation of nucleosides ribofuranosyl pyrimidines
The present process provides an improved method for the preparation of 4-amino-1-((2R,3R,4R,5R)-3-fluoro-4-hydroxy-5-hydroxymethyl-3-methyl-tetrahydrofuran-2-yl)-1H-pyrimidin-2-one of the formula (IV) which is a potent inhibitor of Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) NS5B polymerase.
US08912310B2 Phase transition biopolymers and methods of use
The present disclosure describes environmentally responsive polypeptides capable of displaying stimuli-triggered conformational changes in a reversible or irreversible manner that may be accompanied by aggregation. Polypeptides include a number of repeated motifs and may be elastomeric or non-elastomeric. The polypeptides may be used to deliver therapeutics to a biological site and to develop bioactive polypeptides that are environmentally responsive.
US08912309B2 Preparation method for caspofungin
Disclosed is a preparation method for caspofungin, comprising the steps: (a) a compound as represented in Formula 2 and a strong leaving group 5 are mixed to obtain a compound as represented in Formula 3; (b) the compound as represented in Formula 3 and ethylenediamine are mixed to obtain a compound as represented in Formula 4; and, (c) the compound as represented in Formula 4 is mixed with a hydroxyl protection agent, and then a borane complex is mixed in to obtain a compound as represented in Formula 1.
US08912308B2 Copolymer, organic solar cell using the same and manufacturing method thereof
A copolymer includes a first unit and at least one unit two units different from the first unit. An organic solar cell includes the copolymer in an organic material layer including a photoactive layer.
US08912307B2 Flame-retarding carbon dioxide/epoxide copolymer and method for preparing the same
There is provided a method for preparing a low-molecular weight poly(alkylene carbonate) of which the molecular weight and chain shape are precisely controlled, by introducing a phosphorous compound having a hydroxyl group as a chain transfer agent in order to regulate the molecular weight, in alternating copolymerizing an epoxide compound and carbon dioxide by using trivalent metal complex prepared from a Salen type ligand containing a quaternary ammonium salt, and a polymer prepared by the method.Since poly(alkylene carbonate) prepared according to the present invention includes a phosphate or phosphonate group in the polymer chain, it has flame-retarding property.
US08912305B2 Diketopyrrolopyrrole polymers for use in organic field effect transistors
The present invention relates to polymers comprising a repeating unit of the formula I, or III and their use as organic semiconductor in organic devices, especially an organic field effect transistor (OFET), or a device containing a diode and/or an organic field effect transistor. The polymers according to the invention have excellent solubility in organic solvents and excellent film-forming properties. In addition, high efficiency of energy conversion, excellent field-effect mobility, good on/off current ratios and/or excellent stability can be observed, when the polymers according to the invention are used in organic field effect transistors.
US08912292B2 Method to produce copolymers of tetrahydrofuran and epoxidised natural oils
The invention relates to a method to produce polytetrahydrofuran (PTHF) copolymer from plant oil by copolymerizing epoxidized oil; preferably from natural sources like animal oils and more preferably from plants oils; with tetrahydrofuran (THF), in the presence of boron trifluoride-diethylether complex or tetrafluoroboric acid to yield the desired copolymer with specific properties. The properties of the produced PTHF copolymer depends on the (i) type of epoxidized oil used as co-monomer (ii) mole ratio between epoxidized oil and THF (iii) amount of catalyst (iv) reaction temperature (v) reaction time. The produced PTHF copolymers were then used as raw material for the production of polyurethane and polyurea.
US08912291B2 Oxazolidone ring containing adducts
Embodiments include oxazolidone ring containing adducts obtainable by combining an aliphatic epoxy compound, an aromatic epoxy compound, and a diisocyanate. Embodiments further include a curable powder coating composition including a resin component and a hardener component, where the resin component includes the oxazolidone ring containing adduct.
US08912287B2 Method for producing polymer using monomer having piperidine skeleton, and molded body
Disclosed are a method for producing a polymer by a polymerization of a mixture at a temperature of 210° C. or lower, wherein the mixture comprises 0.01 to 35 mol % of a monomer or a polymer thereof which has a piperidine skeleton represented by formula (1), and a molded body thereof. R1 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, X represents an oxygen atom, an imino group, or a specific oxygen atom containing a hydrocarbon group, and R2 and R3 represent a hydrogen atom, a linear alkyl group with C1 to C8, a branched alkyl group with C1 to C8, an alicyclic hydrocarbon with C6 to C8, or an aryl group, wherein R2 and R3 may also form a cyclic structure.
US08912286B2 Polymer compositions comprising peptizers, sports equipment comprising such compositions, and method for their manufacture
Embodiments of the disclosed polymer composition comprise a first unsaturated polymer or polymer precursor, and an effective amount of a peptizer. The peptizer typically comprises a heteroaryl or a heterocyclic compound, other than morpholine as disclosed in assignee's prior applications. Disclosed polymer compositions are useful for making sports equipment, such as at least one layer of a golf ball, often a core. Because the compositions are useful for making golf balls, materials commonly known for making such golf balls can be used in combination with the polymer composition. A method for forming a golf ball also is disclosed. The method comprises providing disclosed compositions and then forming at least one component of a golf using the composition.
US08912285B2 Catalyst system with three metallocenes for producing broad molecular weight distribution polymers
Disclosed herein are polymerization processes for the production of olefin polymers. These polymerization processes use a catalyst system containing three metallocene components, often resulting in polymers having a reverse comonomer distribution and a broad and non-bimodal molecular weight distribution.
US08912283B2 Fluorine-containing elastomer blend
Provided is a fluorine-containing elastomer blend comprising 5 to 60 wt. % of a high-molecular-weight, fluorine-containing elastomer having a number average molecular weight of 3,000,000 or more, 20 to 80 wt. % of a medium-molecular-weight, fluorine-containing elastomer having a number average molecular weight of 100,000 to 1,000,000, and 10 to 50 wt. % of a low-molecular-weight, fluorine-containing elastomer having a number average molecular weight of 7,000 to 13,000; the number average molecular weight Mn of each fluorine-containing elastomer being measured by liquid chromatography using tetrahydrofuran as a developing solvent at a polymer concentration of 0.5 wt. % at a measurement temperature of 35° C. The fluorine-containing elastomer blend can achieve low hardness and low modulus while improving roll processability.
US08912279B2 Resin composition
Resin compositions which contain an epoxy resin, an alkoxy oligomer, and an inorganic filler provide insulating layers that have a surface with not only low arithmetic mean roughness but also low root mean square roughness in a wet roughening step and that are capable of forming thereon a plated conductive layer having a sufficient peel strength that can be formed while maintaining the glass transition temperature and thermal expansion coefficient.
US08912278B2 Thermally conductive resin composition and thermally conductive sheet including the same
A thermally conductive resin composition containing (A1) a fluorine-based compound having one to two terminal SiH group(s), in which a content of molecules having two such groups is 60 to 100 mole %, (B1) a fluorine-based compound having one to two terminal alkenyl group(s), in which a content of molecules having two such groups is 60 to 100 mole %, (A2) a fluorine-based compound in which a content of molecules having two terminal SiH groups is 0 to 40 mole %, (B2) a fluorine-based compound in which a content of molecules having two terminal alkenyl groups is 0 to 40 mole %, and (C) a thermally conductive filler, and satisfying, in connection with the content of the fluorine-based compounds, relation of [(A1)+(B1)]/[(A2)+(B2)]=20/80 to 80/20, (A1)/(B1)=20/80 to 80/20, and (A2)/(B2)=20/80 to 80/20, as well as a thermally conductive sheet including the same are provided.
US08912276B2 Coating composition
Coating composition comprising an ethylene copolymer containing not more than 5 mole-% comonomer, whereby the fraction of the ethylene copolymer having a molecular weight of 300 000 g/mol-600 000 g/mol has a methyl branching of more than 4.0 Methyl per 1000 C as determined by SEC/FT-IR analysis.
US08912274B2 Water-dispersible varnish
To obtain water-dispersible varnish used in an alternative refrigerant/refrigerating machine oil refrigerant system or a natural refrigerant/refrigerating machine oil refrigerant system, the water-dispersible varnish being capable of solving two problems, namely, reducing the volatile components and the like during thermal curing and resistance of the cured varnish to the refrigerant system,wherein the water-dispersible varnish has a specific thermosetting resin as base polymer, a specific vinyl monomer as reactive diluent, organic peroxide as reaction initiator, and water mixed therein.
US08912272B2 Moisture resistant polyimide compositions
The invention relates to a moisture resistant composition comprising: a) from 20 to 80 weight percent based on the total weight of the composition of a polyetherimide copolymer made from a monomer mixture comprising 3,3′ bisphenol-A dianhydride (BPADA), and 4,4′-diaminodiphenyl sulfone (DDS); b) from 5 to 75 weight percent based on the total weight of the composition of polyetheretherketone (PEEK); and c) from 0 to 30 weight percent based on the total weight of the composition of a filler. The invention relates to a reflector substrate comprising a moisture resistant layer metalized with a reflective layer, wherein the moisture resistant layer comprising the moisture resistant composition. The invention relates to a method for producing a metalized coating without a primer comprising applying a reflective layer directly to a moisture resistant layer in the absence of a primer, wherein the moisture resistant layer comprises the moisture resistant composition.
US08912270B2 Modified resins for blown film
Processes for enhancing blown film processability and the blown films formed thereby are described herein. One embodiment of the processes generally includes providing a first propylene based heterophasic copolymer having a first melt flow rate, modifying the first propylene based heterophasic copolymer to form a second heterophasic polymer having a second melt flow rate, wherein the second melt flow rate is greater than the first melt flow rate, contacting the first heterophasic polymer, the second heterophasic copolymer or a combination thereof with a plurality of additives, wherein the plurality of additives include a nucleator, polyethylene and mineral oil to form a modified heterophasic copolymer and blowing the modified heterophasic polymer into a film.
US08912269B2 Rubber composition and tire
The present invention relates to a rubber composition including (A) at least one rubber component selected from the group consisting of a synthetic rubber and a natural rubber; (B) a polymer of farnesene; and (C) carbon black having an average particle size of from 5 to 100 nm, a content of the carbon black (C) in the rubber composition being from 20 to 100 parts by mass on the basis of 100 parts by mass of the rubber component (A).
US08912265B2 Method for exfoliating organoclay to produce a nanocomposite
Nano-composites that comprise a thermoplastic polymer (TPO) and an exfoliated organoclay are prepared by a method comprising contacting under exfoliating conditions at least one molten TPO polymer with at least one organoclay and at least one exfoliating agent of H-TEMPO or an amine precursor to H-TEMPO such that the exfoliating agent exfoliates the organoclay.
US08912263B2 Propylene polymer compositions
The invention relates to propylene polymer compositions comprising 50-70 wt % of a propylene homo- or copolymer, 5-20 wt % of a first elastomeric ethylene-propylene copolymer, 5-25 wt % of a second elastomeric ethylene-propylene copolymer and 5-30 wt % of an ethylene polymer. The propylene polymer compositions are suitable for molding and they have low haze and a good impact strength/stiffness balance with good impact strengths at low temperatures.
US08912262B2 Heat curable silicone rubber composition
There is provided a silicone rubber composition whose compression set in a higher temperature range, particularly at 200° C. or higher, in a silicone rubber to be obtained is sufficiently suppressed. A heat curable silicone rubber composition contains: (A) 100 parts by mass of a polyorganosiloxane having an average degree of polymerization of 500 to 20,000 and having two or more alkenyl groups in a molecule; (B) 5 to 100 parts by mass of a filler; (C) an effective amount of an organic peroxide; and (D) 0.06 to 15 parts by mass of a hydrous cerium oxide and/or a hydrous zirconium oxide each having one absorption band in 3300 to 3500 cm−1 and two or more absorption bands in 1300 to 1700 cm−1 in infrared absorption spectrum measurement.
US08912260B2 Liquid film based on silane-terminated polymers
A composition that includes at least one silane-functional polymer P and 20 to 60% by weight of aluminum hydroxide or magnesium hydroxide or mixture thereof, is disclosed. The composition has a viscosity of 500 to 20,000 mPa·s measured according to DIN 53018 at a temperature of 20° C. The composition is suitable as a liquid membrane and has very good flammability properties, i.e., it is difficult to ignite and is self-extinguishing.
US08912257B2 Derivatives of native lignin from annual fibre feedstocks
The present invention provides derivatives of native lignin having certain aliphatic hydroxyl content. Surprisingly, it has been found that consistent and predictable antioxidant activity may be provided by selecting for derivatives of native lignin having certain aliphatic hydroxyl content.
US08912256B2 Swellable material using soy spent flakes
A hybrid swellable material employs an oleophilic elastomer as a matrix admixed with an organic material derived from soy that is water swellable in brine, as well as fresh water. Various downhole tools may be made using this hybrid swellable material.
US08912254B2 Powder coating composition
A masterbatch composition, a method for the preparation of a masterbatch composition, a method for the preparation of a powder coating composition, a powder coating composition obtainable by said method as well as the use of a masterbatch composition for a powder coating composition or for increasing the opacity of a cured powder coating is disclosed.
US08912253B2 Easy-to-install electrical cable
A thermoplastic material, and in particular a jacket for an electrical cable, and more particularly a jacket for a THHN electrical cable, includes a polyamide base material, a silicon elastomer and an ethylene polymer modified with an unsaturated aliphatic diacid anhydride. The silicon elastomer does not migrate through the jacket. The jacket has a lower coefficient of friction than a cable with a jacket that does not have a silicon elastomer incorporated therein, and the resulting cable requires less force to install than a cable without a lubricant incorporated therein. The cable also has improved flame resistance and elongation-to-break properties. Methods for making these thermoplastic materials are also described.
US08912250B2 Synthetic fiber for three-dimensional reinforcement of a cement product
The present invention provides a bicomponent fiber for three-dimensional reinforcement of a cement product characterized in that it represents a coaxial core-coat fiber wherein the core comprises a thermoplastic polymer and the coat either comprises thermoplastic polymer resistant to environment having pH>11 and one or more hydrophilic and/or surface active substance(s) in an amount of 3 to 30% of the total weight of the coat, or the coat comprises thermoplastic polymer resistant to environment having pH>11 grafted with active or unsaturated monomers of one or different kinds constituting 3 to 25% of total weight of the coat, wherein the surface tension of the coat is at least 45 mN/m. The invention also provides a method for production of said fiber, a cement product comprising such fiber and a method of production of said cement product.
US08912244B2 Non-film forming compositions and methods of protecting cured concrete and cementitious materials
Contemplated compositions and methods for protection of concrete and various other cementitious materials comprise a step of formation of a mesoporous polymeric network within the concrete or other cementitious material, wherein the network further includes a cationic component that forms a substantially insoluble precipitate upon reaction with sulfuric acid to so form a composite barrier against further attack by sulfuric acid.
US08912243B2 Compositions, additives, and compounds for melt processable, foamable, and cellular fluoroploymers
The disclosure provides a composition or set of compositions and method for producing cellular, foamed, or blown fluoropolymers such as perfluoropolymers and other thermoplastics to create a lower cost communications cable, conductor separator, conductor support-separator, jacketing, tape, wire insulation and in some cases a conduit tube as individual components or combined configurations that exhibit improved electrical, flammability and optical properties. Specifically, the foamable or blown perfluoropolymer cellular insulation composition comprises; talc and the selected fluoropolymers such as perfluoropolymers. Compounded pellets including inorganic and organic fillers resulting in products in cellular or foamable form with and without solid skin surfaces has also been realized by providing melt combinations within the pellets primarily comprising talc and a perfluoropolymer, and additives as needed to provide desired property differentiation.
US08912233B1 Propane diol polyesters
The present invention is directed toward a series of polyesters synthesized utilizing propane diol with tunable ascetics and performance in cosmetic formulation. These novel propane diol polyesters are designed to have great esthetics in cosmetic formulation. The physical properties and aesthetics of the current invention can be tuned rapidly by controlling the fatty groups, as well as the molecular weight of the polymer. The resulting propane diol polyesters have outstanding aesthetics and physical properties.
US08912232B2 Use of oligomers of lactic acid in the treatment of gynaecological disorders
The invention relates to an oligomeric lactic acid composition comprising one or more oligomers of lactic acid or a pharmaceutical composition comprising an oligomeric lactic acid composition for the prophylaxis and/or treatment of a disease or condition that benefits from an acidic environment.
US08912227B1 Bicyclic pyrrole derivatives useful as agonists of GPR120
The present invention is directed to bicyclic pyrrole derivatives, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use in the treatment of disorders and conditions modulated by GPR120. More particularly, the compounds of the present invention are agonists of GPR120, useful in the treatment of, such as for example, Type II diabetes mellitus.
US08912225B2 VEGF inhibition
The present invention provides methods for inhibiting VEGF production or secretion in a subject comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a compound of Formula I. The invention also provides methods for the treatment or prevention of conditions associated with abnormal levels of VEGF production or secretion.
US08912224B2 Substituted 2-(chroman-6-yloxy)-thiazoles and their use as pharmaceuticals
The present invention relates to substituted 2-(chroman-6-yloxy)-thiazoles of the formula I, in which Ar, R2, R3 and R4 are as defined in the claims. The compounds of the formula I are inhibitors of the sodium-calcium exchanger (NCX), especially of the sodium-calcium exchanger of subtype 1 (NCX1), and are suitable for the treatment of diverse disorders in which intracellular calcium homeostasis is disturbed, such as arrhythmias, heart failure and stroke. The invention furthermore relates to processes for the preparation of the compounds of the formula I, their use as pharmaceuticals, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising them.
US08912219B2 Aryl sulfamide and sulfamate derivatives as RORc modulators
Compounds of the formula I: or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein m, n, p, q, r, A, X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, X6, Y, Z, G, R1a, R2a, R1b, R2b, R3, R4, R5 and R6 are as defined herein. Also disclosed are methods of making the compounds and using the compounds for treatment of inflammatory diseases such as arthritis.
US08912218B2 Alkylthiazol carbamate derivatives, preparation thereof and therapeutic use thereof
The invention relates to the novel products of formula (I): in which: Ra represents H, Hal, aryl or heteroaryl, which is optionally substituted; Rb represents H, Rc, —COORc-CO—Rc or —CO—NRcRd; where Rc represents alkyl, cycloalkyl, heterocycloalkyl, aryl and heteroaryl, all optionally substituted; Rd represents H, alk or cycloalkyl; these products being in all the isomer forms and the salts, as medicaments, in particular as MET inhibitors.
US08912217B1 Abuse deterrent and anti-dose dumping pharmaceutical salts useful for the treatment of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder
A pharmaceutical composition comprising a drug substance consisting essentially of a pharmaceutically acceptable organic acid addition salt of an amine containing pharmaceutically active compound wherein the amine containing pharmaceutical active compound is selected from the group consisting of racemic or single isomer ritalinic acid or phenethylamine derivatives and the drug substance has a physical form selected from amorphous and polymorphic.
US08912214B2 Use of Chk2 kinase inhibitors for cancer treatment
Described herein are Chk2-inhibitor compounds and derivatives thereof, and methods of treating or preventing disease and disease symptoms using the compounds and compositions thereof.
US08912210B2 Piperidinone carboxamide azaindane CGRP receptor antagonists
The present invention is directed to piperidinone carboxamide azaindane derivatives which are antagonists of CGRP receptors and useful in the treatment or prevention of diseases in which the CGRP is involved, such as migraine. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and the use of these compounds and compositions in the prevention or treatment of such diseases in which CGRP is involved.
US08912209B2 Rock inhibitors
The present invention relates to new kinase inhibitors, more specifically ROCK inhibitors, compositions, in particular pharmaceuticals, comprising such inhibitors, and to uses of such inhibitors in the treatment and prophylaxis of disease. In particular, the present invention relates to new ROCK inhibitors, compositions, in particular pharmaceuticals, comprising such inhibitors, and to uses of such inhibitors in the treatment and prophylaxis of disease. In addition, the invention relates to methods of treatment and use of said compounds in the manufacture of a medicament for the application to a number of therapeutic indications including sexual dysfunction, inflammatory diseases, ophthalmic diseases and Respiratory diseases.
US08912207B2 2-aldoximino-5-fluoropyrimidine derivatives
This present disclosure is related to the field of 2-aldoximino-5-fluoropyrimidines and their derivatives and to the use of these compounds as fungicides.
US08912206B2 Pyrimidine ether derivatives and methods of use thereof
The present invention relates to Pyrimidine Ether Derivatives, compositions comprising a Pyrimidine Ether Derivative, and methods of using the Pyrimidine Ether Derivatives for treating or preventing obesity, diabetes, a metabolic disorder, a cardiovascular disease or a disorder related to the activity of a G-protein coupled receptor (GPCR) in a patient.
US08912199B2 Modulators of ATP-binding cassette transporters
Compounds of the present invention and pharmaceutically acceptable compositions thereof, are useful as modulators of ATP-Binding Cassette (“ABC”) transporters or fragments thereof, including Cystic Fibrosis Transmembrane Conductance Regulator (“CFTR”). The present invention also relates to methods of treating ABC transporter mediated diseases using compounds of the present invention.
US08912194B2 CDK inhibitor for the treatment of mesothelioma
The invention provides a low molecular weight ATP-competitive CDK inhibitor for use in the treatment of mesothelioma. The compound can be administered together with one or more cytotoxic or cytostatic agents.
US08912190B2 Substituted heterocyclic compounds
The present invention relates to compounds that are late sodium channel inhibitors and to their use in the treatment of various disease states, including cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. In particular embodiments, the structure of the compounds is given by Formula (I): wherein R1, R2, R3, and R4 are as described herein, to methods for the preparation and use of the compounds and to pharmaceutical compositions containing the same.
US08912186B2 Allosteric protein kinase modulators
The invention provides specific small molecule compounds that allosterically regulate the activity or modulate protein-protein interactions of AGC protein kinases and the Aurora family of protein kinases, methods for their production, pharmaceutical compositions comprising same, and their use for preparing medicaments for the treatment and prevention of diseases related to abnormal activities of AGC protein kinases or of protein kinases of the Aurora family.
US08912184B1 Therapeutic and diagnostic methods
The invention relates to methods of treating diseases, particularly cancers, that respond favorably to the inhibition of Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (Nampt); it also relates to therapeutic methods that utilize Nampt inhibitors in combination with NAD biosynthesis precursors to intentionally kill cancer cells while limiting or minimizing toxicity to normal host cells; and it relates to methods of identifying cancers that will be most responsive to treatment with Nampt inhibitors, particularly when administered in combination with nicotinic acid.
US08912183B2 Substituted pyridazine derivatives
The present invention is directed to compounds having histamine H3 antagonist activity, as well as methods of their use and preparation.
US08912181B2 Bicyclic compound or salt thereof
A novel bicyclic compound having an HSP90 inhibitory effect and a carcinostatic effect. A pharmaceutical agent based on the HSP90 inhibitory effect and useful in the prevention and/or treatment of a disease involving HSP90, particularly cancer. The compound has a general formula (I) or is a salt thereof wherein at least one of X1, X2, X3, and X4 represents N or N-oxide and the rest thereof are each independently C—R2; any one or two of Y1, Y2, Y3, and Y4 represent C—R4 and the rest thereof are each independently CH or N; R1 represents an optionally substituted monocyclic or bicyclic unsaturated heterocyclic group having 1 to 4 heteroatoms selected from N, S, and O; R2 represents a hydrogen atom, an optionally substituted alkyl group having 1 to 6 carbon atoms etc.; R3 represents a hydrogen atom, —CO—R5 etc.
US08912180B2 Heterocyclic compound
Provided is a novel compound which is an agent for treating rejection reactions in various organ transplantations, allergy diseases, autoimmune diseases, and hematologic tumor, and based on a PI3Kδ selective inhibitory action and/or an IL-2 production inhibitory action and/or a B cell proliferation inhibitory action (including an activation inhibitory action). The provided compound has a PI3Kδ selective inhibitory action, an IL-2 production inhibitory action, and/or a B cell proliferation inhibitory action, including an activation inhibitory action.
US08912175B1 Topical compositions for treatment of skin conditions
The invention provides a topical formulation adapted for treatment of a skin condition comprising (i) at least one retinoid; and (ii) salicylic acid or an ester, amide, salt, or solvate thereof. The invention also includes a kit for treatment of skin conditions comprising a retinoid and salicylic acid, as well as a method of treating skin conditions utilizing the inventive formulation and kit.
US08912172B2 Skin external preparation containing triterpenic acid
Disclosed is a skin external preparation containing a triterpenic acid typified by ursolic acid. For obtaining a skin external preparation having excellent storage stability by improving the dissolution stability of the triterpenic acid and the like, 4-alkylresorcinol such as 4-n-butylresorcinol is added into a skin external preparation containing a triterpenic acid and the like such as benzyl ursolate.
US08912169B2 Beta-lactamase inhibitors
Described herein are compounds and compositions that modulate the activity of beta-lactamases. In some embodiments, the compounds described herein inhibit beta-lactamase. In certain embodiments, the compounds described herein are useful in the treatment of bacterial infections.
US08912168B2 Modified starch material of biocompatible hemostasis
A modified starch material for biocompatible hemostasis, biocompatible adhesion prevention, tissue healing promotion, absorbable surgical wound sealing and tissue bonding, when applied as a biocompatible modified starch to the tissue of animals. The modified starch material produces hemostasis, reduces bleeding of the wound, extravasation of blood and tissue exudation, preserves the wound surface or the wound in relative wetness or dryness, inhibits the growth of bacteria and inflammatory response, minimizes tissue inflammation, and relieves patient pain. Any excess modified starch not involved in hemostatic activity is readily dissolved and rinsed away through saline irrigation during operation. After treatment of surgical wounds, combat wounds, trauma and emergency wounds, the modified starch hemostatic material is rapidly absorbed by the body without the complications associated with gauze and bandage removal.
US08912164B2 Re-epithelializing pharmaceutical compositions comprising xanthan gum
The present invention relates to a pharmaceutical formulation comprising xanthan gum as a re-epithelializing active principle optionally mixed with hyaluronic acid. The composition speeds up and improves advantageously the formation of newly grown epithelium.
US08912162B2 Parenteral formulations of elacytarabine derivatives
The present invention relates to parenteral formulations for certain long chain saturated and monounsaturated fatty acid derivatives of 1-β-D-arabinofuranosylcytosine (cytarabine). In particular, the present invention relates to a parenteral pharmaceutical composition and a method of the preparation thereof, in order to accommodate therapeutically effective doses of the said derivatives ameliorating compliance in treatment of cancer.
US08912159B2 Analyzing semaphorin7a (Sema7A) levels for assessing cancer metastatic potential and methods of treatment
Methods, assays, and kits for determining a cancer's (e.g., breast cancer) metastatic potential and tumor aggressiveness in a subject (e.g., a human patient) and for measuring a subject's response to cancer therapy involve analyzing expression of Sema7A in a biological sample from the subject, and correlating increased expression of Sema7A in the biological sample compared to a control sample with metastatic potential of the cancer, wherein the expression of Sema7A is linearly proportional to the metastatic potential of the cancer in the subject. These methods, kits and assays provide for individualized diagnosis and treatment options for cancer (e.g., breast cancer) patients. They can be used independently, or can be combined with additional diagnostic tests and/or prognostic methods. Compositions, kits and methods for treating a subject having cancer (e.g., breast cancer) include administering a composition for inhibiting Sema7A expression or activity to the subject.
US08912157B2 Treatment of pancreatic developmental gene related diseases by inhibition of natural antisense transcript to a pancreatic developmental gene
The present invention relates to antisense oligonucleotides that modulate the expression of and/or function of a Pancreatic Developmental gene, in particular, by targeting natural antisense polynucleotides of a Pancreatic Developmental gene. The invention also relates to the identification of these antisense oligonucleotides and their use in treating diseases and disorders associated with the expression of Pancreatic Developmental genes.
US08912153B2 HDAC4 nucleic acid administration to treat retinal disease
Methods for inhibiting retinal cell death by altering expression of one or more of HDAC4, HDAC5, HDAC6, HDAC7, and HIF1α in a retinal cell are provided.
US08912151B2 Method of treating hemorrhoids using macrocyclic lactone compound
A method of treating hemorrhoids is disclosed. The method includes locally administering a composition including an effective amount of one or more macrocyclic lactone compounds, including avermectin compounds, milbemycin compounds, or mixture thereof and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier to the affected anorectal region of an individual suffering from hemorrhoid.
US08912143B2 Genetically modified TFPI and method of treating coagulation using the same
The present invention provides long half life genetically modified TFPI sequences (LTFPI) for anticoagulation. On the genetically modified TFPI sequence, the lysine at the carboxy-terminal sites 241, 254, 260 and 261 are replaced by alanin and the amino acid asparagine at glycosylation sites 117, 167, 228 and the amino acids serine and threonine at glycosylation sites 174 and 175 are substitutionally mutated. The present invention also provides methods of making the LTFPI through high efficient LTFPI expression from yeast production system.
US08912142B2 Method of regulating proliferation and differentiation of keratinocyes
Provided are methods of regulating keratinocytes proliferation and differentiation by subjecting keratinocytes to an agent capable of modulating activity or expression of IGFBP7, thereby regulating keratinocytes proliferation and differentiation. Also provided are methods of treating pathologies characterized by hyperproliferative keratinocytes by administering IGFBP7 polypeptide or a polynucleotide encoding IGFBP7 polypeptide to a subject.
US08912141B2 Treatment of hepatitis C virus
A combined therapy which utilizes hydroxychloroquine and GNS-227: for the treatment of an HCV-related disease, including HCV chronic infection, is disclosed. Further disclosed is pharmaceutical composition (e.g., as a unit dosage form) comprising hydroxychloroquine and GNS-227.
US08912140B2 PEGylated mutated clostridium botulinum toxin
The invention relates to a modified botulinum toxin comprising a natural heavy chain and a modified light chain, characterized in that the modification of the light chain resides in that it comprises (i) an extension of the chain on its N-terminus which has the structure —(C)n-(tag)m-(X)l— in the direction from the N- to the C-terminal end, wherein C represents a cysteine residue, tag represents any tag and X represents the residue of any naturally occurring amino acid, n represents an integer from 1 to 50, m represents 0 or 1, and l represents 0 or an integer from 1 to 50, and in that (ii) at least one of the cysteine residues in the extension of the chain is coupled to at least one chain of PEG.
US08912139B2 Peptide compositions and methods for treating lung injury, asthma, anaphylaxis, angioedema, systemic vascular permeability syndromes, and nasal congestion
Provided herein are peptide inhibitors of the interaction between End Binding Protein 3 (EB3) and Inositol 1,4,5-Trisphosphate Receptor Type 3 (IP3R3). Also provided are methods and materials for treating lung injury, including acute lung injury, which may include hyperpermeability of lung vessels, vascular leakage, the development of edema, asthma, anaphylaxis, angioedema, systemic vascular permeability syndromes, and nasal congestion.
US08912137B2 Method for increasing natriuresis or diuresis by isoforms of brain natriuretic peptide
Methods and materials for diagnosing and treating heart conditions (e.g., heart failure) and kidney conditions (e.g., kidney failure) are described.
US08912133B2 Lubricating composition containing a polymer
The invention provides a lubricating composition containing an oil of lubricating viscosity, an additive containing a polymeric backbone and at least one amino group. The invention further provides for the additive to have dispersant and/or dispersant viscosity modifying properties. The lubricating composition is suitable for lubricating an internal combustion engine.
US08912132B2 Thermally conductive silicone grease composition
A thermally conductive silicone grease composition comprising at least the following components: (A) an organopolysiloxane which is liquid at 25° C. and is represented by the following average compositional formula: R1aSiO(4-a)/2, where, R1 is a monovalent hydrocarbon group; and “a” is a number ranging from 1.8 to 2.2; (B) a thermally conductive filler composed of constituents (B1) to (B3) given below, wherein: constituent (B1) is spherical aluminum oxide powder with an average particle diameter ranging from 15 to 55 μm; constituent (B2) is spherical aluminum oxide powder with an average particle diameter ranging from 2 to 10 μm; constituent (B3) is aluminum oxide powder with an average particle size not exceeding 1 μm; and (C) an alkoxysilyl-containing organopolysiloxane. The composition, along with high thermal conductivity, possesses excellent handleability and low coefficient of friction.
US08912131B2 Method for sea floor drilling using hagfish slime as drilling fluid additive
A method for drilling formations below the bottom of a body of water include mixing a selected amount of hagfish slime with water and drilling the formations using the slime-water mixture as a circulating drilling fluid.
US08912129B2 Method for the determination of the DNA methylation level of a CPG position in identical cells within a tissue sample
Aspects of the present invention relate to the determination of the DNA methylation level at one or more CpG position within cells of a defined type in a tissue sample. This methylation level is deduced from the total DNA methylation level of all cells of the sample and from the content of said cells of interest. In aspects of the invention, the cell content is determined by means of histopatholoy, staining methods, antibodies, expression analysis or DNA methylation analysis.
US08912119B2 Pressure-chromic tape and methods of making same
Masking tapes that changes color when the tape is rubbed down or dispensed onto an adherend and methods of making such tapes are disclosed herein. The tape includes a backing, a layer of adhesive on the bottom surface of the backing, and a release structure on the top surface of the backing that includes a pressure-chromic indicator and a release layer. The pressure-chromic indicator is characterized in that it is not activated by the pressure applied during the manufacturing process, but is activated by the pressure applied when the tape is rubbed or dispensed onto an adherend.
US08912115B2 Method for preparing a heterogeneous, high-activity platinum-containing, supported hydrogenation catalyst
The present invention is an improved method for preparing a heterogeneous, supported hydrogenation catalyst that comprises a Group VIII A metal and a catalyst support (for example, SiO2, with either a hydrophilic or a hydrophobic surface) via aqueous deposition precipitation as well as the catalyst prepared by said method.
US08912107B2 Composition for preparing high-performance glass fiber by tank furnace production
A composition for preparing high-performance glass fiber by tank furnace production comprising in preferred percentage by weight: 57.5˜62.5% of SiO2, 14.5˜17.5% of Al2O3, 13.5˜17.5% of CaO, 6.5˜8.5% of MgO, 0.05˜0.6% of Li2O, 0.1˜2% of B2O3, 0.1˜2% of TiO2, 0.1˜2% of Na2O, 0.1˜1% of K2O and 0.1˜1% of Fe2O3 and (CaO+MgO)/MgO>3, with the content of at least one of the three components, A2O, B2O3 and TlO2 higher than 0.5%, with the composition yielding glass fiber having improved mechanical property, causing the melting and clarification of glass and forming performance of fiber close to those of boron-free E glass, and facilitating industrial mass production by tank furnace processes with manufacturing costs close to those of conventional E glass.
US08912105B2 Bullet proof laminate and trauma pack
The invention relates to a trauma pack comprising at least one panel of a plastic material and at least one textile fabric layer affixed to the panel and made of yarns with fibers having a tensile strength of at least 900 MPa, wherein the plastic material of the panel is a self-reinforced thermoplastic material made of filaments, fibers, tapes or strips of a polyolefin polymer, and wherein at least one textile fabric layer is bonded over its entire surface to the self-reinforced thermoplastic material.
US08912097B2 Method and system for patterning a substrate
A method of patterning a substrate comprises providing an array of resist features defined by a first pitch and a first gap width between adjacent resist features. Particles are introduced into the array of resist features, wherein the array of resist features becomes hardened. The introduction of particles may cause a reduction in critical dimension of the resist features. Sidewalls are provided on side portions of hardened resist features. Subsequent to the formation of the sidewalls, the hardened resist features are removed, leaving an array of isolated sidewalls disposed on the substrate. The sidewall array provides a mask for double patterning of features in the substrate layers disposed below the sidewalls, wherein an array of features formed in the substrate has a second pitch equal to half that of the first pitch.
US08912096B2 Methods for precleaning a substrate prior to metal silicide fabrication process
Methods for precleaning native oxides or other contaminants from a surface of a substrate prior to forming a metal silicide layer on the substrate. In one embodiment, a method for removing native oxides from a substrate includes transferring a substrate having an oxide layer disposed thereon into a processing chamber, performing a pretreatment process on the substrate by supplying a pretreatment gas mixture into the processing chamber, performing an oxide removal process on the substrate by supplying a cleaning gas mixture into the processing chamber, wherein the cleaning gas mixture includes at least an ammonium gas and a nitrogen trifluoride, and performing a post treatment process on the cleaned substrate by supplying a post treatment gas mixture into the processing chamber.
US08912095B2 Polishing method, polishing apparatus and polishing tool
A polishing method and a polishing apparatus finish a surface of a substrate of a compound semiconductor containing an element such as Ga or the like to a desired level of flatness, so that the surface can be flattened with high surface accuracy within a practical processing time. In the presence of water, such as weak acid water, water with air dissolved therein, or electrolytic ion water, the surface of the substrate made of a compound semiconductor containing either one of Ga, Al, and In and a surface of a polishing pad having an electrically conductive member in an area of the surface which is held in contact with the substrate) are relatively moved while being held in contact with each other, thereby polishing the surface of the substrate.
US08912094B2 Method for manufacturing stretchable thin film transistor
Provided is a method for manufacturing a stretchable thin film transistor. The method for manufacturing a stretchable thin film transistor includes forming a mold substrate, forming a stretchable insulator on the mold substrate, forming a flat substrate on the stretchable insulator, removing the mold substrate, forming discontinuous and corrugated wires on the stretchable insulator, forming a thin film transistor connected between the wires, and removing the flat substrate.
US08912092B2 Method of forming semiconductor device with a contact plug formed by chemical mechanical polishing
A method of forming a semiconductor device may include, but is not limited to, the following processes. A multi-layered structure is prepared over a semiconductor substrate. The multi-layered structure may include, but is not limited to, first and second patterns of a first insulating film, a second insulating film covering the first pattern of the first insulating film, and a first conductive film covering the second pattern of the first insulating film. The second insulating film and the first conductive film are polished under conditions that the first and second insulating films are greater in polishing rate than the first conductive film, to expose the first and second patterns of the first insulating film.
US08912089B2 Method for manufacturing a semiconductor device including a stacked body comprising pluralities of first and second metallic conductive layers
According to one embodiment, a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a stacked body on a substrate. The stacked body includes a plurality of first conductive layers including a metallic element as a main component and a plurality of second conductive layers including a metallic element as a main component provided respectively between the first conductive layers. The method includes making a hole to pierce the stacked body. The method includes making a slit to divide the stacked body. The method includes making a gap between the first conductive layers by removing the second conductive layers by etching via the slit or the hole. The method includes forming a memory film including a charge storage film at a side wall of the hole. The method includes forming a channel body on an inner side of the memory film inside the hole.
US08912086B2 Method for manufacturing transparent electrode using print-based metal wire and transparent electrode manufactured thereby
A method for manufacturing a transparent electrode using a print-based metal wire is provided, which enables the mass production of the transparent electrode as a substitute for ITO at low cost. The manufacturing method includes: the first step of forming a metal wire in a pattern set for a transparent substrate; and the second step of coating a solution type transparent electrode on the transparent substrate.
US08912084B2 Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device has a gate electrode including a leg part and a canopy part. A barrier layer is formed on a bottom face of the leg part of the gate electrode. In addition, on the lower surface of the barrier layer, a Schottky metal layer with an electrode width wider than the electrode width of the barrier layer is formed to have a Schottky junction with a semiconductor layer.
US08912083B2 Silicon substrates with doped surface contacts formed from doped silicon inks and corresponding processes
The use of doped silicon nanoparticle inks and other liquid dopant sources can provide suitable dopant sources for driving dopant elements into a crystalline silicon substrate using a thermal process if a suitable cap is provided. Suitable caps include, for example, a capping slab, a cover that may or may not rest on the surface of the substrate and a cover layer. Desirable dopant profiled can be achieved. The doped nanoparticles can be delivered using a silicon ink. The residual silicon ink can be removed after the dopant drive-in or at least partially densified into a silicon material that is incorporated into the product device. The silicon doping is suitable for the introduction of dopants into crystalline silicon for the formation of solar cells.
US08912081B2 Stiffening layers for the relaxation of strained layers
The present invention relates to a method for relaxing a strained material layer by providing a strained material layer and a low-viscosity layer formed on a first face of the strained material layer; forming a stiffening layer on at least one part of a second face of the strained material layer opposite to the first face thereby forming a multilayer stack; and subjecting the multilayer stack to a heat treatment thereby at least partially relaxing the strained material layer.
US08912080B2 Manufacturing method of the semiconductor device
The semiconductor device is manufactured through the following steps: after first heat treatment is performed on an oxide semiconductor film, the oxide semiconductor film is processed to form an oxide semiconductor layer; immediately after that, side walls of the oxide semiconductor layer are covered with an insulating oxide; and in second heat treatment, the side surfaces of the oxide semiconductor layer are prevented from being exposed to a vacuum and defects (oxygen deficiency) in the oxide semiconductor layer are reduced.
US08912071B2 Selective emitter photovoltaic device
A method for fabricating a photovoltaic device includes forming a patterned layer on a doped emitter portion of the photovoltaic device, the patterned layer including openings that expose areas of the doped emitter portion and growing an epitaxial layer over the patterned layer such that a crystalline phase grows in contact with the doped emitter portion and a non-crystalline phase grows in contact with the patterned layer. The non-crystalline phase is removed from the patterned layer. Conductive contacts are formed on the epitaxial layer in the openings to form a contact area for the photovoltaic device.
US08912070B2 Method for manufacturing semiconductor device
The present invention discloses a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, comprising: forming a gate stack structure on a substrate; forming a drain region in the substrate on one side of the gate stack structure; and forming a source region made of GeSn in the substrate on the other side of the gate stack structure; wherein the forming the source region made of GeSn comprises: implanting precursors in the substrate on the other side of the gate stack structure; and performing a laser rapid annealing such that the precursors react to produce GeSn alloy, thereby to constitute a source region; and wherein the step of implanting precursors further comprises: performing a pre-amorphization ion implantation, so as to form an amorphized region in the substrate; and implanting Sn in the amorphized region.
US08912068B2 Semiconductor device with strained channel and method of fabricating the same
A semiconductor device includes: a gate pattern over a substrate; recess patterns provided in the substrate at both sides of the gate pattern, each having a side surface extending below the gate pattern; and a source and a drain filling the recess patterns, and forming a strained channel under the gate pattern.
US08912067B2 Method for manufacturing MOS transistors with different types of gate stacks
A method for manufacturing three types of MOS transistors in three regions of a same substrate, including the steps of: forming a first insulating layer, removing the first insulating layer from the first and second regions, forming a silicon oxide layer, depositing an insulating layer having a dielectric constant which is at least twice greater than that of silicon oxide, depositing a first conductive oxygen scavenging layer, removing the first conductive layer from the second and third regions, and annealing.
US08912061B2 Floating gate device with oxygen scavenging element
A floating gate device is provided. A tunnel oxide layer is formed over the channel. A floating gate is formed over the tunnel oxide layer. A high-k dielectric layer is formed over the floating gate. A control gate is formed over the high-k dielectric layer. At least one of the control gate and/or the floating gate includes an oxygen scavenging element. The oxygen scavenging element is configured to decrease an oxygen density at least one of at a first interface between the control gate and the high-k dielectric layer, at a second interface between the high-k dielectric layer and the floating gate, at a third interface between the floating gate and the tunnel oxide layer, and at a fourth interface between the tunnel oxide layer and the channel responsive to annealing.
US08912057B1 Fabrication of nickel free silicide for semiconductor contact metallization
A semiconductor device with an n-type transistor and a p-type transistor having an active region is provided. The active region further includes two adjacent gate structures. A portion of a dielectric layer between the two adjacent gate structures is selectively removed to form a contact opening having a bottom and sidewalls over the active region. A bilayer liner is selectively provided within the contact opening in the n-type transistor and a monolayer liner is provided within the contact opening in the p-type transistor. The contact opening in the n-type transistor and p-type transistor is filled with contact material. The monolayer liner is treated to form a silicide lacking nickel in the p-type transistor.
US08912053B2 Non-volatile memory device and method for fabricating the same
A method for fabricating a non-volatile memory device includes forming a stacked structure where a plurality of inter-layer dielectric layers and a plurality of second sacrificial layers are alternately stacked over a substrate, forming a channel layer that is coupled with a portion of the substrate by penetrating through the stacked structure, forming a slit that penetrates through the second sacrificial layers by selectively etching the stacked structure, removing the second sacrificial layers that are exposed through the slit, forming an epitaxial layer over the channel layer exposed as a result of the removal of the second sacrificial layers, and forming a gate electrode layer filling a space from which the second sacrificial layers are removed, and a memory layer interposed between the gate electrode layer and the epitaxial layer.
US08912051B1 Method for controlling molding compound geometry around a semiconductor die
A novel die seal design, and method for utilization thereof, controls contact of a mold material with the surfaces of a semiconductor die during application, reducing stresses due to a mismatch of the coefficient of thermal expansion of the mold material and the semiconductor die, thereby reducing cracking of the semiconductor die, resulting in increased yields and lower costs, and permits reuse of elements of a mold tool over a range of die sizes.
US08912037B2 Method for making photovoltaic devices using oxygenated semiconductor thin film layers
A method for making a photovoltaic device is presented. The method includes steps of disposing a window layer on a substrate and disposing an absorber layer on the window layer. Disposing the window layer, the absorber layer, or both layers includes introducing a source material into a deposition zone, wherein the source material comprises oxygen and a constituent of the window layer, of the absorber layer or of both layers. The method further includes step of depositing a film that comprises the constituent and oxygen.
US08912034B2 Method for manufacturing energy ray detection device
In a method for manufacturing an energy ray detection device including a first semiconductor region disposed below a first area on a surface of a semiconductor substrate, a second semiconductor region disposed below a second area on the surface and connected to a contact portion, and a third semiconductor region disposed below a third area on the surface between the first area and the second area, the first semiconductor region and the third semiconductor region are formed on the semiconductor substrate by performing ion implantation through a buffer film that covers the first area and the third area, a portion of the buffer film that covers the third area having a thickness smaller than a portion of the buffer film that covers the first area.
US08912032B2 Temperature control device for optoelectronic devices
Current may be passed through an n-doped semiconductor region, a recessed metal semiconductor alloy portion, and a p-doped semiconductor region so that the diffusion of majority charge carriers in the doped semiconductor regions transfers heat from or into the semiconductor waveguide through Peltier-Seebeck effect. Further, a temperature control device may be configured to include a metal semiconductor alloy region located in proximity to an optoelectronic device, a first semiconductor region having a p-type doping, and a second semiconductor region having an n-type doping. The temperature of the optoelectronic device may thus be controlled to stabilize the performance of the optoelectronic device.
US08912030B2 Method for radiation monitoring
A radiation dosimeter includes a semiconductor substrate and a buried insulator layer disposed on the semiconductor substrate. The buried insulator layer has a plurality of charge traps. A semiconductor layer is disposed on the buried insulator layer. The semiconductor layer has an emitter, an intrinsic base, and a collector laterally arranged with respect to one another. In response to radiation exposure by the radiation dosimeter, positive charges are trapped in the plurality of charge traps in the buried insulator layer, the amount of positive charge trapped being used to determine the amount of radiation exposure. A method for radiation dosimetry includes providing a radiation dosimeter, where the radiation dosimeter includes a lateral silicon-on-insulator bipolar junction transistor having a buried insulator layer; exposing the radiation dosimeter to ionizing radiation; determining a change in one of the collector current and current gain of the radiation dosimeter; and determining an amount of the radiation dose based on the change in one of the collector current and current gain.
US08912026B2 Liquid crystal display and method for manufacturing the same
Provided is a liquid crystal display including: a first substrate; a thin film transistor disposed on the first substrate; a passivation layer disposed on the thin film transistor and comprising a contact hole exposing an electrode of the thin film transistor; a pixel electrode disposed on the passivation layer and connected to the electrode of the thin film transistor through the contact hole; a lower buffer layer disposed on the pixel electrode; a lower alignment layer disposed on the lower buffer layer; a second substrate facing the first substrate; a common electrode disposed on the second substrate; an upper buffer layer disposed on the common electrode; and an upper alignment layer disposed on the upper buffer layer, in which the lower buffer layer comprises parylene, the upper buffer layer comprises parylene, or both the lower and the upper buffer layers comprise parylene.
US08912024B2 Front facing piggyback wafer assembly
Front facing piggyback wafer assembly. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of piggyback substrates are attached to a carrier wafer. The plurality of piggyback substrates are dissimilar in composition to the carrier wafer. The plurality of piggyback substrates are processed, while attached to the carrier wafer, to produce a plurality of integrated circuit devices. The plurality of integrated circuit devices are singulated to form individual integrated circuit devices. The carrier wafer may be processed to form integrated circuit structures prior to the attaching.
US08912023B2 Method and system for forming LED light emitters
A method for forming a flexible sheet of LED light emitters includes forming a micro lens sheet having a plurality of micro lenses, forming a phosphor sheet including a wave-length converting material, forming a flexible circuit sheet, forming a ceramic substrate sheet including a plurality of LED light emitters, and forming a support substrate including a thermally conductive material. The method also includes attaching the above sheets to form a stack including, from top to bottom, the micro lens sheet, the phosphor sheet, the flexible circuit sheet, the ceramic substrate sheet, and the support substrate.
US08912021B2 System and method for fabricating light emitting diode (LED) dice with wavelength conversion layers
A system for fabricating light emitting diode (LED) dice includes a wavelength conversion layer contained on a substrate on an adhesive layer configured to have reduced adhesiveness upon exposure to a physical energy, such as electromagnetic radiation or heat. The system also includes a curing apparatus configured to reduce the adhesiveness of the adhesive layer to facilitate removal of the wavelength conversion layer from the substrate, and an attachment apparatus configured to remove the wavelength conversion layer from the substrate and to attach the wavelength conversion layer to a light emitting diode (LED) die. A method for fabricating light emitting diode (LED) dice includes the steps of exposing the adhesive layer on the substrate to the physical energy to reduce the adhesiveness of the adhesive layer, removing the wavelength conversion layer from the substrate, and attaching the wavelength conversion layer to the light emitting diode (LED) die.
US08912016B2 Manufacturing method and test method of semiconductor device
Provided is a test method by which a transistor whose reliability is low can be detected with low stress and high accuracy in a shorter period of time than a BT test. Provided is to detect a transistor whose reliability is high in a shorter period of time than a BT test and manufacture an electronic device with high reliability efficiently. Hysteresis characteristics revealed in the result of the Vg-Id measurement with light irradiation to the transistor correlate with the result of a BT test; whether the reliability of the transistor is Good or Not-Good can be judged. Accordingly, the test method by which a transistor whose reliability is low can be detected with low stress and high accuracy in a shorter period of time than a BT test can be provided.
US08912015B2 Operating method of hardwired switch
An operating method of a hardwired switch is provided. First, a first die is provided. The first die is configured as the first die in the hardwired switch. Next, a function of the first die is inspected to obtain an inspected result. Upon the inspected result, whether a second TSV is selectively disposed between the first landing pad and the fifth landing pad, between the second landing pad and the sixth landing pad, between the third landing pad and the seventh landing pad, or between the fourth landing pad and the eighth landing pad or not is determined. The first die is stacked above a second die, so that the second surface is located between the first die and the second die.
US08912014B1 Controlling the latchup effect
A method includes varying spacing between at least one of a source region or a drain region and a well contact region to create a group of configurations. The method further includes determining an effect of latchup on each configuration.
US08912011B2 Antibodies to sulfated carbohydrates
The present invention relates to antibodies and antigen-binding portions thereof that specifically bind to chondroitin sulfate, particularly CS-A, CS-C and CS-E tetrasaccharides. The present invention also relates to methods of making anti-CS antibodies, pharmaceutical compositions comprising these antibodies and methods of using the antibodies and compositions thereof for diagnosis and treatment.
US08912008B2 Automatic analyzer
An automatic analyzer analyzes a measurement item by making a sample and reagent react with each other and measuring the reaction result. This apparatus allows parameters associated with reagent dispensing executed by a reagent dispensing mechanism to be set as a dispensing condition for each measurement item or each type of reagent, and controls the reagent dispensing mechanism on the basis of the dispensing condition.
US08912007B2 Optical measuring apparatus and method for the analysis of samples contained in liquid drops
An optical measuring apparatus and method for analysis of samples contained in liquid drops provided by a liquid handling system has a liquid handling tip. A light source irradiates the liquid drop; a detector measures sample light; and an optics system with first optical elements transmits irradiation light, and a processor processes the measurement signals. The liquid drop is suspended at the liquid handling orifice of the liquid handling tip in a position where the liquid drop is penetrated by a first optical axis defined by the light source and the first optical elements. The liquid drop is physically touched only by the liquid handling tip and the liquid sample inside the liquid handling tip. A mutual adaption of the size and position of the liquid drop with respect to the first optical elements is achieved.
US08912006B2 Microfluidic device for generating neural cells to simulate post-stroke conditions
This application provides devices for modeling ischemic stroke conditions. The devices can be used to culture neurons and to subject a first population of the neurons to low-oxygen conditions and a second population of neurons to normoxic conditions. The neurons are cultured on a porous barrier, and on the other side of the barrier run one or more fluid-filled channels. By flowing fluid with different oxygen levels through the channels, one can deliver desired oxygen concentrations to the cells nearest those channels.
US08912005B1 Method and system for delta double sampling
An array of sensors arranged in matched pairs of transistors with an output formed on a first transistor and a sensor formed on the second transistor of the matched pair. The matched pairs are arranged such that the second transistor in the matched pair is read through the output of the first transistor in the matched pair. The first transistor in the matched pair is forced into the saturation (active) region to prevent interference from the second transistor on the output of the first transistor. A sample is taken of the output. The first transistor is then placed into the linear region allowing the sensor formed on the second transistor to be read through the output of the first transistor. A sample is taken from the output of the sensor reading of the second transistor. A difference is formed of the two samples.
US08912001B2 Process for high concentration cation exchanges metathesis
Provided is a method for high concentration cation exchange metathesis of divalent ions such as calcium with univalent ions such as sodium or potassium. Due to the difference between ionic valences between the exchanged ions, the provided process behavior is strongly dependent upon the selection of resin properties and to total solution normality. A combination of resin properties and solution normality is provided to achieve the cation exchange.
US08911997B2 Mammalian cell culture medium
A cell culture medium and system are provided which eliminate or at least reduce the requirement for exogenous components such as serum and feeder cells. The cell culture medium comprises an IGF and vitronectin or fibronectin and, optionally an IGFBP, and is particularly suitable for propagating keratinocytes for subsequent use in skin growth and regeneration. This invention also relates to compositions and methods for skin growth and regeneration in situ, which utilize aerosol delivery of cultured keratinocytes.
US08911995B2 Culture system and method for immunogenicity and immunofunction testing in vitro
The invention provides a culture device comprising a plurality of culture units, wherein each unit comprises a culture chamber, an inlet port for liquid supply of the culture and an outlet port for discharging liquid from the unit, wherein the inlet port is in fluid communication with the culture chamber and the culture chamber is in fluid communication with the outlet port for allowing a liquid flow through the culture chamber. The culture device is particularly suitable for testing immune cells and immunofunction in vitro. Aspects of the invention include a culture device and associated methods for cultivating immune cells and an in vitro method of analysing the effect of a test compound on immune cells.
US08911994B2 Use of adipose tissue-derived stromal cells for chondrocyte differentiation and cartilage repair
Methods and compositions for directing adipose-derived stromal cells cultivated in vitro to differentiate into cells of the chondrocyte lineage are disclosed. The invention further provides a variety of chondroinductive agents which can be used singly or in combination with other nutrient components to induce chondrogenesis in adipose-derived stromal cells either in cultivating monolayers or in a biocompatible lattice or matrix in a three-dimensional configuration. Use of the differentiated chondrocytes for the therapeutic treatment of a number of human conditions and diseases including repair of cartilage in vivo is disclosed.
US08911993B2 Compositions for treatment of cancer
The present invention provides compositions and methods for treating cancer in a human. The invention includes relates to administering a genetically modified T cell to express a CAR wherein the CAR comprises an antigen binding domain, a transmembrane domain, a costimulatory signaling region, and a CD3 zeta signaling domain.
US08911991B2 Multi-antigen vectors of melanoma
The present invention relates to peptides, polypeptides, and nucleic acids and the use of the peptide, polypeptide or nucleic acid in preventing and/or treating cancer. In particular, the invention relates to peptides and nucleic acid sequences encoding such peptides for use in diagnosing, treating, or preventing melanoma.
US08911990B2 Food sample collector
The present invention provides novel methods and devices for detection of pathogens or other microbes in an analyzed sample (e.g., food, industrial, pharmaceutical, botanical, environmental etc., sample). The inventive methods and devices provide for increasing the power of detection for pathogens on food surfaces, comprising increasing the number of independent, discrete samples taken during the sampling procedure. The inventive sampling device reduces sampling costs by minimizing time, material and product loss relative to prior art sampling techniques. In particular aspects, a novel surface sampling device for bulk solid foods is provided that operates to remove (e.g., shave) small pieces from contacted product (e.g., product pieces). The device comprises a sampling mechanism having utility to remove samples (e.g., cut slivers from) larger pieces of food or other sample materials. In particular embodiments, the device comprises a primary shaft member (e.g., cylindrical stainless steel), and a shaving means.
US08911986B2 Coatings containing polymer modified enzyme for stable self-cleaning of organic stains
Temporary active coatings that are stabilized against inactivation by weathering are provided including a base associated with a chemically modified enzyme, and, optionally a first polyoxyethylene present in the base and independent of the enzyme. The coatings are optionally overlayered onto a substrate to form an active coating facilitating the removal of organic stains or organic material from food, insects, or the environment.
US08911985B2 Enzymatic conversion of volatile organic compounds
The present invention relates to a composition comprising a stable aqueous dispersion of polymer particles, an oxidoreductase, and a cofactor for the oxidoreductase and a method for its preparation. The invention is useful for converting certain classes of VOCs to non-VOCs.
US08911982B2 Cells, nucleic acids, enzymes and use thereof, and methods for the production of sophorolipids
The invention relates to cells, nucleic acids, and enzymes, the use thereof for producing sophorolipids, and methods for producing sophorolipids.
US08911981B2 Ketol-acid reductoisomerase using NADH
Methods for the evolution of NADPH specific ketol-add reductoisomerase enzymes to acquire NADH specificity are provided. Specific mutant ketol-acid reductoisomerase enzymes isolated from Pseudomonas that have undergone co-factor switching to utilize NADH are described.
US08911975B2 Method for producing virus vector for gene transfer
The present invention discloses a cell system, as a host cell to be infected with an F gene-deficient virus, which can constitutively and stably express the F protein, and a method for producing an F gene-deficient virus by utilizing the cell. A non-proliferative human parainfluenza type 2 virus vector is produced by co-culturing an F gene-deficient human parainfluenza type 2 virus with a Vero cell having the F gene of human parainfluenza type 2 virus in such a manner that the F gene is non-inducibly expressed, and isolating viral particles from a culture supernatant.
US08911974B2 Minicircle vector production
A plasmid is provided comprising the following functional units: a prokaryotic origin of replication, a marker sequence, two specific recombinase recognition sequences and a multiple cloning site, whereby it comprises a gene coding for a sequence specific recombinase, whereby the units are arranged on the plasmid in such a way that the plasmid is divided into a miniplasmid and a minicircle upon expression of the sequence specific recombinase, said miniplasmid comprising the prokaryotic origin of replication, the marker sequence and the gene for the sequence specific recombinase and said minicircle comprising the multiple cloning site.
US08911973B2 Snap-back primers and detectable hairpin structures
The present invention provides methods, compositions, and kits comprising snap-back primers used for forming 3′ hairpin structures, 5′ hairpin structures, and double hairpin structures. The hairpin structures may be used for detecting target sequences (e.g., such as small RNA target sequence), for detecting polymorphisms in target sequences (e.g., such as polymorphisms located near the 5′ or 3′ ends of the target sequence), or other nucleic acid characterization methods. In certain embodiments, the hairpin structures form invasive cleavage structures (e.g., in combination with a probe or upstream oligonucleotide) which may be cleaved by structure-specific enzymes in order to detect the presence or absence of a particular nucleotide or nucleotide sequence.
US08911972B2 Sequencing methods using enzyme conformation
Systems and methods are provided for single-molecule sequencing of template nucleic acids in which the signal from a label attached to a polymerase enzyme is used to monitor conformational changes in the polymerase which occur while labeled nucleotides or nucleotide analogs are added to a growing nucleic acid chain which is complementary to the template nucleic acid. The signal indicative of the conformational state of the enzyme is used to determine with higher confidence when true nucleotide or nucleotide analog incorporation events occur, allowing for the improved quality of base calls and sequence determination.
US08911970B2 Soybean-based fermentation media, methods of making and use
Fermentation media containing an isoflavone-depleted soybean meal or isoflavone-depleted soybean meal product and at least one exogenous added ingredient that comprises a substrate for microbial growth are provided. Methods of making a fermentation medium comprising an isoflavone-depleted soybean meal or isoflavone-depleted soybean meal product and methods for obtaining a fermentation product are also provided. The present invention is further directed to fermentation broths obtained by the media and methods. The present invention is also directed to feed additives produced from fermentation broths obtained by the methods.
US08911966B2 Efficient astaxanthin production strains derived from Haematococcus pluvialis
The present invention pertains to a method for the efficient production of carotenoids. In particular, the present invention is directed to a method for producing carotenoid and carotenoid containing cells, especially astaxanthin and astaxanthin-containing cells, by generating mutant microorganisms belonging to the photoautotrophic algae of the Class Chlorophyceae and culturing same. The present invention further relates to methods of generating microorganisms producing high yields of carotenoids, in particular astaxanthin, products containing said microorganisms or said carotenoids, and the use of said carotenoids produced by the microorganisms according to the present invention and deposited mutant strains generated from said microorganisms.
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