| Document | Document Title |
|---|---|
| US08953533B2 |
Wireless communication system, base station, server, wireless communication method, and program
Provided is a wireless communication technique capable of supporting communication using a single component carrier, and communication using a plurality of component carriers. The communication using the plurality of carriers comprises a processing means for performing the signal processing in accordance with each of the carriers with respect to the common signal sequence used by the plurality of carriers. The present invention makes it possible to cope with the communication employing a single component carrier and the wireless communication employing a plurality of the component carriers. Further, PAPR of the reference signals can be made small because there is no possibility that the identical CAZAC sequence is used among the component carriers when a plurality of the component carriers are employed. |
| US08953530B2 |
Method for allocating resources to uplink control channel
A method for adaptively allocating resources of an uplink control channel according to a system situation is disclosed. If a base station (BS) recognizes the system situation, establishes control information for resource allocation, and transmits the control information to a mobile station (MS), the mobile station (MS) allocates resources for transmitting uplink control information using a specific block or a specific resource distribution method according to the corresponding control information. The system situation may be changed according to the number of users contained in the BS's coverage or the usage of a multi-antenna. The variation of the system situation is actively reflected so that the uplink channel resources can be effectively used. |
| US08953528B2 |
Apparatus and method for ambient noise adaptation in wireless sensor networks
Various embodiments provide an apparatus and method for adapting wireless sensor network device operation to ambient RF noise. An example embodiment includes: initializing a noise threshold value to a default value; detecting an ambient RF noise level on a plurality of channels of a wireless network device; if the ambient RF noise level detected on a pre-determined number of channels is above the noise threshold value, adjusting the noise threshold value by an increment and retesting the ambient RF noise level on the plurality of channels; if the noise threshold value exceeds a pre-determined maximum noise threshold value, suspending data communications by the wireless network device; and if the ambient RF noise level detected on a pre-determined number of channels is below the noise threshold value, retaining the noise threshold value and enabling data communications by the wireless network device. |
| US08953521B1 |
Facilitating communication between wireless access components
The invention is directed to methods for facilitating communication between multiple wireless access components. Initially, a second wireless access component is detected to be within range of a first wireless access component. It is determined that a wireless connection is to be established between the wireless access components. Access information is exchanged between the wireless access components indicating capacity and current usage of each other's outbound link to the Internet. A wireless connection is then established between the two wireless access components, thus allowing for routing of Internet traffic between the wireless access components. |
| US08953518B2 |
Method and apparatus for acquiring initial synchronization using relay-amble in wireless communication system
A method and an apparatus for acquiring initial synchronization in a wireless communication system are provided. A relay station determines whether or not the initial synchronization is acquired, determines a start position of a frame using a peak of an autocorrelation signal detected based on a preamble and a relay-amble (R-amble) received from a base station in the case in which the initial synchronization is not acquired, and determines the start position of the frame using a peak of an autocorrelation signal detected based on the relay-amble received from the base station in the case in which the initial synchronization is acquired. |
| US08953514B2 |
System and method for wireless communication of uncompressed video having beacon design
A system and method for efficiently communicating messages over a low-rate channel between multiple devices in a system for wireless communication of uncompressed video is disclosed. The method includes various control bits in a beacon control field of a beacon frame to improve the efficiency of the beacon processing, thereby reducing beacon processing time and size of the beacon frame itself. The transmitting device can use one or more of the various control bits to indicate whether there are changes in various MAC payload information fields. The receiving station can use one or more of the control bits to eliminate the need to parse one or more MAC payload information fields whose values have not changed from the previous beacon frame. |
| US08953508B2 |
TMSI allocation device and method thereof, and network attachment and location area update methods in M2M communication
The invention provides a temporary mobile station identity TMSI allocation method, comprising steps of: notifying a mobility management entity MME device of a corresponding mobility attribute based on a type of a Machine Type Communication MTC application, wherein the mobility attribute indicates whether a mobility of the MTC application is high or low; determining, by the MME device, a mobility layer associated with the MTC application according to the mobility attribute, and then allocating a TMSI from an available address space to a MTC device applying the MTC application based on a predetermined criterion, according to the determined mobility layer. The present invention further provides corresponding MTC server, MME device, network attachment method and location area update method. |
| US08953506B2 |
Time multiplexing for coexistence within multiple communication systems
Methods and apparatus permitting the coexistence of multiple communication links to distinct wireless systems in a client device are disclosed. A wireless device can interface with both a primary communications system and at least one distinct communications system by managing the coexistence of active communications with the multiple communication systems. The wireless device can initially configure communications with the primary communications system for dynamically reconfigurable time multiplexed operation having scheduled periods of inactivity. The wireless device can determine timing and scheduling of communications with the distinct communications systems and can schedule the communications with the distinct communications systems during periods of inactivity in the primary communications system. The periods of inactivity may be limited to the scheduled periods of inactivity or can include unscheduled periods of inactivity occurring during active periods of the time multiplexed operation. The device may also use data priorities of communications to override overlapping communication activity. |
| US08953502B2 |
Receiver for receiving RF-signals in a plurality of different communication bands and transceiver
A receiver for receiving RF-signals in a plurality of different communication bands, each communication band including a receive frequency range and a transmit frequency range includes a plurality of receiving ports, a plurality of input circuits, a first inductor and a second inductor. Each receiving port is configured to receive RF-signals in a receive frequency range of a communication band. Each input circuit is connected to an associated receiving port for processing RF-signals applied to the receiving port. The first inductor is connected to a first group of input circuits and the second inductor is connected to a second group of input circuits, wherein the first group of input circuits and the second group of input circuits are disjunct. The receiving ports associated with the first group of input circuits are configured to receive RF-signals in a first group of communication bands, wherein in the first group of communication bands, none of the transmit frequency ranges overlap with one of the receive frequency ranges. The receiving ports associated with the second group of input circuits are configured to receive RF-signals in a second group of communication bands, wherein in the second group of communication bands, none of the transmit frequency ranges overlaps with one of the receive frequency ranges. |
| US08953500B1 |
Branch node-initiated point to multi-point label switched path signaling with centralized path computation
Techniques are described for establishing a point-to-multipoint (P2MP) label switched path (LSP) using a branch node-initiated signaling model in which branch node to leaf (B2L) sub-LSPs are signaled and utilized to form a P2MP LSP. The techniques described herein provides a scalable solution in which the number of sub-LSPs for which the source node or any given branch node need maintain state is equal to the number of physical data flows output from that node to downstream nodes, i.e., the number of output interfaces used for the P2MP LSP by that node to output data flows to downstream nodes. As such, unlike the conventional source node-initiated model in which each node maintains state for sub-LSPs that service each of the leaf nodes downstream from the device, the size and scalability of a P2MP LSP is no longer bound to the number of leaves that are downstream from that node. |
| US08953498B2 |
Method and apparatus of active scanning in wireless local area network
Provided are a method and apparatus for scanning of a station in a wireless local area network. The method includes: receiving a probe request frame including probe request relaying information from a probe requesting station (PRSTA) initiating the active scanning, determining whether to discard the probe request frame (PRF) when a frame related to relaying of the PRF is received, determining whether to relay the PRF, and relaying the PRF to an access point if it is determined to relay the PRF, the probe request relaying information including: a transmitter address field indicating an address of a station (STA) transmitting the PRF, and a PRSTA address field indicating an address of the PRSTA, wherein discarding of the PRF is determined by comparing one of the transmitter address field or the PRSTA address field with information included in the frame related to the PRF. |
| US08953496B2 |
Detection of asymmetric network routes
Route asymmetry is detected in a network by running a route tracing program to trace routes between a first element of the network and a second element of the network. The route tracing program need be run at only a single network element, such as the first network element. Forward and reverse routes between the first and second network elements are identified as asymmetric if performance data from the route tracing program indicates a significant deviation from an expected monotonic characteristic as a function of time-to-live values of respective packets transmitted by the route tracing program. |
| US08953494B2 |
NETCONF-enabled provisioning in rollback agnostic environment
A method includes receiving configuration data for configuring network devices; generating remote procedure calls (RPCs) for configuring the network devices, which include provisioning and reverse provisioning RPCs, where each reverse provisioning RPC reverse provisions a particular pseudowire; providing to the network devices the provisioning RPCs; determining a success with respect to each of the provisioning RPCs, where the success indicates that all endpoints of a pseudowire have been successfully configured; providing the reverse provisioning RPCs to the network devices, when it is determined that the success has not been achieved; and storing an indication of success when it is determined that the success has been achieved with respect to the provisioning RPCs. |
| US08953493B2 |
Setting method of field device and setting system of field device
A setting system of field devices may include a first communication path, a terminal device, a relay device, and a second communication path. The terminal device may include a receiving unit that receives an input operation of information, a first setting unit that performs the first setting for each of the field devices by transmitting information necessary for the first setting from the terminal device to each of the field devices through the second communication path in response to the input operation received by the receiving unit, and a second setting unit that performs a second setting for the terminal device, the second setting being necessary with the first setting for each of the field devices in response to the input operation received by the receiving unit. |
| US08953490B2 |
Methods and apparatus for use in facilitating Wi-Fi peer-to-peer (P2P) wireless networking
A wireless communication device is configured to store a plurality of profiles associated with applications. Each profile includes at least a discovery mode property and a device type property. In response to an application being activated, the wireless device enables a discovery mode for performing discovery in accordance with the discovery mode property retrieved from a selected profile associated with the application. When one or more devices are available for discovery, the wireless device receives information from each device, filters the received information to provide filtered information associated with one or more devices having a device type that matches the device type property, and provides the filtered information to the application. The wireless device may then establish, in accordance with one or more properties retrieved from the selected profile, a Wi-Fi P2P wireless network connection with at least one of the devices. |
| US08953488B2 |
Method and apparatus for optimal interconnection of telecommunication nodes via a reliable microwave clustering
A method and apparatus for providing a topology for interconnection of telecommunication nodes in a communication network are disclosed. For example, the method obtains input data, and determines values of: at least one set, at least one parameter, and at least one variable associated with the communication network in accordance with the input data. The method then determines the topology for the interconnection via microwave links of the telecommunication nodes from an objective function in accordance with the at least one set, at least one parameter, and at least one variable, wherein the objective function is based on a plurality of penalty factors. |
| US08953487B2 |
Communication apparatus, communication system, and network establishing method
A communication apparatus determines whether another communication apparatus participating in a network established in accordance with a first communication standard is also compatible with a second communication standard. The communication apparatus detects leaving of the network by another communication apparatus incompatible with the second communication standard. The communication apparatus establishes a network that adheres to the second communication standard, depending on the detection result. |
| US08953479B2 |
System and method for license enforcement for data center monitoring applications
Methods include receiving a threshold time to live (“TTL”) value associated with a license. The methods include determining a first TTL value based on the threshold TTL value. The methods include transmitting a polling request including the first TTL value from a polling device disposed at the network location to a network device. The first TTL value decreases each time the polling request transits through a node device. The methods include receiving a polling response from the network device if the first TTL value has not decreased to a predetermined value before the polling request is received by the network device. The methods include determining that the license permits communication between a monitoring device disposed at the network location and the network device in response to receiving the polling response. |
| US08953460B1 |
Network liveliness detection using session-external communications
In general, techniques are described to dynamically refresh a timer for a communication session provided by a bidirectional forwarding detection (BFD) protocol. The techniques potentially mitigate network load by reducing the number of BFD packets required to maintain a BFD communication session. An example network device includes a memory, programmable processor(s), a network interface, and a control unit configured to establish a BFD communication session between the network device and a peer network device that is communicatively coupled to the network device via the network interface, determine whether a packet associated with a communication session other than the BFD communication session is a relevant packet to the BFD communication session, and in response to determining that the packet is the relevant packet, refresh a timer that executes on the network device and is associated with the BFD communication session. |
| US08953456B2 |
Ethernet OAM performance management
Maintenance entities may be defined between customer and provider flow points to allow performance management to take place on an Ethernet network. The maintenance entities may be defined for access link, intra-domain, and inter-domain, and may be defined on a link or service basis. The maintenance entities may be used to monitor performance within a network or across networks, and may be used to monitor various performance parameters, such as frame loss, frame delay, frame delay variation, availability, errored frame seconds, service status, frame throughput, the number of frames transmitted, received or dropped, the status of a loopback interface, the amount of time a service has been unavailable, and many other parameters. Several management mechanisms may be used, and the measurements may be collected using a solicited collection method, in which a response is required and collected, or an unsolicited collection method in which a response is not required. |
| US08953452B2 |
Enhancing performance of rapid channel changes and other playback positioning changes in adaptive streaming
Content is received within a network by a content receiver based upon fetch requests by the content receiver to a content source, where the fetch requests for content are based upon a first adaptation logic scheme to fill a buffer of the content receiver at a selected rate and to download segments of content at selected encoding rates. A network priority is detected at the content receiver that includes an observed download rate at the content receiver that is greater than a fair share rate for other content receivers in the network. Fetch requests for content are revised in response to detection of the network priority, where the revised fetch requests are based upon a priority adaptation scheme that results in at least one of filling the buffer at a faster rate and downloading segments of content at higher encoding rates compared with the first adaptation logic scheme. |
| US08953448B2 |
Linked-list hybrid peer-to-peer system and method for optimizing throughput speed and preventing data starvation
A system and method is described for formulating a linked-list hybrid peer-to-peer sub-network that analyzes capabilities of plurality of nodes, and creating at least two linked-list hybrid peer-to-peer sub-networks by forming a first group of nodes of the plurality of nodes having similar capabilities and establishing serial connections between nodes of the first group of nodes to form a first linked-list hybrid peer-to-peer sub-network. |
| US08953447B2 |
Method and apparatus for controlling traffic transfer rate based on cell capacity in mobile communication system
A system that provides a content delivery service to a user in a mobile communication system is provided. The system receives, from an enhanced Node B (eNB), cell-specific capacity information that is determined based on cell-specific load state information of the eNB, determines a transfer rate for traffic to be transmitted to a User Equipment (UE) in each cell, based on the received cell-specific capacity information, and transmits the traffic to be transmitted to the UE in each cell to the eNB at the determined transfer rate. |
| US08953441B2 |
Re-routing network traffic after link failure
In one example, a network device includes a virtual network agent, and a network interface to send network packets to the virtual network controller using a default route for a physical network prior to establishing a communication session between a virtual network controller and the virtual network agent, wherein, after establishing the communication session between the virtual network controller device and the virtual network agent, the virtual network agent receives from the virtual network controller a command to install a new route at the network device, wherein the new route specifies encapsulation information to use for encapsulating network packets for sending the network packets to the virtual network controller over an overlay network, and wherein, responsive to detecting a failed link in the physical network, the virtual network agent sends packets to the virtual network controller on an alternate route in the overlay network. |
| US08953440B2 |
Dynamic bandwidth adjustment in packet transport network
A method for adjusting bandwidth in a communications network having a plurality of nodes connected over multiple links with a plurality of services running on the links includes detecting an impairment of a link wherein the impairment invokes a reduction in bandwidth available to the services running on the link, communicating information about the impairment to other nodes in the network and redistributing services between the links to limit a bandwidth required by services running on the impaired link to a value not exceeding the bandwidth available on the impaired link. |
| US08953439B1 |
Separation of control plane functions using virtual machines in network device
Techniques are described for separating control plane functions in a network device using virtual machines. The techniques include initializing multiple virtual machine instances in a control unit of a standalone router, and running different control processes for the router in each of the virtual machines. For example, in a root system domain (RSD)-protected system domain (PSD) system, a control unit of the standalone router may support a RSD virtual machine (VM) and one or more PSD VMs configured to form logical devices and execute logically separate control processes without requiring physically separate, hardware-independent routing engines to form the PSDs. Each of the RSD VM and PSD VMs includes a separate kernel, an operating system, and control processes for the logical device. When a software failure occurs in the PSD VM, the PSD VM may perform a software failover without affecting the operation of the RSD VM. |
| US08953434B1 |
Providing high availability as a service with network devices
In general, techniques are described for providing high availability as a service. The techniques may be performed by a device that includes an interface and a control unit. The interface is configured to receive network traffic originating from a subscriber device operated by a subscriber. The control unit is configured to determine whether to provide a high availability service with respect to at least a portion of the network traffic based on a subscriber profile associated with the subscriber. The control unit may further be configured to provide the high availability service for at least the portion of the network traffic based on the determination of whether to provide the high availability service. The control unit may further be configured to process at least the portion of the network traffic with the network device, and forward at least the portion of the network traffic. |
| US08953424B2 |
Optical recording medium driving apparatus, and method of generating tracking error signal
An optical-recording-medium driving apparatus includes: a light irradiating/receiving section configured to irradiate light on a medium so as to form a first side spot, a main spot, and a second side spot, and to receive reflection light from the individual spots; a first delay section configured to delay a light reception signal on the first side spot in accordance with a disposition interval between the first and the second side spots; a second delay section configured to delay a light reception signal on the main spot in accordance with a disposition interval between the main and second side spots; and a tracking-error-signal generation section configured to generate a tracking error signal on the basis of a correlation between delayed light reception signals on the first side spot and the main spot, and a correlation between the light reception signals on the second side spot and the main spot. |
| US08953420B1 |
Method and system for aligning light source with waveguide coupler
Light is guided from a light source into a waveguide coupler embedded in a slider. The light source is capable of being positioned in a cross-track, a down-track, and a vertical direction with regards to the waveguide coupler. The light emanating from an air-bearing surface of the slider is imaged using a device that generates an optical image of the air-bearing surface. A cross-track alignment position is identified as a location at which the image shows substantially the same number of photons on each side of the cross-track alignment position and has a minimum spread. A down-track alignment position is identified at which the light emanating from the air-bearing surface has maximal intensity in a down-track direction. |
| US08953414B2 |
Electromechanical transducer
An electromechanical transducer according to an embodiment of the present invention is capable of selectively performing a transmitting and receiving operation by using elements of different shapes. The electromechanical transducer has a plurality of cells, each of which has a vibrating film including two electrodes provided with a gap therebetween, two driving and detecting units, a potential difference setter, and a switch. Each of the driving and detecting units implements a transmitting and/or a receiving function. A first or second element includes first or second electrodes which are electrically connected and further connected to the common first or second driving and detecting unit, respectively. The potential difference setter sets a predetermined potential difference between the reference potentials of the first and second driving and detecting units, respectively, and the switch switches between the first and second driving and detecting units to perform the transmitting and receiving operation. |
| US08953410B2 |
Semiconductor integrated circuit capable of controlling read command
The semiconductor integrated circuit includes a command decoder, a shift register unit and a command address latch unit. The command decoder is responsive to an external command defining write and read modes and configured to provide a write command or a read command according to the external command using a rising or falling clock. The shift register unit is configured to shift an external address and the write command by a write latency in response to the write command. The column address latch unit is configured to latch and provide the external address as a column address in the read mode, and to latch a write address, which is provided from the shift register unit, and provide the write address as the column address in the write mode. |
| US08953404B2 |
Semiconductor device having an electrical fuse element
A semiconductor device has an electrical fuse element including: a first filament; a second filament connected to the first filament; and a series readout section connected to an end of the first filament opposite to another end of the first filament connected to the second filament, the series readout section reading series resistance of the first filament and the second filament. |
| US08953400B2 |
Data control circuit
The data control circuit includes an input/output line and a driver. The input/output line precharging circuit precharges a global input/output line to a predetermined voltage when either a reading operation or a writing operation is inoperative. The driver includes a number of MOS transistors and drives the global input/output line in response to receiving data from a local input/output line and a complementary local input/output line during the reading operation. |
| US08953398B2 |
Block level grading for reliability and yield improvement
A system for grading blocks may be used to improve memory usage. Blocks of memory, such as on a flash card, may be graded on a sliding scale that may identify a level of “goodness” or a level of “badness” for each block rather than a binary good or bad identification. This grading system may utilize at least three tiers of grades which may improve efficiency by better utilizing each block based on the individual grades for each block. The block leveling grading system may be used for optimizing the competing needs of minimizing yield loss while minimizing testing defect escapes. |
| US08953393B2 |
Semiconductor device and operating method thereof
A semiconductor device may test a semiconductor memory device by storing a data sample that is sampled from among data requested to be written into a semiconductor memory device and by comparing the data sample with data read from the semiconductor memory device which corresponds to the data sample. |
| US08953389B2 |
Semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device includes a first core region and a second core region disposed along a first reference line parallel to a major axis, the first reference line connecting an input pad and an output pad; first and second cell blocks disposed in the first core region along the first reference line; third and fourth cell blocks disposed in the second core region along the first reference line; and a repeater positioned between the third and fourth cell blocks, and configured to receive data outputted from the first cell block or the second cell block, amplify the received data and transfer the amplified data to a second global input/output line. Reducing the number of needed global input/output lines leads to layout area reduction. Moreover, since repeaters are driven in read operations for a limited number of cell blocks, signal gain may be reduced, thus reducing overall power consumption. |
| US08953387B2 |
Apparatuses and methods for efficient write in a cross-point array
A memory circuit, including a memory array (such as a cross-point array), may include circuit elements that may function both as selection elements/drivers and de-selection elements/drivers. A selection/de-selection driver may be used to provide both a selection function as well as an operation function. The operation function may include providing sufficient currents and voltages for WRITE and/or READ operations in the memory array. When the de-selection path is used for providing the operation function, highly efficient cross-point implementations can be achieved. The operation function may be accomplished by circuit manipulation of a de-selection supply and/or de-selection elements. |
| US08953385B2 |
Method of programming non-volatile memory device and apparatuses for performing the method
A non-volatile memory device is provided. The non-volatile memory device includes a cell string including a plurality of non-volatile memory cells; and an operation control block configured to supply a program voltage to a word line connected to a selected non-volatile memory cell among the plurality of non-volatile memory cells during a program operation, configured to supply a first negative voltage to the word line during a detrapping operation, and configured to supply a second negative voltage as a verify voltage to the word line during a program verify operation. |
| US08953384B2 |
Sense amplifier for flash memory
A sense amplifier has a reference cell current branch in which a reference cell determines a reference cell current, a column load converts the reference cell current to a reference voltage, and a feedback circuit to maintain the reference cell drain voltage. The sense amplifier also has a main cell current branch in which a main cell operationally selected from an array of flash memory cells determines a main cell current, a column load converts the main cell current to a main voltage, and a feedback circuit to maintain the main cell drain voltage. A differential amplifier compares the reference voltage with the main voltage and furnishes a logical level at its output depending on the relative values. A boost circuit has a pull up section coupled across the column load and a pull down section coupled across the main cell for accelerating the logical zero sensing time. |
| US08953382B2 |
Vertical nonvolatile memory devices and methods of operating same
Integrated circuit memory devices include a plurality of vertically-stacked strings of nonvolatile memory cells having respective vertically-arranged channel regions therein electrically coupled to an underlying substrate. A control circuit is provided, which is configured to drive the vertical channel regions with an erase voltage that is ramped from a first voltage level to a higher second voltage level during an erase time interval. This ramping of the erase voltage promotes time efficient erasure of vertically stacked nonvolatile memory cells with reduced susceptibility to inadvertent programming of ground and string selection transistors (GST, SST). |
| US08953379B2 |
Apparatuses and methods of reprogramming memory cells
Apparatuses and methods for reprogramming memory cells are described. One or more methods for memory cell operation includes programming a number of memory cells such that each of the number of memory cells are at either a first program state or a second program state, the second program state having a first program verify voltage associated therewith; and reprogramming the number of memory cells such that at least one of the number of memory cells is reprogrammed to a third program state having a second program verify voltage associated therewith, wherein those of the number of memory cells having a threshold voltage less than the second program verify voltage represent a same data value. |
| US08953373B1 |
Flash memory read retry using histograms
Upon a read error, a flash memory controller adjusts a candidate reference voltage on successive read retries until either a read error no longer occurs or an optimal reference voltage is attained. Optimal reference voltages correspond to cross-points of flash memory cell voltage distributions. Cross-points can be determined by using different candidate reference voltages to read data from the memory and determining corresponding decision patterns. The frequency of occurrence of the decision patterns in the data read from the memory is used to conceptually construct a histogram. The histogram is used to estimate when a candidate reference voltage has been adjusted to a cross-point. |
| US08953368B2 |
Magnetic memory device having bidirectional read scheme
A data reading method of a magnetic memory device includes generating read commands, supplying a read current to a selected magnetic memory element in a first direction and in turn in a second direction under different ones of the read commands, respectively, and sensing the magnitude of the read current flowing through the selected magnetic memory element to read data stored at the selected magnetic memory element. |
| US08953367B2 |
Three-dimensional memory array and operation scheme
A system, method and computer program product for operating a three-dimensional memory array. An example array includes access transistors with first, second and gate terminals. Bit lines are coupled to the first terminals, word lines coupled to the gate terminals, and vertical lines are coupled to the second terminals. The bit, word, and vertical lines are perpendicular to one another. Memory cells are positioned along the vertical lines, including a bidirectional access device coupled in series with a memory element. The memory element is programmable to first and second states by application of first and second write voltages, opposite in polarity to one another. The array includes conductive plates parallel to the word and bit lines, and perpendicular to the vertical lines. The conductive plates are coupled to memory cells of the same height and separated by insulating layers. |
| US08953366B2 |
Magnetic random access memory device
The present invention proposes an electronic memory device comprising a memory line including a memory domain. The memory line may contain a number of memory domains and a number of fixed domains, wherein each memory domain stores a single binary bit value. A multiferroic element may be disposed proximate to each memory domain allowing the magnetization of the memory domain to be changed using a spin torque current, and ensuring the stability of the magnetization of the domain when it is not being written. The domain boundary between the memory domain and one of its adjacent fixed domains may thereby be moved. An antiferromagnetic element may be disposed proximate to each fixed domain to ensure the stability of the magnetization of these. The value of each memory domain may be read by applying a voltage to a magnetic tunnel junction comprising the memory domain and measuring the current flowing through it. |
| US08953365B2 |
Capacitor backup for SRAM
Embodiments of the disclosure provide a method for backing up data in an SRAM device, and an SRAM device that includes a capacitive backup circuit for backing up data in an SRAM device. The method may include writing data to the SRAM cell by applying an input voltage to set an input node of cross-coupled inverters to a memory state. The method may also include backing up the data written to the SRAM cell by electrically coupling the input node to the capacitive backup circuit. The method may also include restoring the data stored in the capacitive backup circuit to the SRAM cell by electrically coupling the capacitive backup circuit to the input node. |
| US08953364B2 |
Voltage rail noise sensing circuit and method
Apparatus and methods level shift a direct current (DC) component of a voltage rail signal from a first DC level to a second DC level such that voltage rail noise can be determined. The actual voltage rail noise can be compared to an expected amount of noise for analysis and validation of simulation models. Such assessment can be used to validate simulation models used to refine a design of an integrated circuit or as part of built-in self test. |
| US08953361B2 |
Stack memory apparatus
A stack memory apparatus is provided. The stack memory apparatus includes a semiconductor substrate, and a plurality of memory cells, each including a switching element and a variable resister connected in parallel, stacked on the semiconductor substrate. The plurality of memory cells is configured to be connected to each other in series. |
| US08953360B2 |
Apparatus and method for reading a phase-change memory cell
An apparatus and a method for reading a phase-change memory cell are described. A circuit includes a current ramp circuit. A current forcing module is coupled with the current ramp circuit. A Veb emulation circuit is coupled with the current forcing module by a voltage adder, the voltage adder to sum an output from the Veb emulation circuit and a high impedance voltage source. A method includes forcing a current ramp into both a bitline and a dummy bitline, the dummy bitline having a voltage. The method also includes tripping a comparator when the current ramp provides a storage voltage with a predefined value, the storage voltage associated with the phase-change memory cell, and the predefined value independent from a resistance value of the phase-change memory cell and added in series to the voltage of the dummy bitline. |
| US08953358B2 |
Memory device and method for driving memory device
A memory device in which one memory cell can operate in both a single-level cell mode and a multi-level cell mode includes a signal transmission path for a multi-level cell mode in which a multi-bit digital signal representing any of three or more states input to the memory circuit is converted by a D/A converter and stored in the memory cell and the stored data is read by converting a signal output from the memory cell into a multi-bit digital signal with an A/D converter and the multi-bit digital signal is output from the memory circuit, and a signal transmission path for a single-level cell mode in which a single-bit digital signal representing any of two states input to the memory circuit is directly stored in the memory cell and the signal stored in the memory cell is directly output from the memory cell. |
| US08953354B2 |
Semiconductor memory device and method of driving semiconductor memory device
A semiconductor memory device includes a memory portion that includes i (i is a natural number) sets each including j (j is a natural number of 2 or larger) arrays each including k (k is a natural number of 2 or larger) lines to each of which a first bit column of an address is assigned in advance; a comparison circuit; and a control circuit. The i×j lines to each of which a first bit column of an objective address is assigned in advance are searched more than once and less than or equal to j times with the use of the control circuit and a cache hit signal or a cache miss signal output from the selection circuit. In such a manner, the line storing the objective data is specified. |
| US08953351B2 |
Power conversion apparatus for electronic apparatus
A power conversion apparatus is provided. The power conversion apparatus includes an AC to DC adapter, an input port, a power conversion control unit, and a restart circuit. The AC to DC adapter converts an AC input voltage into a DC output voltage according to an external signal of an electronic apparatus and provides the DC output voltage to the electronic apparatus. The input port receives the AC input voltage through an AC input terminal. If the power conversion apparatus does not output the DC output voltage to the electronic apparatus, the power conversion control unit turns off the power conversion apparatus. If the restart circuit detects that an insertion action occurs on the input port, the restart circuit transmits a trigger signal to turn on the power conversion control unit in an off mode. |
| US08953348B2 |
Switching power supply circuit and power factor controller
The switching power supply circuit includes a full-wave rectifier (1) which full-wave rectifies alternating power-supply voltage to output a pulsating current, and an inductor (3) connected to the full-wave rectifier (1). A level conversion circuit (20) includes a plurality of resistors connected in series, and converts inductor current detection voltage to a first current level signal and a second current level signal (S1 and S2) which are different in voltage level and which are proportional to inductor current. A continuous control setting circuit (30) generates a reference potential signal a phase of which is approximately the same as a phase of alternating input voltage from the first current level signal (S1) and compares a voltage level of the reference potential signal with a voltage level of the second current level signal (S2) to output a second set pulse (S8) that specifies timing at which a switching element (4) turns on. |
| US08953343B2 |
Power supply apparatus having multiple outputs
A power supply apparatus having multiple outputs which includes a transformer, a first output circuit generating a first output voltage with respect to a power transferred to a secondary side of the transformer, and a first output controller generating a first control signal for controlling a power supply provided to a primary side of the transformer. The power supply apparatus further includes a second output circuit generating a second output voltage with respect to the power transferred to the secondary side of the transformer and a second output controller controlling an output of the second output voltage, wherein the second output circuit includes a second switch performing a switching operation on current flows of the second output circuit, and the second output controller controls the switching operation of the second switch according to the first control signal and the second output voltage. |
| US08953337B2 |
Communication apparatus with removable circuit boards
The present invention relates to an electronic device including plural circuit board units that can be removed from the electronic device. The electronic device is designed to increase a data transfer rate between the circuit board units by using a circuit board for interconnect for electrically coupling the circuit board units placed in the electronic device, and using a cable for electrically or optically coupling the circuit board units placed in the electric device, or both of the cables. |
| US08953336B2 |
Surface metal wiring structure for an IC substrate
A surface metal wiring structure for a substrate includes one or more functional μbumps formed of a first metal and an electrical test pad formed of a second metal for receiving an electrical test probe and electrically connected to the one or more functional μbumps. The surface metal wiring structure also includes a plurality of sacrificial μbumps formed of the first metal that are electrically connected to the electrical test pads, where the sacrificial μbumps are positioned closer to the electrical test pad than the one or more functional μbumps. |
| US08953333B2 |
Electronic device and fixing structure thereof
An electronic device includes a fixing structure and an electronic component. The fixing structure includes a base, a locking element, and a fixing element. The base has a first position-limiting portion, a second position-limiting portion, and an assembling portion. The locking element and the fixing element respectively have a first and a second locking portion. When the locking element is assembled to the assembling portion and the first locking portion faces the first position-limiting portion, the fixing element is limited on the first position-limiting portion to lock the second locking portion with the first locking portion. When the locking element is assembled to the assembling portion and the first locking portion faces the second position-limiting portion, the fixing element is limited on the second position-limiting portion to lock the second locking portion with the first locking portion. The electronic component is fixed to the base through the fixing element. |
| US08953332B2 |
Positive pressure-applying compliant latch mechanism
A latch mechanism is provided for latching a field-replaceable unit within an enclosure. The latch mechanism includes a rotatable latch coupled to the field-replaceable unit, via a pivot, at a first side of the field-replaceable unit, and a compliant spring member disposed to act on the pivot. The compliant spring member acts on the pivot and compresses with rotating of the latch from an open position to a latched position during latching of the field-replaceable unit within the enclosure. The compressing facilitates provision of a positive pressure on or across the field-replaceable unit directed towards a second side of the field-replaceable unit opposite to the first side. This positive pressure facilitates, for example, fixed coupling of a first connector at the second side of the field-replaceable unit to a second connector associated with the enclosure when the field-replaceable unit is latched within the enclosure. |
| US08953331B2 |
Card key
A card key has a molded body and an upper and a lower housings. The molded body has a circuit board, to which electronic parts for communicating with an in-vehicle equipment are mounted and which is covered with resin. The molded body is formed in a plate shape. The upper and the lower housings are fixed to each other so that the molded body is arranged between them. An external appearance of the card key is defined by the upper and the lower housings. |
| US08953330B2 |
Security protection device and method
A security protection device includes a cover circuit board comprising at least one inner wiring layer and a base circuit board comprising at least one inner wiring layer. The device further includes a security frame between the base circuit board and the cover circuit board, at least one electrically conductive wire being wound and included within the security frame to form at least one winding protection layer around sides of the security frame. The cover circuit board, the security frame, and the base circuit board form an enclosure enclosing a security zone, and the at least one inner wiring layer within the cover circuit board, the at least one inner wiring layer within the base circuit board, and the at least one electrically conductive wire within the security frame are connectable to a security mechanism configured to detect an intrusion into the security zone. |
| US08953325B2 |
Electronic device with heat dissipating and electromagnetic shielding mask
An electronic device, including a circuit board, a communication chip, a first heat sink, a fixer and a shielding mask, is provided. The circuit board has a frame having an opening and several rims surrounding the opening. The communication chip, disposed on the circuit board, is located in the opening of the frame. The first heat sink, disposed on the communication chip, has a first surface facing and contacting the communication chip. The fixer is fixed into the circuit board and the first heat sink, such that the first heat sink remains contacting the communication chip. The shielding mask, disposed on the circuit board, includes a cover and several side boards. The cover covers the communication chip and the first heat sink, such that the cover contacts a second surface of the first heat sink. The side boards are opposite and connected to the rims in parallel. |
| US08953320B2 |
Coolant drip facilitating partial immersion-cooling of electronic components
Cooling apparatus and methods are provided for partial immersion-cooling of multiple electronic components. The cooling apparatus includes a housing at least partially surrounding and forming a compartment about the components, and a fluid disposed within the compartment. First and second electronic components are at least partially non-immersed within the fluid, with the first component being a different type of electronic component with different configuration than the second component. A vapor condenser is provided with a vapor-condensing surface disposed within the compartment for condensing fluid vapor, and a condensate redirect structure is disposed within the compartment between the vapor condenser and the first and second components. The redirect structure is differently configured over the first electronic component compared with over the second electronic component, and provides a different pattern of condensate drip over the first component compared with over the second component. |
| US08953302B2 |
Electrochemical device and a separator for electrochemical device
One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a separator for an electrochemical device, capable of suppressing an increase in a resistance value of a storage element.In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a separator 16c for an electrochemical device is formed such that plural high porosity portions 16c1 from an upper surface to a lower surface in a thickness direction thereof and plural low porosity portions 16c2 from the upper surface to the lower surface in the thickness direction thereof are arranged in a region which is interposed between a positive electrode 16a and a negative electrode 16b. |
| US08953297B2 |
Apparatus and methods for a wire-tethered electrode for an electronic weapon
An electronic weapon has an installed deployment unit from which an electrode is launched. The electrode is tethered to the deployment unit by a wire or filament. According to various aspects of the present invention, a wire-tethered electrode for launching from a weapon, for impacting clothing of a human target, and for conducting a stimulus signal through the target to inhibit locomotion by the target includes an insulated wire, a spear, and a body. The wire mechanically couples the electrode to the weapon. The spear lodges in the clothing. The body has an interior. The interior confines the wire against the spear so that the stimulus signal ionizes air in a gap between an uninsulated end of the wire and the spear, and ionizes air between the barb and tissue of the target to facilitate conducting the stimulus signal through the spear and through the target. |
| US08953296B2 |
AC pre-charge circuit
AC pre-charging techniques are provided for pre-charging the DC bus on a motor drive. AC pre-charging techniques involve pre-charge circuitry including a manual switch, an automatic switch, and pre-charge control circuitry to switch the automatic switch between pre-charge and pre-charge bypass modes in response to an initialized pre-charge operation, input voltage sags, etc. In some embodiments, the pre-charge operation may be initialized by switching the manual switch closed. In some embodiments, the pre-charge operation may also be initialized by a detected voltage sag on the DC bus. The pre-charge circuitry may also be configured to disconnect a motor drive from the AC power supply under certain fault conditions. |
| US08953293B2 |
Battery protection circuit
A battery pack including a battery and a battery protection circuit is disclosed. In one aspect, the battery protection circuit comprises a protective device configured to inhibit a flow of current between an electrode of the circuit and the battery when activated. The battery protection circuit further comprises a primary protection circuit and a secondary protection circuit. The primary protection circuit is configured to generate a control signal for control the protective device when detecting an abnormal voltage in a unit cell of the battery. The secondary protection circuit is configured to activate the protective device, either when receiving the control signal from the primary protection circuit or when detecting an abnormal voltage in a unit cell of the battery. |
| US08953291B2 |
Reversal connection protecting circuit
The present invention discloses a reversal connection protecting circuit. The reversal connection protecting circuit includes a power supply interface, a secondary battery, a reversal connection driving unit and a power switching unit. The reversal connection protecting circuit further includes an anti-reversal unit. And the reversal connection protecting circuit further includes a processing unit and a warning interface. According to the present invention, the inconvenience brought by substituting a fuse that is melted in a protecting circuit under the condition that the power supply of the protecting circuit is reversely connected in prior art is overcome. |
| US08953288B2 |
Sentinel unit for an IT electrical distribution system having a floating reference conductor
A protection system for an IT electrical distribution system (EDS) has a floating reference conductor and two electrical conductors in the form of an active conductor and a neutral conductor. System includes two input terminals for electrically connecting to an MEN electrical power source that is upstream of system. Two output terminals are electrically connected to an electrical load in the form of an electrical motor for a compressor of an upright freezer display. A motor protection device, in the form of an MCB, electrically connects terminals to allow a supply of electrical power to a motor. The MCB is responsive to a fault signal at a port for selectively electrically disconnecting at least one of the terminals. A sentinel unit selectively generates the fault signal at port in response to the current in conductor being greater than a predetermined threshold. |
| US08953285B2 |
Side shielded magnetoresistive (MR) read head with perpendicular magnetic free layer
A MR sensor is disclosed that has a free layer (FL) with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) which eliminates the need for an adjacent hard bias structure to stabilize free layer magnetization and minimizes shield-FL interactions. In a TMR embodiment, a seed layer, free layer, junction layer, reference layer, and pinning layer are sequentially formed on a bottom shield. After patterning, a conformal insulation layer is formed along the sensor sidewall. Thereafter, a top shield is formed on the insulation layer and includes side shields that are separated from the FL by a narrow read gap. The sensor is scalable to widths<50 nm when PMA is greater than the FL self-demag field. Effective bias field is rather insensitive to sensor aspect ratio which makes tall stripe and narrow width sensors a viable approach for high RA TMR configurations. Side shields may be extended below the seed layer plane. |
| US08953283B2 |
Magnetic head, magnetic head assembly, and magnetic recording/reproduction apparatus
According to one embodiment, a magnetic head includes a spin torque oscillator formed between a main magnetic pole and auxiliary magnetic pole. The spin torque oscillator includes a transmission-type spin transfer layer, first interlayer, oscillation layer, second interlayer, and reflection-type spin transfer layer. The transmission-type spin transfer layer includes a first perpendicular magnetization film and first interface magnetic layer. The first interface magnetic layer contains at least one element selected from Fe, Co, and Ni, and at least one element selected from Cr, V, Mn, Ti, and Sc. The reflection-type spin transfer layer includes a second perpendicular magnetization film. |
| US08953282B2 |
Magnetic head, and magnetic storage apparatus
In a Spin Torque Oscillator (STO) comprising an underlayer, a first magnetic layer disposed on the underlayer, a non-magnetic intermediate layer disposed on the first magnetic layer, and a second magnetic layer disposed on the non-magnetic intermediate layer, the non-magnetic intermediate layer is a non-magnetic alloy containing 50 at % or more of at least one kind of element selected from a first group consisting of Cu, Ag, and Au, and further at least 0.1 at % or more in total of at least one kind of element selected from a second group consisting of Cu, Ag, Au, Cr, Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Ru, Os, Pd, Pt, Rh, and Ir that does not overlap with the element from the first group. |
| US08953280B2 |
Spindle motor having labyrinth sealing portion and hard disk drive including the same
There is provided a spindle motor including: a shaft including a body portion having a fixing recess formed on a lower portion thereof, a flange portion extending in an outer radial direction from an upper portion of the body portion, and a first insertion portion extending downwardly from the flange portion in an axial direction; a lower thrust member including a fixed portion inserted into the fixing recess, a disk portion extending from the fixed portion in an outer radial direction, and first and second protrusion portions extending from the disk portion in the axial direction; a base member coupled to the second protrusion portion; and a rotating member forming a bearing clearance with the shaft and provided to be rotatable with respect to the shaft. |
| US08953276B1 |
Correcting position error based on reading first and second user data signals
First and second user data signals of respective first and second tracks are simultaneously read from a disk via first and second read transducers co-located on a slider. A position error of the first and second read transducers is corrected based on the first and second user data signals. |
| US08953274B1 |
Deceleration of spindle motor in disk drive
A spindle motor of a disk drive includes a stator with windings and a rotor configured to rotate a disk of the disk drive. It is determined whether the disk drive is in a falling state while the disk rotates, and when the disk drive is in the falling state, a negative torque is applied to the rotor to reduce an angular velocity of the disk. When the angular velocity of the disk reaches a threshold angular velocity, an electrical short is caused across the windings of the stator to further reduce the angular velocity of the disk. |
| US08953272B2 |
Plasmonic transducer having two metal elements with a gap disposed therebetween
An apparatus includes a waveguide configured to deliver light to a transducer region. The apparatus also includes a plasmonic transducer that has two metal elements configured as side-by-side plates on a substrate-parallel plane with a gap therebetween. The gap is disposed along the substrate-parallel plane and has an input end disposed proximate the transducer region and an output end. The transducer is configured to provide a surface plasmon-enhanced near-field radiation pattern proximate the output end in response to the light received by the waveguide. |
| US08953268B2 |
Methods for formatting and using linear recording media having a reduced servo band width
Methods for formatting and using a linear magnetic recording medium. The medium in one embodiment has a servo band having a width b that is less than or equal to about 1.2 B/N, where N is an integer greater than or equal to 2, and B corresponds to a distance between data read/write transducers of a magnetic head usable with the medium in a direction transverse to a longitudinal length of the medium. |
| US08953265B1 |
Method and system for monitoring disk reliability with global disk scrubbing
Techniques for disk scrubbing are described herein. According to one embodiment, for each of the sectors of a storage disk, a read operation is issued to a sector of a first storage disk of a storage system. In response to an error returned from the read operation, it is determined whether the sector is a live sector, first data is generated as random data if the sector is not a live sector, and the first data is written to the sector to trigger a remap process that remaps a logical block address associated with the sector to another physical block address. The remap process increments the reallocated sector count. It is determined whether the first storage disk is vulnerable based on a number of reallocated sectors resulted from the first storage disk based on the remap process, which is performed by internal logic of the first storage disk. |
| US08953264B2 |
Position detecting apparatus and lens barrel assembly including the same
Position detecting apparatus that has a high detecting precision and a lens barrel assembly including the same are disclosed. A position detecting apparatus is provided that includes a base; a magnetic scale spaced apart from the base by a first predetermined distance and movable in a first direction; a first adjustment portion coupled to the base to adjust a second distance from the base; and a sensor rotatably coupled to the first adjustment portion and that senses a change in a position of the magnetic scale. |
| US08953263B2 |
Optical unit and image pickup unit
An optical unit and an image pickup unit are provided that allow a full angular field to be increased in spite of small size and low cost. An image pickup lens 100 has a first lens 111 with a positive power, a second lens 113 with a positive power, a third lens 114 with a positive power, and a fourth lens 115 with a negative power that are arranged in order from an object side OBJS toward an image surface side, that are arranged in order from the object side toward the image surface side. |
| US08953260B2 |
Telephoto lens system
A telephoto lens system including a first lens group having a positive refractive power and including a negative lens that is disposed closest to an object side and has a meniscus shape that is convex toward the object side; a second lens group having a negative refractive power and including a single negative lens that moves along an optical axis and performs focusing; and a third lens group having a positive refractive power, wherein the first through third lens groups are disposed sequentially from the object side toward the image side, and the telephoto lens system satisfies the following condition, 0.5<|f2/f|<0.81, wherein, f2 denotes the focal length of the second lens group, and f denotes the focal length of the telephoto lens system. |
| US08953257B1 |
Image capturing lens system and image capturing device
An image capturing lens system includes five non-cemented lens elements with refractive power, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens element, a second lens element, a third lens element, a fourth lens element and a fifth lens element. The first lens element with positive refractive power has a convex object-side surface in a paraxial region thereof. The second lens element has negative refractive power. The third lens element has positive refractive power. The fourth lens element with negative refractive power has a concave object-side surface in a paraxial region thereof. The fifth lens element with refractive power has a concave image-side surface in a paraxial region thereof, wherein both of the surfaces thereof are aspheric, and at least one inflection point is formed on the image-side surface thereof. The image capturing lens system has a total of five lens elements with refractive power. |
| US08953256B2 |
Image pickup lens
An image pickup lens includes a first lens with positive refractive power having a convex object side surface, an aperture stop, a second lens with negative refractive power having a convex image side surface, a third lens with positive refractive power having a concave image side surface, a fourth lens with positive refractive power having a convex image side surface, and a fifth lens with negative refractive power as a double-sided aspheric lens having a concave image side surface near the optical axis; wherein the first lens and the second lens satisfy following conditional expressions (1) and (2); 50<ν1<85 (1) 20<ν2<35 (2) where ν1 represents an Abbe number of the first lens, and ν2 represents an Abbe number of the second lens, and where the second lens satisfies a following conditional expression (3); 1.55 |
| US08953254B2 |
Image pickup lens and image pickup unit
An image pickup lens includes: in recited order from object plane toward image plane, a first lens having positive refractive power; a second lens having negative refractive power; a third lens having positive refractive power; a fourth lens having positive or negative refractive power; a fifth lens having positive refractive power; and a sixth lens having negative refractive power and having optical surfaces, one or more of the optical surfaces each having an aspherical shape with one or more inflection points. |
| US08953253B2 |
Lens barrel
The present lens barrel is provided with a cylindrical moving frame and a cylindrical cam frame disposed on the inner periphery of the moving frame. The cylindrical moving frame has a first cam follower and a second cam follower. The first cam follower projects radially from the inner peripheral surface or the outer peripheral surface. The second cam follower projects radially further from the top of the first cam follower. The cylindrical cam frame is disposed on the inner periphery or the outer periphery of the moving frame, and has a first cam and a second cam on the outer peripheral surface side or the inner peripheral surface side. The first cam engages with the first cam follower, and has a cam surface only on the image plane side in the optical axis direction. The second cam is formed on the bottom surface of the first cam, and engages with the second cam follower. |
| US08953251B2 |
Zoom lens and image pickup apparatus equipped with zoom lens
A zoom lens includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a first lens unit of a positive refractive power, a second lens unit of a negative refractive power, a reflective unit configured to bend an optical axis, and a rear lens group including two or more lens units, the reflective unit being stationary during zooming, the first and second lens units and two or more lens units of the rear lens group being moved during zooming, wherein the following conditions are satisfied: 4.3<β2t/β2w<12.0, and 2.1<βRt/βRw<3.0, where β2w and β2t denote lateral magnifications of the second lens unit at a wide-angle end and a telephoto end, respectively, and βRw and βRt denote lateral magnifications at the wide-angle end and the telephoto end, respectively, of a lens unit having a greatest variable power contribution out of the rear lens group. |
| US08953250B2 |
Optical arrangement of autofocus elements for use with immersion lithography
A lithographic projection apparatus includes a projection system having a last element, by which an exposure light is projected onto an upper surface of a wafer through liquid locally covering a portion of the upper surface of the wafer. The last element has a lower surface from which the exposure light is emitted. The last element also has an outer surface which extends upwardly from an edge portion of the lower surface. The apparatus also includes a space along the outer surface of the last element, to which the liquid is supplied from above the lower surface of the last element. The space is defined by the outer surface of the last element and a surface opposing the outer surface of the last element. |
| US08953244B2 |
Color-shiftable antireflection film for curved face of display device for vehicle
A display device for a vehicle includes a front face cover that covers a front face of a display section for displaying information of the vehicle, and an antireflection film provided on a surface of the front face cover. The surface of the front face cover has a curved face which is formed so that an observation color of the curved face viewed from an eye range of a person sitting on a seat of the vehicle differs depending on an observation position in the eye range due to a difference in an interference wavelength of reflection light reflected by the antireflection film, the reflection light advancing toward the eye range from the front surface. |
| US08953240B2 |
Frequency-chirped semiconductor diode laser phase-locked optical system
A chirped diode laser (ChDL) is employed for seeding optical amplifiers and/or dissimilar optical paths, which simultaneously suppresses stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) and enables coherent combination. The seed spectrum will appear broadband to suppress the SBS, but the well-defined chirp will have the coherence and duration to allow the active phasing of multiple amplifiers and/or dissimilar optical paths. The phasing is accomplished without optical path-length matching by interfering each amplifier output with a reference, processing the resulting signal with a phase lock loop, and using the error signal to drive an acousto-optic frequency shifter at the front end of each optical amplifier and/or optical path. |
| US08953236B2 |
Scanning optical apparatus
In a scanning optical apparatus, an illumination optical system has a diffractive power φdM and a refractive power φnM in a main scanning direction, and a ratio φnM/φdM in the main scanning direction for a focal length fi in a range of 10-22 mm satisfies: g2(fi)≦φnM/φdM≦g1(fi), where A(Z)=(1.897×107)Z2+6744Z+0.5255, B(Z)=(2.964×107)Z2+5645Z+0.6494, C(Z)=(3.270×107)Z2+3589Z+0.5250, D(Z)=(5.016×107)Z2+4571Z+0.8139, g1(fi)=fi{D(Z)−B(Z)}/12−5D(Z)/6+11B(Z)/6, g2(fi)=fi{C(Z)−D(Z)}/12−5C(Z)/6+11A(Z)/6. |
| US08953234B2 |
Image processing apparatus, image processing method, and printer
An image processing apparatus is provided that is capable of very accurately and efficiently reducing uneven color caused by variation in ejection characteristics among nozzles that eject ink and that occurs in a color image that is formed by mixing a plurality of different kinds of ink. A patch is printed by ejected ink from a plurality of nozzles, a region is specified so as to perform color correction in a test color image that is printed on a printing medium, a plurality of different color correction processing is performed on color signals that correspond to a color correction region, a plurality of color correction patches are printed, a color correction patch to be used is selected from among the plurality of different color correction patches and table parameters that correspond to the nozzles are created based on the selected color correction processing. |
| US08953230B2 |
Image reading apparatus and image forming apparatus
An image reading apparatus is provided with a registration roller configured such that a downstream end in a sheet feeding direction of a sheet abut to correct a skew of the sheet, and a pulling roller that conveys the sheet to the registration roller. The pulling roller is disposed such that a center of an arrangement in a direction orthogonal to the sheet feeding direction of the pulling roller is located on a side of the first restricting plate from a widthwise center of the sheet conveying path. |
| US08953227B2 |
Multifunction printer with platen closest to lid
A multifunction printer includes a printing apparatus including: a printing device for printing on recording medium; a media advance system for moving the recording medium into position to be printed on by the printing device; and a scanning apparatus including: a platen including: a transparent portion; a first surface for supporting items to be scanned; a second surface opposite the first surface; a scan bar assembly disposed proximate the second surface of the platen; a frame including an uppermost surface that is disposed proximate to the second surface of the platen; and a lid disposed proximate the first surface of the platen, wherein a distance between the lid and the first surface of the platen is less than a distance between the lid and the frame when the lid is closed. |
| US08953226B2 |
Image reading and forming apparatus comprising an open/closing detection portion wherein a sensor detects the movable member moving in the guide hole in accordance with the open/closed state of the cover
An image reading apparatus includes placement member, pressing member, and open/close detection portion. Open/close detection portion detects opening and closing of pressing member. Open/close detection portion includes movable portion, guide hole, and sensor. When pressing member is opened, movable portion moves toward one side, thereby protruding to an area between placement member and pressing member, and when pressing member is closed, movable portion moves toward the other side. Movable portion extends along movement direction thereof. Guide hole of movable portion guides movement of movable portion in movement direction. Movable portion has a plurality of groove portions extending in movement direction, and groove portions partially include guide groove. Guide hole has guide protrusion protruding from inner circumferential surface thereof toward groove portion of movable portion, so as to guide movement of movable portion. Guide protrusion is formed only at position opposing to guide groove, of groove portions of movable portion. |
| US08953217B2 |
Device and method for printing a wrapper strip
An apparatus for printing a banding strip for documents of value, which is preferably moved relative to the apparatus, having a print head by means of which, upon an activation, more than nine dots can be printed, a circuit actuatable by print signals, which, in response to print signals, activates the print head in accordance with the print signals, in order to print patterns specified by the print signals, and a current supply unit for providing current for the circuit and by means thereof for the print head. |
| US08953216B2 |
Original reader capable of reading originals of various sizes and method of reading original
An original reader capable of being downsized without requiring a large-capacity image memory. A conveying path conveys an original. Sensors are arranged on the conveying path, for detecting the conveyed original. CCD line sensors read the conveyed original. A CPU of the image reader decides the size of the conveyed original based on the results of detection by the sensors. An image memory stores image data output from the line sensors. The CPU transmits the decided original size and the stored image data to a controller. When the CPU cannot decide the original size at a predetermined timing, it transmits one of original size candidates to the controller, as a provisional original size. When the size of the original decided afterwards is different from the provisional original size, the CPU retransmits the decided size of the original. |
| US08953215B2 |
Image forming apparatus, image forming method, non-transitory computer-readable medium, and test data
An image forming apparatus includes a document reading section and an image forming section. The document reading section reads a document image placed on a paper placement table and generates image data. The image forming section forms an image on a sheet of paper on the basis of the image data, and includes a memory that stores test data representing a test image, which is to be formed on a sheet of paper having a size larger than the size of the table, a correction-amount calculation unit that calculates correction amounts on the basis of image data representing the test image which is formed on the sheet of paper and which has been read by repeating an operation, and a correction-amount memory that stores the correction amounts. The image forming section forms, on a sheet of paper, an image corrected on the basis of the correction amounts. |
| US08953214B2 |
Print control method, information processing apparatus, and recording medium
A print control method for an information processing apparatus connected to an image forming apparatus via a network, includes acquiring print data and print settings corresponding to the print data from one or more applications; determining whether a process related to a scaling process is included in the print settings; comparing, when determining that the process related to a scaling process is included in the print settings, a processing capacity of the image forming apparatus with a processing capacity of the information processing apparatus; and determining whether the process related to the scaling process is to be performed by the image forming apparatus or by the information processing apparatus based on the comparison result. |
| US08953211B2 |
Communication device and non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing program for controlling the communication device
A communication device, including: a touch sensor configured to detect a touch or an approach of an input object by detecting a change in capacitance; a near field communicator configured to perform near field communication with an information processing terminal present in a communication area in which near field communication is possible, the information processing terminal being capable of performing the near field communication; and a controller configured to control the communication device in accordance with detection of the touch or the approach of the input object by the touch sensor, wherein the controller is configured to reduce detection sensitivity of the touch sensor for detecting the input object when the information processing terminal is in the communication area. |
| US08953209B2 |
Server apparatus, image forming system, and method of managing print data
According to one embodiment, a server apparatus includes a reception unit, a storage unit, a list sending unit, and a transmission unit. The reception unit receives print data designating a user who is able to execute printing. The storage unit stores the print data received by the reception unit. The list sending unit sends a list of the print data, which the user who is an operator of an image forming apparatus is able to execute, to the image forming apparatus. The transmission unit transmits the print data selected from the list of the print data sent by the list sending unit to the image forming apparatus. |
| US08953208B2 |
Cooperative image processing system, cooperation method, portable terminal apparatus, and recording medium
A cooperative system comprises an image processing apparatus and a portable terminal; the image processing apparatus comprises: a display; a judgment portion judging whether an operation screen requested from the portable terminal apparatus is a first screen including a file area or a second screen including no file area; and a transmitter transmitting screen data for reproducing the first or second screen depending on the judgment result, along with a file and area reproduction information; the portable terminal comprises: a requestor requesting for the screen data; a reproducer reproducing the first or second screen; a display displaying the first or second screen; a judgment portion judging whether user operates on the file area or the other area; and a controller showing in the file area an appropriate portion of the file for user operation if user operates on the file area. |
| US08953205B2 |
Data display device capable of being positioned to be viewable from one of two opposite viewing directions
According to one embodiment, this data display device has a display unit in which a rear support cover is mounted on the back surface of a rectangular display panel using a rotatably connected with a first hinge. This data display device has a main body that supports the display unit at a display angle. The main body is provided with a paper discharge unit for a built-in printer. The main body is rotatably connected to rear support cover via a second hinge. The data display device may be used in an operator mode, a first user mode in which the display unit is inclined in the direction opposite to the display angle for an operator by the second hinge, and a second user mode in which the display panel is rotated at an angle of inclination larger than the display angle for an operator by the first hinge. |
| US08953200B2 |
Casino print system and corresponding methods
Systems and methods for providing customized coupons in a casino gaming environment are provided. A printer resident in a gaming machine is provided and has at least one communication port for communication external to the gaming machine. A coupon layout generator may also be provided for creating customized coupons. A server manager may be provided for distributing the customized coupons to one or more targeted recipients. A server port device may be provided for connecting the server manager to the communication port of the printer and for converting an Ethernet signal from the server manager to a serial signal recognizable by the printer. With such a system, an IP address may be assigned to the server port device. The IP address, together with player identification information, is used by the server manager to determine appropriate coupons for distribution to the gaming machine. |
| US08953199B2 |
Method and system to recommend an application
In one embodiment, first data pertaining to a software application is obtained at a server system. Second data indicative of capabilities of a web-enabled printer is received at the server system. Third data comprising usage information is received at the server system. An application recommendation is created based at least in part on the first, second, and third data. The recommendation is sent, from the server system and over a web, Internet, or intranet to a receiving destination. |
| US08953198B2 |
Communication system, communication apparatus, and communication control method
In implementing data transfer using noncontact close proximity transfer, the user operability is improved. The invention includes a communication system having a DSC and printer. Each of the DSC and printer includes a noncontact close proximity transfer function unit which executes, when the DSC and printer are located within a communicable range, connection processing for establishing a connection state in a first communication layer, a print image transfer processing unit which executes, when the connection state in the first communication layer is established, authentication processing for checking whether a connection state in a second communication layer has been established, and executes, when authentication fails, connection processing for establishing the connection state in the second communication layer, and a link control unit which transfers data when authentication succeeds or when the connection state in the second communication layer is established. |
| US08953197B2 |
Image processing system, image inputting apparatus, display controlling apparatus, management method and program for image processing system, and storage medium
An image processing system, connecting a plurality of image forming apparatuses via a network for outputting an input image using one of image forming apparatuses, includes an output-specifying information obtaining unit that obtains output-specifying information including to-be-output image data and information designating one of the image forming apparatuses as an output destination to output the to-be-output image data; an output-able size information obtaining unit to obtain output-able size information linking information identifying each image forming apparatus and output-able image size information at each image forming apparatus; an output-able size information display unit to display an output-able image size of each image forming apparatuses on a display area; an image data converter to convert image data to a data format suitable for the designated image forming apparatus; and an image data transmission unit to transmit the converted image data to one of the image forming apparatuses designated as the output destination. |
| US08953196B2 |
Image processing workflow with virtual plug-in
In an image forming device adapted to acquire image data and distribute the image data, a storage unit stores respective plug-in modules of an input process, an image transforming process, and an output process with respect to the image data. A combining information acquisition unit acquires combining information including plug-in identifiers which respectively indicate the plug-in modules. A combining unit combines two or more of the plug-in modules to generate a virtual plug-in based on the combining information. A flow setting unit sets up a workflow in which the plug-in modules including the virtual plug-in are combined arbitrarily. A workflow control unit controls processes included in the workflow when a message distribution process based on the workflow is requested. |
| US08953193B2 |
Management system, monitoring apparatus and management
A monitoring apparatus monitors a job processing status of an image forming apparatus. If it is determined that the image forming apparatus is not processing a job, creation of a snapshot of a sub-set (minimum required charging counter values for charging) is requested from the image forming apparatus. When charging information is transmitted to a management server, if it is determined that a usual full-set (department counter values and charging counter values) of data has not been acquired, the created sub-set is transmitted. |
| US08953192B2 |
Roving printing in a cloud-based print service using a mobile device
An application manager may receive, from an application utilized at a device at a first location, a print job, the print job identifying a virtual print queue and application content to be printed, the application manager being further configured to store the print job in association with the virtual print queue. A print job router may receive, after the storing and from a mobile device at a second location, a print initiation identifying a printer at the second location and the print job, the print job router being further configured to send the application content to the identified printer, based on the print initiation. |
| US08953191B2 |
Document management system
An image processing apparatus displays a list of document data managed by a document management system, checks-out the document data selected from the list, and prints it. When a check-in is performed, a print document is scanned and scan data obtained by the scan is checked-in to the document management system. |
| US08953190B2 |
Automated method and system for holding and authenticating a device configuration change payload job
A method and system for automatically holding and authenticating a configuration change payload job. An upgrade payload file can be transmitted to a rendering device as a rendering job via a print submission protocol. The upgrade payload file can be detected by a configuration change detection and hold module configured in association with the rendering device upon receiving the rendering job. The rendering job can be automatically held at the rendering device until an authenticated user releases the rendering job. The held rendering job can be also automatically deleted after a predetermined time period. The configuration change detection and hold module can be enabled and/or disabled by the authenticated user in order to prevent an unauthorized and accidental system upgrade and configuration change. |
| US08953185B2 |
Image reading apparatus and image forming apparatus
An image reading apparatus includes a first housing, a second housing, a document conveyance path, a plate-like transparent member, a reader, a guide member, a transparent sheet member and a pressing member. The guide member is arranged on the transparent member at a side downstream of the first position in a conveying direction of the document and guides the document to a downstream side in the conveying direction. The transparent sheet member includes a first sheet portion which is arranged on the transparent member to cover the first position and a second sheet portion which is held in contact with the guide member and with which the document being conveyed along the document conveyance path comes into contact. The pressing member presses a side of the first sheet portion upstream of the first position in the conveying direction against the transparent member. |
| US08953182B2 |
Font emulation in embedded systems
A system for printing a document when it includes one or more target fonts that are emulated with at least one substitute font suitable for printing on a printing device. The substitute font appears visually similar to the target font, substantially preserves the original pagination and line breaks of the provided document, and the printing device is capable of printing the substitute font. A table is provided that lists strategies/logic for enabling the printing device to emulate each of a plurality of predetermined target fonts with a substitute font. These emulation strategies may include but are not limited to, identifying at least one of a resident font for the printing device, stretchable font, local font, or downloadable font to be substituted for the non-resident target font in the provided document. |
| US08953179B2 |
Printing apparatus, method for controlling printing apparatus, and storage medium
When a user sets, through an operation unit, an inspection item of inspection processing which inspects a print state by reading image data by the image reading unit from a sheet output from a printer unit and conveyed by conveyance rollers, an inspection control unit of an inspection unit changes a sheet conveyance speed in the inspection unit and sheet feeding timing according to the inspection item. A print medium conveyance control unit controls drive of conveyance rollers according to the sheet conveyance speed and the sheet feeding timing. |
| US08953176B2 |
Laser confocal sensor metrology system
The present invention provides apparatus for a non-contact method of obtaining accurate three-dimensional measurements of a dry contact lens, more specifically, using dry lens metrology to know the exact thickness of a contact lens. |
| US08953173B2 |
Apparatus for microlithographic projection exposure and apparatus for inspecting a surface of a substrate
An apparatus (10) for microlithographic projection exposure, which includes: an optical system (18) for imaging mask structures (16) onto a surface (21) of a substrate (20) by projecting the mask structures (16) with imaging radiation (13) onto an exposure area of the substrate surface, and various structure defining a measurement beam path (36) for guiding measurement radiation (34). The measurement beam path (36) extends within the optical system (18) such that the measurement radiation (34) impinges on a measurement area on the substrate surface that is offset from the exposure area. |
| US08953172B2 |
Optical coherence tomography observation apparatus, method for determining relative position of images, and program for determining relative position of images
An optical coherence tomography observation apparatus comprising a controller (30) and a detector (40), the controller being configured to illuminate first illumination light to an observation object, cause an image generator to generate a first tomographic image showing tomography of the observation object, illuminate second illumination light to the observation object, and cause the image generator to generate a second tomographic image showing tomography of the observation, and the detector being configured to detect a relative position of the second tomographic image with respect to the first tomographic image, at which a correlation of the second tomographic image with the first tomographic image becomes highest, are provided. |
| US08953171B1 |
Signal sectioning for profiling printed-circuit-board vias with vertical scanning interferometry
The bottom surface of a via drilled in a fiber-reinforced PCB is profiled interferometrically with acceptable precision using an objective with sufficiently large numerical aperture to illuminate the bottom under the fibers. The light scattering produced by the inherent roughness of the surface of the via bottom causes diffused light to return to the objective and yield reliable data fringes. Under such appropriate numerical-aperture and surface roughness conditions, the bottom surface of vias can be profiled correctly simply by segmenting the correlograms produced by the scan and processing all fringes that correspond to the bottom surface elevation. |
| US08953168B2 |
Optical sensing devices and methods for detecting samples using the same
An optical sensing device including a source unit configured to generate a polychromatic light beam containing p-polarized beam and s-polarized beam; an interferometric unit configured to introduce birefringent retardation for generating optical path difference between the p-polarized beam and the s-polarized beam; a SPR sensing unit configured to receive both p-polarized beam and s-polarized beam and induce a SPR effect to the p-polarized beam associated with a target sample; and a detection unit for detecting target sample characteristics by obtaining an interference spectrum of the p-polarized beam and the s-polarized beam from the SPR sensing unit. |
| US08953164B2 |
Wavelength monitor and wavelength monitoring method
The transmittance of a filter periodically varies with respect to the incident light frequency. Provided that fk is the sum of Fk and νk, or the difference obtained by subtracting Fk from νk, depending on the kth light source among multiple light sources, an incidence guide causes light from the plurality of light sources to be incident on the filter such that the propagation angle of light when light from the kth light source propagates through the interior of the filter equals θk obtained by computation using fk. The incidence guide causes light to be incident on the filter, taking fk to be the sum of νk and Fk for at least one of the light sources, and taking fk to be the difference between νk and Fk for at least one other of the light sources. A detector detects the intensity of transmitted light that transmits through the filter. |
| US08953158B2 |
Grading of agricultural products via hyper spectral imaging and analysis
A system for grading an agricultural product employing hyper-spectral imaging and analysis. The system includes at least one light source for providing a beam of light, an interferometer or a prism array for dispersing electromagnetic radiation emitted from said agricultural product into a corresponding spectral image, a light measuring device for detecting component wavelengths within the corresponding spectral image and a processor operable to compare the detected component wavelengths to a database of previously graded agricultural products to identify and select a grade for the agricultural product. A method for grading an agricultural product via hyper-spectral imaging and analysis is also provided. |
| US08953157B2 |
Monolithic fiber optic sensor assembly
A remote sensor element for spectrographic measurements employs a monolithic assembly of one or two fiber optics to two optical elements separated by a supporting structure to allow the flow of gases or particulates therebetween. In a preferred embodiment, the sensor element components are fused ceramic to resist high temperatures and failure from large temperature changes. |
| US08953154B2 |
Orientation tracking system and method
An orientation tracking system including a first tracking system subject to drift. A second tracking system is configured to provide an output for calibrating the first tracking system to reduce the drift of the first tracking system. The second tracking system includes at least one inclinometer, each inclinometer including a light source adjacent one side of the inclinometer, a light sensor adjacent an opposing side of the inclinometer, and a light obscuring material within the inclinometer for obscuring the light between the light source and light sensor to indicate an orientation of the inclinometer. |
| US08953150B2 |
Observation device with range finder
The invention relates to a binocular observation device, in particular binoculars, having two visual beam paths and a laser range finder with a laser transmitter and a laser receiver and with an opto-electronic display element. A part of one of the beam paths of the laser transmitter is integrated into a first visual beam path, wherein a part of one beam path of the laser receiver is furthermore also integrated into the first visual beam path. |
| US08953149B2 |
CMOS three-dimensional image sensor detectors having reduced inter-gate capacitance, and enhanced modulation contrast
A CMOS detector with pairs of interdigitated elongated finger-like collection gates includes p+ implanted regions that create charge barrier regions that can intentionally be overcome. These regions steer charge to a desired collection gate pair for collection. The p+ implanted regions may be formed before and/or after formation of the collection gates. These regions form charge barrier regions when an associated collection gate is biased low. The barriers are overcome when an associated collection gate is high. These barrier regions steer substantially all charge to collection gates that are biased high, enhancing modulation contrast. Advantageously, the resultant structure has reduced power requirements in that inter-gate capacitance is reduced in that inter-gate spacing can be increased over prior art gate spacing and lower swing voltages may be used. Also higher modulation contrast is achieved in that the charge collection area of the low gate(s) is significantly reduced. |
| US08953148B2 |
Exposure apparatus and making method thereof
An exposure apparatus that forms a pattern by exposing a substrate is equipped with a first platform tower, a second platform tower installed at a predetermined distance, and an exposure main section arranged within the space between both platform towers that includes a plurality of high rigidity sections each including a high rigidity component. Accordingly, it becomes possible to use a module (a high rigidity section) of the preceding generation even when the generation changes. |
| US08953147B2 |
Spatial light modulation unit, illumination optical apparatus, exposure apparatus, and device manufacturing method
An illumination optical apparatus capable of forming a pupil intensity distribution of desired shape and illuminance and, in turn, capable of realizing illumination conditions of great variety. The apparatus has a spatial light modulation unit composed of a first spatial light modulator and a second spatial light modulator arranged in an order of incidence of light, and a distribution forming optical system to form a predetermined light intensity distribution on an illumination pupil, based on a beam having traveled via the first spatial light modulator and the second spatial light modulator. The first spatial light modulator has a plurality of first optical elements which are two-dimensionally arranged and postures of which each are individually controlled. The second spatial light modulator has a plurality of second optical elements which are two-dimensionally arranged in correspondence to the first optical elements and postures of which each are individually controlled. |
| US08953145B2 |
Detection of contaminating substances in an EUV lithography apparatus
An EUV (extreme ultraviolet) lithography apparatus (1) including: a housing (1a) enclosing an interior (15), at least one reflective optical element (5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 14.1 to 14.6) arranged in the interior (15), a vacuum generating unit (1b) generating a residual gas atmosphere in the interior (15), and a residual gas analyzer (18a, 18b) detecting at least one contaminating substance (17a) in the residual gas atmosphere. The residual gas analyzer (18a) has a storage device (21) having an ion trap for storing the contaminating substance (17a). Additionally, a method for detecting at least one contaminating substance by residual gas analysis of a residual gas atmosphere of an EUV lithography apparatus (1) having a housing (1a) having an interior (15), in which at least one reflective optical element (5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 14.1 to 14.6), is arranged, wherein the contaminating substance (17a) is stored in a storage device (21) in order to carry out the residual gas analysis. |
| US08953142B2 |
Lithographic apparatus, drying device, metrology apparatus and device manufacturing method
An immersion lithographic apparatus is described in which a two-phase flow is separated into liquid-rich and gas-rich flows by causing the liquid-rich flow to preferentially flow along a surface. |
| US08953137B2 |
Flexible display
A flexible display including a flexible substrate, an array circuit layer, a protection film, and an adhesive layer is provided. The flexible substrate has a first surface and a second surface, disposed opposite to each other. The array circuit layer is disposed on the second surface of the flexible substrate. The protection film is disposed on the first surface of the flexible substrate. The adhesive layer is disposed between the protection film and the flexible substrate, and has a thickness, substantially greater than or equal to 30 micrometers. |
| US08953135B2 |
Display apparatus
A display apparatus comprises a first thin film transistor (TFT) and a second TFT which are disposed in a display area. A first signal transmission line is disposed in a peripheral area surrounding the display area and is electrically connected to the first TFT. A second signal transmission line adjacent to the first signal transmission line is electrically connected to the second TFT. In a first portion of the peripheral area, the first signal transmission line is parallel to the second signal transmission line and is spaced by a first gap from the second signal transmission line. In a second portion of the peripheral area, the first signal transmission line is parallel to the second signal transmission line and is spaced by a second gap from and the second signal transmission line. The second gap is greater than the first gap. Other features are also provided. |
| US08953134B2 |
Liquid crystal display panel
A liquid crystal display panel is provided and includes a pair of substrates facing each other with a liquid crystal layer therebetween. One of the substrates having, thereon, an upper electrode having a plurality of slits formed therein, a lower electrode facing the upper electrode with an insulating film therebetween and disposed so as to be adjacent to the substrate, and an alignment film formed so as to cover surfaces of the upper electrode and the insulating film. Each of the slits includes a linear portion disposed so as to be parallel to a liquid crystal alignment direction when no voltage is applied and two extension portions extending from both ends of the linear portion so that a distance between the two extension portions increases in a direction perpendicular to the linear portion while keeping a symmetrical shape with respect to the direction. |
| US08953128B2 |
Liquid crystal display and manufacturing method thereof
A liquid crystal display may include a first substrate, a second substrate facing the first substrate, a liquid crystal layer comprising liquid crystal molecules that are interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, a first electrode disposed on the first substrate, an insulating layer disposed on the first electrode, a second electrode disposed on the insulating layer, a third electrode disposed on the second substrate, and an alignment layer disposed on any one of the second electrode and the third electrode. The second electrode comprises a fine slit structure, and at least one of the liquid crystal layer and the alignment layer comprises a sub-alignment substance. |
| US08953127B2 |
Lens panel, method for manufacturing lens panel, and display apparatus having lens panel
A lens panel includes a first substrate, a second substrate, and a liquid crystal layer. The first substrate includes a first base substrate, a first electrode disposed on the first base substrate, and a first alignment layer disposed on the first electrode. The first alignment layer includes a unit lens area. The unit lens area includes a first alignment area having a first azimuthal angle and a second alignment area having a second azimuthal angle. The lens panel may be controlled to function as a Fresnel lens by adjusting the azimuthal angle of the alignment layer without electrodes having micro pitch patterns. |
| US08953126B2 |
Liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display according to exemplary embodiments of the present invention includes a first panel including a first lower substrate, a first lower electrode formed on the first lower substrate, a first upper substrate facing the first lower substrate, a first upper electrode formed on the first upper substrate, and a first cholesteric liquid crystal injected between the first lower electrode and the first upper electrode, wherein the first lower electrode includes carbon nanotubes. The liquid crystal display including the first lower electrode made of the carbon nanotubes without a light absorption layer provides a simple structure capable of realizing a black state. |
| US08953119B2 |
Display device
A display device includes a first electrode layer, a color switching layer which is disposed on the first electrode layer, a second electrode layer which is disposed on the color switching layer and a color filter layer which is disposed on the second electrode layer. The color switching layer includes a first color cell, which transmits incident light or changes incident light to a first color light, a second color cell, which transmits incident light or changes incident light to a second color light and a third color cell, which transmits incident light or changes incident light to a third color light. The color filter layer includes a first filter which transmits a cyan light, a second filter which transmits a magenta light and a third filter which transmits a yellow light. |
| US08953117B2 |
Vented waterproof touch screen panel
A waterproof user interface panel includes an electronic display assembly having a touch sensitive surface for activation of touch switches, and a housing including a cutout area. A protective film is disposed over the assembly and secured to the housing. The housing includes a top surface, a bottom surface and a peripheral sidewall to define a housing cavity. Sealing material covers the bottom surface, with a void between the top surface of the sealing material and the electronic display assembly. A vent is provided between the void and the external environment to allow air to pass. A filter may be positioned in the vent to prevent the passage of water droplets through the filter while allowing the passage of air and water vapor. |
| US08953116B2 |
Media player with machined window undercut and transparent wall disposed therein
A media player comprising a display screen is provided. The media player can include a housing having an opening and an area of reduced thickness around the opening. The media player can also include a transparent wall having a flange. Alternatively, the transparent wall may not require a flange but rather can be a flat, substantially transparent piece of material such as plexiglass or glass. The flange can be adhered to a surface of the area of reduced thickness in order to form a transparent protective cover for the display screen. |
| US08953114B2 |
Back frame and backlight system
The present invention provides a back frame of flat panel display device and a backlight system. The back frame includes primary assembling pieces, secondary assembling pieces, and a bracing piece for fixing a circuit board. The primary assembling pieces are connected through joining and use different thermally conductive materials. Further, the primary assembling piece includes a joint section that forms a reinforcement structure and a circuit board is mountable through a bracing piece. The present invention also provides a backlight system. The back frame and the backlight system of the present invention have a back frame of simple structure, reduce the expenditure of a back frame mold, facilitate heat dissipation, allow strength of the back frame to meet a desired requirement, improve fixing of circuit board, and save the material used for back frame so as to lower down the manufacturing cost of flat panel display device. |
| US08953111B2 |
Pixel array
A pixel array includes scan lines, data lines, sub-pixel units, capacitor electrode line sets, and connecting structure sets that are all disposed on a substrate. Each sub-pixel unit has at least one active device and at least one pixel electrode electrically connected to the active device, and the active device is electrically connected to one of the scan lines and one of the data lines. Each capacitor electrode line set has N capacitor electrode lines, the N capacitor electrode lines partially overlap with the pixel electrode of each of the sub-pixel units to form a plurality of storage capacitors, and N≧2. The N capacitor electrode lines in each capacitor electrode line set are electrically connected to one another by each connecting structure set, and there is no connecting structure located between the capacitor electrode line sets having the connecting structures therein. |
| US08953109B2 |
Image display apparatus and variable lens array
An image display apparatus including an image display section that displays a two-dimensional image; and a variable lens array that includes a first substrate having a first electrode, a second substrate having a second electrode, and a liquid crystal layer which is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The value of the refractive power of each lens line thereof is changed by a voltage which is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode. The variable lens array is disposed to be opposed to the image display section. Wall-shaped or columnar spacers are provided in a place, in which an orientation direction of liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer is unchanged when the value of the refractive power of each lens line thereof is changed, between the first substrate and the second substrate of the variable lens array. |
| US08953104B2 |
Automatic shading electric welding lens comprising a liquid crystal plate and a time-delay switch
An automatic shading electric welding lens comprises a view window and a side frame. The view window is composed of an optical filter and a liquid crystal sheet sequentially overlapped. The automatic shading electric welding lens is provided with an illuminating device. The illuminating device includes a lighting body, a switch and a power supply electrically connected to each other to form a loop. The lighting body is arranged on a surface of the side frame facing a welding object. The lighting body is a light emitting diode. The switch is a time-delay switch. |
| US08953102B2 |
Vehicle entertainment tablet unit and cradle
A vehicle entertainment system includes a tablet unit and a cradle. The tablet unit includes a display and a touch screen input device disposed on a front surface, a first electrical connection, a first mounting mechanism, and a wireless receiver. The wireless receiver is configured to receive media data from a wireless network and the touch screen input device is configured to receive input from a user. The cradle is disposed in a headrest in a vehicle and includes a second electrical connection and a second mounting mechanism. The tablet unit is electrically connected to the cradle via the first and second electrical connections, and is physically coupled to the cradle via the first and second mounting mechanisms upon mounting the tablet unit to the cradle. |
| US08953096B2 |
Camera module
A camera module according to an embodiment of the present invention may include a first Printed Circuit Board (PCB) configured to have an image sensor mounted thereon; a housing unit disposed over the first PCB; a holder module spaced apart from a bottom surface within the housing unit at a specific interval and configured to have first coils wound on its outer circumferential face and to include at least lens therein; a second PCB combined with the bottom surface of the holder module; a third PCB disposed over the holder module; a plurality of wire springs each configured to have one end connected to the second PCB and the other end connected to the third PCB; and buffer units provided at the connection units of the wire springs and the third PCB and configured to surround the connection units of the wire springs and the third PCB. |
| US08953088B2 |
Low profile camera module packaging
A camera module including an image sensor and a circuit substrate that are each attached to a bottom surface of a glass substrate. The image sensor is positioned between the circuit substrate and the glass substrate. This arrangement allows passive components normally associated with the image sensor to be mounted to a top surface of the glass substrate rather than to the image sensor, thus reducing the necessary size of the top surface of the image sensor, which in turn can reduce the overall size of the image sensor. A lens assembly, including a housing and a lens, is attached to the circuit substrate to position the image sensor and the glass substrate within a cavity provided in the housing. |
| US08953087B2 |
Camera system and associated methods
A camera system may include an optics stack including two substrates, the optics stack forming an imaging system, each substrate having two surfaces that are parallel to each other and perpendicular to an optical axis of the imaging system, the optics stack including a securing region on opposing surfaces of the two substrates, the two substrates being secured together on a wafer level at their respective securing regions, at least one of the surfaces of the two substrates including a refractive surface of the imaging system, a detector substrate having an active area and a cover structure protecting at least the active area of the detector substrate, the optics stack being secured to an upper surface of the cover structure. |
| US08953083B2 |
Housing camera lens cover using GRIN technology
A mobile device having an external housing that includes a housing camera lens cover made of graded index (GRIN) material is described herein. The housing camera lens cover has one face that faces a camera lens of a camera module included in the mobile device and another face that is exposed to the exterior of the mobile device. By using the GRIN material in the housing camera lens cover, the light rays are bent by the GRIN material before the light rays reach the camera lens. This bending of the light rays reduces the optical total track length (TTL) of the camera module and also reduces high Chief Ray Angle (CRA) such that the z-height of the camera module may be reduced while maintaining the camera's imaging performance. |
| US08953080B2 |
Image display apparatus and image display method for switching a display mode
A display apparatus of the present invention includes a reception unit configured to receive an image captured by an imaging apparatus from the imaging apparatus and a switching unit configured to switch the display mode of the captured image to a single shooting display mode for displaying the image captured by the imaging apparatus in the single shooting mode or a continuous shooting display mode for displaying the image captured by the imaging apparatus in the continuous shooting mode based on an interval at which the captured image is received by the reception unit. |
| US08953079B2 |
System and method for generating 360 degree video recording using MVC
The present invention provides a system and method for combining asymmetrical camera views from a front racing and a back facing camera. Resizing and quality enhancement techniques are used to bring both front and back camera to same quality. Further, a panoramic mode of from camera and back camera are utilized to create a uniform stitching. |
| US08953078B2 |
Solid-state imaging device and imaging apparatus
The invention is directed to a solid-state imaging device in which pixels each including a photoelectric conversion portion formed above a semiconductor substrate and an MOS type signal reading circuit formed at the semiconductor substrate and provided for reading out a signal corresponding to electric charges generated in the photoelectric conversion portion are disposed in an array form, wherein: the photoelectric conversion portion includes a pixel electrode, a counter electrode and a photoelectric conversion layer as defined herein; a bias voltage is applied to the counter electrode as defined herein; the signal reading circuit includes a charge storage portion, an output transistor and a reset transistor as defined herein; the charge storage portion includes a first charge storage region, a second charge storage region and a separation/connection region as defined herein; and the output transistor outputs a signal corresponding to the potential of the second charge storage region. |
| US08953074B2 |
Semiconductor device, physical information acquiring apparatus, and signal reading-out method
A semiconductor device includes: an element array portion in which unit elements are disposed in a matrix; and a signal processing portion including a signal processing circuit executing predetermined signal processing based on unit signals outputted from the circuit elements, respectively, every column, in which a function of the signal processing circuit is controlled in such a way that power consumption of the signal processing circuit concerned corresponding to the unit elements each not required becomes lower in a phase of an element selection mode in which only information on a part of the unit pixels for one row in the element array portion is required than in a phase of a normal operation mode. |
| US08953066B2 |
Image file generation device, camera and image file generation method
An image file generation device includes: an image file generation unit that generates an image file having stored therein a plurality of sets of image data obtained in a batch via an image sensor; and an image recording unit that records the image file into a storage medium, wherein: if the image file generation unit determines that an image file-splitting condition has been satisfied while the batch of image data is being obtained via the image sensor, the image file generation unit ends image data storage into the current image file and starts image data storage into a new image file. |
| US08953064B1 |
Imaging arrangements and methods therefor
Image data is processed to facilitate focusing and/or optical correction. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, an imaging arrangement collects light data corresponding to light passing through a particular focal plane. The light data is collected using an approach that facilitates the determination of the direction from which various portions of the light incident upon a portion of the focal plane emanate from. Using this directional information in connection with value of the light as detected by photosensors, an image represented by the light is selectively focused and/or corrected. |
| US08953063B2 |
Method for white balance adjustment
A white balance adjustment method includes capturing a raw image by an image capturing device, setting an initial maximum and an initial minimum threshold values of each channels, and obtaining a reference white and a reference black. Color scale values of each R, G, and B channels are extracted and a minimum, a maximum, and an average values of the color scale values corresponding to each channels are obtained. A modulation factor of each channel is defined by using above defined three values, according to the modulation factor of each channels to re-define a new maximum threshold value as a reference white and a new minimum threshold value as a reference black. According to the obtained reference black and the reference white to complete the white balance adjustment of the image. |
| US08953060B2 |
Hand held image capture device with multi-core processor and wireless interface to input device
A hand held electronic device that has a CMOS image sensor for capturing image data, a wireless device port for wireless connection to a user input device and, a central processor. The central processor has multiple processing units, an image sensor interface and a wireless device interface integrated onto a single chip. The image sensor interface receives the image data from the CMOS image sensor, and the wireless device interface being configured to receive user inputs from the wireless device port. The multiple processing units are configured to process the image data in parallel together with the user inputs from the wireless device interface. |
| US08953057B2 |
Display apparatus with image-capturing function, image processing apparatus, image processing method, and image display system
A display apparatus with an image-capturing function includes an outputting unit configured to output an image signal to an external apparatus, an inputting unit configured to input an image signal from the external apparatus, an image-capturing unit, a display unit, an image-capture-distortion corrector configured to perform image-capture-distortion correction on an image signal captured by the image-capturing unit, a display-distortion corrector configured to perform display-distortion correction, and a controller configured to control whether or not the image-capture-distortion corrector is to perform the image-capture-distortion correction, and whether or not the display-distortion corrector is to perform the display-distortion correction. Therefore, distortion caused by the image-capturing system and display system of the display apparatus with an image-capturing function can be appropriately corrected in the overall system including the display apparatus with an image-capturing function and the external apparatus. |
| US08953054B2 |
System to augment a visual data stream based on a combination of geographical and visual information
According to an example, a computing device includes a memory on which is stored machine readable instructions that may cause a processor to access a video stream, generate geographical information associated with frames of the video stream, extract features of points of interest in the frames, transmit the extracted features of the points of interest and the geographical information to a server computer that is to use the extracted features of the points of interest and the geographical information to identify augment information, receive the augment information from the server computer, and augment the video stream with the augment information to generate an augmented video stream. |
| US08953052B2 |
Imaging device
An imaging device is provided that includes a lens mount, an imaging element, a system controller, a sensor and a rotation corrector. The rotation corrector is configured to reduce change in the positional relationship between the optical image and the imaging element caused by movement of the imaging device around an axis parallel to an optical axis of the lens unit. The lens unit has a first optical system that forms a first optical image from a first perspective on the imaging element and a second optical system that forms a second optical image from a second perspective on the imaging element. The system controller is configured to halt operation of the rotation corrector when the lens unit is supported by the lens mount. |
| US08953051B2 |
Imaging device and imaging method
A transmission unit of the imaging device transmits a captured image via a network. A reception unit receives instructions to change a view angle from another device via the network. A view angle changing unit changes the view angle on the basis of the instructions to change a view angle which are received from the reception unit. A view angle changing instruction information storage unit stores view angle changing instruction information. A failure monitoring unit detects that a failure occurred in communication with the another device. A control unit instructs the view angle changing unit to change the view angle on the basis of the view angle changing instruction information stored in the view angle changing instruction information storage unit, according to the detection of the failure monitoring unit. An image storage unit stores the captured image. |
| US08953050B2 |
Interaction with electronic device recognized in a scene captured by mobile device
An interaction system is provided. The interaction system has a first mobile device, configured to capture images of a scene, and a server, configured to recognize a first electronic device from the images captured by the first mobile device, so that the first electronic device and the first mobile device interact with each other. |
| US08953045B2 |
Automated teller machine comprising at least one camera to detect manipulation attempts
The invention proposes an automated teller machine having different control elements, such as a card entry slot (4), for example, wherein at least one camera (CAMK) is integrated in a control element, the card entry slot (4), for example, and captures images of a plurality of sub-regions attributed to said control element (4), such as an interior region, outer region and overhead region. Lighting (L) that illuminates one or some of the partial regions, the interior region or the slit region of the card entry slot (4), for example, can also be arranged, thereby also improving the image. In addition, the construction can be furnished with a light-conducting material (K) over which light produced by the lighting (L) can be guided and distributed. |
| US08953044B2 |
Multi-resolution video analysis and key feature preserving video reduction strategy for (real-time) vehicle tracking and speed enforcement systems
Systems and methods are disclosed that include a video-based analysis system that detects, tracks and archives vehicles in video stream data at multiple resolutions. The system includes an image capturing device that captures video stream data having video at a first high resolution. A vehicle detection module detects at least one vehicle within the video. A vehicle analysis module is configured to analyze the video and to extract one or more key vehicle features from the video to enable identification of a vehicle of interest (VOI) according to a set of predetermined criteria. A subsampling module creates a reduced resolution video stream in a second subsampled resolution that is lower than the first high resolution while maintaining the one or more extracted key features within the reduced resolution video stream in the first high resolution, and archives the reduced resolution video stream into a video database. |
| US08953043B2 |
Parking assistance device configured to generate forward guide markers
A parking assistance device with a simple configuration that flexibly guides a vehicle to a reverse start position in assisting reverse parking computes a guide route for allowing the vehicle to move forward to a reverse start position and then reverse to the parking target and the reverse start position based on the parking target with a predetermined tolerance included, generates forward guide markers constituted by a marker group including a far marker corresponding to the reverse start position and a near marker that represents an area via which the vehicle can reach the reverse start position and is located closer to the vehicle than the far marker, the forward guide markers indicating a forward route to the reverse start position by an arrangement of the marker group the width of which is increased toward the near marker from the far marker, and superimpose the markers on the surrounding image. |
| US08953042B2 |
Vehicle-mounted device identifying apparatus
If an iris or a pupil is detected as being positioned in a right area, a vehicle-mounted device identifier of a vehicle-mounted device identifying apparatus identifies a vehicle-mounted device group, which is disposed in an area that is on the right side of an area that is identified based on a facial direction detected by a facial direction detector. If the iris or the pupil is detected as being positioned in a left area, the vehicle-mounted device identifier identifies a vehicle-mounted device group, which is disposed in an area that is on the left side of an area that is identified based on the facial direction. If the iris or the pupil is detected as being positioned in a central area, the vehicle-mounted device identifier identifies a vehicle-mounted device group, which is disposed in an area that is identified based on the facial direction. |
| US08953039B2 |
System and method for auto-commissioning an intelligent video system
An auto-commissioning system provides automatic parameter selection for an intelligent video system based on target video provided by the intelligent video system. The auto-commissioning system extracts visual feature descriptors from the target video and provides the one or more visual feature descriptors associated with the received target video to an parameter database that is comprised of a plurality of entries, each entry including a set of one or more stored visual feature descriptors and associated parameters tailored for the set of stored visual feature descriptors. A search of the parameter database locates one or more best matches between the extracted visual feature descriptors and the stored visual feature descriptors. The parameters associated with the best matches are returned as part of the search and used to commission the intelligent video system. |
| US08953034B1 |
Video imaging device with an integrated battery
A compact, battery powered video imaging device for use in XYZ stage equipped machines (such as milling machines, jig borers, coordinate measuring machines, etc.) that mounts into the spindle of such a machine and displays a magnified image of a part on the XYZ stage of the machine on an integrated video monitor such as a Liquid Crystal Display panel equipped with crosshairs or similar reference marks. The XYZ stage of the host machine is used to move the part so that various features of the part are brought into the crosshairs of the video monitor. In such a way the XYZ coordinates of various features of the part with respect to a selected reference feature, displayed on the host machine's position readout, can be obtained. This procedure can be used to aid work piece setup, measure parts in-process without disturbing the setup, or to inspect finished parts for dimensional accuracy.If a known good part or a specially manufactured precision gage plate is inspected by a host machine in such a way, the result is reflective of the accuracy of the XYZ stage and position display of the host machine and can be used to qualify the host machine for positional accuracy. |
| US08953026B2 |
Stereoscopic image display device
An autostereoscopic image display device in which an image of each viewpoint can be observed in each one of a plurality of observation areas, wherein one or both of a pair of images having relationship of a reverse view near an end portion of the observation area are displayed by using first image data and added image data acquired by weighting values of the first image data and second image data based on relationship of parallax between the second image data different from the first image data and the first image data and adding the weighted values. |
| US08953025B2 |
Align mark of stereoscopic image display, aligning method and system using the align mark
An align marking for a stereoscopic image display apparatus and an alignment method and system using the align marking are discussed. The align marking includes a first align mark formed at a left and central portion of the display panel, and a second align mark formed at a right and central portion of the display panel, wherein each of the first and second align marks comprises one or more left patterns and one or more right patterns arranged offset from the one or more left patterns, wherein the first and second align marks are aligned with a predetermined reference line formed on the pattern retarder. |
| US08953023B2 |
Stereoscopic depth mapping
Provided is a method and apparatus for linear depth mapping. Linear depth mapping includes using algorithms to correct the distorted depth mapping of stereoscopic capture and display systems. |
| US08953022B2 |
System and method for sharing virtual and augmented reality scenes between users and viewers
A preferred method for sharing user-generated virtual and augmented reality scenes can include receiving at a server a virtual and/or augmented reality (VAR) scene generated by a user mobile device. Preferably, the VAR scene includes visual data and orientation data, which includes a real orientation of the user mobile device relative to a projection matrix. The preferred method can also include compositing the visual data and the orientation data into a viewable VAR scene; locally storing the viewable VAR scene at the server; and in response to a request received at the server, distributing the processed VAR scene to a viewer mobile device. |
| US08953019B2 |
Method and apparatus for generating stream and method and apparatus for processing stream
Provided are a method and apparatus for generating a stream, and a method and apparatus for processing of the stream. The method of generating the stream includes: generating an elementary stream including three-dimensional (3D) image data providing a 3D image, and 3D detail information for reproducing the 3D image; generating a section including 3D summary information representing that a transport stream to be generated from the elementary stream provides the 3D image; and generating the transport stream with respect to the section and the elementary stream. |
| US08953017B2 |
Source device, sink device, communication system and method for wirelessly transmitting three-dimensional video data using packets
A source device combines right-eye video frame data with left-eye video frame data into combined video frame data every video frame. Then, the source device generates a plurality of packets by dividing the combined video frame data into packets so as to insert information on a horizontal position for a horizontal display time interval and information on a vertical position for a vertical display time interval of a first pixel of the combined video frame data stored in the packets, into a header of each packet for transmitting the combined video frame data, as information for identifying right-eye video frame data and left-eye video frame data. |
| US08953014B2 |
Rear-view multi-functional camera system with three-dimensional data analysis features
A rear-viewing camera system for a vehicle is described. The rear-viewing system includes a first camera and a second camera. The first and second cameras are positioned with partially overlapping fields of view. An electronic control unit is configured to receive image data from the cameras and generated three-dimensional data for the overlapping portion of the fields of view. The electronic control unit then analyzes the movement of vehicles within the overlapping field of view based on the three-dimensional data. Movement of vehicles in the non-overlapping fields of view is analyzed based on two-dimensional image data from either the first camera or the second camera. |
| US08953013B2 |
Image pickup device and image synthesis method thereof
This invention discloses an image pickup device and an image synthesis method thereof The image pickup device comprises an image-pickup module, an image-synthesis module, a database and a processing module. The image-pickup module captures a plurality of temporary images of a scene. The image-synthesis module extracts a part of each temporary image and combines the parts to form a panorama temporary image, and splits the panorama temporary image into a plurality of zone-areas according to at least one threshold value and a panorama luminosity histogram. The database stores a lookup table for recording a plurality of exposure values. The plurality of the exposure values correspond to luminance values of the zone-areas respectively. The processing module obtains the plurality of exposure values corresponding to the luminance values and obtains a weighting-exposure value by an equation, and controls the image-pickup module to capture the panorama image according to the weighting-exposure value. |
| US08953012B2 |
Multi-plenoptic system with image stacking and method for wide field-of-regard high-resolution imaging
Embodiments of a multi-plenoptic system with image stacking and method for wide field-of-regard (FOR) high-resolution image are generally described herein. The multi-plenoptic system may include a subfield separator to decompose an image within a wide field of view into a plurality of multi-pixel subfields. The subfield separator may rotate a chief ray within each multi-pixel subfield by a differing amount relative to a rotation of other rays of the subfield. The multi-plenoptic system may also include a subfield modulator to selectively block or pass light from at least a portion of one or more of the subfields and a subfield image formation element to relay the portions of the subfields that are passed by the subfield modulator onto substantially overlapping areas of a common image plane. A single focal-plane array (FPA) may be aligned with the common image plane to provide for high-resolution imaging over a wide FOR. |
| US08953009B2 |
Electrophotographic image forming apparatus and image forming method
An image forming apparatus using the laser scan method or the LED method, which is capable of reducing a variation of spot diameter with a simple mechanism, and of forming a high-quality image by adjusting the density depending on the image resolution with a low cost. The image forming apparatus forms an image by developing an electrostatic latent image formed by irradiating a charged photoconductor with light emitted from a light source with developer. A detecting unit detects a distance between an attention pixel and an adjacent image that is adjacent to an image including the attention pixel across a white background. An adjustment unit adjusts a density of the attention pixel based on the distance measured with the detecting unit and a spot diameter of the light on a surface of the photoconductor. |
| US08953006B2 |
Thermal head and thermal printer provided with same
A thermal head and a printer head are disclosed. The thermal head includes heat generating members, a drive IC disposed, pads and interconnection lines which are all disposed on a substrate. The heat generating members are arranged in a first direction. The drive IC is operable to control driving of the heat generating members. The pads are operable to being electrically connected to terminals of the drive IC. The interconnection lines electrically connect each of the heat generating members to one of the pads. The pads are arranged in a first direction and constitute first pad groups and second pad groups constituted by the pads that constitute the first pad groups. The second pad groups are arranged in the first direction so as to be shifted from each other in a second direction that differs from the first direction. |
| US08953002B2 |
Image forming apparatus
According to one embodiment, an image forming apparatus includes a photoconductive drum, a line-type LED exposing unit disposed to be opposed to the photoconductive drum, an exposing unit supporting tray configured to support the LED exposing unit to be capable of approaching and separating from the photoconductive drum in a radial direction of the photoconductive drum, an extending piece being formed in a part of an end of the exposing unit supporting tray, and a rod member disposed in parallel to the major axis direction of the LED exposing unit and moved in the major axis direction to thereby cause the LED exposing unit to approach and separate from the photoconductive drum in the radial direction of the photoconductive drum via the extending piece of the exposing unit supporting tray. |
| US08953000B2 |
Liquid crystal display and method of driving liquid crystal display
A liquid crystal display where grayscale inversion is reduced includes a liquid crystal cell having pixel groups, each group comprising a red (R) pixel, a green (G) pixel, a blue (B) pixel, and a white (W) pixel, and drive circuitry that applies a voltage VRGB and a voltage VW satisfying the formulae (ia) and (iia) between electrodes defining the G pixel and between electrodes defining the W pixel, respectively, depending on a grayscale level L (where L satisfies 0≦L≦1) in grayscale where substantially the same voltage VRGB is applied between electrodes defining each of the R, G, and B pixels: for 0 |
| US08952999B2 |
Image processing device, display device, and image processing method
An image processing device supplies an image signal to a display device having pixels being composed mainly of four sub-pixels arranged two by two in a first direction and a second direction. The image processing device includes a first filter processing section adapted to perform a filter process of limiting frequency bands in the first direction and the second direction of the image signal adapted to display a first sub-pixel corresponding to white in a manner corresponding to an arrangement of both of the first sub-pixel and a second sub-pixel located in a diagonal direction with respect to the first sub-pixel, and a second filter processing section adapted to perform a filter process of limiting frequency bands in the first direction and the second direction of the image signal adapted to display the second sub-pixel in a manner corresponding to an arrangement of the first sub-pixel and the second sub-pixel. |
| US08952997B2 |
Image processor
An image processor receives information of a type of an input image, and performs a correction to the input image in accordance with an illuminance in an area near a display that displays the input image and the received information of the type of the input image. |
| US08952994B2 |
Information processing device, control method for information processing device, program, and information storage medium
To provide an information processing device capable of enhancing convenience of a user using the information processing device by considering a dominant hand, habit, or the like, of the user without imposing on the user a task of inputting information of the user's dominant hand, habit, the like. In a case where it is determined that a user's designated position is included in a determination area corresponding to an object, the object is moved in accordance with movement of the designated position. In a case where at least one of one object and another object moves, processing relevant to the objects is executed based on a result of collision determination executed with respect to the objects. A second processing executing unit (64) executes predetermined processing based on a positional relationship between one object or one designated position and another object or another designated position in a case in the past in which it is determined that the one designated position is included in the determination area corresponding to the one object and the other designated position is included in the determination area corresponding to the other object. |
| US08952990B2 |
Method for processing interaction between user and hologram using volumetric data type object wave field
Disclosed is a method for processing interaction between a user and hologram using a volumetric data type object wave field. A method for processing interaction between a user and hologram for user's action using a volumetric data type object wave field includes: capturing user action on the holographic image of the object and solving collision between user and object; computing the updated position and rotation of the object by time integration of rigid body equation in collision; calculating the relative position and rotation of the hologram plane with respect to local object coordinates; transforming the hologram in the pre-computed volumetric object wave field grid according to the relative position and rotation of the hologram plane in local object coordinates and reading the object wave fields at all the pixels of the transformed hologram plane in order to generate a new hologram for the transformed object caused by user action. |
| US08952989B2 |
Viewer unit, server unit, display control method, digital comic editing method and non-transitory computer-readable medium
A viewer unit, comprising a display control device configured to control to shift the position of the display range sequentially within the page image in accordance with the positional line determined by the determination device in order to display the images of each display range sequentially on the display device. |
| US08952988B2 |
Apparatus and method for providing information pertaining to unread articles
An information processing apparatus includes first and second display control units and an operation region specifying unit. The first display control unit is configured to control display of an image of a content by displaying a plurality of article information pieces in a plurality of regions laid out in advance in the image, the article information pieces each being constituted of one of a character string and a picture image, and the article information pieces and the regions being correlated with each other. The operation region specifying unit is configured to specify on which of the regions in the image an operation is performed. The second display control unit is configured to control display of an additional image by displaying the article information pieces in a predetermined region in the image, the article information pieces excepting the article information piece correlated with the specified region. |
| US08952984B1 |
3D drawing and painting system with a 3D scalar field
Rendering 3D paintings can be done by compositing strokes embedded in space. Users input strokes and other image elements using an input device that specifies a 2D view of the element, and the system provides the 3D position of the element based on rules and processes, some of which allow for user input of high level parameters, thereby allowing for intuitive and quick entry of 3D elements, and a 3D scalar field. The artist can treat the full 3D space as a canvas. Strokes painted in a 2D viewport window are embedded in 3D space in a way that gives creative freedom to the artist while maintaining an acceptable level of controllability. The canvas need not be tied to any particular object already in a scene, but the canvas can be dependent on, or a function of, another object. An implicit canvas can be defined by the 3D scalar field. |
| US08952981B2 |
Subpixel compositing on transparent backgrounds
A method is presented for displaying a rendered image on an electronic computing device. The method comprises rendering a first image on the electronic computing device. The first image is rendered on a white background. A second image is rendered on the electronic computing device. The second image is rendered on a black background. The first image, the second image and a background image are combined to produce a third image. The third image is a composite of the first image, the second image and the background image. The third image is displayed on a display screen of the electronic computing device. The third image includes anti-aliasing for a plurality of subpixels of the third image. |
| US08952979B2 |
Wave fill
A method, system, apparatus, article of manufacture, and computer readable storage medium provide the ability to fill pixels of an image. An area of the image is obtained and one of the pixels is identified as an anchor pixel. Waves are created based on the anchor pixel and placed into a collection of waves waiting to be processed. Each of the waves in the collection is processed. A type of pixel in front of a current wave being processed is determined. If the pixel is fillable, the pixel is filled, the wave is advanced, and child waves are updated. If the pixel is blocking the advancement of the wave, the current wave is updated (e.g., via shrinking or splitting), and child waves are updated. Once all waves have been processed, the area of the image is displayed based on the fill. |
| US08952978B2 |
Display device, viewing angle control method, computer program storage device with viewing angle control program, and mobile terminal
A display device includes a display panel unit having predetermined viewing angle characteristics. An image data conversion unit is included that converts original image data to be displayed on the display panel unit so that a luminance difference in a low gray level region does not substantially change between before and after conversion and so that a luminance difference in a high gray level region changes in such a manner that a luminance difference obtained after conversion becomes smaller than a luminance difference obtained before conversion. A data holding unit holds predetermined oblique-view image data corresponding to the predetermined viewing angle characteristics of the display panel unit. An image combining unit combines image data obtained through conversion by the image data conversion unit with the predetermined oblique-view image data to generate composite image data. The composite image data is displayed on the display panel unit. |
| US08952971B2 |
Rendering processing apparatus and method using multiprocessing
A rendering processing apparatus and method using multiprocessing are disclosed. The rendering processing method includes dividing an application execution window into frames and generating a rendering processing command for rendering processing of an image on a frame basis by a pre-rendering manager, generating a rendering image on a frame basis according to the rendering processing command by a rendering manager, and storing the generated rendering image in a memory. The generation of a rendering processing command and the generation of a rendering image are performed in a plurality of threads. |
| US08952965B2 |
Non-linear time scale optimization for mechanical-electrical machine behavior model visualization
A visual representation of a mechanical-electrical machine behavior model is presented that utilizes a non-linear time scale to best illustrate multiple details occurring in a relatively short time frame without affecting the amount of information contained in the complete model. In particular, time periods without user-relevant details are identified and minimized so as to allow for the display space to adequately represent the details associated with the actions of each machine. By “folding” these longer time periods to occupy relatively short lengths along the time axis, additional space along the time axis is then available to illustrate the details of each operation (i.e., by using a non-linear time scale). |
| US08952963B1 |
Computer hardware architecture and data structures for a grid traversal unit to support incoherent ray traversal
A new hardware architecture defines an indexing and encoding method for accelerating incoherent ray traversal. Accelerating multiple ray traversal may be accomplished by organizing the rays for minimal movement of data, hiding latency due to external memory access, and performing adaptive binning. Rays may be binned into coarse grain and fine grain spatial bins, independent of direction. |
| US08952960B2 |
Method for visualizing an atrium of the heart in a patient
In a method for visualizing at least one section of a wall of an atrium of the heart in a patient after an ablation for treatment of atrial fibrillation, a volume data record of at least the treated atrium of the heart in the patient is segmented to establish voxels that are of an inner surface, an outer surface, and a volume situated between the inner and outer surfaces of the wall of the treated atrium. The at least one section of the wall of the treated atrium of the heart is visualized by volume rendering or ray casting such that only voxel values of the established voxels that lie on the inner surface in the volume or on the outer surface of the wall of the treated atrium are used. |
| US08952957B2 |
Three-dimensional display apparatus
A three-dimensional display apparatus includes a display panel, a display driver, an active polarizing layer, and an active polarizer. The display driver controls the display panel to display input image data categorized into data containing pixels in a first state, a second state, and a third state. The active polarizing layer is located on the display panel. The active polarizer controls the polarization direction of the active polarizing layer to enable the image displayed on the display panel to have the polarization direction after passing through the active polarizing layer. The active polarizing layer has first, second, and third polarization directions respectively corresponding to the pixels in the first state, the second state, and the third state in the display panel. |
| US08952953B2 |
Display device
A display device includes: a variable-voltage source which supplies at least a potential on a high-potential side or on a low-potential side; an organic EL display unit including a plurality of pixels; a potential difference detecting circuit which detects potentials on pixels; and a signal processing circuit which regulates an output potential from the variable-voltage source such that a potential difference between the potential at the pixel and a reference potential reaches a predetermined potential difference, in which resistance of a power wire at each part between adjacent pixels along a first direction is higher than resistance of a power wire at each part between adjacent pixels along a second direction, and an average distance between adjacent potential detecting points along the first direction is shorter than an average distance between adjacent potential detecting points along the second direction. |
| US08952952B2 |
Display device
A display device according to the present disclosure includes: a variable-voltage source which outputs a high-side output potential and a low-side output potential; an organic electroluminescence (EL) display unit in which a plurality of pixels are arranged; a potential difference detecting circuit which detects a high-side potential of a first pixel and a low-side potential of a second pixel; and a signal processing circuit which regulates at least one of the high-side output potential and the low-side output potential outputted from the variable-voltage source such that a potential difference between the high-side potential of the first pixel and the low-side potential of the second pixel reaches a predetermined potential difference. |
| US08952950B2 |
Display apparatus and apparatus and method for generating power voltages
An apparatus for generating power voltages of a display apparatus including a plurality of pixel circuits comprises a storage capacitor power outputting unit configured to generate a storage capacitor power voltage using a first power voltage and apply the storage capacitor power voltage to storage capacitors included in the plurality of pixel circuits, and a gamma filter power outputting unit configured to generate a gamma filter power voltage using the first power voltage and apply the gamma filter power voltage to a gamma voltage generating unit. The first power voltage is generated from a power voltage supplied by a voltage source. The storage capacitor power voltage and the gamma filter power voltage are generated so as to have the same phase. |
| US08952948B2 |
Liquid crystal display device
An LCD device is discussed in which a level shifter generates two switching signals, and transmits the generated signals to a gate driver of a liquid crystal display panel by the use of one voltage signal transmitted from a timing controller. The LCD device according to an embodiment includes a liquid crystal display panel in which a gate driver for alternately driving two transistors is formed; a data driver which drives data lines of the liquid crystal display panel; a timing controller which generates one voltage signal for switching the two transistors, and outputs the one voltage signal; and a level shifter which generates two of first and second switching signals to switch the two transistors by using the one voltage signal, and outputs the generated switching signals to the gate driver. |
| US08952947B2 |
Display method for sunlight readable and electronic device using the same
A display method for sunlight readable is provided, which is applicable to an electronic device having a display panel. The display method includes the following steps. An ambient light sensor value and image content are obtained. Next, a liquid crystal (LC) driving voltage is altered based on the ambient light sensor value and the image content, wherein the LC driving voltage is increasingly proportional to the ambient light sensor value and exceeds a normal operation driving voltage when the ambient light sensor value exceeds a high luminance value. Then, the display panel is drived under the LC driving voltage. Finally, a sunlight readable image is displayed on the display panel. |
| US08952945B2 |
Display and gate driver thereof
A display and a gate driver are disclosed herein, in which the gate driver includes a number of gate driving units, and each of the gate driving units includes a control circuit, a boost circuit, a driver output circuit and a voltage stabilized circuit. The control circuit is electrically connected to a previous gate driving unit and a next gate driving unit. The boost circuit is electrically connected to the control circuit for driving the next gate driving unit. The driver output circuit is electrically connected to the boost circuit and a pixel array for driving at least one scan line in the pixel array. The voltage stabilizing circuit is electrically connected to the boost circuit and the driver output circuit. |
| US08952944B2 |
Stage circuit and scan driver using the same
A stage circuit and a scan driver using the same that is capable of concurrently (e.g., simultaneously) or progressively supplying a scan signal to a plurality of scan lines. The stage circuit includes a progressive driver and a concurrent driver. |
| US08952932B2 |
Method and apparatus for sensing touch input using illumination sensors
Disclosed are a method and an apparatus for sensing touch input using illumination sensors. The apparatus includes: a touch pad on which at least one illumination sensor is arranged; and a controller collecting sensor values of the at least one illumination sensor to perform touch recognition suitable for a present illumination environment. |
| US08952931B2 |
Information processor, information processing method, and computer program
An information processing apparatus including a detector that detects movement of a manipulation body in a vertical direction in relation to a display, and a processor that determines a speed of movement of the manipulation body based on an output of the detector, and determines a process to be executed based on the determined speed of movement. |
| US08952930B2 |
Touch detection for a digitizer
A detector for providing position detection of objects over a sensor with a first and second set of conductor lines forming a grid with a plurality of junctions there between at which the conductor lines do not contact, includes a signal generator providing a signal to at least one conductor line of the first set of conductor lines, and circuitry detecting output arising from one or both of an electromagnetic stylus and one or more fingers when present. The output arising from each of the one or more fingers is detected from at least one conductor line of the second set of conductor lines in response to the signal provided to the at least one conductor line of the first set of conductor lines. The circuitry detects positions of one or both the electromagnetic stylus and each of the one or more fingers when present responsive to the output detected. |
| US08952927B2 |
Self-capacitance measurement with compensated capacitance
In one embodiment, a method includes dividing a first amount of charge between a capacitance of a touch sensor and a compensation capacitor. The division of the first amount of charge results in a first voltage at an input node. The method also includes applying a reference voltage at the input node. The application of the reference voltage at the input node induces a second amount of charge proportional to a difference between the first voltage and the reference voltage on an integration capacitor. The method also includes determining a first difference between the first voltage and the reference voltage based on a second amount of charge on the integration capacitor; and determining whether a touch input to the touch sensor has occurred based on the first difference. |
| US08952925B2 |
System and method for determining resistance in an input device
A processing system for an input device includes a transmitter module, a receiver module, and a determination module. The transmitter module includes transmitter circuitry and is configured to apply a first differential drive signal across a transmitter electrode to produce a first voltage variation across the transmitter electrode. The receiver module is configured to receive a first resulting signal with a receiver electrode when the first voltage variation is produced across the transmitter electrode. The determination module is configured to determine at least one of a resistance of the transmitter electrode and a resistance of a conductive trace coupled to the transmitter electrode based on the first resulting signal. As a result, an error in the position of an input object can be corrected. |
| US08952924B2 |
Capacitive touch panel
A capacitive touch panel including a substrate, first sensing series, second sensing series, and a first insulation layer is provided. Each first sensing series is disposed on the substrate and includes first sensing electrodes and first auxiliary electrodes. Each first auxiliary electrodes has a first connection terminal connected with one of the first sensing electrodes and a first open terminal away form the correspondingly first sensing electrode. Each second sensing series is disposed on the substrate and the first sensing series and includes second sensing electrodes. The first sensing series and the second sensing series are electrically insulated with each other. An edge of each second sensing electrode is conformed to an edge of the adjacent first sensing series. |
| US08952922B2 |
Sensing unit, sensing arrangement and sensing method for touch panel application
Two sensing units are configured as an exciter and a sensor connected to two trace lines, respectively, for mutual capacitance sensing from the capacitance units including these two trace lines. The two sensing units connect the two trace lines together to balance them to a same voltage level first, and then disconnect them from each other. Thereafter, the exciter connects the first trace line to an excitation node to induce a charge change on the second trace line, and the sensor senses the charge change to detect the variation of the mutual capacitance between the two trace lines. |
| US08952921B2 |
Capacitive touch display panel and capacitive touch board
A capacitive touch display panel includes a display panel, a touch sensing unit, and a plurality of diode ESD protection devices. The touch sensing unit includes a plurality of first sensing pads and second sensing pads. Each diode ESD protection device is disposed between two adjacent first sensing pads and between two adjacent second sensing pads. The two adjacent first sensing pads are electrically disconnected from each other, and the two adjacent second sensing pads are electrically disconnected from each other. |
| US08952919B2 |
Capacitive touch sensitive housing and method for making the same
A method for making a capacitive touch sensitive housing, comprises: forming a non-patterned active metal layer on a housing wall; patterning the non-patterned active metal layer on the housing wall by laser ablation such that the non-patterned active metal layer is formed into a patterned active metal layer including a plurality of plating portions separated from each other, and a plurality of non-plating portions separated from the plating portions; and forming a metal layer on the patterned active metal layer such that the metal layer has first portions formed on the plating portions of the patterned active metal layer, and second portions formed on the non-plating portions of the patterned active metal layer. |
| US08952918B2 |
Display device
An embodiment of this document provides a display device comprising a panel, a touch screen panel, and a sense unit. The panel comprises subpixels placed in a display region defined in one face of a first substrate and a second substrate bonded with the first substrate. The touch screen panel is placed on the panel and configured to comprise electrode units. The sense unit is coupled to the electrode units and configured to sense a position through the electrode units. At least some of the electrode units are formed of a multi-layer with heterogeneous metals. |
| US08952910B2 |
Touchscreen system
This disclosure describes systems and techniques for implementing a touchscreen. These systems and/or techniques enable processing of a signal generated from one or more sensors of a touchscreen to reduce noise and increase accuracy. |
| US08952906B2 |
Apparatus and method for inputting writing information according to writing pattern
Provided are a method and apparatus for inputting handwriting in a digital electronic apparatus. Various patterns defining methods of generating pressure information according to handwriting input are stored in advance, and a user selects a pattern similar to a pattern of the user or selects a desired handwriting pattern to perform the handwriting, so that pressure information is generated according to the handwriting pattern and the handwriting is displaying with a thickness corresponding to the pressure information. Therefore, it is possible to solve a problem of monotonous handwriting input in the related art where only the position is input and the handwriting is output with the same thickness. |
| US08952905B2 |
Image display apparatus and method for operating the same
According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method for operating an image display device using a pointing device includes displaying, on a display of the image display device, a handwriting region, receiving a pointing signal from the pointing device, determining whether a location of an image based on positional information corresponding to the received pointing signal is included in the handwriting region, and displaying the image corresponding to the received pointing signal at a boundary area of the handwriting region closest to the location when the location of the image is determined to be not included in the handwriting region. |
| US08952904B2 |
Electronic device, screen control method, and storage medium storing screen control program
A mobile phone terminal (electronic device) includes a first touch panel and a second touch panel for displaying an object corresponding to an executable function and detect a touch on the object. The mobile phone terminal also includes a control unit that, in a state where the object is displayed on the first touch panel or the second touch panel, when the touch on the object is detected and then a movement of the touch is detected and if the first touch panel or the second touch panel is in a movement direction of the touch, displays a screen provided by a function corresponding to the object on the first touch panel or the second touch panel in the movement direction of the touch. |
| US08952900B2 |
Touch screen display apparatus
A touch screen display apparatus for easily sensing the touch of a user. The touch screen display apparatus includes: a substrate; a display unit formed on the substrate; and a touch panel disposed to face the display unit, where the touch panel comprises a sealing substrate, a first electrode formed on the sealing substrate, a second electrode spaced apart from the first electrode, and a light receiving unit comprising an organic material interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. |
| US08952895B2 |
Motion-based device operations
Methods, program products, and systems of motion-based device operations are described. A mobile device can coordinate operations of a motion sensor and a proximity sensor. The mobile device can determine a gesture event using the motion sensor. The mobile device can determine a proximity event using the proximity sensor. The mobile device can use the gesture event and proximity event to confirm one another, and determine that the mobile device has moved in proximity to a target object following a specified gesture. Upon confirmation, the mobile device can perform a specified task. |
| US08952893B2 |
Portable device and method for controlling the same
A method for controlling a portable device is provided. The method includes detecting bending of the portable device and determining whether to perform motion sensing correction due to the bending; acquiring a motion sensing correction factor for performing the motion sensing correction due to the bending; performing motion sensing correction of at least one motion sensor using the motion sensing correction factor; and controlling the portable device according to the corrected motion sensing. |
| US08952892B2 |
Input location correction tables for input panels
One or more input location correction tables are used to compensate for interference introduced into input panels and generate a corrected location based on a sensed location of the input panel. The one or more input location correction tables can include a coarse table and a fine table that stores mappings of intermediate locations mapped to by the coarse table having an accuracy that fails to satisfy a threshold coordinate accuracy. Different environments in which computing device can be situated can result in different interference being introduced, and the one or more input location correction tables can be updated based on the current environment to compensate for the interference introduced in the current environment. |
| US08952888B2 |
Method and system for conveying an emotion
The present invention relates to a method for conveying an emotion to a person being exposed to multimedia information, such as a media clip, by way of tactile stimulation using a plurality of actuators arranged in a close vicinity of the person's body, the method comprising the step of providing tactile stimulation information for controlling the plurality of actuators, wherein the plurality of actuators are adapted to stimulate multiple body sites in a body region, the tactile stimulation information comprises a sequence of tactile stimulation patterns, wherein each tactile stimulation pattern controls the plurality of actuators in time and space to enable the tactile stimulation of the body region, and the tactile stimulation information is synchronized with the media clip. An advantage with the present invention is thus that emotions can be induced, or strengthened, at the right time (e.g. synchronized with a specific situation in the media clip). |
| US08952885B2 |
Driving device for driving display medium, display device, method of driving display medium, and display method
There is provided a driving device for driving a display medium that includes a pair of substrates and plural particle groups which are provided between the pair of substrates and have different colors and different threshold voltages for separation from the substrates, including an application unit that applies reset voltages for moving the plural particle groups to one of the pair of substrates between the substrates, each reset voltage being different from each other according to each of the plural particle groups. |
| US08952884B2 |
Suspended particle device, light control device using the same, and method for driving the same
Disclosed is a suspended particle device having a higher response speed of particles upon shutdown of the device. The suspended particle device includes a first substrate; a first electrode arranged on a surface of the first substrate; a second substrate; a second electrode arranged on a surface of the second substrate; and a suspension arranged between the first substrate and the second substrate, in which the suspension includes particles and a disperse medium, the particles are dispersed in the disperse medium, an orientation of the particles is controlled by an alternate-current voltage to be applied between the first electrode and the second electrode, and “a” which represents a frequency of an alternate-current voltage in a driving period is greater than “b” which represents a frequency of an alternate-current voltage in a shutdown period. |
| US08952879B2 |
Hold type image display system
A hold type image display system for displaying a video on a display panel includes a source driver for outputting a video signal to a source line, a gate driver for outputting a scanning signal to a gate line; and a controller for receiving an input video signal and thereby controlling the source driver and the gate driver. The controller outputs a video signal in which a black or gray line is inserted between video lines to the source driver, outputs a start pulse signal for writing the video lines for one or more times and a start pulse signal for writing black or gray lines for one or more times to the gate driver within one frame period, and independently inverts a write polarity of the video signal and a write polarity of the black or gray signal in frame periods in each frame cycle. |
| US08952872B2 |
Stereoscopic image display including 3D filter with improved voltage driving
3D filter driving voltages can be stably supplied to the 3D filter via flexible printed circuit for distributing first to third voltages of the 3D filter driving voltage, even if electrodes of the 3D filter are shorted, by supplying the 3D filter driving voltages to the 3D filter in a distributed fashion. |
| US08952866B2 |
Dove tail device in an antenna
A dove tail device for adjusting tilting angle of an antenna by rotating an arm member using a motion member which moves linearly is disclosed. The dove tail device in an antenna includes a guide and a motion member configured to move on the guide. Here, the motion member is combined with a rotation arm of a phase shifter, the rotation arm rotates according as the motion member moves on the guide, and an arm member of the phase shifter rotates in response to rotation of the rotation arm. |
| US08952864B2 |
Flat folding hinged antenna
A multi-band antenna including a first antenna portion extending generally in a first plane, a second antenna portion, extending generally in a second plane and a hinged coupling providing coupling between the first antenna portion and the second antenna portion and permitting the second antenna portion to be folded over the first antenna portion such that the first plane and the second plane lie generally parallel. |
| US08952859B2 |
Compact antenna system having folded dipole and/or monopole
An antenna and multi-antenna system are provided. Each antenna of the system is a mirror image and comprises first and second conductive elements each having a first end and a second end portion, the second end portions being capacitively coupled to each other. Each antenna can be operated as a lower-frequency folded dipole having a series capacitive gap which facilitates electrical lengthening of the antenna, or as a higher-frequency monopole antenna having a parasitic element which facilitates improved bandwidth. The antennas' feedpoints may be placed at opposite corners of a ground plane, and separated by a distance which is less than one quarter of an operating wavelength of the dipole but greater than one quarter of an operating wavelength of the monopole. Locating the feedpoints at the ground plane corners facilitates orthogonal polarization of the two antennas at least in dipole mode. The antennas thus provided exhibit good isolation. |
| US08952857B2 |
Antennas with broadband operating bandwidths
Designs and operations of momentum antennas are presented. In some antenna designs, the terminating discontinuities are complementary with the opposite transmission line's discontinuity. In other antenna designs, the terminating discontinuities are intrinsically self-complementary. |
| US08952851B1 |
Direct feed patch antenna
Methods and systems for radiating electromagnetic energy with a direct-feed patch antenna are described. The direct-feed patch antenna may be formed of a metal member of the user device and is grounded to the ground plane at a ground point disposed in relation to a feed location of the direct-feed patch antenna, the feed location to be directly coupled to receive a radio frequency (RF) signal. The direct-feed patch antenna is configured to radiate electromagnetic energy in response to the RF signal. |
| US08952849B2 |
Apparatus having mushroom structures
An apparatus having multiple mushroom structures is disclosed. Each of the multiple mushroom structures includes: a ground plate; a patch provided parallel to the ground plate with a separation of a distance to the ground plate, wherein a distance between a ground plate and a patch in a certain mushroom structure is different from a distance between a ground plate and a patch in a different mushroom structure. |
| US08952848B2 |
System and method for determining the location of the phase center of an antenna
A system and method for determining the location of the phase center of an antenna are provided. For the transverse location of the phase center, the system may include radio frequency (RF) probes symmetrically surrounding the antenna's geometrical center to define RF probe pairs, a plurality of phase detectors for determining a phase difference between the signals detected by each pair and a processor for determining the transverse location of the phase center based upon probe position and the phase differences. For the longitudinal location of the phase center, the system may include first and second RF probes having a common transverse position, but being longitudinally separated, a phase detector for determining a phase difference between the signals detected by the probes and a processor for determining the longitudinal location of the phase center based upon the longitudinal separation and the phase difference. |
| US08952846B2 |
Electronic apparatus, method of making the same, and transceiving device
An electronic apparatus includes a metal base; a wiring board disposed on the metal base, the wiring board having an opening and including interconnects; a metal stage dispose in the opening, the metal stage serving as a ground line; and a semiconductor device disposed on the metal stage, wherein an area of an end surface of the metal stage facing the metal base is larger than that of the metal stage facing the semiconductor device. |
| US08952845B1 |
Dynamic relative internal alignment calibration
A method for adapting the pointing of a radar system in response to distortion of a deckhouse support structure supporting plural antenna arrays of the radar system is provided. The method comprises the steps of making repeated measurements between at least one laser tracker located within the support structure and laser targets mounted within the support structure, and comparing the current measurements with previous measurements to determine physical bias introduced into the structure. |
| US08952843B1 |
Directional AESA with interferometer direction finding mode
A multi-functional reconfigurable radar system and a method for configuring such a radar system are disclosed. The multi-functional reconfigurable radar system that is operable as a directional antenna or a DF interferometer. The antenna system in accordance with the present disclosure may be installed on a size-constrained platform such as an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) and utilized as a common shared asset aperture for intelligence-gathering, electronic countermeasure, self-protection, electronic support, electronic attack as well as direction finding and the like. |
| US08952838B2 |
Time domain switched analog-to-digital converter apparatus and methods
A time domain switching analog-to-digital converter apparatus and methods of utilizing the same. In one implementation, the converter apparatus comprises a carrier signal source, and at least one reference source. The carrier signal is summed with the input signal and the summed modulated signal is fed to a comparator circuit. The comparator is configured detects crossings of the reference level by the modulated waveform thereby generating trigger events. The time period between consecutive trigger events is used to obtain modulated signal deviation due to the input signal thus enabling input signal measurement. Control of the carrier oscillation amplitude and frequency enables real time adjustment of the converter dynamic range and resolution. The use of additional reference signal levels increases sensor frequency response and accuracy. A dual channel converter apparatus enables estimation and removal of common mode noise, thereby improving signal conversion accuracy. |
| US08952835B1 |
Background calibration of aperture center errors in analog to digital converters
A method of background calibration of aperture center errors in a data communication system is provided. In an implementation, in response to detection of a low sampler output (“0”) in between two high sampler outputs (“1”), the method includes: determining a direction of an ADC output signal at the time of the detected low output; and adjusting timing at a selected sampler based on the determined signal direction. In an example implementation, the method includes watching for bubbles in the thermometer code output, and estimating the first derivative of the signal at the time of the bubble, then estimating the sign of the errors. In an example implementation, the errors are used in a control loop to reduce the aperture center error. |
| US08952832B2 |
Interfacing application programs and motion sensors of a device
Interfacing application programs and motion sensors of a device. In one aspect, a high-level command is received from an application program running on a motion sensing device, where the application program implements one of multiple different types of applications available for use on the device. The high-level command requests high-level information derived from the output of motion sensors of the device that include rotational motion sensors and linear motion sensors. The command is translated to cause low-level processing of motion sensor data output by the motion sensors, the low-level processing following requirements of the type of application and determining the high-level information in response to the command. The application program is ignorant of the low-level processing, and the high-level information is provided to the application program. |
| US08952828B2 |
System for evacuating persons from a vehicle
A system for evacuating persons from a vehicle includes a light signal generating device, which is adapted to emit at least one visual light signal that indicates at least one preset escape route for at least one person to be evacuated. |
| US08952817B2 |
Security package
Provided is a security package which generally comprises a casing for housing a product and a collar for locking the casing. The collar generally has a locked and unlocked configuration and comprises a first locking member having at least one male locking mechanism, and a second locking member having at least one female locking mechanism lockable to the at least one male locking mechanism. The casing generally has an open and closed configuration, and comprises a cavity shaped to substantially conform to the product. In the locked configuration the collar secures the casing in the closed configuration. The casing may comprise a first and second casing portion, and these may be integrally formed with the one or more of the first and second locking members. The collar may form a perimeter around the casing, may be adjustable, and may house a security device such as an RFID (radio-frequency identification) tag. |
| US08952816B2 |
Article surveillance tag with multiple straps
An EAS system alarm tag is provided with two or more straps that enable secure and reliable simultaneous engagement of the tag with one or more articles that are detachably coupled at an angle. An interlock actuator switch enables the two or more straps to interlock within a housing of the alarm tag. An auxiliary actuator switch enables detection of separation of the alarm tag from one or more articles with which the alarm tag is coupled. When both the interlock actuator switch and the auxiliary actuator switch are set to a first condition, an alarm system of the alarm tag is armed and set to ON; and when the interlock actuator switch is set to the first condition and the auxiliary actuator switch is set to a second condition while the alarm tag is armed and ON, the alarm system of the alarm tag triggers an alarm. |
| US08952814B2 |
Method and system for storing, retrieving, and managing data for tags
This invention relates generally to a method and system for storing, retrieving, and managing data for tags that are associated in some manner to any type of object. More particularly, the present invention writes data to these tags, reads data from these tags, and manages data that is written to and/or read from these tags. In addition, the invention accesses and/or stores data associated with tags from or into repositories, constructs and maintains data structures from these repositories and responds to queries using the data structures. |
| US08952812B2 |
System and method for measuring fluid pressure
A method of reducing power consumption in a pressure (vacuum) regulator system by waking the regulator upon detection of a person's hand proximity prior to adjustment of a pressure controller, including: defining a sampling time-window to sample a pressure in the pressure regulator system; generating a random number of pressure samples within the defined sampling time-window; acquiring data of the randomly generated number of pressure samples within the defined sampling time-window; adjusting the defined sampling time-window in response to a triggering of a proximity sensor; and wirelessly transmitting the data to an output device. |
| US08952810B2 |
System and method for automated/semi-automated entry filtering
An automated gatekeeper system and method are disclosed. The system and method comprise a control unit, sensors monitoring a checkpoint and gates to controlled premises and controllable gates. A person who wishes to enter may be inquired by the system in order to monitor and identify his or her identity, to verify whether the identified person is listed in at least one list of classified persons and to define whether that person is in a state of mind or mood which may have implication on the decision whether to allow his or her entrance to the premises. |
| US08952804B2 |
Systems and methods to overlay additional information onto foundation fieldbus alerts
An industrial control system is provided that includes a field device configured to provide an alert having a first parameter and a controller configured to receive the alert and overlay a second plurality of parameters on the alert, wherein the controller is configured to transmit the alert having the first parameter and the second plurality of parameters. |
| US08952801B2 |
Motor vehicle with several active or passive safety devices
A motor vehicle includes a safety device which is changeable between an idle position and an operative position, and an indicator which is rendered operational in at least one of two ways, a first way in which a first acoustic signal is triggered when the safety device departs the idle position, and a second acoustic signal, which differs from the first acoustic signal, is triggered when the safety device has assumed the operative position, a second way in which a first image is optically visualized in a display when the safety device departs the idle position, and a second image is optically visualized in the display when the safety device has assumed the operative position. |
| US08952798B2 |
Customizable and reconfigurable virtual instrument panel
The invention provides an instrument control panel that is easily customized and reconfigured, and yet provides the familiar tactile sensation of physical knobs, sliders, and buttons. The instrument control panel comprises one or more interface components that are removably coupled to an interface display wherein the interface components communicate with one or more control components disposed behind the interface display. The present invention lends itself particularly well to an instrument panel. |
| US08952797B2 |
Tactile alerting mechanism for portable communications device
A portable communications device, such as a mobile phone, includes a novel tactile alerting mechanism capable of alerting the user of an incoming communication or other event. In some embodiments, a mechanical actuator causes a rod or lever to pulsate, rotate, or protrude out of a static housing for the communications device. In other embodiments, a pneumatic actuator inflates a bladder that protrudes out of the housing. The alerting mechanism may be configured as a movable part of a decorative fanciful housing for the communications device. |
| US08952788B1 |
Battery assisted RFID system RF power control and interference mitigation methods
A method for controlling RF power within an RFID system according to one embodiment includes returning a first set of RFID tags that were successfully accessed at a first reader forward mode power level to a hibernate state; initiating a timer operation in each of the RFID tags within the first set of RFID tags, the timer operation defining a period of time; and preventing the first set of RFID tags from responding to an activation command at a second reader forward power level during the period of time, the second reader forward power level being higher than the first reader forward power level; and wherein a flag state stored in each of the RFID tags within the first set of RFID tags indicates whether the timer operation is active to prevent undesired activation at the second reader forward power level. |
| US08952783B2 |
Barrier movement operator communications
A moveable barrier operator actuates an actuator thereby causing a message to be formed. The message indicates that the user at the moveable barrier operator requires assistance. A communication channel is established between the moveable barrier operator and an assistance center. The message is transmitted to the assistance center over the communication channel. An assistance action is performed to provide assistance to the user at the moveable barrier operator. |
| US08952781B2 |
Method and apparatus for access control using dual biometric authentication
A biometrically authenticated access control in which a wireless authentication signal is provided from a primary instrumentality of access, only after a dual-stage biometric verification of the user's identity is performed. In one embodiment, an accessing device includes memory for storing a device identification code and an authentication code, along with first and second biometric templates corresponding to biometric samples from a user. In another embodiment, an accessing device includes memory for storing a device identification code and more than one authentication code, for separate users, along with first and second biometric templates corresponding to biometric samples from multiple users. In order to gain access to a secured resource, a user undergoes first and second biometric sampling to generate biometric data to be compared with the first and second biometric templates. |
| US08952774B2 |
Heat exchanger with magnetic lock
A magnetic lock system for releasably securing a heat exchanger with a component. The system includes: an electromagnet on one of the heat exchanger or the component and a magnetic region on the other of the heat exchanger or the component; the electromagnet being energizable to attract the magnetic region to secure the component and the heat exchanger in a thermally coupled position; and the electromagnet being de-energizable to release the component and the heat exchanger from the thermally coupled position. Also a magnetic lock system for releasably securing a heat exchanger with a component, the system includes: an electromagnet on one of the heat exchanger or the component and a magnet on the other of the heat exchanger or the component; magnetic attraction between the magnet and the electromagnet securing the component and the heat exchanger in a thermally coupled position when the electromagnet is not energized, the electromagnet being energizable to repel the magnet to release the component and the heat exchanger from the thermally coupled position. |
| US08952771B2 |
Switch and electronic device
This invention provides a switch in which the switch components are separately arranged at the portion where the switch components tend to be arranged in a concentrated manner in the housing without being collectively arranged in one region in the housing to achieve miniaturization and slimming, and in which the welding avoiding performance at the contact is enhanced to extend the lifespan, and an electronic device. A switch includes an operating element which is supported in a housing and which is oscillation operated to one side and the other side, a power supply switch mechanism 180 for bringing contacts of a movable piece and a fixed terminal facing each other in the housing into contact with each other to turn ON a power supply in cooperation with the ON operation when the operating element is oscillated to one side and ON operated, and a power supply reset mechanism for holding and releasing the ON state of the power supply switch mechanism, wherein the power supply reset mechanism is arranged on one side in an oscillation operating direction of the operating element, and the power supply switch mechanism is arranged on the other side in the oscillation operating direction of the operating element. |
| US08952769B2 |
Dual mode dielectric resonator operating in a HE mode with a Q factor no less than 5000
A dual mode dielectric resonator (DR) filter has a first DR, and is configured to operate at a HE12δ mode within a first frequency band while exhibiting a Q factor of no less than 5000. A first characteristic size of the first DR may be substantially similar to a size of a second DR, where the second DR is configured to operate in a conventional DR filter at a HE11δ mode within a second frequency band, the second frequency band being substantially lower than the first frequency band. |
| US08952766B2 |
Control board, inverter device and integrated-inverter electric compressor
An object is to provide a control board, an inverter device, and an integrated-inverter electric compressor that are capable of improving electromagnetic compatibility (EMC property) and improving reliability against input/output of electromagnetic noise, which shows a tendency towards greater complexity and intensity. A control board to which two power systems, that is, a low-voltage power system and a high-voltage power system, are inputs, comprising a low-voltage circuit and a high-voltage circuit, and a low-voltage-side ground region and a high-voltage-side ground region that are formed in correspondence with the circuits, respectively, wherein frame ground regions are provided at a plurality of positions on the control board, and a plurality of communication line patterns connected to the low-voltage circuit are respectively connected to both the low-voltage-side ground region and the frame ground region through capacitance elements with various capacitances. |
| US08952761B2 |
System and method for supporting different types of oscillator circuits
In accordance with some embodiments of the present disclosure, an oscillator circuit comprises, a first pad associated with a first terminal of an oscillator and a second pad associated with a second terminal of the oscillator. The oscillator is configured to generate an oscillating signal and communicate the oscillating signal from the second terminal to a clock distributor coupled to the second pad. The oscillator circuit further comprises an oscillator gain element comprising an output node coupled to the first pad and an input node coupled to the second pad. The oscillator circuit also comprises a digital-to-analog converter (DAC) coupled to the first pad. The oscillator circuit additionally comprises a switching circuit coupled to the gain element. The switching circuit is configured to enable the gain element when the oscillator comprises a resonator and disable the gain element when the oscillator comprises a voltage controlled oscillating module. |
| US08952758B2 |
Amplifier using nonlinear drivers
A device includes a Doherty amplifier having a main path and a peaking path. The Doherty amplifier includes a main amplifier configured to amplify a signal received from the main path and a peaking amplifier configured to amplify a signal received from the peaking path when the signal received from the peaking path exceeds a predetermined threshold. The device includes a first driver amplifier connected to the main path of the Doherty amplifier. The first driver amplifier is configured to exhibit an amplitude and phase distortion characteristic that is an inverse of an amplitude and phase distortion characteristic of the main amplifier. The device includes a second driver amplifier connected to the peaking path of the Doherty amplifier. The second driver amplifier is configured to exhibit an amplitude and phase distortion characteristic that is an inverse of an amplitude and phase distortion characteristic of the peaking amplifier. |
| US08952751B2 |
Amplifier circuits and methods of amplifying an input signal
A method of operating an amplifier circuit having a pre-charge phase and a sample/conversion phase includes, during a pre-charge phase, charging first and second capacitors to first and second bias voltages. The first capacitor is coupled to a first input of an amplifier circuit, which has a second input and an output. The second capacitor is coupled to the second input. During a sample/conversion phase, the first input of the amplifier circuit is coupled to an input signal through the first capacitor to level-shift the input signal according to the first bias voltage and the output of the amplifier is coupled to the second input through the second capacitor to level shift a feedback signal according to the second bias voltage. |
| US08952749B1 |
Filter with combined resonator and integrator
A filter comprises an integrator, a signal feeding path, a first operational amplifier and a second capacitor. The integrator comprises a first input terminal and a first output terminal. The signal feeding path comprises: a first resistor, having a first terminal coupled to the first output terminal; a first capacitor, having a first terminal coupled to the second terminal of the first resistor; and a second resistor, having a first terminal coupled to the integrator and having a second terminal coupled to the second terminal of the first capacitor. The first operational amplifier comprises a second input terminal coupled to the second terminal of the first resistor and the first terminal of the first capacitor, and comprises a second output terminal. The second capacitor comprises a first terminal coupled to the second terminal of the first capacitor, and comprises a second terminal coupled to the second output terminal. |
| US08952737B2 |
Methods and systems for calibration of a delay locked loop
A method for calibrating a delay locked loop (“DLL”) having a plurality of delay segments, comprises: determining segment delay values for the delay segments; calculating a full-cycle delay value for an input signal to the DLL; adjusting one or more of the segment delay values as a function of the full-cycle delay value to generate one or more adjusted delay values; and calculating weights for the delay segments as a function of the segment delay values, the full-cycle delay, and the one or more adjusted delay values, wherein the weights are used to calibrate the DLL. |
| US08952736B1 |
Method and system for quantization-free and phase-dithered fractional-N generation for phase-locked-loops
A phased lock loop (PLL) including a retimer unit, rotator unit, and clock selection unit. The retimer unit is configured for sampling a divided clock generated by a divide-by-N unit with a plurality of phases of an oscillator clock generated by a ring oscillator to generate a plurality of phase shifted divide-by-N clocks. The rotator unit is configured for selectively rotating through the plurality of phase shifted divide-by-N clocks based on a constant phase shift interval, wherein the rotator unit controls a clock selection unit to produce a single output phase selected from a plurality of generated divide-by-N clock phases. |
| US08952732B2 |
Signal processor with frequency converters and P/S converters and signal processing method using same
A signal processor includes: a plurality of frequency converters which perform frequency conversion of input signals to output converted signals; and an output section which combines the converted signals output from the plurality of frequency converters and outputs a composite signal, wherein the plurality of frequency converters are formed in a one-chip semiconductor chip, and the plurality of frequency converters perform frequency conversion into converted signals in different frequency bands. |
| US08952729B2 |
Sample and hold circuit with reduced noise
A sample and hold circuit and a method for sampling a signal are disclosed. The sample and hold circuit includes first and second switches, first, second, and third capacitors, and an amplifier. The amplifier receives a signal to be sampled on a first input. The first capacitor is characterized by a first capacitance and has a first terminal connected to an output of the amplifier by the first switch. The second capacitor is characterized by a second capacitance and has a second terminal connected to the output of the amplifier by the second switch. The third capacitor connects the first and second terminals. The amplifier is configured to form a capacitive transimpedance amplifier having the third capacitor as a feedback circuit when the first switch is in a non-conducting state and the second switch is in a conducting state. |
| US08952727B2 |
Hum generation circuitry
Systems and methods for clock generation and distribution are disclosed. Embodiments include arrangements of synchronization signals implemented using a mesh circuit. The mesh circuit is comprised of a plurality of null convention logic (NCL) gates organized into rings. Each ring shares at least one NCL gate with an adjacent ring. The rings are configured in such a way that each ring in the mesh operates synchronously with the other rings in the mesh. |
| US08952726B2 |
Logic circuit and semiconductor device
To reduce a leakage current of a transistor so that malfunction of a logic circuit can be suppressed. The logic circuit includes a transistor which includes an oxide semiconductor layer having a function of a channel formation layer and in which an off current is 1×10−13 A or less per micrometer in channel width. A first signal, a second signal, and a third signal that is a clock signal are input as input signals. A fourth signal and a fifth signal whose voltage states are set in accordance with the first to third signals which have been input are output as output signals. |
| US08952725B2 |
Low voltage differential signal driving circuit and electronic device compatible with wired transmission
A low voltage differential signal driving circuit including positive and negative differential output terminals, an automatic level selector, an output level detector and a transition accelerator. The positive and negative differential output terminals provide a transmission interface with a differential output signal for transmission of a data signal. The automatic level selector outputs a reference voltage corresponding to the transmission interface. The output level detector generates a low-high (or high-low) transition acceleration control signal based on the data signal, the reference voltage, and VTXP signal at the positive differential output terminal (or VTXN signal at the negative differential output terminal). In accordance with the low-high (or high-low) transition acceleration control signal, the transition accelerator couples the positive (or negative) differential output terminal to a high voltage source and couples the negative (or positive) differential output terminal to a low voltage source to accelerate transition of the differential output signal. |
| US08952723B2 |
Programmable logic device and semiconductor device
To provide a PLD having a reduced circuit area and an increased operation speed. In the circuit structure, a gate of a transistor provided between an input terminal and an output terminal of a programmable switch element is in an electrically floating state in a period when a signal is input to the programmable switch element. The structure enables the voltage of a gate to be increased by a boosting effect in response to a signal supplied from programmable logic elements, suppressing a reduction in amplitude voltage. This can reduce a circuit area by a region occupied by a booster circuit such as a pull-up circuit and increase operation speed. |
| US08952721B2 |
Semiconductor device
Disclosed is a semiconductor device which is intended to reduce the total number of storage element blocks that constitute a desired logic circuit. The semiconductor device includes N address lines (N is an integer equal to two or more), N data lines, and a plurality of storage sections. Each of the storage sections includes an address decoder for decoding an address supplied via the N address lines to output a word select signal to word lines; and a plurality of storage elements which are connected to the word lines and the data lines, each store data that constitute a truth table, and input or output the data via the data lines in accordance with the word select signal supplied via the word lines. The semiconductor device is adapted such that the N address lines for the storage sections are connected to the respective data lines of other N ones of the storage sections, while the N data lines for the storage sections are connected to the respective address lines of other N ones of the storage sections. |
| US08952716B2 |
Method of detecting defects in a semiconductor device and semiconductor device using the same
A method of detecting a defect of a semiconductor device includes forming test patterns and unit cell patterns in a test region a cell array region of a substrate, respectively, obtaining reference data with respect to the test patterns by irradiating an electron beam into the test region, obtaining cell data by irradiating the electron beam into the cell array region, and detecting defects of the unit cell patterns by comparing the obtained cell data with the obtained reference data. |
| US08952711B2 |
Methods for probing semiconductor wafers
A wafer probing method includes calibrating a wafer probing system, checking continuity between probe pins of the wafer probing system and respective conductors of a wafer under test, and identifying at least an interconnect structure in the wafer under test to determine whether a fault exists. |
| US08952709B2 |
Method for controlling a capacitive touch pad
The present disclosure relates to a method for measuring a capacitance of a pair of electrodes including charging the pair of electrodes and transferring the charge between the pair of electrodes and a sampling capacitor, and a measuring step representative of the capacitance of the pair of electrodes according to the voltage at the terminals of the sampling capacitor according to the number of cycles executed so that the voltage at the terminals of the sampling capacitor reaches a threshold voltage. According to the present disclosure, the method comprises an initial step of charging the sampling capacitor between a first voltage and a second intermediate voltage in between the first voltage and a third voltage greater than or equal to a ground voltage, the pair of electrodes being charged between the second voltage and the third voltage. The present disclosure applies in particular to the control of a touch pad. |
| US08952701B2 |
Isolation resistance measuring apparatus having fault self-diagnosing function and self-diagnosing method using the same
Disclosed is an isolation resistance measuring apparatus having a fault self-diagnosing function. The isolation resistance measuring apparatus having a fault self-diagnosing function forms a diagnosis circuit by means of a first isolation resistance measuring unit and a second isolation resistance measuring unit respectively connected to a cathode terminal and an anode terminal of a battery, and includes a control unit for determining whether a fault arises at the isolation resistance measuring apparatus by using a circuit equation derived from the diagnosis circuit and first and second diagnosis voltages. Therefore, the isolation resistance measuring apparatus may diagnose whether a fault arises at a device which measures isolation resistance of a battery. |
| US08952698B1 |
Magnetic resonance imaging apparatus
A magnetic resonance imaging configuration to straighten and otherwise homogenize the field lines in the imaging portion, creating improved image quality. Through use of calibrated corrective coils, magnetic field lines can be manipulated to improve uniformity and image quality. Additionally, when the apparatus is composed of non-ferromagnetic materials, field strengths can be increased to overcome limitations of Iron-based systems such as by use of superconductivity. A patient positioning apparatus allows multi-positioning of a patient within the magnetic field lines. |
| US08952687B2 |
Current sensor
A current sensor includes: a conductive member through which a current to be measured flows; first and second magnetic sensors which output signals having reversed phases to each other due to an induction magnetic field from the current to be measured; and a control unit which performs differential operation on the output signal of the first magnetic sensor and the output signal of the second magnetic sensor, wherein sensing axis directions of the first magnetic sensor and the second magnetic sensor are fixed in the same direction, form a predetermined angle with respect to an application direction of the induction magnetic field from the current to be measured applied to the first magnetic sensor and the second magnetic sensor, and are fixed so that the induction magnetic fields are applied to the first magnetic sensor and the second magnetic sensor in reverse directions to each other. |
| US08952684B2 |
Magnetic force sensor sensing magnetic flux to calculate forces
There is provided a magnetic force sensor including: an action unit elastically supported by a supporting member; a magnetic-flux generating source including two or more magnets which are disposed so that a polarity of each of the magnetic-pole faces of the magnets is opposite to a polarity of a corresponding one of the magnetic-pole faces of the adjacent magnets in a particular direction; first magnetoelectric transducers that are individually provided at positions, the positions being positions at which the first magnetoelectric transducers oppose the magnetic-pole faces of the magnets in the action unit; and a second magnetoelectric transducer provided between the first magnetoelectric transducers. Vertical-direction components of a force are detected on the basis of outputs of the first magnetoelectric transducers, and a horizontal-direction component of the force is detected on the basis of an output of the second magnetoelectric transducer. |
| US08952682B2 |
System and method for calibrating a magnetometer with visual affordance
A method and system are provided for calibrating a magnetometer of a mobile device. The method comprises displaying a visual indication of a gestural path on a display of the portable electronic device, monitoring for changes in orientation of the portable electronic device, changing the visual indication in response to the monitored changes in the orientation of the portable electronic device, measuring a magnetic field with the magnetometer, and calibrating the magnetometer in accordance with measurements of the magnetic field acquired at different points along the gestural path. |
| US08952680B2 |
Magnetic sensor and current measuring apparatus
A magnetic sensor includes two sensor units with curved cores including meshing portions at front and base ends thereof and constructs a ring when the meshing portions mesh together. The meshing portions include main meshing portions that entirely overlap in a completely meshed state where the meshing portions overlap to the greatest extent. Auxiliary meshing portions that protrude inside and/or outside the ring are provided on the main meshing portions at the front and/or the base ends. In the completely meshed state, the auxiliary meshing portions do not overlap the main meshing portions or auxiliary meshing portions of the other core. In a non-completely meshed state where the main meshing portions partially do not overlap, the auxiliary meshing portions at least partially overlap the main meshing portions and/or auxiliary meshing portions of the other core. |
| US08952679B2 |
Portable self powered line mountable electric power line current monitoring transmitting and receiving system
A device for measuring current of an electric power line conductor includes a housing with an opening for accepting a power line conductor. A first coil loop including coil windings with a first end spaced from a second end and having a circular shape. The first coil loop is configured to partially surround the power line conductor located in the housing. An internal central wire attached to an end of the first coil loop extends through a center of the first coil loop. A jaw assembly is configured to insure a vertical centerline of the first coil loop is aligned with a vertical centerline of the electric power line conductor. |
| US08952677B2 |
Locator for locating a current carrying conductor
A locator for locating a concealed conductor carrying an alternating current having at least first and second frequencies, the alternating current produced by at least one dedicated signal generator. The locator includes at least one magnetic field sensor operable to convert electromagnetic radiation from the conductor into a field strength signal; a digital analog converter configured to generate a digitized signal dependent upon the field strength signals from the magnetic field sensor; a digital signal processor configured to isolate components of the digitized signal resulting from the first frequency and the second frequency; and process the isolated components to generate one or more signals indicative of the proximity of the conductor to the detector; and an output configured to generate an audio and/or visual indication of the proximity of the conductor, wherein the isolated signal components resulting from the first frequency signal and the second frequency signal are contemporaneously processed. |
| US08952673B2 |
Control device, a control method, and a non-transitory computer readable medium thereof
According to one embodiment, a control device communicates with a power measurement device. The control device includes a communication unit, a threshold storage, a calculation unit, and a control unit. The communication unit is configured to receive a usable electric power from the power measurement device. The threshold storage stores a first threshold. The calculation unit is configured to calculate a usable electric energy by integrating the usable electric power. The control unit is configured to change an operation status of the control device based on a comparison result between the usable electric energy and the first threshold. |
| US08952672B2 |
Idealized solar panel
A solar panel is constructed by electrically connecting one or more banks of solar cells in series, wherein each cell in each bank is electrically connected in series. In some aspects the cells are a quarter of typical full size cells in the direction of current flow. A module senses and controls small signal conduction and total conduction of the panel such that reverse current conduction of a weak or partially shaded cell is prevented, thereby allowing the panel to be constructed without bypass diodes. In some aspects the module prevents damage to the panel by an external inverter's maximum power point experiments; in other aspects the module itself provides maximum power point control. |
| US08952670B2 |
Efficiency improvement of a driver by using serially connected low voltage transistors or dynamic transistor size control
Serially connected low voltage transistors are used to replace a high voltage transistor in a voltage conversion circuit for a driver, or parallel connected sub-transistors are used to establish a high voltage transistor having an effective size dynamically adjusted according to loading of the driver, to reduce switching loss and thereby improve the efficiency of the driver. |
| US08952666B2 |
Energy adjustor for fuel cell group
An energy adjustor coupled between a fuel cell group and a secondary battery group is disclosed. A load is coupled to the secondary battery group in parallel. The energy adjustor includes a boost regulation module, a drop regulation module, a detecting module and a control module. The boost regulation module boosts an output voltage of the fuel cell group to generate a first adjustment voltage according to a first control signal. The drop regulation module drops the first adjustment voltage to generate a second adjustment voltage to the load according to a second control signal. The detecting module detects at least one of the fuel cell group, the boost regulation module, the drop regulation module and the load to generate a detection result. The control module generates the first and the second control signals according to the detection result. |
| US08952663B2 |
Battery charge and discharge control apparatus and method for controlling battery charge and discharge
A master controller of a battery charge and discharge control apparatus is a device performing charge and discharge control on a group of a predetermined number of battery arrays, the battery arrays being connected together in parallel. The master controller acquires an entire charge or discharge instruction intended for the entire battery array group, starts charging or discharging each of the battery arrays at a uniform charge or discharge power value, acquires a charge or discharge status of each of the battery arrays after the beginning of the charge or discharge and compares the charge or discharge status with a predetermined charge or discharge set value for the entire battery array group, and changes the charge or discharge power value of each of the battery arrays based on a result of the comparison. |
| US08952660B2 |
Systems and methods for balancing battery cells
A cell balancing system includes multiple bypass paths and a battery management circuit. The multiple bypass paths are coupled in parallel to the battery cells. The battery management circuit is coupled to the bypass paths and monitors cell voltages of the battery cells, compares the cell voltages with a first reference voltage for a first stage, enables a bypass path in the first stage if a battery cell in parallel with the bypass path has a cell voltage at the first reference voltage, and compares the cell voltages of the battery cells with a second reference voltage for a second stage if a specified cell voltage in the first stage is at the first reference voltage. |
| US08952657B2 |
Battery protector
A battery is protected without realizing the state of every vehicle element connected to the battery or the battery input/output current. A current limit value setting unit sets a current limit value for limiting the battery input/output current in accordance with state of the battery. A limiting current ratio calculation unit calculates a ratio of the current limit value set by the current limit value setting unit to a detected battery current value. A request limit coefficient calculation unit calculates a limit coefficient for limiting a request value for driving respective vehicle components based on the ratio calculated by the limiting current ratio calculation unit. In addition, a final request value calculation unit calculates as a final request value for the respective vehicle components, respective multiplication values resulting from multiplying the respective request values for the respective components by the limit coefficient calculated by the request limit coefficient calculation unit. |
| US08952655B2 |
Battery with integrated wireless power receiver and/or RFID
A battery includes one or more rechargeable cells, a wireless power coil, a battery charger circuit, and may further include an RFID module. The wireless power coil is operable to generate an AC voltage from a wireless power electromagnetic field. The battery charger circuit is operable to generate a battery charge voltage from the AC voltage in accordance with a battery charge control signal and, when enabled, to charge the one or more rechargeable cells via the battery charge voltage. If the battery further includes the RFID module, it is operable to generate the battery charge control signal and communicate with a wireless power transmitter device. |
| US08952653B2 |
Intelligent eco-friendly starter battery
An intelligent eco-friendly starter battery includes pre-heating plates attached to lithium polymer cells thereof, a battery cell sensor module capable of sensing the temperature of the lithium polymer cells and controlling the pre-heating plates to pre-heat the lithium polymer cells to a predetermined temperature, a battery charging control circuit consisting of a plurality of power sensors and a battery charger for sensing the power level of each lithium polymer cell and charging each lithium polymer cell, a protection circuit assembly consisting of a field effect transistor, a relay and a controller for battery over-current and overheat protection, a transmitter receiver circuit and an antenna for transmitting the data sensed by the battery cell sensor module to a remote controller or external display. |
| US08952646B2 |
Stepper motor phase failure detection
Embodiments are directed to a stepper motor and a controller, where the controller measures a parameter associated with a current of the stepper motor prior to support of commanding a step in connection with the stepper motor. That is, the controller commands the step in connection with the stepper motor, measures a parameter subsequent to commanding the step, compares the measurements of the parameter, and determines whether a fault exists with respect to the stepper motor based on the comparison of the measurements. |
| US08952642B2 |
Power conversion device and temperature rise calculation method thereof
Temperature rise in semiconductor switching element that is part of a power conversion device is estimated to assess the degradation and remaining lifetime of the switching element. This is accomplished with a heat generation amount calculation unit in a calculation processor, where current command values Id* and Iq* and voltage command values vu*, vv* and vw* are used to calculate a chip loss. Current values iu*, iv* and iw* of all output phases are estimated from the current command values. The ON/OFF loss of the chip is represented by a function of an estimated value for a current flowing in each output phase, and the loss can be derived by integration with a PWM carrier frequency f. With respect to a conduction loss, a conduction time is integrated with the estimated current value and a saturation voltage, which is a function of the estimated current value. |
| US08952638B2 |
Circuit and method for detecting duty ratio of PWM signal
There are provided a circuit and a method for detecting a duty ratio of a PWM signal. The circuit includes: a counting unit counting a PWM signal; a detection indication determining unit determining whether a detection indication signal indicating a start of detection of the duty ratio of the PWM signal has been input; an edge detecting unit detecting a preset PWM edge of the PWM signal; and a duty calculating unit calculating the duty ratio of the PWM signal using a count value during a section from a k-th point in time (T(k)) (k being a natural number of 1 or more) at which the PWM edge is detected after it is determined that the detection indication signal has been input to a k+1-th point in time (T(k+1)) at which the PWM edge is detected after it is subsequently determined that the detection indication signal has been input. |
| US08952637B2 |
Control device for three-phase rotating machine
In a control device for a three-phase rotating machine with first and second winding sets, a current feedback computing section includes a current sum controller and a current difference controller. The current sum controller multiplies, by a sum gain, an error between a sum of current command values for alternating currents output from first and second inverters and a sum of sensed current values and computes a sum of voltage command values. The current difference controller multiplies, by a difference gain, an error between a difference of the current command values and a difference between the sensed current values, and computes a difference of voltage command values. In a variable-responsiveness mode, a gain ratio between the sum gain and the difference gain is varied according to a reference frequency such that the current sum controller and the current different controller are different in responsiveness. |
| US08952634B2 |
Programmable radio frequency waveform generator for a synchrocyclotron
A synchrocyclotron comprises a resonant circuit that includes electrodes having a gap therebetween across the magnetic field. An oscillating voltage input, having a variable amplitude and frequency determined by a programmable digital waveform generator generates an oscillating electric field across the gap. The synchrocyclotron can include a variable capacitor in circuit with the electrodes to vary the resonant frequency. The synchrocyclotron can further include an injection electrode and an extraction electrode having voltages controlled by the programmable digital waveform generator. The synchrocyclotron can further include a beam monitor. The synchrocyclotron can detect resonant conditions in the resonant circuit by measuring the voltage and or current in the resonant circuit, driven by the input voltage, and adjust the capacitance of the variable capacitor or the frequency of the input voltage to maintain the resonant conditions. The programmable waveform generator can adjust at least one of the oscillating voltage input, the voltage on the injection electrode and the voltage on the extraction electrode according to beam intensity and in response to changes in resonant conditions. |
| US08952631B2 |
Method of optimizing light output during light replication
A method of utilizing a light replication luminaire to match the spectral characteristics of light that is output from the luminaire to the spectral characteristics of a target light spectrum is provided. In one example, the method permits the user to assign a weight to one or more characteristics of the target light spectrum to be replicated. A best approximation of the target light spectrum is then determined, taking into account the weight assigned to each characteristic. In another example, the target light spectrum is provided to the luminaire by the user through the specification of various characteristics of the target light spectrum. |
| US08952627B2 |
Illuminating device and illuminating method
An illuminating device includes a plurality of kinds of LEDs that emit light having different color temperatures; a plurality of LED lighting circuits that independently light the LEDs for each color temperature of emitted light; and a control unit that selects a first control changing illuminance of the LEDs as a whole by controlling the lighting of the LEDs and a second control changing the colors of light of the LEDs as a whole by controlling the lighting of the LEDs, and corrects an illuminance difference generated before and after the second control. |
| US08952625B2 |
Power control system for current regulated light sources
A light emitting diode (LED) lighting system includes a PFC and output voltage controller and a LED lighting power system. The controller advantageously operates from an auxiliary voltage less than a link voltage generated by the LED lighting power system. The common reference voltage allows all the components of lighting system to work together. A power factor correction switch and an LED drive current switch are coupled to the common reference node and have control node-to-common node, absolute voltage that allows the controller to control the conductivity of the switches. The LED lighting system can utilize feed forward control to concurrently modify power demand by the LED lighting power system and power demand of one or more LEDs. The LED lighting system can utilize a common current sense device to provide a common feedback signal to the controller representing current in at least two of the LEDs. |
| US08952624B2 |
Light emitting diode lighting system
An LED lighting system is provided. The LED lighting system includes a main transformer, a voltage detector, a current controller, a second reference voltage supplier, and a power factor compensation circuit. The main transformer transforms an input signal to supply the transformed input signal to an LED group. The voltage detector supplies a control voltage proportional to a level of an input voltage corresponding to the input signal. The current controller includes a first voltage storage, a negative voltage applier, a second voltage storage, switch, and a current control signal generator. The first voltage storage stores the control voltage supplied from the voltage detector or discharges a stored voltage. The negative voltage applier is connected to the first voltage storage, and connected to a ground to apply the control voltage to the ground when the control voltage is a negative voltage. The second voltage storage is connected to the first voltage storage, and stores the control voltage applied through the first voltage storage or discharges a stored voltage. The switch is connected to the second voltage storage, and activated by a driving signal to apply a ground voltage to the second voltage storage. The current control signal generator generates a current control signal according to a voltage signal and gain of the second voltage storage. The first voltage storage or the second voltage storage supplies the current control signal through the voltage detector. The second reference voltage supplier supplies the second reference voltage when the control signal supplied from the voltage detector is equal to or greater than the second reference voltage. The power factor compensation circuit controls a duty ratio of the driving signal according to a level of the current control signal, and controls a peak value of a primary current in the main transformer according to a level of the second reference voltage. |
| US08952619B2 |
Low cost LED driver with integral dimming capability
A distributed system for driving strings of series-connected LEDs for backlighting, display and lighting applications includes multiple intelligent satellite LED driver ICs connected to a an interface IC via serial bus. The interface IC translates information obtained from a host microcontroller into instructions for the satellite LED driver ICs pertaining to such parameters as duty factor, current levels, phase delay and fault settings. Fault conditions in the LED driver ICs can be transmitted back to, the interface IC. An analog current sense feedback system which also links the LED driver ICs determines the supply voltage for the LED strings. |
| US08952613B2 |
LED room light
Disclosed is a light bulb which utilizes LEDs which replaces an incandescent light bulb in a fixture for incandescent light bulbs. The LED light bulb includes a multi-faceted head on which multiple LEDs are placed, with the multi-faceted head being in contact with heat dissipation structures. The heat dissipation structures include a heat transfer column which extends from the LEDs to the base of the bulb. A removable cover is enclosed which has openings for air circulation within the globe of the light bulb. |
| US08952610B2 |
Electroluminescent textile and method for the production thereof
A method for producing electroluminescent textiles and to electroluminescent textiles produced accordingly is provided. A layer arrangement (10) of an electroluminescent textile comprises a textile substrate (1), a protective layer (2), a first transparent conductive layer or front electrode (3), a light-emitting layer (4), a dielectric layer (5), a second conductive layer or back electrode (6), a conductive rail (7), and a cover layer (8). As associated method is further provided. |
| US08952602B2 |
Spark plug
A spark plug includes a center electrode, an insulator, a metallic shell, and a ground electrode which has a noble metal tip at the other end portion. A gap is formed between a forward end portion of the center electrode and a discharge surface of the noble metal tip. When an acute angle formed by the forward end surface and the discharge surface is θ1, a point on the forward end surface closest to the noble metal tip is A, opposite ends of the discharge surface are B1 and B2, and an angle formed by a first line segment connecting A and B1 and a second line segment connecting A and B2 is θ2, 35°≦θ1≦55°, 85°≦θ2≦90°, and the difference in length between the first and second line segments is equal to or less than 10% of the longer line segment. |
| US08952601B2 |
Spark plug
It is an object of the present invention to provide a spark plug having a ground electrode joined securely by electric resistance welding. The spark plug includes a cylindrical metal shell and a ground electrode joined by electric resistance welding to an end portion of the metal shell. The metal shell has a high hardness region formed with a Vickers hardness of 3×102 to 5×102 Hv in the end portion thereof in such a manner that the high hardness region, when viewed in cross section along a plane including an axis of the spark plug and an axis of the ground electrode, has a length d of 0.3 to 0.8 mm from a ground electrode side welding boundary to a metal shell side welding boundary in a direction of load applied during the electric resistance welding. |
| US08952595B2 |
Micro-electro-mechanical transducers
Some examples include at least one capacitive micro-electro-mechanical transducer (cMUT). For instance, the cMUT may include a substrate, a plate, and a resilient structure therebetween. In some examples, an integrated circuit may be formed on or integrated with the plate or other portion of the cMUT. Furthermore, in some examples, two cMUTs may be arranged in a stacked configuration. For instance, one cMUT may be operable for transmission, while a second cMUT may be operable for reception. |
| US08952592B2 |
Motor assembly for housing a capacitor in a miniature brushed DC motor and method of making the same
A motor assembly for a direct current (DC) electric motor, including: a motor cover, a brush base, brush arms and a chip capacitor housed within a protective hollow space provided in the brush base. The brush arms are shaped to support or hold the capacitor within the hollow space and maintain a solderless electrical connection between the terminal ends of the capacitor and the brush arms. The capacitor filters electromagnetic noises in the motor input circuit. |
| US08952591B2 |
Rotor lamination shaping for minimum core loss in SRMs
An electrical machine rotor includes a flux-conducting portion and a flux-inhibiting portion. The flux-conducting portion is conducive to conveying an electromagnetic flux and has a plurality of salient rotor poles and a portion of back material. The flux-inhibiting portion is less conducive to conveying an electromagnetic flux than the flux-conducting portion and is disposed entirely outside the boundaries of the rotor poles. |
| US08952588B2 |
Disk motor and electric working machine including the same
A disk motor including: a rotor; a stator; at least one coil disk provided to one of the rotor and the stator; at least one magnet provided to the other of the rotor and the stator and facing a coil pattern of the coil disk; a current supply part for supplying current to the coil pattern; and an output shaft rotated by a rotating force of the rotor, wherein an insulating resin layer is provided between the coil pattern and the magnet. |
| US08952584B2 |
Motor
An electric motor includes a rotating portion that rotates around a rotational axis and a stationary portion. The rotating portion includes a shaft and a rotor. The stationary portion includes a cover portion, a stator, and a connector including a connection terminal. The connection terminal includes a base portion that extends along a first direction, and a pressing portion that is bent to overlap with the base portion in an axial direction. A conductive line which is drawn from a coil is disposed between the base portion and the pressing portion, and the connection terminal and the conductive line contact each other and are welded in a state of overlapping with each other in an axial direction. |
| US08952580B2 |
Linear vibration motor
Disclosed herein is a linear vibration motor including: a stator part; a vibrator part received in the stator part to thereby linearly vibrate; an elastic member having one end fixedly coupled to the stator part and the other end fixedly coupled to the vibrator part, wherein the vibrator part includes a printed circuit board having one end fixedly coupled to the stator part and the other end fixedly coupled to the vibrator part to thereby linearly vibrate integrally with the vibrator part. |
| US08952579B2 |
Lens driving motor and elastic member of the same
Provided are a lens driving motor and an elastic member of the lens driving motor. The elastic member of a lens driving motor, the elastic member includes a first spring and a second spring. The second spring is different from the first spring and disposed together with the first spring on one side of a carrier to support the carrier. A first lead line of a coil and a first external power source are connected to the first spring, and a second lead line of the coil and a second external power source are connected to the second spring to supply power to the coil. Since the carrier can be assembled to other part after a (+) lead line and a (−) lead line of the coil are connected to the first and second springs, respectively, using solder, a process is simple and convenient. |
| US08952575B2 |
Three-way and four-way switching circuit
A three-way or four-way switching circuit for lighting, and the like, is described. One three-way switch is replaced with an electronic switch. Both legs of the switching circuit are powered all the time and current is sensed in the legs to determine when one of the three-way or four-way switches has been switched. This information is used to turn the light on and off. |
| US08952569B2 |
Photovoltaic power generation system
A photovoltaic power generation system is discussed. The photovoltaic power generation system includes a solar cell module having a plurality of solar cell row groups, a plurality of sensing units respectively connected to the plurality of solar cell row groups, a plurality of amplification units respectively connected to the plurality of solar cell row groups, and a signal control unit that detects currents output from the solar cell row groups in response to sensing signals output from the sensing units, controls a plurality of control signals applied to the amplification units based on the decided signal states, tracks a maximum power based on a voltage and a current output from the solar cell module, and outputs the maximum power. |
| US08952568B2 |
Conveyor system for conveying individual piece goods
The invention relates to a conveyor system for conveying individual piece goods, comprising: a number of conveyor motors and at least one control unit for sending data connected to each conveyor motor for regulating and/or controlling the conveyor motors. According to the invention, the control unit is connected with a bus line, a conveyor motor, and preferably each conveyor motor by means of the bus line, preferably without electrical contact. According to the invention, it is also provided that the modem(s) is/are designed in order to take energy for driving the conveyor motor and at least one data signal for control/regulation of the conveyor motor from the bus line and send them to the conveyor motor. |
| US08952561B2 |
Battery pack for electric bicycle and control method thereof
Provided is a battery pack for electric bicycle and a control method of the battery pack, and the battery pack may prevent the electric bicycle from moving abnormally. The electric bicycle includes a motor and a motion sensor. The battery pack includes a battery, a main switch and a controller. The main switch controls supply of a power which is supplied from the battery to the electric bicycle. The controller outputs a motor hold signal to put the motor in a hold state, when an abnormal motion sensing signal is received from the motion sensor. |
| US08952560B2 |
Linear faraday induction generator for the generation of electrical power from ocean wave kinetic energy and arrangements thereof
An energy converter system includes a rotor and a stator configured to be relatively stationary with respect to an environment. One of the rotor and the stator includes a field coil array and braking magnets, while the other of said rotor and said stator includes a permanent magnetic array that is configured to induce an electrical current in the field coil array in response to relative motion of the rotor and the stator. Magnets in the permanent magnetic array are oriented such that like poles of the magnets are disposed adjacently to concentrate a magnetic field through the field coil array. The braking magnets are oriented such that poles of the braking magnets face like poles of the closest respective magnet in the permanent magnetic array. |
| US08952555B2 |
Semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same
To provide a technique capable of positioning of a semiconductor chip and a mounting substrate with high precision by improving visibility of an alignment mark. In a semiconductor chip constituting an LCD driver, a mark is formed in an alignment mark formation region over a semiconductor substrate. The mark is formed in the same layer as that of an uppermost layer wiring (third layer wiring) in an integrated circuit formation region. Then, in the lower layer of the mark and a background region surrounding the mark, patterns are formed. At this time, the pattern P1a is formed in the same layer as that of a second layer wiring and the pattern P1b is formed in the same layer as that of a first layer wiring. Further, the pattern P2 is formed in the same layer as that of a gate electrode, and the pattern P3 is formed in the same layer as that of an element isolation region. |
| US08952552B2 |
Semiconductor package assembly systems and methods using DAM and trench structures
A packaging system for preventing underfill overflow includes a package substrate having a solder mask a die attach site, a solder mask dam on the solder mask proximal to the die attach site, and a trench in the solder mask proximal to the die attach site. The trench and the solder mask dam are adapted to constrain flow of an underfill material. |
| US08952549B2 |
Semiconductor packages and methods of manufacturing the same
A semiconductor package comprises a board including a board pad, a plurality of semiconductor chips mounted on the board, the semiconductor chips including chip pads. Bumps are disposed on the chip pads, respectively, and a wire is disposed between the chip pads and the bumps. The wire electrically connects the chip pads of the plurality of semiconductor chips and the board pad to each other. |
| US08952548B2 |
Apparatus and method for increasing bandwidths of stacked dies
A package structure includes a plurality of die carriers identical to each other. The respective features in each of the plurality of die carriers vertically overlap corresponding features in other ones of the plurality of die carriers. Each of the plurality of die carriers includes a plurality of through-substrate vias (TSVs) including a plurality of data buses. The plurality of die carriers is stacked and electrically connected to each other through the plurality of TSVs. The package structure further includes a plurality of device dies. Each of the plurality of device dies is bonded to one of the plurality of die carriers. Each of the plurality of data buses is configured to dedicate to data transmission of one of the plurality of device dies. |
| US08952547B2 |
Semiconductor device with contact structure with first/second contacts formed in first/second dielectric layers and method of forming same
A contact structure includes a first contact formed in a first dielectric layer connecting to the source/drain region of a MOS transistor, and a second contact formed in a second dielectric layer connecting to a gate region of a MOS transistor or to a first contact. A butted contact structure abutting a source/drain region and a gate electrode includes a first contact formed in a first dielectric layer connecting to the source/drain region of a MOS transistor, and a second contact formed in a second dielectric layer with one end resting on the gate electrode and the other end in contact with the first contact. |
| US08952543B2 |
Via connection structures, semiconductor devices having the same, and methods of fabricating the structures and devices
A semiconductor device including a lower layer, an insulating layer on a first side of the lower layer, an interconnection structure in the insulating layer, a via structure in the lower layer. The via structure protrudes into the insulating layer and the interconnection structure. |
| US08952541B2 |
Method of fabricating metal-insulator-semiconductor tunneling contacts using conformal deposition and thermal growth processes
A contact may be fabricated by a method including depositing a dielectric layer on a substrate having a transistor, etching a first opening in the dielectric layer that extends to a source region, forming an insulator on the source region, forming a contact metal on the insulator, the insulator separating the contact metal from the source region, and filling substantially all of the first opening, wherein the contact metal remains separated from the source region after the first opening is filled. |
| US08952538B2 |
Semiconductor device and method for manufacturing the same
A semiconductor device includes: an integrated circuit having an electrode pad; a first insulating layer disposed on the integrated circuit; a redistribution layer including a plurality of wirings and disposed on the first insulating layer, at least one of the plurality of wirings being electrically coupled to the electrode pad; a second insulating layer having a opening on at least a portion of the plurality of wirings; a metal film disposed on the opening and on the second insulating layer, and electrically coupled to at least one of the plurality of wirings; and a solder bump the solder bump overhanging at least one of the plurality of wirings not electrically coupled to the metal film. |
| US08952536B2 |
Semiconductor device and method of fabrication
A semiconductor memory device employs a SONOS type memory architecture and includes a bit line diffusion layer in a shallow trench groove in which a conductive film is buried. This makes it possible to decrease the resistivity of the bit line diffusion layer without enlarging the area on the main surface of the semiconductor substrate, and to fabricate the semiconductor memory device having stable electric characteristics without enlarging the cell area. The bit line is formed by implanting ions into the sidewall of Si3N4. |
| US08952529B2 |
Semiconductor device with conductive layer over substrate with vents to channel bump material and reduce interconnect voids
A semiconductor device has a semiconductor die with a plurality of bumps formed over a surface of the semiconductor die. A first conductive layer having first and second segments is formed over a surface of the substrate with a first vent separating an end of the first segment and the second segment and a second vent separating an end of the second segment and the first segment. A second conductive layer is formed over the surface of the substrate to electrically connect the first segment and second segment. The thickness of the second conductive layer can be less than a thickness of the first conductive layer to form the first vent and second vent. The semiconductor die is mounted to the substrate with the bumps aligned to the first segment and second segment. Bump material from reflow of the bumps is channeled into the first vent and second vent. |
| US08952527B2 |
Semiconductor device and manufacturing method thereof
Of three chips (2A), (2B), and (2C) mounted on a main surface of a package substrate (1) in a multi-chip module (MCM), a chip (2A) with a DRAM formed thereon and a chip (2B) with a flash memory formed thereon are electrically connected to wiring lines (5) of the package substrate (1) through Au bumps (4), and a gap formed between main surfaces (lower surfaces) of the chips (2A), (2B) and a main surface of the package substrate (1) is filled with an under-fill resin (6). A chip (2C) with a high-speed microprocessor formed thereon is mounted over the two chips (2A) and (2B) and is electrically connected to bonding pads (9) of the package substrate (1) through Au wires (8). |
| US08952523B2 |
Integrated circuit package lid configured for package coplanarity
An integrated circuit package apparatus includes a packaging substrate, an integrated circuit coupled to an upper side of the packaging substrate, an array of contacts coupled to an underside of the packaging substrate for electrically coupling the integrated circuit to a circuit board, and a lid coupled to the upper side of the packaging substrate. In one form, the lid includes a central portion lying on a first plane, corner areas lying on a second plane, and arcuate wall portions disposed between and interconnecting the corner areas and the central portion. Other forms of the lid are provided. |
| US08952519B2 |
Chip package and fabrication method thereof
A chip package and a fabrication method thereof are provided. The chip package includes a semiconductor substrate, having a first surface and an opposing second surface. A spacer is disposed under the second surface of the semiconductor substrate and a cover plate is disposed under the spacer. A recessed portion is formed adjacent to a sidewall of the semiconductor substrate, extending from the first surface of the semiconductor substrate to at least the spacer. Then, a protection layer is disposed over the first surface of the semiconductor substrate and in the recessed portion. |
| US08952517B2 |
Package-on-package device and method of fabricating the same
Provided are a package-on-package device and a method of fabricating the same. In the device, solder balls may be disposed on two opposing side regions of a package substrate, such that the device can have a reduced size or width. In addition, input/output pads of the logic chip and the solder balls, which need to be directly connected to each other, can be disposed adjacent to each other. As a result, it is possible to improve routability of signals to and from the solder balls and to reduce the lengths of the interconnection lines. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce any signal interference, to increase signal delivery speed, and to improve signal-quality and power-delivery properties. |
| US08952515B1 |
Signal shifting to allow independent control of identical stacked memory modules
Apparatus and methods are disclosed to allow independent control of stacked memory modules. In one embodiment, an apparatus may comprise first, second, and third modules, each of the first, second and third modules having a plurality of stacked memory dice, at least some of the plurality of stacked memory dice including a Chip Enable (CE) signal electrically accessible from a bottom surface of a corresponding module of the first, second and third modules. The apparatus may comprise a Package-on-Package (PoP) structure where the first, second and third modules are attached to one another such that an individual access to each CE signal associated with the PoP structure is provided from the bottom surface of the corresponding module. |
| US08952509B1 |
Stacked multi-chip bottom source semiconductor device and preparation method thereof
The present invention discloses a stacked dual MOSFET package structure and a preparation method thereof. The stacked dual MOSFET package structure comprises a lead frame unit having a die paddle, a first lead and a second lead; a first chip flipped and attached on a top surface of a main paddle of the die paddle; a second chip attached on a bottom surface of the main paddle; and a metal clip mounted on the back of the flipped first chip and electrically connecting an electrode at the back of the first chip to the first lead. A top surface of a metal bump arranged on each electrode at the front of the second chip, a bottom surface of the die pin of the die paddle, a bottom surface of a lead pin of the second lead, and a bottom surface of the first lead are located on the same plane. |
| US08952507B2 |
Wiring board and method for manufacturing wiring board
A wiring board includes a substrate having a cavity, and an electronic component accommodated in the cavity of the substrate. The substrate has a thickness which is greater than a thickness of the electronic component such that a ratio of the thickness of the substrate to the thickness of the electronic component is set in a range of 0.3 or greater and 0.7 or less. |
| US08952500B2 |
Semiconductor device
A semiconductor device comprises a substrate, a through-silicon via (TSV) penetrating the substrate, a plurality of first interconnect structures, right above the TSV, configured for electrically coupling the TSV to a higher-level interconnect, a second interconnect structure traversing the TSV from the top and being configured for interconnect routing of an active device and a plurality of dummy metal patterns, right above the TSV, electrically isolated from the TSV, the first interconnect structures and the second interconnect structure. |
| US08952494B2 |
Group III nitride semiconductor substrate having a sulfide in a surface layer
In a semiconductor device 100, it is possible to prevent C from piling up at a boundary face between an epitaxial layer 22 and a group III nitride semiconductor substrate 10 by the presence of 30×1010 pieces/cm2 to 2000×1010 pieces/cm2 of sulfide in terms of S and 2 at % to 20 at % of oxide in terms of O in a surface layer 12. By thus preventing C from piling up, a high-resistivity layer is prevented from being formed on the boundary face between the epitaxial layer 22 and the group III nitride semiconductor substrate 10. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce electrical resistance at the boundary face between the epitaxial layer 22 and the group III nitride semiconductor substrate 10, and improve the crystal quality of the epitaxial layer 22. Consequently, it is possible to improve the emission intensity and yield of the semiconductor device 100. |
| US08952492B2 |
High-precision resistor and trimming method thereof
An embodiment of an electrically trimmable electronic device, wherein a resistor of electrically modifiable material is formed by a first generally strip-shaped portion and by a second generally strip-shaped portion, which extend transversely with respect to one another and are in direct electrical contact in a crossing area. The first and second portions have respective ends connected to own contact regions, coupled to a current pulse source and are made of the same material or of the same composition of materials starting from a same resistive layer of the material having electrically modifiable resistivity, for example, a phase-change material, such as a Ge—Sb—Te alloy, or polycrystalline silicon, or a metal material used for thin-film resistors. The trimming is performed by supplying a trimming current to the second portion so as to heat the crossing area and modify the resistivity thereof, without flowing longitudinally in the first portion. |
| US08952491B2 |
Capacitive element
A capacitive element includes: an upper electrode; a lower electrode; and a dielectric layer that is disposed between the upper electrode and the lower electrode, and includes a first film, a second film and a third film which are made of any one of silicon nitride and aluminum oxide and laminated from a side of the lower electrode in order, a composition ratio of any one of silicon and aluminum in each of the first film and the third film being larger than a corresponding composition ratio in the second film. |
| US08952489B2 |
Semiconductor package and method for fabricating the same
A semiconductor package includes a semiconductor chip, an inductor applied to the semiconductor chip. The inductor includes at least one winding. A space within the at least one winding is filled with a magnetic material. |
| US08952488B2 |
Low cost anti-fuse structure
An anti-fuse structure is provided in which an anti-fuse material liner is embedded within one of the openings provided within an interconnect dielectric material. The anti-fuse material liner is located between a first conductive metal and a second conductive metal which are also present within the opening. A diffusion barrier liner separates the first conductive metal from any portion of the interconnect dielectric material. The anti-fuse structure is laterally adjacent an interconnect structure that is formed within the same interconnect dielectric material as the anti-fuse structure. |
| US08952482B2 |
Three-dimensional devices having reduced contact length
Various embodiments comprise apparatuses and methods including a memory array having alternating levels of semiconductor materials and dielectric material with strings of memory cells formed on the alternating levels. One such apparatus includes a memory array formed substantially within a cavity of a substrate. Peripheral circuitry can be formed adjacent to a surface of the substrate and adjacent to the memory array. Additional apparatuses and methods are described. |
| US08952479B2 |
Focal plane array and method for manufacturing the same
A method of forming a focal plane array by: preparing a first wafer having sensing material provided on a surface, which is covered by a sacrificial layer; preparing a second wafer including read-out integrated circuit and a contact pad, which is covered by another sacrificial layer into which are formed support legs in contact with the contact pad, the support legs being covered with a further sacrificial layer; bonding the sacrificial layers of the first and second wafers together such that the sensing material is transferred from the first wafer to the second wafer when a sacrificial bulk layer of the first wafer is removed; defining a pixel in the sensing material and forming a conductive via through the pixel for providing a connection between an uppermost surface of the pixel and the supporting legs; and removing the sacrificial layers to release the pixel, with the supporting legs underneath it. |
| US08952468B2 |
Acoustic sensor, acoustic transducer, microphone using the acoustic transducer, and method for manufacturing the acoustic transducer
In an acoustic sensor, a conductive vibrating membrane and a fixed electrode plate are disposed above a silicon substrate with an air gap provided therebetween, and the substrate has an impurity added to a surface thereof. A microphone includes an acoustic transducer; and an acquiring section that acquires a change in pressure as detected by the acoustic transducer. A method for manufacturing an acoustic transducer including a semiconductor substrate, a vibrating membrane, which is conductive, and a fixed electrode plate and detecting a pressure according to a change in capacitance between the vibrating membrane and the fixed electrode plate, the method includes an impurity adding step of adding an impurity to a surface of the semiconductor substrate; and a forming step of forming the vibrating membrane and the fixed electrode plate above the semiconductor substrate to which the impurity has been added. |
| US08952466B2 |
Flexible stop for an acceleration sensor
A micromechanical acceleration sensor includes a seismic mass and a substrate that has a reference electrode. The seismic mass is deflectable in a direction perpendicular to the reference electrode, and the seismic mass has a flexible stop in the deflection direction. The flexible stop of the seismic mass includes an elastic layer. |
| US08952463B2 |
MEMS structure preventing stiction
A MEMS (Micro-Electro-Mechanical-System) structure preventing stiction, comprising: a substrate; and at least two structural layers above the substrate, wherein at least one of the at least two structural layers is a movable part, and anyone or more of the at least two structural layers is provided with at least one bump to prevent the movable part from sticking to another portion of the MEMS structure. |
| US08952448B2 |
Three-dimensional semiconductor memory devices and methods for manufacturing same
A three-dimensional (3D) nonvolatile memory device includes a vertical stack of nonvolatile memory cells on a substrate having a region of first conductivity type therein. A dopant region of second conductivity type is provided in the substrate. This dopant region forms a P-N rectifying junction with the region of first conductivity type and has a concave upper surface that is recessed relative to an upper surface of the substrate upon which the vertical stack of nonvolatile memory cells extends. An electrically insulating electrode separating pattern is provided, which extends through the vertical stack of nonvolatile memory cells and into the recess in the dopant region of second conductivity type. |
| US08952445B2 |
Nonvolatile semiconductor memory device
According to one embodiment, a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device has a semiconductor substrate, a first insulating film formed on the semiconductor substrate, a charge storage film formed on the first insulating film, a second insulating film formed on the charge storage film, and a control electrode formed on the second insulating film. In the nonvolatile semiconductor memory device, the second insulating film has a laminated structure that has a first silicon oxide film, a first silicon nitride film, and a second silicon oxide film, a first atom is provided at an interface between the first silicon oxide film and the first silicon nitride film, and/or at an interface between the second silicon oxide film and the first silicon nitride film, and the first atom is selected from the group consisting of aluminum, boron, and alkaline earth metals. |
| US08952443B2 |
Three dimensional semiconductor memory devices and methods of fabricating the same
A 3D semiconductor device includes an electrode structure has electrodes stacked on a substrate, semiconductor patterns penetrating the electrode structure, charge storing patterns interposed between the semiconductor patterns and the electrode structure, and blocking insulating patterns interposed between the charge storing patterns and the electrode structure. Each of the blocking insulating patterns surrounds the semiconductor patterns, and the charge storing patterns are horizontally spaced from each other and configured in such a way as to each be disposed around a respective one of the semiconductor patterns. Also, each of the charge storing patterns includes a plurality of horizontal segments, each interposed between vertically adjacent ones of the electrodes. |
| US08952438B2 |
Three-dimensional microelectronic devices including horizontal and vertical patterns
A vertical NAND flash memory device includes a substrate having a face and a string of serially connected flash memory cells on the substrate. A first flash memory cell is adjacent the face, and a last flash memory cell is remote from the face. The flash memory cells include repeating layer patterns that are stacked on the face, and a pillar that extends through the series of repeating layer patterns. The pillar includes at least one oblique wall. At least two of the series of repeating layer patterns in the string are of different thicknesses. Other vertical microelectronic devices and related fabrication methods are also described. |
| US08952437B2 |
DRAM cell design with folded digitline sense amplifier
The present invention is generally directed to a DRAM cell design with folded digitline sense amplifier. In one illustrative embodiment, a memory array having a plurality of memory cells having an effective size of 6F2 is disclosed which has a plurality of dual bit active areas, each of the active areas having a substantially longitudinal axis, and a plurality of digitlines arranged in a folded digitline architecture, wherein the active areas are positioned such that the longitudinal axis of the active areas is oriented at an angle with respect to a centerline of the digitlines. |
| US08952428B2 |
Element isolation structure of a solid-state pickup device
An N-type semiconductor region and a floating diffusion region are disposed in an active region. A transfer gate electrode for transferring charges from a PD to an FD is disposed on a semiconductor substrate through an insulator. A part of the N-type semiconductor region constituting the PD and a part of the transfer gate electrode are overlapped with each other. A P-type semiconductor region is disposed in the active region. The P-type semiconductor region and the portion overlapped with the transfer gate electrode of the N-type semiconductor region are disposed adjacent to each other in the direction parallel to the interface of the semiconductor substrate and the insulator. The position of the impurity concentration peak of the N-type semiconductor region and the position of the impurity concentration peak of the P-type semiconductor region are different from each other in depth. |
| US08952427B2 |
Range sensor and range image sensor
A range image sensor capable of improving its aperture ratio and yielding a range image with a favorable S/N ratio is provided. A range image sensor RS has an imaging region constituted by a plurality of one-dimensionally arranged units on a semiconductor substrate 1 and yields a range image according to a charge amount issued from the units. One unit comprises a photoresponsive region; two pairs of third semiconductor regions 9a, 9b opposing each other while interposing a photogate electrode PG in the opposing direction of first and second longer sides L1, L2; first and second transfer electrodes TX1, TX2 disposed between the third semiconductor regions 9a, 9b and the photogate electrode PG; fourth semiconductor regions 11a, 11b arranged between the third semiconductor regions 9a, 9b such as to oppose each other while interposing the photogate electrode PG in the opposing direction of the first and second longer sides L1, L2; and third transfer electrodes TX3 disposed between the fourth semiconductor regions 11a, 11b and the photogate electrode PG. |
| US08952423B2 |
Semiconductor device having decoupling capacitors and dummy transistors
A semiconductor device includes a logic region disposed in a central region of the semiconductor device, and a peripheral region disposed in an outer region thereof. The logic region includes a line-shaped logic transistor and a box-shaped decoupling capacitor. The peripheral region includes a line-shaped peripheral transistor and a line-shaped peripheral dummy transistor disposed adjacent to the peripheral transistor. |
| US08952421B2 |
RF power HEMT grown on a silicon or SiC substrate with a front-side plug connection
A compound semiconductor device includes a plurality of high-resistance crystalline silicon epitaxial layers and a plurality of activated dopant regions disposed in a same region of at least some of the epitaxial layers so that the activated dopant regions are aligned in a vertical direction perpendicular to a main surface of the epitaxial layers. The compound semiconductor device further includes an III-nitride compound semiconductor device structure disposed on the main surface of the epitaxial layers. The III-nitride compound semiconductor device structure has a source, a drain and a gate. An electrically conductive structure is formed from the activated dopant regions. The electrically conductive structure extends in the vertical direction through the epitaxial layers with the activated dopant regions toward the III-nitride compound semiconductor device structure, and is electrically connected to the source. |
| US08952418B2 |
Gated bipolar junction transistors
Some embodiments include gated bipolar junction transistors. The transistors may include a base region between a collector region and an emitter region; with a B-C junction being at an interface of the base region and the collector region, and with a B-E junction being at an interface of the base region and the emitter region. The transistors may include material having a bandgap of at least 1.2 eV within one or more of the base, emitter and collector regions. The gated transistors may include a gate along the base region and spaced from the base region by dielectric material, with the gate not overlapping either the B-C junction or the B-E junction. Some embodiments include memory arrays containing gated bipolar junction transistors. Some embodiments include methods of forming gated bipolar junction transistors. |
| US08952414B2 |
Semiconductor light emitting device
A semiconductor light emitting device includes a conductive support member; a light emitting structure under the conductive support member; an insulating layer including a protrusion disposed along an outer circumference of the light emitting structure; an electrode layer having an outer portion on the insulating layer and an inner portion on an inner portion of a top surface of the light emitting structure; and an electrode under the light emitting structure, wherein the inner portion of the electrode layer is protruded to the light emitting structure relative to the outer portion of the electrode layer, and wherein a portion of the insulating layer surrounds a portion of the light emitting structure. |
| US08952411B2 |
Light emitting diode
A light emitting diode device may include a carrier, a p-type and n-type semiconductor layers, an active layer, a first electrode and a second electrode is provided. The carrier has a growth surface and at least one nano-patterned structure on the growth surface, in which the carrier includes a substrate and a semiconductor capping layer disposed between the substrate and the n-type semiconductor layer. The n-type semiconductor layer and the p-type semiconductor layer are located over the growth surface of the carrier. The active layer is located between the n-type and p-type semiconductor layers, in which a wavelength λ of light emitted by the active layer is 222 nm≦λ≦405 nm, and a defect density of the active layer is less than or equal to 5×1010/cm2. The first and second electrodes are respectively connected to the n-type and p-type semiconductor layers. A carrier for carrying a semiconductor layer is also provided. |
| US08952409B2 |
Light emitting device including a fluorescent material layer
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor light-emitting device includes a semiconductor light-emitting layer, a pair of electrodes, a fluorescent material layer and a chromaticity adjusting layer. The semiconductor light-emitting layer emits first light. The pair of electrodes is connected to the semiconductor light-emitting layer. The fluorescent material layer covers at least a center portion of the semiconductor light-emitting layer, and contains a fluorescent material to absorb the first light and radiate second light. The chromaticity adjusting layer covers at least a peripheral portion of the semiconductor light-emitting layer, is exposed to outside, and contains a fluorescent material with a concentration lower than a concentration of the fluorescent material in the fluorescent material layer. |
| US08952407B2 |
Lighting device
A light emitting device package may be provided that includes: a package body which includes a first cavity and a second cavity which are formed to be depressed in at least a portion of the package body; a first light emitting device and a second light emitting device, each of which is disposed in the first cavity and the second cavity respectively; and a first fluorescent substance and a second fluorescent substance, each of which is filled in the first cavity and the second cavity respectively. |
| US08952403B2 |
Optical devices based on non-periodic sub-wavelength gratings
Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to optical devices comprising planar lenses. In one aspect, an optical device includes two or more planar lenses (208,209), and one or more dielectric layers (210-212). Each planar lens includes a non-periodic, sub-wavelength grating layer (1110), and each dielectric layer is disposed adjacent to at least one planar lens to form a solid structure. The two or more planar lenses are substantially parallel and arranged to have a common optical axis (214) so that light transmitted through the optical device substantially parallel to the optical axis is refracted by the two or more planar lenses. |
| US08952402B2 |
Solid-state radiation transducer devices having flip-chip mounted solid-state radiation transducers and associated systems and methods
Solid-state radiation transducer (SSRT) devices and methods of manufacturing and using SSRT devices are disclosed herein. One embodiment of the SSRT device includes a radiation transducer (e.g., a light-emitting diode) and a transmissive support assembly including a transmissive support member, such as a transmissive support member including a converter material. A lead can be positioned at a back side of the transmissive support member. The radiation transducer can be flip-chip mounted to the transmissive support assembly. For example, a solder connection can be present between a contact of the radiation transducer and the lead of the transmissive support assembly. |
| US08952397B2 |
AC light emitting diode and method for fabricating the same
The present invention relates to a light emitting device, including a plurality of light guide portions, a reflection prevention substance disposed on an inclined surface of each light guide portion of the plurality of light guide portions, and a plurality light emitting regions. Each light emitting region includes a first-type semiconductor layer, a second-type semiconductor layer, and an active layer disposed between the first-type semiconductor layer and the second-type semiconductor layer. Each light guide portion of the plurality of light guide portions is surrounded by light emitting regions of the plurality of light emitting regions. |
| US08952396B2 |
LED module, backlight unit including the LED module, and method for manufacturing the LED module
A light emitting diode (LED) module having a structure capable of effectively dissipating heat generated from an LED chip thereof, and a backlight unit including the same are disclosed. The LED module includes a base made of a metal material, an insulating layer provided on the base, a circuit layer provided on the insulating layer, an LED package provided on the circuit layer, and a bonding layer extending through the insulating layer and the circuit layer, to connect the LED package to the base. |
| US08952394B2 |
Light-emitting element, light-emitting device, lighting device, and electronic device
An object is to provide a light-emitting element which exhibits light emission with high luminance and can be driven at low voltage. Another object is to provide a light-emitting device or an electronic device with reduced power consumption. Between an anode and a cathode, n (n is a natural number of two or more) EL layers are provided, where between a first EL layer and a second EL layer, a first layer containing any of an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, a rare earth metal, an alkali metal compound, an alkaline earth metal compound, and a rare earth metal compound, a second layer containing a material having a high electron-transporting property in contact with the first layer, and a region containing a material having a high hole-transporting property and an acceptor material in contact with the second layer are provided in this order from the anode side. |
| US08952386B2 |
Organic light-emitting display apparatus and method of manufacturing organic light-emitting display apparatus
An OLED apparatus including a thin film transistor including an activation layer, a gate electrode insulated from the activation layer and including a lower gate electrode and an upper gate electrode, an interlayer insulation film covering the gate electrode, and a source and drain electrode on the insulation film and contacting the activation layer; an OLED including a pixel electrode electrically connected to the thin film transistor, an intermediate layer including an emissive layer, and an opposite electrode; a blister prevention layer on a same level as the activation layer; a gate insulation layer covering the activation layer and the blister prevention layer and insulating the activation layer from the gate electrode; and an interconnection unit including first and second layers on a portion of the gate insulation layer overlying the blister prevention layer, wherein the blister prevention layer protects the interconnection unit on the gate insulation layer from blistering. |
| US08952383B2 |
Test carrier
A test carrier which can suppress the occurrence of contact defects while securing positional precision of the terminals is provided. A test carrier 10 comprises: a base film 40 which has one main surface which has bumps which contact electrodes 91 of the die 90; and a cover film 70 which is laid over the base film 40, the die 90 is held between the base film 40 and the cover film 70, the base film 40 has: a first region 40a which has a first thickness t1; and a second region 40b which has a second thickness t2 which is thinner than the first thickness t1, and the second region 40b faces at least a part of the edge 92 of the die 90. |
| US08952372B2 |
Photoelectric element and method for producing the same
To provide a photoelectric element A including a first electrode 2, a second electrode 3 arranged opposite to the first electrode 2, an electron transport layer 1 provided on a face of the first electrode 2, the face being opposite to the second electrode 3, a photosensitizer 5 supported on the electron transport layer 1, and a hole transport layer 4 interposed between the first electrode 2 and the second electrode 3. The electron transport layer 1 includes a filled part 8 containing an organic molecule. |
| US08952371B2 |
Organic EL element and method for manufacturing same
An organic EL element comprises: a substrate; a first electrode formed at one surface side of the substrate; a second electrode opposing the first electrode; and an organic EL layer located between the first and second electrodes. In the organic EL element, the second electrode is a transparent electrode, and the first electrode is a reflecting electrode. The organic EL element is a top-emission type. The first electrode comprises a plurality of nanometer-size (nanometer-order) columnar structures formed on the above-mentioned one surface of the substrate, and each of the plurality of columnar structures has a metallic surface as the outermost surface. |
| US08952369B2 |
Light-emitting element, light-emitting device, display device, and electronic apparatus
A light-emitting element includes an anode, a cathode, a luminescent layer disposed between the anode and the cathode and containing a host material, a first luminescence-assisting layer disposed in contact with the luminescent layer between the anode and the luminescent layer and containing a first luminescence-assisting material having characteristics the same as or similar to the host material, and a second luminescence-assisting layer disposed in contact with the luminescent layer between the cathode and the luminescent layer and containing a second luminescence-assisting material having characteristics the same as or similar to the host material. The luminescent layer and the first luminescence-assisting layer each contain a high-molecular-weight material. |
| US08952365B2 |
Light-emitting panel, manufacturing method of light-emitting panel, and film forming system
A light-emitting panel includes: a substrate; and a light-emitting functional multilayer formed on the substrate, wherein the light-emitting functional multilayer including a first functional layer and a second functional layer, a thickness of part of the first functional layer positioned in a first light-emitting region is smaller than a thickness of part of the first functional layer positioned in a second light-emitting region, a thickness of part of the second functional layer positioned in the first light-emitting region is greater than a thickness of part of the second functional layer positioned in the second light-emitting region, and when the light-emitting functional multilayer is viewed in a layering direction thereof, the first light-emitting region and the second light-emitting region are adjacent or distant from each other in a direction perpendicular to the layering direction, and each include a plurality of pixels that are each composed of a plurality of adjacent sub-pixels. |
| US08952363B2 |
Organic electroluminescent materials and devices
A new class of compounds containing aza-dibenzothiophene or aza-dibenzofuran are provided. The compounds may be used in organic light emitting devices giving improved stability, improved efficiency, long lifetime and low operational voltage. In particular, the compounds may be used as the host material of an emissive layer having a host and an emissive dopant, or as a material in an enhancement layer. |
| US08952361B2 |
Semiconductor devices including an electrically percolating source layer and methods of fabricating the same
Various embodiments are provided for semiconductor devices including an electrically percolating source layer and methods of fabricating the same. In one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes a gate layer, a dielectric layer, a memory layer, a source layer, a semiconducting channel layer, and a drain layer. The source layer is electrically percolating and perforated. The semiconducting channel layer is in contact with the source layer and the memory layer. The source layer and the semiconducting channel layer form a gate voltage tunable charge injection barrier. |
| US08952357B2 |
Cytochrome c552 color imaging element and method of manufacturing the same, cytochrome c552 photosensor and method of manufacturing the same, cytochrome c552 photoelectric transducer and method of manufacturing the same, and cytochrome c552 electronic device
A color imaging element, a photosensor and a photoelectric transducer which use a protein and are capable of being stably used for a long time, and methods of manufacturing them are provided. A zinc-substituted cytochrome c552 is immobilized on a gold electrode with a self-assembled monolayer in between to form a blue-light photoelectric transducer. Alternatively, a cytochrome c552 is immobilized on a gold electrode with a self-assembled monolayer in between, and a fluorescent protein absorbing blue light is bonded to the cytochrome c552, thereby forming a blue-light photoelectric transducer. These photoelectric transducers each are used as a color imaging element or a blue-light photoelectric transducer of a photosensor. |
| US08952356B2 |
Semiconductor device, method of manufacturing the same, and electronic device including the semiconductor device
An example embodiment relates to a semiconductor device including a semiconductor element. The semiconductor element may include a plurality of unit layers spaced apart from each other in a vertical direction. Each unit layer may include a patterned graphene layer. The patterned graphene layer may be a layer patterned in a nanoscale. The patterned graphene layer may have a nanomesh or nanoribbon structure. The semiconductor device may be a transistor or a diode. An example embodiment relates to a method of making a semiconductor device including a semiconductor element. |
| US08952354B2 |
Multi-junction photovoltaic cell with nanowires
A multi junction photovoltaic cell for converting light into electrical energy, comprising a substrate (3) having a surface (31), wherein a region (4) at the surface (31) of the substrate (3) is doped such that a first p-n junction is formed in the substrate (3). The photovoltaic cell has a nanowire (2) that is arranged on the surface (31) of the substrate (3) at a position where the doped region (4) is located in the substrate (3), such that a second p-n junction is formed at the nanowire (2) and in series connection with the first p-n junction. |
| US08952346B2 |
Systems and methods for isotopic source external beam radiotherapy
The subject matter described herein provides methods for developing an IMRT treatment plan for a radiotherapy system. In one aspect, the method can include providing initial treatment parameters. These parameters can include a number of isotopic beams, a transmission angle for each beam, a prescribed dose for a target, and dose volume histogram constraints. The method can further include determining an initial fluence map including one or more beamlets. The initial fluence map can specify a fluence value for each beamlet. The method can further include determining a delivery sequence for the fluence values in the initial fluence map. The delivery sequence can include one or more apertures formed by the leaves of a collimator. These apertures can have a specified size constrained to substantially less than a maximum size associated with the collimator, when the isotopic beam is near a critical structure. Related apparatus and systems are also described. |
| US08952343B2 |
System and method for automated cyclotron procedures
Systems and methods are provided to perform efficient, automatic cyclotron initialization, calibration, and beam adjustment. A process is provided that allows the automation of the initialization of a cyclotron after overnight or maintenance imposed shutdown. In one embodiment, five independent cyclotron system states are defined and the transition between one state to another may be automated, e.g., by the control system of the cyclotron. According to these embodiments, it is thereby possible to achieve beam operation after shutdown with minimal manual input. By applying an automatic procedure, all active devices of the cyclotron (e.g., RF system, extraction deflectors, ion source) are respectively ramped to predefined parameters. |
| US08952337B2 |
High aspect ratio scintillator detector for neutron detection
A detection device includes a photon sensor and a scintillator device optically coupled to the photon sensor. The scintillator device includes a scintillator material having a first refractive index, a first refractive material in a first annular space around the scintillator material, and a second refractive material in a second annular space around the first annular space. The first refractive material has a second refractive index. The second refractive index is less than the first refractive index. The second refractive material has a third refractive index. The third refractive index is less than the second refractive index. |
| US08952336B2 |
Image pickup device and image pickup display system
An image pickup device includes: an image pickup section including a plurality of pixels; and a drive section reading a signal charge stored in each of the pixels. Each of the pixels includes: a circuit layer including a field-effect transistor, a signal line, and a holding capacitive element; a first electrode provided on the circuit layer and arranged for each of the pixels; a semiconductor layer provided on the first electrode across the pixels, and generating the signal charge based on incident radiation; a second electrode provided on the semiconductor layer; and a third electrode disposed in a region that is between the circuit layer and the semiconductor layer and that is not in opposition to the first electrode, and controlled in voltage by the drive section. |
| US08952330B2 |
System and method for electromagnetic interference shielding for critical dimension-scanning electron microscope
System and method for EMI shielding for a CD-SEM are described. One embodiment is a scanning electron microscope (“SEM”) comprising an electron gun for producing an electron beam directed toward a sample; a secondary electron (“SE”) detector for detecting secondary electrons reflected from the sample in response to the electron beam; and a dual-layer shield disposed around and enclosing the SE detector. The shield comprises a magnetic shielding lamina layer and a metallic foil layer. |
| US08952325B2 |
Co-axial time-of-flight mass spectrometer
A co-axial time-of-flight mass spectrometer having a longitudinal axis and first and second ion mirrors at opposite ends of the longitudinal axis. Ions enter the spectrometer along an input trajectory offset from the longitudinal axis and after one or more passes between the mirrors ions leave along an output trajectory offset from the longitudinal axis for detection by an ion detector. The input and output trajectories are offset from the longitudinal axis by an angle no greater than formula (I): where Dmin is the or the minimum transverse dimension of the ion mirror and L is the distance between the entrances of the ion mirrors. |
| US08952321B2 |
Analytical instruments, assemblies, and methods
Person-portable mass analysis instrumentation configured to perform multidimensional mass analysis is provided. Mass analysis instrumentation can include a housing encompassing components of the instrumentation with the housing of the instrumentation defining a space having a volume of equal to or less than about 100,000 cm3. Instrument assemblies are also provided that can include a housing coupled to an instrument component isolation assembly, wherein the component isolation assembly is isolated from an environment exterior to the housing. Exemplary instrument assemblies can include at least first and second components configured to provide analysis with a housing of the instrument at least partially encompassing the first and second components and the first component being rigidly affixed to the housing. An isolation assembly can also be provided that is rigidly affixed to the second component with the isolation assembly being isolated from received inputs of the housing. |
| US08952319B2 |
Downhole deployable tools for measuring tracer concentrations
Downhole deployable tools for measuring tracer concentrations are disclosed. According to one embodiment, an apparatus comprises a support cable configured to allow the apparatus to be lowered into and raised from a wellbore. A housing is attached to the support cable. The housing includes a detector window on the exterior of the housing. A detector system within the housing includes a detector that measures tracer concentrations. The detector is operably connected to the detector window to direct energy or particles from the detector window to the detector. |
| US08952317B2 |
Apparatus for the analysis of an object, preferably of a document of value, using optical radiation
A device for examining an object, preferably a document of value, by using optical radiation, having an optical waveguide which has an anisotropic retro-reflector section, which is formed along a surface curved in a plane of curvature and which reflects radiation components specularly in a first plane of incidence parallel to the plane of curvature but retro-reflects radiation components orthogonally with respect to the first plane of incidence, so that at least a proportion of the optical radiation falling in a glancing manner on the retro-reflector section is at least partly guided on the convex side of the surface by reflection on the retro-reflector section. |
| US08952316B2 |
Optical control system with modulated emitters
An optical control system is described, which employs a series of optical emitters and detectors arranged about a touch area. The emitters are driven by a series of orthogonal functions, and the system is operable to correlate the signals received at the detectors with the modulation functions to determine the amount of energy received by the detectors from each of the emitters. This system means that all or many emitters can be modulated simultaneously, so the scanning process is accelerated. Also, the energy estimates arrived at by correlation with the modulating functions are largely unaffected by external interference signals as well by each other. An additional benefit of the present invention is that the correlation processing makes use of many detector samples and tends to yield results which have higher resolution than the sample values themselves, due to the averaging of noise over the sample set. |
| US08952313B2 |
Semiconductor device having direct connecting structure including first detector, second detector, first transistor, and second transistor elements
The semiconductor device includes a plurality of pixels arranged in rows and columns, and first transistors fewer than the number of the plurality of pixels. The plurality of pixels each includes a photodiode and an amplifier circuit. The amplifier circuit holds the accumulated charge and includes at least a second transistor electrically connected to a cathode of the photodiode. The cathode of the photodiode in the pixel in an n-th row and the cathode of the photodiode in the pixel in an (n+1)-th row are electrically connected to the first transistor. The number n is a natural number. The pixel in the n-th row and the pixel in the (n+1)-th row are in an identical column. |
| US08952309B2 |
Image sensor with micro-lens coating
Techniques and architectures for providing a coating for one or more micro-lenses of a pixel array. In an embodiment, a pixel element includes a micro-lens and a coating portion extending over a surface of the micro-lens, where a profile of the coating portion is super-conformal to, or at least conformal to, a profile of the micro-lens. In another embodiment, the coating portion is formed at least in part by orienting the surface of the micro-lens to face generally downward with the direction of gravity, the orienting to allow a fluid coating material to flow for formation of the coating portion. |
| US08952308B2 |
Light source sensing device and light source sensing method thereof
A light source sensing device and a light source sensing method thereof are provided. The light source sensing device includes an optical sensor, a rod, a motor and a controller. The optical sensor is used for sensing lighting brightness emitted by the light source. The rod is disposed on a circular track which surrounds the optical sensor. When the light source irradiates the rod, a shadow is formed on a sensing surface of the optical sensor. The motor drives the rod to move along the circular track in a moving speed. The controller is coupled to the motor and the optical sensor, and controls the optical sensor to sample in a sampling frequency during a sampling period for obtaining a plurality of brightness values. The controller calculates and processes the brightness values for obtaining an irradiating angle of the light source. |
| US08952306B2 |
Auto focus adjustment apparatus and image pickup apparatus
An auto focus adjustment apparatus includes: a correction unit which corrects a defocus amount detected by a defocus amount detection unit, correspondingly to a focus area selected from a plurality of focus areas; a storage unit which stores a correction value to be used by the correction unit at a time of correcting the defocus amount; and a correction value changing unit configured to change the correction value, wherein the correction value changing unit is arranged to be capable of changing the correction value for a plurality of selected focus areas and at a plurality of zoom positions. |
| US08952301B2 |
Modular heated cover
The grounded modular heated cover is disclosed with a first pliable outer layer and a second pliable outer layer, an electrical heating element between the first and the second outer layers, a heat spreading layer, and a thermal insulation layer positioned above the active electrical heating element. Beneficially, such a device provides radiant heat, weather isolation, temperature insulation, and solar heat absorption efficiently and cost effectively. The modular heated cover quickly and efficiently removes ice, snow, and frost from surfaces, and penetrates soil and other material to thaw the material to a suitable depth. A plurality of modular heated covers can be connected on a single 120 Volt circuit protected by a 20 Amp breaker. The modular heated covers are grounded for safety using the conductive heat spreading layer. |
| US08952296B2 |
Interior lining
The invention relates to an interior lining for vehicles and aircraft having a carrier and a heating layer and an upper layer, wherein the at least one heating layer is arranged between the carrier and the upper layer, and the heating layer and the upper layer are directly or indirectly interconnected, and to a method for producing such an interior lining, wherein at least one heating layer is pre-laminated onto an upper layer to form a layer composite, and the layer composite is press-laminated, membrane-laminated or vacuum-laminated onto a carrier, or alternatively, in order to produce such an interior lining, a heating layer is pre-laminated onto a carrier to form a carrier/layer composite, and an upper layer is press-laminated, membrane-laminated or vacuum-laminated onto the carrier/layer composite. |
| US08952293B2 |
Welding or cutting power supply using phase shift double forward converter circuit (PSDF)
A technique for dynamically adjusting an output voltage for a welding or cutting operation is provided. The technique allows for varying output voltage at the welding or cutting torch by manipulating the duty cycles of two forward converter circuits. The present disclosure provides methods and systems for increasing synchronized duty cycles in a pair of forward converter circuits in response to increasing output voltage demand then changing a phase shift between the duty cycles in response to further increases in output voltage demand. The present disclosure provides a controller designed to receive input signals and generate output pulse width modulation signals that control the duty cycle width and phase shift of the outputs of the forward converter circuits in response to these signals. Methods of accommodating for the time needed for the transformer core to reset via leading edge or lagging edge compensation are provided. |
| US08952290B2 |
Method and apparatus for the thermal treatment of a workpiece by means of a laser beam
In the thermal cutting of a workpiece by means of a laser beam, said beam is generated by means of a laser source and supplied to a movable laser head. In the laser head, an optical deflection element is provided for deflecting the laser beam such that, when viewed in working direction, it encloses a tilt angle (α) differing from 0 degrees with the longitudinal axis of the laser head. Starting therefrom, to produce the inclination of the collimated laser beam to the vertical with a very small number of optical components if possible, the invention suggests that the laser beam is supplied to the laser head by means of an optical fiber and the laser beam is collimated, passes through the deflection element laterally offset to the longitudinal axis of the laser head and is deflected by means of said element onto the workpiece surface and focused at the same time. |
| US08952286B2 |
Resistance welding high frequency transformer and spot welding machine
A resistance welding high frequency transformer and a high frequency resistance welding machine using the same are disclosed. The transformer comprises a magnetic core (6), primary coils (1, 2, 3) and secondary coils (4, 5). The primary coils and the secondary coils are alternatively positioned layer by layer. Each secondary coil is arranged between two primary coils. The primary coils are provided at the internal side and the external side of the secondary coil. The secondary coil is composed of red copper pipes through which water flows. Each secondary coil is wound with one to two turns. The red copper pipes of the secondary coils and rectifier diodes constitute a full-wave rectifier circuit. The resistance welding high frequency transformer can be wound conveniently. Its structure can reduce size, weight, leakage inductance and copper circuit loss, and the heat from the primary coils and secondary coils is dissipated conveniently, thus enabling the high-frequency transformer to output high current and high power with a high duty cycle. The resistance welding machine using the transformer has high power factor, high output power, small volume, light weight, and saves energy and material, which is especially suitable to produce a suspension spot welding machine with the integration of the transformer and welding tongs. |
| US08952284B1 |
Method and apparatus for managing the allocation of items to processing stations in an order fulfillment process
Various embodiments of a method and apparatus for managing the allocation of items to processing stations in an order fulfillment process are described. The apparatus for managing the allocation of items to processing stations in an order fulfillment process may include a conveyance mechanism including at least one item inducted into the conveyance mechanism. The apparatus for managing the allocation of items to processing stations in an order fulfillment process may also include an item allocation component. The item allocation component may be configured to assign the item to a particular sorting station of a group of multiple sorting stations. The item allocation component may determine the particular sorting station to which the item is assigned based upon a determined quantity of other items located at the particular sorting station and a determined quantity of other items en route to the particular sorting station. |
| US08952275B2 |
Insulating support flange for current loop system
The present invention relates generally to systems and methods for isolating a current loop conductor of a current loop system of a pre-charge circuit from a plurality of current transformers disposed around the current loop conductor. In particular, the embodiments described herein include an insulating support flange having a first tubular section, a second tubular section radially disposed around the first tubular section and connected to the first tubular section via a solid annular section extending radially outward from the first tubular section to a first end of the second tubular section, an annular base extending radially outward from a second end of the second tubular section, and a plurality of prongs extending axially from or near to an outer circumference of the annular base, wherein each of the prongs comprises an end face that is angled toward the second tubular section. The insulating support flanges are configured to mate with each other along an axial direction of the current loop conductor. In addition, each of the plurality of current transformers is installed (i.e., held in place) between the prongs, annular base, and second annular section of its respective insulating support flange. As such, a fixed open air space between the first and second annular sections of the insulating support flanges isolates the current transformers from the current loop conductor, thereby reducing the possibility of discharge between the current transformers and the current loop conductor. |
| US08952273B2 |
Near-field noise suppression sheet
A near-field noise suppression sheet comprising a pair of plastic films each having a thin metal film on one surface, the plastic films being adhered by a conductive adhesive with the thin metal films inside, each thin metal film being made of a magnetic metal, and having a controlled thickness such that a pair of the adhered thin metal films have surface resistance of 20-150 Ω/square. |
| US08952264B2 |
Printed circuit board
Embodiments of the present invention provide a multi layered printed circuit board, PCB, with via holes connecting different signal layers of the PCB. The via holes are connected to pads in the signal layers and are surrounded by anti-pads in the ground layers. In accordance with further embodiments of the invention the pads have a shape wherein a first path, stretching from the center of the pad and substantially in a direction in which adjacent routing channels extend, to a first point located on the edge of the pad, is longer than a second path, stretching from the center of the pad and substantially in a direction towards the adjacent routing channels to a second point located on the edge of the pad. |
| US08952262B2 |
Component-incorporated wiring substrate and method of manufacturing the same
A component-incorporated wiring substrate is provided. Some embodiments include a plate-like component incorporated in a core substrate and a build-up layer having an insulation layer and a conductor layer disposed in alternating layers. The component has terminal electrodes formed at its opposite ends having a side surface and a main surface. An insulation layer disposed on the main surface of the component has via conductors formed therein which are connected to the side surfaces and the main surfaces of the respective terminal electrodes. The via conductors are tapered, such that their via diameter decreases in a direction toward the terminal electrode, and their via diameter at a position where they connect to the main surface is greater than a length of the main surface. Accordingly, the area of connection between the via conductors and the corresponding terminal electrodes is increased, improving connection reliability through enhancement of tolerance for positional deviation. |
| US08952261B2 |
Interconnect-use electronic component and method for producing same
The present invention enables additional processes required for forming vertical wiring and rewiring in a double face package (DFP) or a wafer level chip size package (WLCSP) to be implemented through use of a component for vertical wiring and rewiring, to thereby simplify the manufacturing process and reduce cost. An electronic component for interconnection is incorporated into an electronic device package in which a circuit element including a semiconductor chip is disposed and which has external electrodes connected to the circuit element via vertical interconnects and horizontal interconnects. This electronic component for interconnection is composed of a wiring substrate which includes horizontal interconnects and vertical interconnects connected to the horizontal interconnects and extending therefrom in a vertical direction; and a support plate to which the wiring substrate having the horizontal interconnects and the vertical interconnects is bonded through use of an adhesive which can be separated with water. |
| US08952259B2 |
Method for producing a ceramic component, ceramic component and component assembly
The invention relates to a method for producing a ceramic component, a ceramic component, and a component assembly having a ceramic component and a connection component. The method according to the invention for producing a ceramic component (1) comprises the steps: a) providing a ceramic substrate (2), wherein a conducting path (3) is arranged in the interior and/or on the surface of the ceramic substrate (2), and at least some regions of the ceramic substrate (2) are covered by a glaze (5); b) creating a contacting opening (6) in the glaze (5) in a region of a contact region (15) of the conducting path (3) to be contacted; c) applying a metallic layer (7) in the region of the contacting opening (6) for contacting the conducting path (3) in the contact region (15). |
| US08952254B2 |
Electronic device cover
An electronic device cover includes a base and a protection member. The base defines a positioning slot, a latch slot, and a through hole. The latch slot is in communication with the positioning slot, and the through hole is below the positioning slot. The protection member is configured to be secured to the base in a protection position and a stand position. When the protection member is in the protection position, the protection member is engaged in the latch slot, and a clipping space is defined between the protection member and the base, for receiving an electronic device. When the protection member is in the standing position, the protection member extends through the through hole to be engaged with the base, to support the base, and the positioning slot is configured to position the electronic device. |
| US08952249B2 |
1,4-fullerene addends in photovoltaic cells
1,4 fullerene deriatives useful for solar cells are provided, where their structures allow for straightforward functionalizations to tune their properties in terms of solubility and LUMO energy levels. |
| US08952244B2 |
Solar cell
A solar cell includes a semiconductor substrate, a doping layer, a quantum well layer, a first passivation layer, a second passivation layer, a first electrode and a second electrode. The semiconductor substrate has a front surface and a back surface, and the front surface of the semiconductor substrate includes nano-rods. The doping layer covers the surface of the nano-rods. The electrode layers cover the doping layer. The quantum well layer having at least one first doping region and at least one second doping region is disposed on the semiconductor substrate. The quantum well layer includes polycrystalline silicon germanium (Si1-xGex). The first passivation layer and the second passivation layer cover the first and the second doping regions of the quantum well layer, respectively. The first electrode and the second electrode are electrically connected to the first doping region and the second doping region of the quantum well layer, respectively. |
| US08952235B2 |
Thermo-electric arrangement
The invention relates to an arrangement comprising a thermo-electric generator having a hot side which absorbs heat from a heat source, a cold side which discharges heat to a heat sink, and electrical terminals for outputting electrical energy with an output voltage and an electric circuit with a maximum permissible input voltage, the inputs of which are connected to the electrical terminals of the thermo-electric generator. Such arrangements may be used, for example, in exhaust systems of motor vehicles for more efficient use of the energy. In order to provide such an arrangement, which can be connected to a heat source, in particular an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, largely independently of the magnitude of the temperature difference between the hot and cold sides of the thermo-electric generator, it is proposed that the thermo-electric generator be configured in such a way that saturation of the output voltage occurs below the maximum permissible input voltage of the electric circuit, or when said maximum permissible input voltage is reached. |
| US08952234B2 |
Thermoelectric device, especially intended to generate an electrical current in an automotive vehicle
The invention relates to a thermoelectric device, comprising a first circuit (1), called hot circuit, through which a first fluid can flow, and, a second circuit (2), called cold circuit, through which a second fluid can flow at a temperature lower than that of the first fluid, and elements (3, 3p, 3n), called thermoelectric elements, that can be used to generate an electric current in the presence of a temperature gradient. According to the invention, it comprises fins (6f, 6c) in a heat exchange relationship with said hot circuit (1) and/or said cold circuit (2), the thermoelectric elements (3, 3p, 3n) being in contact at least with said fins (6f, 6c), at least some of said fins (6f, 6c) being associated in pairs, a compressible material (11) being provided between the fins (6f, 6c) of one and the same pair. |
| US08952227B2 |
Tomato line PSQ-9Z08005
The invention provides seed and plants of tomato line PSQ-9Z08005. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of tomato line PSQ-9Z08005, and to methods for producing a tomato plant produced by crossing such plants with themselves or with another tomato plant, such as a plant of another genotype. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of such plants, including the fruit and gametes of such plants. |
| US08952222B2 |
Herbicide resistant sunflower plants derived from RW-B cultivar
Seeds and sunflower plants derived from cultivar RW-B and having increased resistance to herbicides relative to wild-type plants are provided. These plants contain a new genetic mutation in the AHAS gene which confers broad spectrum resistance to a combination of an imidazolinone, a sulfonylurea, a triazolopyrimidine, and a pyrimidinyloxybenzoate herbicide and mixtures thereof, including (i) resistance to cloransulam-methyl present in a concentration of at least 67 grams of active ingredient per hectare; and (ii) resistance to the mix of imazapyr present in a concentration of at least 160 grams per hectare and metsulfuron present in a concentration of at least 10 grams per hectare. RW-B is true breeding for the morphological traits of producing a plant with a single head, a yield of greater than one tonne per hectare and for producing a seed having an oil content of greater than 40%. |
| US08952221B2 |
Enzymes that synthesize zingiberene
The invention relates to nucleic acids encoding a zingiberene synthase that enables host cells and plants to make zingiberene that is useful in fragrances and for repelling or killing insects. The invention also relates to isolated zingiberene synthases and to methods for making zingiberenes. |
| US08952219B2 |
Methods for Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of sugar cane
The present invention provides methods for producing a transformed sugar cane tissue or cell thereof, said methods comprising: a) inoculating a sugar cane tissue or a cell thereof with an Agrobacterium inoculation suspension, said Agrobacterium comprising a nucleic acid of interest, to obtain an Agrobacterium-inoculated sugar cane tissue or cell thereof; b) co-cultivating said Agrobacterium-inoculated sugar cane tissue or cell thereof on a surface in the absence of co-culture media for a time period sufficient to reduce original weight of said Agrobacterium-inoculated sugar cane tissue or cell thereof; and c) selecting a transformed sugar cane tissue or a cell thereof comprising said nucleic acid of interest. The transformation methods of the invention provide for increased transformation frequency and recovery of transgenic sugar cane plants. |
| US08952218B2 |
Polynucleotides, polypeptides encoded thereby, and methods of using same for increasing abiotic stress tolerance, biomass and/or yield in plants expressing same
Provided are isolated polynucleotides comprising a nucleic acid sequence at least 80% identical to SEQ ID NO:619, 617, 606, 615, 629, 1-36, 40, 41, 43-45, 49, 52-56, 58, 113-343, 351, 354-358, 605, 607-614, 616, 618, 620-628, 630-638, 642, 645, 650, 651, 670, or 671. Also provided are nucleic acid constructs comprising same, isolated polypeptides encoded thereby, transgenic cells and transgenic plants comprising same and methods of using same for increasing abiotic stress tolerance, yield, biomass, growth rate, vigor, oil content, fiber yield, fiber quality, and/or nitrogen use efficiency of a plant. |
| US08952215B2 |
Antibody-producing transgenic silkworms and methods for producing the same
The present inventors produced transgenic silkworms which comprise a promoter of a DNA encoding a protein specifically expressed in the silk gland and a DNA encoding a recombinant antibody whose expression is regulated directly or indirectly by the promoter, and which secrete the recombinant antibody into the silk gland. The recombinant antibodies produced from the silk gland of the transgenic silkworms were confirmed to be active. |
| US08952212B2 |
Absorbent article including an absorbent core layer having a material free zone and a transfer layer arranged below the absorbent core layer
An absorbent article including a liquid permeable cover layer, a liquid impermeable barrier layer, an absorbent core arranged adjacent to the cover layer, the absorbent core including a material-free zone extending, a transfer layer arranged between the core and the barrier layer, the transfer layer including a planar portion having an upper surface and a lower surface and a protrusion extending upwardly from the upper surface. |
| US08952206B2 |
Formate based heat stable salt mitigation in physical solvent acid gas absorption processes
There is described a process for reducing the concentration of formate based heat stable salts formed in a physical solvent acid gas absorption process (12) wherein acid gas contaminants such as hydrogen sulfide and carbon dioxide are removed from gas mixtures (30) which include these contaminants. The process comprises the step of contacting the physical solvent containing formate based heat stable salts (46) with a metallic and/or organometallic catalyst (52), preferably the catalyst comprises palladium, zinc, platinum, nickel, or rhodium, and/or salts thereof and/or oxides thereof. The process is particularly suited for physical solvents such as refrigerated methanol, dialkyl ethers of polyethylene glycols, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidones, propylene carbonate, blends of N-acetylmorpholine and N-formylmorpholine, 1,3-dimethyl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-2(1H)-pyrimidinone, and the like and particularly gas mixtures containing ammonia as a contaminant. |
| US08952204B2 |
Sulfonium salt, method for producing the same, and photoacid generator
A sulfonium salt compound represented by the following general formula (I): where R1 and R2 each denote the same or a different alkyl group having 1 to 18 carbon atoms, R3 and R4 each denote the same or a different alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, X− denotes a sulfonate anion or a carboxylate anion, and the substituents denoted by R3O and R4O are each located at an arbitrary position selected from the 2-position to the 8-position of the naphthyl group. |
| US08952201B2 |
Separation method of acetophenone and A-methylbenzyl alcohol
A method of inclusive separation of acetophenone and α-methylbenzyl alcohol is provided. According to the different binding ability of Cyclodextrin (CDs) with acetophenone and α-methylbenzyl alcohol, selective separation in mild condition can be possible. This has the advantages of mild separation conditions, high separation efficiency, simplicity, reuse ability of separation media, energy conservation and environmental protection, etc. |
| US08952197B2 |
Processes for the preparation of 5-HT2C receptor agonists
The present invention relates to processes and intermediates useful in the preparation of (R)-8-chloro-1-methyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine (lorcaserin), a serotonin (5-HT) receptor modulator that is useful in the treatment of for example, central nervous system disorders, such as obesity. |
| US08952196B2 |
Removal of aromatics from carbonylation process
The invention relates to processes for removing aromatics from the reactants that are fed to a carbonylation reactor. The aromatics are removed using a guard bed that comprises an adsorbent. |
| US08952193B2 |
Carbon dioxide scrubbing using ionic materials
One aspect of the present invention relates to amine-functionalized task-specific ionic liquids (TSILs). In certain embodiments, the ionic liquids of the invention comprise beta-hydroxy amines, aryl amines or tertiary amines. The TSILs may be used for gas capture, capitalizing on their non-volatile nature. In certain embodiments, the captured gas is selected from the group consisting of CO2, SO2, CS2, and NO2. Another aspect of the present invention relates to a library of CO2-philic salts, which library facilitates reactive gas separation. In certain embodiments, the CO2-philic salts are CO2-reactive TSILs. In certain embodiments, the CO2-philic salts are resinous or plastic in nature. |
| US08952183B2 |
Inhibitors of sialidase or sialidase-like enzymes
The present invention describes compounds of Formula I or a pharmaceutically acceptable salts or derivatives thereof. Compositions comprising compounds of Formula I are also described. The present invention further relates to a method of producing non-2-enonate compounds. |
| US08952181B2 |
Organic semiconductive material precursor containing dithienobenzodithiophene derivative, ink, insulating member, charge-transporting member, and organic electronic device
An ink containing an organic semiconductive material precursor containing a dithienobenzodithiophene derivative of the following formula: X and Y are groups capable of bonding together upon application of an external stimulus to form a compound X—Y that is capable of eliminating from the dithienobenzodithiophene derivative; R1 and R2 are each independently a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group; and R3 to R10 are each independently a hydrogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy group, a substituted or unsubstituted alkylthio group, or a substituted or unsubstituted aryl group. |
| US08952180B2 |
Pyrrolinone carboxamide compounds useful as endothelial lipase inhibitors
The present invention provides compounds of Formula (I) or Formula (III): [INSERT CHEMICAL STRUCTURE HERE] (I) [INSERT CHEMICAL STRUCTURE HERE] (III) as defined in the specification and compositions comprising any of such novel compounds. These compounds are endothelial lipase inhibitors which may be used as medicaments. |
| US08952176B2 |
Heterocyclic compound having type I 11 β hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase inhibitory activity
Disclosed is a compound useful as a type I 11βhydroxysteroid dehydrogenase inhibitor. A compound represented by the formula: a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, wherein R1 is optionally substituted cycloalkyl, optionally substituted cycloalkenyl or the like, One of R2 and R3 is a group of the formula: —C(═O)—Y—R4, wherein Y is —NR9— or the like, R4 is optionally substituted cycloalkyl or the like, R9 is hydrogen or optionally substituted alkyl, W is optionally substituted alkylene, The other is a group of the formula: —V—R5, wherein V is a bond, —O— or the like, R6 is hydrogen or optionally substituted alkyl, R5 is hydrogen, optionally substituted alkyl or the like, X is a bond, —S—, —SO— or the like, U is a bond or optionally substituted alkylene, R7 is hydrogen or optionally substituted alkyl, Z is —S—, —O— or —NR8—, R8 is hydrogen, optionally substituted alkyl or the like. |
| US08952172B2 |
Crystalline form of the zoledronic acid, a process to obtain it and the pharmaceutical composition comprising it
A new crystalline form of the Zoledronic acid, characterized by its X-rays diffractogram as well as by its spatial atomic distribution in the red crystalline and its curves of thermal analysis. There is also included a method to obtain this crystalline form, which includes the synthesis of the corresponding acid and the pharmaceutical composition this crystalline form comprises. |
| US08952163B2 |
Substituted hydroxamic acids and uses thereof
This invention provides compounds of formula (I): wherein R1a, R1b, R1c, R1d, R2a, R2b, X1, X2, and G have values as described in the specification, useful as inhibitors of HDAC6. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds of the invention and methods of using the compositions in the treatment of proliferative, inflammatory, infectious, neurological or cardiovascular diseases or disorders. |
| US08952159B2 |
Method for the production of amorphous rifaximin
The present invention relates to a new amorphous form of rifaximin and to methods for the preparation thereof by means of high energy milling or Spray drying. The present invention further relates to a new amorphous form for use as medicament and to the pharmaceutical compositions composing it. |
| US08952157B2 |
Apoptosis-inducing agents for the treatment of cancer and immune and autoimmune diseases
Disclosed are compounds which inhibit the activity of anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 proteins, compositions containing the compounds and methods of treating diseases during which is expressed anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 protein. |
| US08952154B2 |
Process for the preparation of lapatinib and its ditosylate salt
There is provided processes for preparing Lapatinib and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof by the reductive amination of the aldehyde of Formula II by treatment with 2-methanesulphonylethylamine followed by catalytic hydrogenation in the presence of a suitable hydrogenation catalyst. |
| US08952151B2 |
Histone demethylase inhibitors
The present invention relates generally to compositions and methods for treating cancer and neoplastic disease. Provided herein are substituted amidopyridine or amidopyridazine derivative compounds and pharmaceutical compositions comprising said compounds. The subject compounds and compositions are useful for inhibition histone demethylase. Furthermore, the subject compounds and compositions are useful for the treatment of cancer, such as prostate cancer, breast cancer, bladder cancer, lung cancer and/or melanoma and the like. |
| US08952144B2 |
Vectors with modified initiation codon for the translation of AAV-REP78 useful for production of AAV
The present invention relates nucleic acid constructs for the production of recombinant parvoviral (e.g. adeno-associated viral) vectors in insect cells, to insect cells comprising such constructs and to methods wherein the cells are used to produce recombinant parvoviral virions. The insect cells preferably comprise a first nucleotide sequence encoding the parvoviral rep proteins whereby the initiation codon for translation of the parvoviral Rep78 protein is a suboptimal initiation codon that effects partial exon skipping upon expression in insect cells. The insect cell further comprises a second nucleotide sequence comprising at least one parvoviral (AAV) inverted terminal repeat (ITR) nucleotide sequence and a third nucleotide sequence comprising a sequences coding for the parvoviral capsid proteins. |
| US08952135B2 |
S. agalactiae antigens I and II
The present invention discloses isolated nucleic acid molecules encoding a hyperimmune serum reactive antigen or a fragment thereof as well as hyperimmune serum reactive antigens or fragments thereof from S. agalactiae, and methods for isolating such antigens and specific uses thereof. |
| US08952132B2 |
Engineered immunoglobulin FC polypeptides
Methods and compositions involving polypeptides having an aglycosylated antibody Fc domain. In certain embodiments, polypeptides have an aglycosylated Fc domain that contains one or more substitutions compared to a native Fc domain. Additionally, some embodiments involve an Fc domain that is binds some Fc receptors but not others. For example, polypeptides are provided with an aglycosylated Fc domain that selectively binds FcγRIIa, but that is significantly reduced for binding to the highly homologous FcγRIIb receptors. Furthermore, methods and compositions are provided for promoting antibody-dependent cell-mediated toxicity (ADCC) using a polypeptide having a modified aglycosylated Fc domain and a second non-Fc binding domain, which can be an antigen binding region of an antibody or a non-antigen binding region. Some embodiments concern antibodies with such polypeptides, which may have the same or different non-Fc binding domain. |
| US08952131B2 |
Designer osteogenic proteins
The invention relates to novel designer osteogenic proteins having altered affinity for a cognate receptor, nucleic acids encoding the same, and methods of use therefor. More preferably, the novel designer osteogenic proteins are designer BMPs and have altered affinity for a cognate BMP receptor. The designer BMPs demonstrate altered biological characteristics and provide potential useful novel therapeutics. |
| US08952129B2 |
Method of treating degenerative diseases
Agonists of a non-proteolytically activated receptor can be used in methods for treating a disease or disorder in a subject. The methods comprise administering to the subject a therapeutically effective amount of an agonist, wherein the disease or disorder is scleroderma, macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease, closed head trauma, glaucoma, optic neuritis or allograft vasculopathy. |
| US08952127B2 |
Peptoids useful for catalyzing the mineralization of calcium carbonate
The present invention provides for a bio-mimetic polymer capable of catalyzing CO2 into a carbonate. |
| US08952124B2 |
Bis(sulfonyl)alkanol-containing polythioethers, methods of synthesis, and compositions thereof
Bis(sulfonyl)alkanol-containing polythioethers, compositions containing bis(sulfonyl)alkanol-containing polythioethers, methods of synthesizing bis(sulfonyl)alkanol-containing polythioethers and the use of bis(sulfonyl)alkanol-containing polythioethers in aerospace sealant applications are disclosed. The bis(sulfonyl)alkanol-containing polythioethers have bis(sulfonyl)alkanol groups incorporated into the backbone of the polythioether. Cured sealant compositions comprising the bis(sulfonyl)alkanol-containing polythioethers exhibit enhanced properties suitable for aerospace sealant applications. |
| US08952121B2 |
Polymer composition and method of making the same
A novel novolac prepared by acid catalyzed condensation between biphenols or bisphenofluorenes and fluorenone is presented. The polymers exhibit excellent oxidative thermal stability and high carbon content, suitable for dielectric, etch stop applications as spin-on material. |
| US08952120B2 |
Polyisocyanate composition and coating composition containing the same
An isocyanurate type polyisocyanate composition which is derived from an aliphatic diisocyanate monomer and an alcohol and satisfies all of the following requirements when it contains substantially no aliphatic diisocyanate monomer and substantially no solvent: 1) the viscosity at 25° C. is 500-1,500 mPa·s; 2) the isocyanurate trimer concentration is 60-95 mass %; 3) when the number of allophanate bonds is expressed as A and the number of isocyanurate bonds is expressed as B, the proportion of the allophanate bonds, a=(A/(A+B))×100, is 1-30%; and 4) when the number of urethodione bonds is expressed as D, the proportion of the urethodione bonds, d=(D/(B+D))×100, is less than 2%. |
| US08952118B2 |
Dual functional linear siloxanes, step-growth polymers derived therefrom, and methods of preparation thereof
Linear siloxane polymers having low viscosities, precise molecular weights and two distinct polymer termini are provided. Preferred viscosities are greater than 5 cSt and less than 20,000 cSt, and the preferred functionalities at the polymer termini are one hydrogen and one vinyl group, each attached to a silicon atom. Methods for producing such siloxane polymers are also described In the presence of catalysts, such as Pt0 complexes, these siloxanes undergo step-growth polymerization to form elastomers at temperatures below 150° C. |
| US08952116B2 |
Particulate water absorbent and process for production thereof
A particulate water absorbing agent of the present invention is a water absorbing agent containing a water absorbing resin as a main component, the particulate water absorbing agent containing a polyvalent metal cation and satisfying: (1) the polyvalent metal cation is contained in an amount between 0.001 wt % and 5 wt % relative to the amount of the water absorbing agent; (2) an absorbency without pressure (CRC) is not less than 28 (g/g) and an absorbency against pressure (AAP 4.83 kPa) is not less than 10 (g/g); (3) the absorbency against pressure and the absorbency without pressure satisfy 77≦AAP (4.83 kPa)+1.8×CRC≦100; and (4) a moisture content of the water absorbing agent is between 5 wt % and 20 wt %. This provides a water absorbing agent which has blocking resistance after moisture absorption, is excellent in stability to shock and suppresses Re-Wet when used in a diaper. |
| US08952115B2 |
Method for producing fluorine-containing polymer
An object of the present invention is to provide a method for producing a fluoropolymer which produces a large number of particles with a small particle size using a specific non-fluorous compound having surfactant ability. The method for producing a fluoropolymer includes aqueous dispersion polymerization of a monomer including at least one fluoroolefin in the presence of a compound represented by the formula: CH2═CHCH2—O—(C═O)CHXCH2COO(CH2)nCH3 (in the formula, X is H or SO3Y wherein Y is NH4 or an alkaline metal; and n is an integer of 0 to 19.) |
| US08952114B2 |
Halogenated catalysts comprising Salan ligands
Catalysts comprising a halogenated Salan ligand. Also disclosed are catalyst systems comprising the catalyst and an activator; methods to prepare the ligands, catalysts and catalyst systems; processes to polymerize olefins using the catalysts and/or catalyst systems; and the olefin polymers prepared according to the processes. |
| US08952105B2 |
Variable TG article, method of making, and use of same
An article includes a crosslinked product of: a first crosslinked polymer and a second crosslinked polymer, wherein the article has a gradient in glass transition temperature. A process for making the article includes combining a first crosslinked polymer and a second crosslinked polymer to form a composition; compressing the composition; heating the composition; and crosslinking the composition to form the article, the article having a gradient in glass transition temperature. An article can be a seal that includes a first portion including a crosslinked product of: a first crosslinked polymer and a second crosslinked polymer; and a second portion including a polymer which is different than a constituent polymer in the first portion, wherein the seal has a gradient in glass transition temperature. |
| US08952102B2 |
Alkyl ether compositions and methods of use
A polymer includes a linker represented by Formula I ([OR1OCH2OR2OCH2]m), where R1 and R2 are, independently, alkylene, alkenylene, arylene, heteroarylene, or alkylarylalkylene; and the polymer has a weight average molecular weight of about 500 g/mol to about 2,000,000 g/mol, and m is 1 to 1000. |
| US08952082B2 |
System and method for pre-treatment of rubber-modified asphalt cement, and emulsions thereof
This invention encompasses asphalt cement emulsions, as well as methods for preparing a pre-treated rubber-modified asphalt cement emulsions and methods for coating industrial surfaces using asphalt cement emulsions. |
| US08952078B2 |
Printing ink
This invention relates to a printing ink and in particular to an ink for ink-jet printing which is cured by irradiation. The ink comprises at least one radiation-curable monomer; at least one passive thermoplastic resin; at least one radical photoinitiator; and at least one colouring agent; wherein the ink has a viscosity of less than 100 mPas at 25° C., and wherein the at least one passive resin is present at 2 to 15 wt % based on the total weight of the ink and has a molecular weight of 1,500 to 70,000. |
| US08952076B2 |
Fischer-Tropsch catalysts
A method of producing an alumina-supported catalyst for use in a Fischer-Tropsch synthesis reaction, which comprises: calcining an initial γ-alumina support material at a temperature of at least 550° C. to produce a modified alumina support material; impregnating the modified alumina support material with a source cobalt; calcining the impregnated support material at a temperature of 700° C. to 1200° C., and activating the catalyst. |
| US08952073B2 |
Estrogenic compounds, process for their production and pharmaceutical uses thereof
The presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s) provides new estrogenic compounds of the general formula and pharmaceutical compositions containing them. The compounds of the presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s) are useful, for example, in hormone replacement therapies (HRT/ERT), and as contraceptives, and estrogenic hormone therapies. Also provided is a process for synthesizing the compounds of the presently disclosed and claimed inventive concept(s). |
| US08952072B2 |
Tannin formulation for treating malnutrition
Methods of treating malnutrition are provided, such methods not requiring the use of systemic drugs that have shown to (i) provide slow relief, (ii) cause adverse side effects, (iii) limit activities, (iv) worsen existing gastrointestinal conditions, (v) be unrecommended in several gastrointestinal conditions that include gastrointestinal spasms, or (vi) be unrecommended in the absence of diarrhea. |
| US08952064B2 |
Pharmaceutical semi-solid composition of isotretinoin
An oral pharmaceutical composition of isotretinoin containing at least two lipidic excipients, one of them being hydrophilic (i.e. having an HLB value superior or equal to 10), the other being an oily vehicle |
| US08952062B2 |
Microbiologically sound and stable solutions of gamma-hydroxybutyrate salt for the treatment of narcolepsy
Disclosed are formulations of gamma-hydroxybutyrate in an aqueous medium that are resistant to microbial growth. Also disclosed are formulations of gamma-hydroxybutyrate that are also resistant to the conversion into GBL. Disclosed are methods to treat sleep disorders, including narcolepsy, with these stable formulations of GHB. The present invention also provides methods to treat alcohol and opiate withdrawal, reduced levels of growth hormone, increased intracranial pressure, and physical pain in a patient. |
| US08952060B2 |
Composition for preventing hair loss or for stimulating hair growth
Provided is a composition for preventing hair loss or promoting hair growth including valproic acid or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof as an active ingredient. The composition may be applied to various industrial fields, including pharmaceutical, cosmetic and beauty aid industries. |
| US08952058B2 |
Heterocyclic compounds and methods of use thereof
Provided herein are heterocyclic compounds for treatment of CSF1R, FLT3, KIT, and/or PDGFRβ kinase mediated diseases. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds and methods of using the compounds and compositions. |
| US08952054B2 |
Small molecule inhibitors of MUC1 and methods of identifying the same
The invention provides methods for the identification of small molecules that inhibit MUC1 oligomerization, and the functions flowing therefrom. In addition, small molecules that prevent MUC1 oligomerization are disclosed. Identified molecules will find use in treating a variety of MUC1-related inflammatory conditions, including MUC1-related cancers. |
| US08952053B2 |
Prodrugs of substituted 1,3-dioxanes and their uses
The present invention relates to prodrugs of compounds containing 1,3-dioxane moiety, pharmaceutical compositions thereof, and the use of the compounds and compositions for the modulation of thromboxane A2 or a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor. The prodrugs of the compounds, analogs, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and pharmaceutical compositions can be used in the treatment and prevention of cancer. |
| US08952052B2 |
Use of lipoic acid for treating or preventing degenerative joint conditions, osteoarthritis, cartilage damage, and related disorders in companion animals
The invention encompasses pet food compositions and uses thereof for the treatment and/or prevention of diseases or disorders in companion animals, for example, for the treatment or prevention of degenerative joint conditions, osteoarthritis, cartilage damage, and maintaining or increasing bone mineral density, wherein the compositions and uses include feeding a companion animal a composition including uses acid or a salt thereof. |
| US08952050B2 |
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. |
| US08952048B2 |
Treatment of immune disorders using kainate receptor antagonists
Allergies and immune system disorders (e.g. autoimmune diseases) are treated by administration of an agent that blocks activation of the kainic acid receptor (KAR) in B cells. The agents include antagonists and weakly activating agonists. |
| US08952040B2 |
Pharmaceutical composition for treating coagulation disorder hemorrhage and method using the same
Pharmaceutical composition for treating coagulation disorder hemorrhage. The pharmaceutical composition comprises (per unit): L-ornithine 0.5˜8 g, aspartic acid 1˜5 g, arginine 3˜10 g and vitamin B6 3˜10 g. A method of administrating the pharmaceutical composition to treat hemorrhage patients caused by coagulation dysfunction, especially critically ill patients. |
| US08952038B2 |
Inhibition of undesired sensory effects by the compound camphor
A smokeless tobacco product or medicinal nicotine product includes nicotine and camphor dissolved in a non-flavored oily carrier. Preferably, the camphor is present in a concentration ranging from about 600 ppm to about 1300 ppm. Also disclosed are methods of making such products. |
| US08952023B1 |
Compounds useful for treating injuries from warfare agents
Compounds and compositions for treating disorders related to TRPA1 are described herein. |
| US08952022B2 |
Pure erlotinib
The present invention relates to processes for the preparation of erlotinib and salts and polymorphs thereof, preferably of high purity. The present invention also relates to erlotinib and salts and polymorphs thereof preparable by said processes, to medical uses of said erlotinib, salts and polymorphs, and to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same. |
| US08952021B2 |
Compounds for the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease
Disclosed are novel compounds that are useful for regulating the expression of apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I), and their use for the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease and related disease states, including cholesterol- or lipid-related disorders, such as, for example, atherosclerosis. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions comprising the novel compounds. Formula (I) |
| US08952019B2 |
Methods of using selective chemotherapeutic agents for targeting tumor cells
A method for treating cancer tumors, particularly ovarian cancer tumors, is described, where fused cyclic pyrimidine having a cancer treating ability is selectively delivered to an FR expressing cancerous tumor. |
| US08952018B2 |
Pharmaceutical combination of MEK inhibitor and B-Raf inhibitors
A novel combination comprising the MEK inhibitor N-{3-[3-cyclopropyl-5-(2-fluoro-4-iodo-phenylamino)6,8-dimethyl; -2,4,7-trioxo-3,4,6,7-tetrahydro-2H-pyrido[4,3-d]pyrimidin-1-yl]phenyl}acetamide, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, with a B-Raf inhibitor, particularly N-{3-[5-(2-Amino-4-pyrimidinyl)-2-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-1,3-thiazol-4-yl]-2-fluorophenyl}-2,6-difluorobenzenesulfonamide or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the same and methods of using such combinations and compositions in the treatment of conditions in which the inhibition of MEK and/or B-Raf is beneficial, eg. cancer. |
| US08952016B2 |
Substituted xanthine derivatives
This invention relates to novel compounds that are substituted xanthine derivatives and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. For example, this invention relates to novel substituted xanthine derivatives that are derivatives of pentoxifylline. The compound of the invention are represented by one of the following structural formulas: The variables for these structural formulas are described herein. This invention also provides compositions comprising one or more compounds of this invention and a carrier and the use of the disclosed compounds and compositions in methods of treating diseases and conditions for which pentoxifylline and related compounds are beneficial. |
| US08952014B2 |
Pyrimidine derivatives which are CGRP—antagonists
The present invention relates to the new compounds of general formula I wherein A, U, V, X, Y, R1, R2 and R3 are defined as stated hereinafter, the tautomers, the isomers thereof, the diastereomers, the enantiomers, the hydrates, the mixtures and the salts thereof as well as the hydrates of the salts, particularly the physiologically acceptable salts thereof with inorganic or organic acids or bases, medicaments containing these compounds, their use and processes for preparing them. |
| US08952012B2 |
Inhibition of delta-6 desaturase for the treatment of cardiometabolic disease
Systems and methods for screening whether a candidate compound inhibits delta-6 desaturase activity are disclosed. Also disclosed is a transgenic mammal which overexpresses a gene encoding delta-6 desaturase and an animal model of a cardiometabolic disorder or disease that includes the transgenic mammal. A method of treating a cardiometabolic disorder or disease is also disclosed. |
| US08952006B2 |
Morpholinoalkyl fumarate compounds, pharmaceutical compositions, and methods of use
Morpholinoalkyl fumarates, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the morpholinoalkyl fumarates, and methods of using morpholinoalkyl fumarates and pharmaceutical compositions for treating neurodegenerative, inflammatory, and autoimmune disorders including multiple sclerosis, psoriasis, irritable bowel disorder, ulcerative colitis, arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis are disclosed. |
| US08952005B2 |
Substituted 1,3-benzothiazol-2(3H)-ones and [1,3]thiazolo[5,4-B]pyridin-2(1H)-ones as positive allosteric modulators of mGluR2
The present invention is directed to benzothiazol-one and thiazolo pyridine-one derivatives which are potentiators of metabotropic glutamate receptors, particularly the mGluR2 receptor, and which are useful in the treatment or prevention of neurological and psychiatric disorders associated with glutamate dysfunction and diseases in which metabotropic glutamate receptors are involved. 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 metabotropic glutamate receptors are involved. |
| US08952003B2 |
Sterol derivative
The present invention provides a sterol derivative or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof having an activity to promote proliferation of neural stem cells. Namely, the present invention provides a sterol derivative represented by the general formula (I) (wherein Y represents optionally substituted lower alkyl or the like; Xa and Xb are the same or different, and represent a bond or the like; R1, R2, R3, R4, R7 and R8 are the same or different, and represent a hydrogen atom or the like; R5 and R6 are the same or different, and represent a hydrogen atom or the like; R9 represents a hydrogen atom or the like; R10 and R11 together represent a bond or the like; and R12 represents a hydrogen atom or the like) or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. |
| US08952002B2 |
Aminoheteroaryl compounds and preparation method and use thereof
The present invention refers to aminoheteroaryl compounds of the following formula (I) as well as the preparation method and use thereof, wherein R1 and R3 are defined in the Description in details. The aminoheteroaryl compounds of the present invention are inhibitors of hepatocyte growth factor receptor (c-Met), have favorable inhibitory effect against c-Met and inhibitory effect against the proliferation of cancer cells, such that they may be used as therapeutic agents for the treatment of tumors and related diseases. |
| US08951999B2 |
Compounds
This invention relates to compounds of formula I, their use as inhibitors of the microsomal prostaglandin E2 synthase-1 (mPGES-1), pharmaceutical compositions containing them, and their use as medicaments for the treatment and/or prevention of inflammatory diseases and associated conditions such as inflammatory/nociceptive pain. A, M, R1, R2, R7, Ra, Rb, Q3, Q4, Q6, Z2, Z4, Z5, Z6 and W have meanings given in the description. |
| US08951998B2 |
Quinoxaline-containing compounds as hepatitis C virus inhibitors
The present invention discloses compounds of formula I and II or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, esters, or prodrugs thereof: which inhibit serine protease activity, particularly the activity of hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS3-NS4A protease. Consequently, the compounds of the present invention interfere with the life cycle of the hepatitis C virus and are also useful as antiviral agents. The present invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising the aforementioned compounds for administration to a subject suffering from HCV infection. The invention also relates to methods of treating an HCV infection in a subject by administering a pharmaceutical composition comprising the compounds of the present invention. |
| US08951996B2 |
17-hydroxyprogesterone ester-containing oral compositions and related methods
The present invention provides for bioavailable oral dosage forms containing esters of 17-hydroxyprogesterone as well as related methods. The oral dosage forms can be formulated for pregnancy support and can include a therapeutically effective amount of an ester of 17-hydroxyprogesterone and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In another embodiment, a pharmaceutically acceptable oral dosage form for pregnancy support is provided. The pharmaceutically acceptable oral dosage can include a therapeutically effective amount of an ester of 17-hydroxyprogesterone and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The oral dosage form can, when measured using a USP Type-II dissolution apparatus in 900 mL of deionized water with 0.5 (w/v) of sodium lauryl sulfate at 50 RPM at 37° C., release at least 20 wt % of the dose of the ester of 17-hydroxyprogesterone after 60 minutes, or in the alternative release at least 20 wt % more after 60 minutes than an equivalently dosed oral dosage form without the carrier. |
| US08951995B2 |
Use of 24-nor-UDCA
The present invention relates to the use of nor-ursodeoxycholic acid for the manufacture of a drug for the treatment and/or the prevention of liver diseases, preferably chronic liver diseases. |
| US08951994B2 |
Method of treating Gaucher disease
Therapeutic compositions and methods for treatment of late-onset Gaucher disease are described herein. The compositions comprise compounds having activity as pharmacological chaperones for mutant forms of the beta-glucocerebrosidase. Methods of treatment involve providing therapeutically effective amounts of such compositions to subjects in need thereof. |
| US08951992B2 |
Mycobacterium membrane protease as a target for inhibitors of intrabacterial pH homeostasis
The present invention is directed to methods and compounds for inhibiting bacterial growth and treating a bacterial infection in a subject. These methods involve providing an inhibitor of intrabacterial pH homeostasis, including inhibitors of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis Rv3671c gene encoded membrane protease. Methods for identifying novel compounds that disrupt intrabacterial pH homeostasis and their use for inhibiting bacterial growth and treating a bacterial infection in a subject are also disclosed. |
| US08951991B2 |
Polymer mixtures of anionic and cationic polysaccharides and use thereof
Described in the present application are compositions comprising mixtures of polyanionic polysaccharides and polycationic polysaccharides consisting of oligosaccharide derivatives of chitosan. In the compositions of the invention said mixtures have proven to be soluble in aqueous environments, despite ionic complexes forming between the acid polysaccharides and chitosan derivatives. Said compositions have also demonstrated significant rheological behavior with an unexpected increase in viscosity and viscoelasticity, although the polysaccharides used have relatively low average molecular weights. The said solubility and rheological behavior renders the compositions of the invention particularly advantageous from the biomedical application viewpoint, in particular for viscosupplementation and particularly in the field of articular pathologies and of ophthalmic surgery. |
| US08951987B2 |
Certain compounds, compositions and methods
The present invention provides certain tetrahydrouridine derivative compounds, pharmaceutical compositions and kits comprising such compounds, and methods of making and using such compounds. |
| US08951986B2 |
Salts of HIV inhibitor compounds
The invention is related to salts of anti-viral compounds, compositions containing such salts, and therapeutic methods that include the administration of such salts, as well as to processes and intermediates useful for preparing such salts. |
| US08951984B2 |
Oligonucleotides for modulation of target RNA activity
The present invention relates to oligonucleotides for modulation of target RNA activity. Thus, the invention provides oligonucleotides that bind to microRNA binding sites of target RNA. The oligonucleotides may activate RNase H or RNAi. In a preferred embodiment, the oligonucleotides prevents a microRNA from binding to its binding site of the target RNA and thereby prevent the microRNA from regulating the target RNA. Such oligonucleotides have uses in research and development of new therapeutics. |
| US08951977B2 |
Amorphous roxithromycin composition
This invention relates to a macrolide composition, more particularly an amorphous form (Form-III) of 3R, 4S, 5S, 6R, 7R, 9R, 11S, 12R, 13S, 14R-6-[(2S,3R,4S,6R)-4-dimethylamino-3-hydroxy-6-methyloxan-2-yl]oxy-14-ethyl-7,12,13-trihydroxy-4-[(2R,4R,5S,6S)-5-hydroxy-4-methoxy-4,6-dimethyloxan-2-yl]oxy-10-(2-methoxyethoxymethoxyimino)-3,5,7,9,11,13-hexamethyl-1-oxacyclotetradecan-2-one or roxithromycin characterized by the absence of peaks in the infra-red spectrum of amorphous (Form-I11) of roxithromycin at 3577.15; 3526.03; 3465.27 and 3276.24 cm-1 relative to the infra-red spectrum of the prior art roxithromycin raw material displaying peaks at 3577.15; 3526.03; 3465.27 and 3276.24 cm-1 and further characterized by an increased solubility of at least 50% over prior art anhydrous and monohydrated roxithromycin in acetate buffer (pH 4.5), phosphate buffer (pH 6.8) and water. |
| US08951976B2 |
Progression inhibitor for disease attributed to abnormal accumulation of liver fat
The present invention provides pharmaceutical compositions useful as agents for the inhibition of progression of diseases associated with abnormal accumulation of liver lipids. In particular, the pharmaceutical compositions of the present invention which comprise as an active ingredient a sodium/glucose co-transporter 2 inhibitor are highly suitable as an agent for the inhibition of progression of not only common fatty liver but also non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFL), non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), hypernutritive fatty liver, diabetic fatty liver, alcoholic fatty liver disease toxic fatty liver or the like. |
| US08951973B2 |
Controlled-released peptide formulations
Described herein are methods and compositions for modulating the release and/or drug loading characteristics of encapsulated bioactive agents in polymer-based delivery systems via direct modification of the isoelectric point and/or net charge of the bioactive agent. |
| US08951972B2 |
FGFR1 extracellular domain combination therapies for lung cancer
Methods of treating cancer comprising administering a fibroblast growth factor receptor 1 (FGFR1) extracellular domain (ECD) and/or an FGFR1 ECD fusion molecule in combination with at least one additional therapeutic agent selected from docetaxel, paclitaxel, vincristine, carboplatin, cisplatin, oxaliplatin, doxorubicin, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), leucovorin, pemetrexed, and bevacizumab are provided. Dosage packs comprising an FGFR1 ECD and/or an FGFR1 ECD fusion molecule and/or at least one additional therapeutic agent selected from docetaxel, paclitaxel, vincristine, carboplatin, cisplatin, oxaliplatin, doxorubicin, 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), leucovorin, pemetrexed, and bevacizumab are also provided. In some embodiments, a dosage pack comprises instructions for administering FGFR1 ECD and/or FGFR1 ECD fusion molecule with at least one additional therapeutic agent. |
| US08951965B2 |
Aminotetrahydropyrans as dipeptidyl peptidase-IV inhibitors for the treatment or prevention of diabetes
The present invention is directed to novel substituted aminotetrahydropyrans of structural formula I which are inhibitors of the dipeptidyl peptidase-IV enzyme and which are useful in the treatment or prevention of diseases in which the dipeptidyl peptidase-IV enzyme is involved, such as diabetes and particularly Type 2 diabetes. 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 the dipeptidyl peptidase-IV enzyme is involved. |
| US08951962B2 |
Modified exendins and exendin agonists
Novel modified exendins and exendin agonists having an exendin or exendin agonist linked to one or more polyethylene glycol polymers, for example, and related formulations and dosages and methods of administration thereof are provided. These modified exendins and exendin agonists, compositions and methods are useful in treating diabetes and conditions that would be benefited by lowering plasma glucose or delaying and/or slowing gastric emptying or inhibiting food intake. |
| US08951961B2 |
Structural and mechanistic basis for novel compound biosynthesis using 4-electron hexose oxidase
A novel pharmaceutical composition comprising a compound of formula (I) is disclosed. The novel compound can include a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. The invention further comprises methods for making compounds of formula (I) using Dbv29, and to the use of compound of formula (I) to treat bacterial infections. |
| US08951959B2 |
Glucagon-like peptide-1 analogues and uses thereof
Provided is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) analog shown as the following formula, wherein X is selected from glycine and glycinamide. The GLP-1 analog has a non-proteogenic amino acid residue in position 8 relative to the sequence GLP-1, and is acylated with a moiety comprising two acidic groups to the lysine residue in position 26. The GLP-1 analog is resistant to dipeptidyl peptidase IV so as to have an extended half-life in vivo. Also provided is a use of the GLP-1 analog in conquering blood sugar. |
| US08951945B2 |
Rolling bearing
There is provided a rolling bearing which inhibits spalling of a rolling element and has a long service life even under rigorous environments. The rolling bearing comprises grease for lubricating rolling contact parts and/or sliding contact parts between a first raceway surface and a rolling elements and/or between a second raceway surface and a rolling elements, wherein the grease comprises a base oil, a thickener and an extreme pressure additive, the thickener is a diurea compound obtained by allowing an amine mixture comprising alkylphenylamine, alkyl group of which has 8 to 16 carbon atoms, and cyclohexylamine, to react with a diisocyanate compound, an amount of cyclohexylamine in the total amount of the alkylphenylamine and cyclohexylamine is from 91 to 99% by mole, and a reaction temperature of the extreme pressure additive with iron is 260° C. or lower. |
| US08951940B2 |
Solid-phase clonal amplification and related methods
The present invention provides methods and compositions for analyzing nucleic acid sequences. In some aspects, the methods utilize clonal objects, such as DNA balls, that have been captured on beads. Using the methods described here, compositions are fabricated wherein a bead and one clonal object are affinity bound or hybridized to each other through an affinity binding patch or hybridization patch on the surface of the bead. The invention also provides a population of beads having affinity bound or hybridized clonal objects at a ratio of 1:1. The invention additionally provides methods for amplifying a target nucleic acid molecule utilizing the compositions described herein. |
| US08951938B2 |
Combinatorial rosamine library to detect cell-state switching
The present invention relates to the use of rosamine derivative compounds, as described herein, in detecting differentiated forms of a cell type of interest in a sample and in screening for compounds which inhibit differentiation of the cell type of interest. The candidate compound has the following structure: |
| US08951932B2 |
Perovskite catalyst and method of manufacturing the same
A method of manufacturing a perovskite catalyst composed of perovskite oxide includes mixing step, firing step and acid-treating step. In the mixing step, an A-site material and a B-site material are mixed at a stoichiometric ratio such that the A-site is increased, compared to that of a theoretical composition ABO3 of perovskite oxide in which a ratio of A-site and B-site is 1:1. In the firing step, the obtained mixed powder is fired. In the acid-treating step, the obtained fired powder is acid-treated with acid of pH 2 or more and less than pH 7. |
| US08951928B2 |
Method for regenerating an adsorber or absorber
A method for regenerating an adsorber or absorber on board a submarine, wherein the adsorber or absorber is present in the interior of the submarine for binding metabolically generated CO2-containing harmful gases, and wherein the metabolically generated CO2-containing harmful gases are transferred outboard via a compressor. The thermal energy for regenerating the adsorber or absorber is generated by burning a hydrocarbonaceous energy carrier with oxygen, wherein at least one combustion product, together with the metabolically generated CO2-containing harmful gases, is transferred outboard via the compressor. |
| US08951927B2 |
Zircon compatible, ion exchangeable glass with high damage resistance
An ion exchangeable glass having a high degree of resistance to damage caused by abrasion, scratching, indentation, and the like. The glass comprises alumina, B2O3, and alkali metal oxides, and contains boron cations having three-fold coordination. The glass, when ion exchanged, has a Vickers crack initiation threshold of at least 10 kilogram force (kgf). |
| US08951926B2 |
Optical glass for mold press forming
The invention provides an optical glass for press molding which can satisfy all of the following requirements: (1) it contains no environmentally undesirable components; (2) it can easily achieve a low glass transition point; (3) it has a high refractive index and high dispersion; (4) it can easily provide a glass having an excellent visible light transmittance; and (5) it has excellent resistance to devitrification during preparation of a preform. The optical glass for press molding has a refractive index nd of 1.925 or more, an Abbe's number νd of 10 to 30, and a glass composition, in % by mass, of 20 to 80% Bi2O3, 10 to 30% B2O3, and 0 to 5.5% GeO2 and is substantially free of lead component, arsenic component, and F component. |
| US08951925B2 |
Broadening the rare earth ion emission bandwidth, increasing emission cross section, and/or shifting peak emission wavelength in Nd-doped aluminate or silicate glasses
The invention relates to a Nd-doped, aluminate-based or silicate-based, laser glass having a peak emission wavelength that is longer than 1059.7 nm, an emission cross section (σem) of ≧1.5×10−20 cm2, and/or an emission bandwidth (Δλeff) of ≧28 nm, while maintaining properties that render the glass suitable for commercial use, such as low glass transition temperature Tg and low nonlinear index, n2. |
| US08951922B2 |
Method for fabricating an interlayer
The present invention relates to a method for fabricating an interlayer, and particularly relates to a method for fabricating an interlayer PCBM which is difficult to be dissolved in organic solvents. The solubility of the interlayer (PCBM) in organic solvents is decreased by polymerization of the interlayer (PCBM). Therefore, the thickness of the interlayer (PCBM) can be efficiently controlled, and the yield rate and efficiency of photoelectric devices can be improved. |
| US08951920B2 |
Contact landing pads for a semiconductor device and methods of making same
A method of forming a conductive contact landing pad and a transistor includes forming first and second spaced-apart active regions in a semiconducting substrate, forming a layer of gate insulation material on the first and second active regions, and performing an etching process to remove the layer of gate insulation material formed on the second active region so as to thereby expose the second active region. The method further includes performing a common process operation to form a gate electrode structure above the layer of gate insulation material on the first active region for the transistor and the conductive contact landing pad that is conductively coupled to the second active region, and forming a contact to the conductive contact landing pad. |
| US08951919B2 |
Method of manufacturing semiconductor device, substrate processing apparatus, and recording medium
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes forming a thin film containing a specific element, oxygen, carbon, and nitrogen by performing a cycle a predetermined number of times. The cycle includes supplying a specific element-containing gas, supplying a carbon-containing gas, supplying an oxidizing gas, and supplying a nitriding gas. The act of supplying the nitriding gas is performed before the act of supplying the specific element-containing gas, and the act of supplying the carbon-containing gas and the act of supplying the oxidizing gas are not performed until the act of supplying the specific element-containing gas is performed. |
| US08951918B2 |
Method for fabricating patterned structure of semiconductor device
A method of fabricating a patterned structure of a semiconductor device is provided. First, a substrate having a first region and a second region is provided. A target layer, a hard mask layer and a first patterned mask layer are then sequentially formed on the substrate. A first etching process is performed by using the first patterned mask layer as an etch mask so that a patterned hard mask layer is therefore formed. Spacers are respectively formed on each sidewall of the patterned hard mask layer. Then, a second patterned mask layer is formed on the substrate. A second etching process is performed to etch the patterned hard mask layer in the second region. After the exposure of the spacers, the patterned hard mask layer is used as an etch mask and an exposed target layer is removed until the exposure of the corresponding substrate. |
| US08951914B2 |
Manufacturing method of device
A device manufacturing method includes: sequentially forming a first sacrificial film, a first support film, a second sacrificial film, and a second support film on a semiconductor substrate; forming a hole to pass through these films; forming a crown-shaped electrode covering an inner surface of the hole and connected to the second support film and the first support film; forming a first opening in the second support film into a first pattern designed such that the connection between the crown-shaped electrode and the second support film is at least partially maintained; removing at least a part of the second sacrificial film through the first opening; forming a second opening in the first support film with use of the first opening; and removing the first sacrificial film through the second opening. This method is able to prevent misalignment of openings between the support films. |
| US08951913B2 |
Method for removing native oxide and associated residue from a substrate
Native oxides and associated residue are removed from surfaces of a substrate by sequentially performing two plasma cleaning processes on the substrate in a single processing chamber. The first plasma cleaning process removes native oxide formed on a substrate surface by generating a cleaning plasma from a mixture of ammonia (NH3) and nitrogen trifluoride (NF3) gases, condensing products of the cleaning plasma on the native oxide to form a thin film that contains ammonium hexafluorosilicate ((NH4)2SiF6), and subliming the thin film off of the substrate surface. The second plasma cleaning process removes remaining residues of the thin film by generating a second cleaning plasma from nitrogen trifluoride gas. Products of the second cleaning plasma react with a few angstroms of the bare silicon present on the surface, forming silicon tetrafluoride (SiF4) and lifting off residues of the thin film. |
| US08951906B2 |
Method of forming a through-silicon via utilizing a metal contact pad in a back-end-of-line wiring level to fill the through-silicon via
A method for fabricating through-silicon vias (TSVs) for semiconductor devices is provided. Specifically, the method involves utilizing copper contact pads in a back-end-of-line wiring level, wherein the copper contact pads act as cathodes for performing an electroplating technique to fill TSVs with plated-conductive material (e.g., copper) from an electroplating solution. Moreover, the method provides a way to fill high aspect ratio TSVs with minimal additional semiconductor fabrication process steps, which can increase the silicon area that is available for forming additional electronic components on integrated circuits. |