US07804921B2

A method for adjusting a signal includes applying a compensation for distortion to a signal to generate an output signal and sampling the output signal to generate data values and boundary values. The method further includes monitoring the sampled values for a first set of data patterns, detecting in the sampled values one of the first set of data patterns, and adjusting the compensation based on the sampled data values and boundary values associated with the detected data pattern in the first set of data patterns. The method further includes, after adjusting the compensation, monitoring the sampled values for a second set of data patterns, detecting in the sampled values one of the second set of data patterns, and adjusting the compensation based on one or more of the sampled data values and boundary values associated with the detected data pattern in the second set of data patterns.
US07804920B2

A method according to one embodiment for mitigating radio frequency interference by identifying system clocks, identifying active radio channels, measuring clock harmonics in or near the active radio channels, determining potential interference occurring if the clocks were moved to new fundamental frequencies, and shifting clock fundamental frequencies to reduce interference to the active radio channels based on existing interference and the potential interference of a plurality of new fundamental frequencies. Of course, many alternatives, variations, and modifications are possible without departing from this embodiment.
US07804919B2

According to one embodiment, a run length limiting apparatus comprises an input section configured to input, a digital data string including a predetermined number of symbols which have the same number of bits, a search section configured to search for a specific symbol having a pattern that does not match any of the symbols included in the input digital data string, a calculation section configured to perform an exclusive OR operation between the specific symbol searched for and each of the symbols included in the input digital data string, and an output section configured to output the calculated digital data string together with the specific symbol.
US07804918B2

An apparatus for independently extracting streams from a hierarchically-modulated signal and performing a soft-decision, and a method thereof are provided. The apparatus includes: a synchronizing unit for receiving a hierarchically-modulated signal configured of an I-channel signal and a Q-channel signal from an external device and performing a synchronizing process on the received signal; a divaricating unit 410 for divaricating the synchronized signal configured of the I-channel signal and the Q-channel signal from the synchronizing unit; a high priority (HP) stream extracting and soft-decision unit for extracting a HP stream from one of the divaricated signals, and performing a soft-decision; a processing unit for processing the other of the divaricated signals to allow constellation points to be distinguished; and a low priority (LP) stream extracting and soft-decision unit for extracting a LP stream from the processed signal from the processing unit and performing a soft-decision.
US07804913B2

The invention disclosed in this application uses a method of modulation named Integer Cycle Frequency Hopping (ICFH) wherein a carrier signal, comprised of a continuum of sine waves is generated on a single frequency. A data bit representing either a “1” or a “0”, depending upon the logic polarity chosen by the builder is imposed upon the carrier signal by modifying the carrier signal at precisely the zero crossing point or the zero degree angle. The method of imposing the data is to cause either a lengthening or shortening of the proceeding 360 degrees of phase angle, thus effectively either raising or lowering the frequency of the carrier signal for just the one, or a succession of cycles at hand. Upon completion of the 360-degree cycle(s), the carrier will return to the original frequency. The main carrier frequency is only modulated beginning at the zero degree phase angle and ending at the 360-degree phase angle. In this modulation scheme as few as one sine wave cycle can be used to represent one data bit. The spectral output of a transmitting device using this modulation scheme will be defined by the difference in frequency between the main carrier signal and the modulating frequency. In the resulting signal a modulated segment of the main carrier frequency can represent either a binary “1” or a binary “0”.
US07804908B2

A calibration is performed tone per tone during interframe spacing. A peak detection is used for measuring the level of the corresponding signal, and a gain correction coefficient is stored for correcting the digital complex modulation coefficients provided by the mapping.
US07804905B2

A signal converter having a memory bank and radix-2 Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) transforms an Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) signal having a long preamble and data into an OFDM signal in the frequency domain, and outputs the transformed OFDM signal. The radix-2 FFT has a linear systolic array architecture, transforms the long preamble stored in the memory bank by FFT, then stores the transformed long preamble into the memory bank, transforms data input through a buffering process and data input directly by FFT, and stores the transformed data in the memory bank. The memory bank has four memories, stores the long preamble transformed or not transformed and outputs the stored long preambles or the transformed data for the purpose of demodulation as the transformed data is input. Data-processing delay and/or power consumption may be reduced during the operation of the FFT processor.
US07804903B2

A method of decoding a stream of compression-encoded image data. The method includes supplying at least two values to an adder. At least one of the values is determined based at least in part on a type of a current syntax element in the stream of compression-encoded image data. The method also includes adding the at least two values at the adder to produce an index value. The method further includes using the index value to access a look-up table.
US07804900B2

A method for determining an encoding cost for a block of video data includes providing an image frame, partitioning the image frame into multiple blocks, obtaining a difference matrix for one of the multiple blocks, performing a part of an FHT (Fast Hadamard Transform) for the difference matrix including at least one butterfly step to obtain outputs in a sequence, the at least one butterfly step in number being one butterfly step less than that required for performing the entire FHT, performing an absolute value operation for each of the outputs, comparing the absolute values of every two of the outputs according to the sequence to determine a greater value for each of the every two absolute values, and adding the greater value of each of the every two absolute values thereby obtaining the encoding cost as a sum of absolute transformed differences (SATD) of the difference matrix.
US07804898B2

The present invention relates to a method and an encoder for encoding a digital video sequence, said digital video sequence comprising some sets of images including a disparity map, said disparity map being used to reconstruct one image of a set of images from another image of said set of images. The method is characterized in that it comprises the steps of:—encoding a type of a disparity map to be used for the reconstruction of an image, and—encoding the disparity map. Use: encoder in a video communication system
US07804896B2

A method includes selecting a target pixel and comparing a value of the target pixel with a respective value of each of a plurality of pixels located in an area that includes the target pixel. Further, for each pixel of the plurality of pixels that has a value different by at least a threshold amount from the value of the target pixel, the value of such pixel is replaced by the value of the target pixel. A filter function is applied to a set of pixels which includes the value of the target pixel and current values, after the selective replacement step, of the plurality of pixels.
US07804893B2

The feedback of reinterleaved correctly decoded data blocks to a decoder is provided for use in channel decoding operations of channel coded word containing data block. Once a properly decoded data block has been determined, feedback of constraints on the estimated bit sequences decoded data characteristics to a turbo decoder assist in additional decoding operations. Estimated bit sequences may be selected from those trellises that pass through the constraint imposed by knowledge of re-interleaving properly decoded data blocks. This allows the decoder to generate solutions having a minimum probability of error that are also confined by the re-interleaved properly decoded data blocks.
US07804887B2

The present invention is a dramatically enhanced RF link for low-data-rate applications (1-100 bps), using one or more transmitters to communicate with one or more receivers, at dramatically enhanced ranges. The receiver of the present invention can rapidly search, detect, and lock in on narrow band signal transmissions, that may be present in a much larger frequency band and which may be changing frequency during the duration of the message. These receivers enable ultra-low noise floor detection of longer range, more highly attenuated, signal transmissions, by decreasing the receiver bandwidth.
US07804886B2

System having wearable components operable in mobile outdoor conditions and methods of using the same are presented. A system may include at least one speaker, a microphone, a first transceiver coupled to a first antenna, a second transceiver coupled to a second antenna, the first and second transceivers operating under first and second protocols, respectively. A controller and a power source are also provided. In one embodiment, a system may include an audio assembly, a housing assembly, a resilient seal, and a housing receptacle. The housing assembly may be in releasable engagement with the receptacle. A method of controlling a user device in accordance with one embodiment of the invention may include receiving data transmitted according to a second protocol, decoding the data and encoding the decoded data according to a first protocol, different from the second, and then transmitting the encoded data to the user device. The method may also be practiced in the reverse direction.
US07804880B2

In one embodiment of the present invention, a long-life nitride semiconductor laser element is disclosed wherein voltage characteristics do not deteriorate even when the element is driven at high current density. Specifically disclosed is a nitride semiconductor laser element which includes a p-type nitride semiconductor and a p-side electrode formed on the p-type nitride semiconductor. In at least one embodiment, the p-side electrode has a first layer which is in direct contact with the p-type nitride semiconductor and a conductive second layer formed on the first layer, and the second layer contains a metal element selected from the group consisting of Ti, Zr, Hf, W, Mo and Nb, and an oxygen element.
US07804877B2

The present invention provides in one of the embodiments for either a continuous wave (cw) or pulsed alkali laser having an optical cavity resonant at a wavelength defined by an atomic transition, a van der Waals complex within the optical cavity, the van der Waals complex is formed from an alkali vapor joined with a polarizable gas, and a pump laser for optically pumping the van der Waals complex outside of the Lorentzian spectral wings wherein the van der Waals complex is excited to form an exciplex that dissociates forming an excited alkali vapor, generating laser emission output at the wavelength of the lasing transition.
US07804870B2

In a p-type clad layer, not only a p-type dopant Zn but also Fe is doped. Its Zn concentration is 1.5×1018 cm−3 and the Fe concentration is 1.8×1017 cm−3. In a semi-insulating burying layer, Fe is doped as an impurity generating a deep acceptor level and the concentration thereof is 6.0×1016 cm−3. The Fe concentration in the p-type clad layer is thus three times higher than the Fe concentration in the burying layer.
US07804867B2

A laser mounted in a casing is driven by and mounted close to its driving circuit. To reduce the effect on the laser of heat generated by the driver circuit, the casing includes a passive heat sink element on which the driver circuit is mounted whereby heat generated by the driver is dissipated by the passive heat sink element.
US07804866B1

A pulse stretcher includes a plurality of substantially parallel slab-like optical paths of different optical path lengths and a plurality of reflecting surfaces, which are totally internally reflecting surface formed, located at an end of the corresponding optical path. Due to the different path lengths, the pulse stretcher can spread out an input pulse into a stretched pulse having a longer pulse duration and proportionally lower intensity than the initial pulse.
US07804858B2

A transmission ECU on a transmission side and reception ECUs on a reception side are connected through communication lines and junction connectors. A delay circuit is provided in each of the junction connectors on the side of the reception ECUs. One end of the delay circuit is connected to the communication line on the side of the transmission ECU and the other end of the same is connected to the communication line on the side of the reception ECU. The communication lines on the both ends of the delay circuit are grounded through termination resistors.
US07804856B2

An advanced video multiplexer system designed and optimized for next generation on-demand video distribution is described. The system optimizes identifies a multi-program transport stream best able to accommodate new seesions based upon Quality of Service (QoS) and QAM utilization ratios. MPTS channels are rebalanced via re-grouping and transrating as necessary to optimize bandwidth utilization. Multiple video formats are supported via built-in transcoding. The multiplexer manages encryption resources and supports new sessions using previously allocated encryption resources where possible. Sessions can be grouped into encryption channels either by using a single authorization tier per channel policy, or by requiring all clients of the group to be in physically separated service groups. Encryption channels can be released when a channel no longer serves any clients or when one or more other channels that have been assigned the same entitlement can accommodate any remaining clients.
US07804854B2

A method for transmitting digital messages used during testing of microprocessors. Each message includes at least one data packet. To transmit a message, each data packet is divided into successive segments of predetermined size, each segment being classified in accordance with one or the other among five types depending on whether it contains a start of message (SM), intermediate data (NT), an end of packet (EP), and end of message (EM); or it is an empty segment (ID). As each segment is sent, an identification signal characterizing the succession of the segment concerned and of the preceding segment is sent. To reduce the number of transmitted segments, a segment containing both the start and the end of a message is classified as being a segment containing an end of message, and a segment containing both the start of a message and the end of a first packet of the message being classified as a segment containing an end of packet.
US07804851B2

Various discovery techniques are described for physical media interface aggregation.
US07804849B2

A hierarchical communication system, arranged in a spanning tree configuration, is described in which wired and wireless communication networks exhibiting substantially different characteristics are employed in an overall scheme to link portable or mobile computing devices. Copies of data, program code and processing resources are migrated from their source toward requesting destinations based on request frequency, communication link costs and available local storage and/or processing resources. Each appropriately configured network device acts as an active participant in network migration. In addition, portable two-dimensional (2-D) code reading terminals are configured to wirelessly communicate compressed 2-D images toward stationary access servers that identify the code image through decoding and through comparison with a database of images that have previously been decoded and stored.
US07804846B2

Finding errors in the fragment headers of the fragments of service layer packets without depending on the erasure indicators of Medium Access Channel (MAC) layer packets of a wireless signal in a wireless communication system includes determining if length of the fragment header is between 121 and 127; determining if length of the fragment header is equal to 127, and if the fragment header is not the last fragment header in a service layer packet being formed; determining if summation of length of the fragment header for a value N is greater than 122 subtracted by number of fragments collected from a MAC layer packet including fragment header; and determining if fragment header is not the last fragment header in the service layer packet being formed, and if fragment header length is less than residual number of bytes in the MAC layer packet.
US07804841B2

A method and a communication apparatus for deciding a transmitting region for an allocated transmitting burst in a frame of an orthogonal frequency division multiplex access (OFDMA) system are provided. The communication apparatus comprises a decoder and a processing unit. The decoder decodes an MAP message, which is related to the allocated transmitting burst, into a plurality of parameters. The processing unit assigns a plurality of burst regions in the frame according to the parameters and decides a transmitting region according to the burst regions.
US07804840B2

Embodiments of the present invention are related to a device and a method for more efficiently processing Ethernet communications that include FCOE communications. In some embodiments the device is a single device including a combination of an aggregator, a filter and a gateway. Such a combination can be more practical, affordable and efficient than the usual arrangement of a several separate devices. In other embodiments, the device of the present invention can be a combination of a switch and a gateway. In yet other embodiments other types of devices can be used. More generally, embodiments of the present invention can apply to a device or method for processing communications involving a set of two network protocols (first and second protocols) as well as a third protocol, the third protocol being compatible with the first protocol and used to define how to tunnel the second protocol over the first protocol.
US07804838B2

The present invention concerns a time synchronizing device and process, and a local gateway comprising that device. The time synchronizing device synchronizes a router arranged between two communication networks. It comprises intercepting means of a message coming from an apparatus of a source network for that message, having a specific time clock, and directed to a target network for that message, preparing means of a time request able to be executed in that apparatus so as to cause synchronizing data based on that specific clock to be obtained from that apparatus and to be transmitted back to the synchronizing device, sending means of the time request to the apparatus, forwarding means of the intercepted message to the target network after the preparing means have prepared the time request, receiving means of the synchronizing data, and exploiting means of those data to synchronize a local time clock used by the router with respect to that specific time clock .Application to home networks.
US07804827B2

The invention relates to a method for ensuring the adequacy of transmission capacity in a digital packet-switched cellular network where both voice sample packets and associated header fields are transmitted in real time in one and the same transmission channel. The invention also relates to a terminal employing the method. In the method, the contents of voice sample packets at the beginning of a speech spurt are partly replaced by packet header field data in situations where the combined bit count of voice sample data and packet header data exceeds the transmission capacity of the transmission channel.
US07804818B1

A method for maintaining signaling history of application servers to be invoked and applications to be provided in a VoIP network. In one illustrative embodiment, the signaling history of application servers that have been invoked and/or applications that have been processed is inserted into a message header by each application server in the network in turn as applications are processed. These headers are then carried in the message traffic between the SB, CCE and AS's in order to maintain a record of these invocations/processing. The SB may illustratively refer to these messages in determining the order in which applications are to be processed as well as to determine when all services have been processed. In another illustrative embodiment, this signaling history may illustratively be carried in SIP VIA headers.
US07804798B2

To manage the transmission of information packets on channels of a telecommunications network, the packets are organised into user queues received in respective buffers, measuring the occupancy level of the buffers. The users are sorted into respective classes (RT, NRT) identified by the service mode requested. After determining the propagation conditions on the transmission channel respectively associated to said users, the priority in the transmission of the packets is determined, choosing the order in which the respective queues are visited as a function of: —a first level priority, linked to whether the users belong to the respective classes of service (RT, NRT), —a second level priority, linked to at least a parameter chosen between the level of occupancy of the respective buffer and the propagation conditions of the respective channel.
US07804793B1

A relatively low frequency signal—e.g. RS-232—is coupled to and extracted from a communication link that carries both a high frequency continuous signal and burst mode signal having bursts occurring at one or more frequencies—e.g. SAS with OOB signaling. The communication link has a differential coupling which differentially couples onto a first pair of conductors a continuous signal at a continuous rate and a burst mode signal having bursts occurring at one or more frequencies. The communication link also has a common mode coupling which common mode couples a second signal onto the first pair of conductors. A high pass filter coupled to the first pair of conductors extracts the continuous signal and the burst mode signal from the first pair of conductors. A low pass filter coupled to the first pair of conductors extracts the second signal from the first pair of conductors.
US07804792B2

A method for receiving multicast service data by a terminal in a communication system. The method includes receiving a pilot from a base station, measuring channel state information using the received pilot, and transmitting the channel state information to the base station; receiving a frame from the base station, and determining whether there is an error in the received frame; when no error has occurred in the received frame, determining whether the number of frames consecutively received without error is greater than or equal to a predetermined number; and when the number of frames consecutively received without error is greater than or equal to the predetermined number, transitioning to a non-feedback state where the terminal transmits no channel state information to the base station. The frame includes multicast service data.
US07804789B2

Methods, systems, and computer program products for managing and selectively distributing routing information in a routing node are disclosed. In one implementation, a method for selectively distributing routing information in a routing node includes organizing internal signaling resources are organized so as to facilitate the efficient mapping of signaling system 7 (SS7) message transfer part (MTP) signaling protocol attributes to Internet protocol (IP)-based signaling resources. A routing status information sharing hierarchy is defined, which enables routing status information to be efficiently shared among members of a signaling mateset group. Members of a signaling mateset replicate and distribute SS7 MTP network management information across non-MTP signaling connections, such as IP connections.
US07804785B2

A method, apparatus, and system in which a network system has one or more individual networks. The topology of the first individual network includes two or more service modules. At least one of the service modules is modeled to represent a network element that performs one or more functions to process a packet in a network system. The two or more service modules may be arranged in the first individual network in an arbitrary topology. The packet processing by the two or more service modules is governed by the topology of the first individual network.
US07804780B2

The present invention provides receiving and transmitting devices for providing fragmentation at a transport level along a transmission path. The transmitting device comprises an interface and a control unit coupled to the interface. The control unit is adapted to negotiate a packet size with a remote device. The control unit is also adapted to transmit a data packet of up to the negotiated size. The control unit is further adapted to receive acknowledgments from the remote device associated with one or more fragments, fragmented at the transport-level, of the transmitted data packet. The receiving device comprises an interface and a control unit coupled to the interface. The control unit is adapted to receive two or more fragments of a data packet transmitted by a remote device. The control unit is also adapted to transmit one or more acknowledgments to the remote device based on the received fragments.
US07804776B2

A system and method for variable data transmission rate resolution is provided. The system implements a method comprising incrementing a port transmission rate using a variable resolution; and transmitting data through the port using the incremented port transmission rate.
US07804773B2

The present disclosure is directed to a system and method to manage data flow in a network. The method includes receiving a plurality of data flows, wherein each of the plurality of data flows includes a plurality of data packets. The method also includes determining a protocol associated with each of the plurality of data flows. The method also includes dropping at least one data packet from at least one data flow associated with a first protocol, wherein the at least one dropped data packet meets a first criterion associated with the first protocol. The method also includes dropping at least one additional data packet from a data flow associated with a second protocol, wherein the at least one additional data packet meets a second criterion associated with the second protocol.
US07804766B2

Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a method that can comprise automatically rendering information indicative of a cause of a failure in a Virtual Private Network (VPN) that comprises one or more routers that utilize Virtual Routing and Forwarding (VRF) tables to route traffic via the VPN. The cause of the failure can be automatically determined.
US07804765B2

Messages transmitted between a receiver and a transmitter are used to maximize a communication data rate. In particular, a multicarrier modulation system uses messages that are sent from the receiver to the transmitter to exchange one or more sets of optimized communication parameters. The transmitter then stores these communication parameters and when transmitting to that particular receiver, the transmitter utilizes the stored parameters in an effort to maximize the data rate to that receiver. Likewise, when the receiver receives packets from that particular transmitter, the receiver can utilize the stored communication parameters for reception.
US07804763B2

A power line communication device for communicating data signals over a power line is provided. One example embodiment comprises a conditioning circuit configured to be coupled to the power line and a modem communicatively coupled to the conditioning circuitry to transmit and receive data signals over the power line via the conditioning circuitry. The modem may be configured to transmit and receive orthogonal frequency division multiplexed data signals that comprise a plurality of sub-carriers, wherein the modem is adapted to vary the transmit power for each of a plurality of subsets of the plurality of sub-carriers from substantially zero power to a plurality of increments above zero power. The modem also may be adapted to transmit and receive data signals with the transmit power for each of a plurality of subsets of the plurality of sub-carriers being different and to transmit and receive using a different modulation scheme at different sub-carriers.
US07804760B2

A circuit can process a sample of a signal to emulate, simulate, or model an effect on the signal. Thus, an emulation circuit can produce a representation of a real-world signal transformation by processing the signal according to one or more signal processing parameters that are characteristic of the real-world signal transformation. The emulation circuit can apply analog signal processing and/or mixed signal processing to the signal. The signal processing can comprise feeding the signal through two signal paths, each having a different delay, and creating a weighted sum of the outputs of the two signal paths. The signal processing can also (or alternatively) comprise routing the signal through a network of delay elements, wherein a bank of switching or routing elements determines the route and thus the resulting delay.
US07804759B2

A single mode laser beam output from a single mode semiconductor laser and a multimode laser beam output from a multimode semiconductor laser are combined with each other by a polarization beam splitter, the combined laser beam is used by a deflection scanning mechanism to perform main scanning, and an image of the combined laser beam is formed on a surface of a thermal recording medium by a scanning lens.
US07804752B2

The present invention is embodied in a recording device and media for storing computer readable data on a removable storage medium that includes using a first wavelength to write data to the removable storage medium and creating marks while writing the data that have predetermined wide spot sizes so that the marks can be read with a second wavelength, different from the first wavelength, of another computer readable storage device.
US07804749B2

An optical information storage medium and a method of recording thereon. The optical information storage medium has a lead-in area, a user data area and a lead-out area, and data indicating a maximum and/or a minimum writing speed, maximum and minimum writing speeds, or compatible writing speeds is recorded in a recordable region of at least one of the lead-in area and the lead-out area. The optical information storage medium and the method of recording on the media enable a disc drive to reliably record data on a disc which cannot achieve a prescribed recording speed due to manufacturing conditions, at an optimal speed considering the pre-recorded writing speed data.
US07804737B2

A marine seismic exploration method and system comprised of continuous recording, self-contained ocean bottom pods characterized by low profile casings. An external bumper is provided to promote ocean bottom coupling and prevent fishing net entrapment. Pods are tethered together with flexible, non-rigid, non-conducting cable used to control pod deployment. Pods are deployed and retrieved from a boat deck configured to have a storage system and a handling system to attach pods to cable on-the-fly. The storage system is a juke box configuration of slots wherein individual pods are randomly stored in the slots to permit data extraction, charging, testing and synchronizing without opening the pods. A pod may include an inertial navigation system to determine ocean floor location and a rubidium clock for timing. The system includes mathematical gimballing. The cable may include shear couplings designed to automatically shear apart if a certain level of cable tension is reached.
US07804729B2

A temperature compensation circuit includes a voltage generator, a comparator and an emulation cell array. The voltage generator provides a predetermined voltage and a reference voltage. The comparator has a first terminal for receiving the predetermined voltage, and a second terminal for receiving the reference voltage. The emulation cell array is coupled to the first terminal of the comparator. When a voltage of the first terminal of the comparator is discharged, via the emulation cell array, to be lower than the reference voltage, the comparator outputs a read timing control signal to control a sense amplifier to perform a sensing operation.
US07804725B2

A write driving circuit includes a plurality of driving units that write data corresponding to detection signals on memory banks, and at least one detecting unit that detects data input from the outside, and outputs the detection signals to two or more driving units among the plurality of driving units.
US07804720B2

An integrated circuit memory device may include a memory cell array and a plurality of data input/output pins. The plurality of data input/output pins may be configured to receive data from a memory controller to be written to the memory cell array during a data write operation, and the data input/output pins may be further configured to provide data to the memory controller from the memory cell array during a data read operation. A mode register may be configured to store information defining an operational characteristic of the memory device, and the mode register may be configured to be set using the data input/output bus. Related methods, systems, and additional devices are also discussed.
US07804718B2

A method and system for increasing the lifespan of a flash memory device by selectively erasing sub-blocks of a memory block. Each physical memory block of the flash memory device is dividable into at least two logical sub-blocks, where each of the at least two logical sub-blocks is erasable. Therefore, only the data of the logical sub-block is erased and reprogrammed while unmodified data in the other logical sub-block avoids unnecessary program/erase cycles. The logical sub-blocks to be erased are dynamically configurable in size and location within the block. A wear leveling algorithm is used for distributing data throughout the physical and logical sub-blocks of the memory array to maximize the lifespan of the physical blocks during programming and data modification operations.
US07804716B2

Provided are a flash memory device having an improved bit-line layout and a layout method for the flash memory device. The flash memory device in which bit lines are disposed based on double patterning technology (DPT), may include at least one main bit line connected to a cell string including a memory cell storing data, at least one dummy bit line disposed parallel to the at least one main bit line, and a common source line transferring a common source voltage, and disposed on a different layer from a layer on which the at least one main bit line and the at least one dummy bit line are disposed, wherein the at least one dummy bit line may include a first dummy bit line transferring a first voltage and a second dummy bit line transferring a second voltage.
US07804710B2

A stacked magnetic tunnel junction (MTJ) structure of a multi-layer magnetic random access memory (MRAM) which includes a plurality of stacked MTJ devices serially connected to each other and an access transistor shared between the stacked MTJ devices. The stacked MTJ structure further includes a write word line through which a write current flows. The write current generates a hard axis magnetic field used to selectively write an MTJ device of the stacked MTJ devices.
US07804706B2

A bottom electrode (BE) layout is disclosed that has four distinct sections repeated in a plurality of device blocks and is used to pattern a BE layer in a MRAM. A device section includes BE shapes and dummy BE shapes with essentially the same shape and size and covering a substantial portion of substrate. There is a via in a plurality of dummy BE shapes where each via will be aligned over a WL pad. A second bonding pad section comprises an opaque region having a plurality of vias. The remaining two sections relate to open field regions in the MRAM. The third section has a plurality of dummy BE shapes with a first area size. The fourth section has a plurality of dummy BE shapes with a second area size greater than the first area size to provide more complete BE coverage of an underlying etch stop ILD layer.
US07804701B2

An array of memory cells is arranged in a plurality of columns and rows, each of the memory cells including a programmable fuse connected to a predetermined bit line and in series with a select transistor. The select transistor has a first current electrode connected to a reference voltage terminal, a control electrode connected to a predetermined word line, and a second current electrode connected to the programmable fuse. The select transistor further has a semiconductor body adjacent to which the first current electrode and the second current electrode are located. These electrodes are separated by a channel. A signal terminal that is connected to the semiconductor body receives an input signal to forward bias the channel to the first current electrode during programming of the programmable fuse to increase a programming current of the programmable fuse.
US07804700B2

A semiconductor device includes a plurality of word lines, a plurality of bit lines, a plurality of memory cells provided at the intersections of the plurality of word lines and the plurality of bit lines and each of that includes a MIS transistor and a memory element, a decoder circuit for selecting a plurality of word lines, and a sense-amplifier circuit for determining information that is read from any of the plurality of memory cells to any of the plurality of bit lines, wherein a twist connector for switching the wiring order of the plurality of word lines is provided and level-stabilizing circuits, for supplying the potential level of a non-selected state to the plurality of word lines in the non-selected state are arranged in the area below the twist connector.
US07804696B2

Electromagnetic radiation containment in an electronic module. In one example, an electronic module includes a housing, a printed circuit board, and an electrically conductive sealing element. The printed circuit board is partially positioned within the housing and defines an edge connector extending from the housing. The electrically conductive sealing element radially surrounds 360 degrees of one end of the housing and the printed circuit board proximate the edge connector such that when the edge connector is fully received in a host board connector mounted to a host board, the electrically conductive sealing element cooperates with a corresponding structure of the host board to at least partially define a Faraday cage substantially enclosing the edge connector and the host board connector. The housing defines a radial groove which aids in the retention of the sealing element.
US07804694B2

A component having reference layer openings to contribute towards achieving a differential impedance in a circuit, is described herein.
US07804693B2

There are provided a printed circuit board having a structure for relieving a stress concentration on an outer most lead of leads, due to a difference in thermal expansion coefficients between the semiconductor device and the printed circuit board when the semiconductor device is mounted on the printed circuit board. The printed circuit board includes an inner lead portion to be connected to the semiconductor device. The inner lead portion includes a plurality of leads, arranged in parallel with a same pitch in a predetermined area, and additional leads located near both ends of the predetermined area in which the plurality of leads are arranged in parallel, respectively, wherein each of the plurality of leads has a pitch smaller than 30 μm and a width of the additional lead is wider than 20 μm. There are also provided a semiconductor chip package equipped with the printed circuit board according to the present invention.
US07804687B2

A cooling system for a rack-mount server includes a fan disposed within the rack-mount server and configured to produce an airflow through the rack-mount server, and a heat exchanger disposed within the rack-mount server in a path of the airflow through the rack-mount server. The heat exchanger includes a liquid circulation path structure and an airflow path structure. The airflow path structure is configured to shield electromagnetic interference.
US07804685B2

An electronic equipment enclosure includes a frame structure at least partially enclosed by a plurality of panels defining a compartment in which one or more electronic components are mounted and an exhaust air duct that is adapted to segregate hot air being exhausted from the compartment from cool air entering the compartment, thereby improving thermal management of the enclosure. The exhaust duct includes a lower duct section extending upward from the top panel of the compartment and an upper duct section telescoping upward from an upper end of the lower duct section. Each duct section includes four panels connected together by hinged corner fittings such that the section is collapsible. The upper duct section includes an outwardly flared portion.
US07804682B2

A positioning device includes a fixing component including an arc slot with an end. A positioning plate is connected to the fixing component in a rotatable manner relative to the fixing component. The positioning plate includes a pillar positioned within the arc slot. The positioning device further includes a stopper positioned near on the end for stopping the pillar when the pillar slides near the end. A portion of the stopper protrudes over the arc slot to limit a rotational range of the positioning plate relative to the fixing component.
US07804675B2

To provide an electrostatic holding apparatus which is capable of performing handling for a long period of time even when a direct current high-voltage power supply is separated from the electrostatic holding apparatus. The electrostatic holding apparatus holds a workpiece to be held with an electrostatic force by applying prescribed voltages from the direct current high-voltage power supply to a plurality of electrode groups having the electrode groups as a holding section. The electrostatic holding apparatus is provided with an electrode potential drop modifying apparatus which modifies drops of potentials applied to the electrode groups by being separated from the direct current high-voltage power supply by switches. The electrode potential drop modifying apparatus includes, for instance, capacitors.
US07804674B2

An electromagnetic actuator and a method for controlling the actuator comprising at least one armature (3) and two coils (1, 2). The voltage gradient at the two coils (1, 2) is measured during a sudden increase in voltage. From this measured data, a subtractor (16) computes a third voltage gradient (25) from which a logic unit (17) determines the position of the armature (3) without the use of an additional sensor.
US07804669B2

A stacked gate-coupled N-channel field effect transistor (GCNFET) electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit involves a stack of stages. Each stage has an NFET whose body is coupled to its source. A resistor is coupled between the gate and the source. A current path is provided from a supply voltage node to the gate of each NFET such that during an ESD event, a current will flow across the resistor of the stage and induce triggering. In one embodiment, an NFET stage that is isolated from the supply voltage node by and other stage has an associated capacitance structure. During the transient voltage condition of the ESD event, current flows from the supply voltage node, through the capacitance structure and to the gate, and then through the resistor, thereby initiating triggering. The GCNFET ESD protection circuit has a trigger voltage that is less than twenty percent higher than its holding voltage.
US07804662B2

In a perpendicular recording head, a notch is formed in the top write gap at a location on top of the main pole. A perpendicular head with this notched top write gap structure has less transition curvature and better writability while reducing the adjacent track interference (ATI). Also, the process used to fabricate the head ensures that the trailing edge (writing edge) of the main pole is extremely flat with no corner rounding.
US07804659B2

According to one embodiment, there is to provide a disk drive which calculates an error in the position of a head on the basis of concentric servo patterns. The disk drive has a disk medium on which spiral servo patterns are recorded and a read head which reads the spiral servo patterns from the disk medium. A servo controller reproduces a hexagonal burst signal from the spiral servo patterns read by the read head to generate position data associated with servo burst signals. The CPU uses the position data to perform a position error calculation.
US07804657B1

A method is disclosed for setting an operating bias current for a magnetoresistive (MR) element. A bias current is applied to the MR element, and a voltage across the MR element is measured corresponding to the bias current. The bias current is then adjusted in response to the bias current multiplied by a ratio of a target voltage and the measured voltage. The adjusted bias current is then applied to the MR element. In one embodiment, the bias current is adjusted until the measured voltage substantially equals the target voltage.
US07804647B2

A method for smoothing an annealed surface uses a sub-resolution mask pattern. The method supplies a laser beam having a first wavelength and a mask with a first mask section having apertures with a first dimension and a second mask section with apertures having a second dimension, less than the first dimension. A laser beam having a first energy density is applied to a substrate region, melting a substrate region in response to the first energy density and crystallizing the substrate region. A diffracted laser beam is applied to the substrate region, smoothing the substrate region surface. Applying a diffracted laser beam to the substrate area may include applying a diffracted laser beam having a second energy density, less than the first energy density, to the substrate region.
US07804645B2

An image stabilizer of the present invention is provided with a lens module 101 that holds a lens and an imaging element, an inner frame that turnably supports the lens module 101, and driving portion that turns the lens module 101 relative to the inner frame 11, with the driving portion including a bimorph 14. An image stabilizer thereby can be provided that allows the overall size and profile of an imaging apparatus to be reduced.
US07804641B2

A method of automatically focusing a microscope in which a beam of light is directed from a light source through an objective of the microscope system to an object whereby light is reflected from the surface thereof; reflected light is collected and directed to an imaging system. The incident beam of light is limited in spatial extent by imaging an aperture to form an illumination pupil, the centroid of illumination of the illumination pupil is aligned with the incident optical axis of the instrument. The reflected light is split in the imaging system into at least one pair of images from eccentric sections of an imaging pupil displaced from the optical axis in opposite directions. The separation of the images thereby produced is determined to provide an indication of the object distance. A focusing system implementing the method and a microscope fitted with such a system are also described.
US07804639B2

An electrophoretic display having a pair of substrates separated by a microcapsule layer, a plurality of pixels formed at the intersections of rows of gate lines and columns of data lines on at least one of the substrates, wherein at least one of said substrates is sufficiently flexible when touched to change the separation between said substrates at any of said pixels, a plurality of sense signal lines formed parallel to the data lines, and a sense signal processing unit connected with the sense signal lines for sensing a change in capacitance between said substrates at any of said pixel.
US07804635B1

One exemplary embodiment of an electrochromic thin-film material comprises a metal-chalcogen compound; and/or a mixture or solid solution of one or more metal-rich metal-chalcogen compounds and/or lithium. One or more of the metals comprise Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, W, Mn, Sb, or Bi, or combinations thereof; and one or more of the chalcogens comprise O, S, Se, or Te, or combinations thereof.
US07804634B2

The apparatus claimed by the invention uses as the display medium colors in the form of colored fluids which are transported by means of transport in a system of compartments within a fluidic chain, whereby they are visible from the direction of an observer only through a single one these compartments (image compartment). Depending on the position of the individual colored fluids, a different color impression is received by the observer. The invention thereby teaches the presence of a fluidic chain in a subpixel and the combination of a plurality of these subpixels in a pixel. The display claimed by the invention consists of a plurality of pixels. With the use of eight colors in connection with an optically created color mixing effect, a color space can be displayed which is sufficient at least for the display of the information typically used on advertising signs.
US07804632B2

An image display device using a one-dimensional hologram is disclosed. The image display device includes a light deflection unit which deflects a parallel light ray and adjusts the incident angle of a reconstructing light in sequence, and a one-dimensional hologram optical modulator which reproduces the entire picture by updating each lineal picture in sequence. A one-dimensional hologram is capable of expressing one lineal picture at one time with single axes data. The one-dimensional hologram is updated in synchronization with the incident reproducing light. The input data for a one-dimensional hologram may be computed by an optical calculation method.
US07804629B2

A method for determining a toner usage estimate for a print job to be performed by a printing system having at least one print engine and at least one controller includes determining a set of print conditions for the print job and selecting a set of parameters associated with the print conditions. The method further includes estimating a total amount of toner usage for each of the print job's pages. The set of parameters may include image rendering, job dependent and engine dependent parameters.
US07804628B2

An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit that forms an image on a recording sheet; an image reading unit provided above the image forming unit so as to open and close with respect to the image forming unit; an automatic document feeder provided above the image reading unit so as to open and close with respect to the image reading unit; and an open-close regulation mechanism that regulates opening and closing movements of the automatic document feeder so that when the image reading unit is closed with respect to the image forming unit, the automatic document feeder is capable of opening with respect to the image reading unit, and when the image reading unit is opened with respect to the image forming unit, the automatic document feeder is prevented to open with respect to the image reading unit.
US07804627B2

An image reading device is provided with a contact glass on which a document is to be placed; a group light source in which a plurality of point light sources are linearly arrayed; and a light source unit having the group light source mounted therein and adapted to optically scan a document surface via a contact glass with reading lights emitted from the group light source. The group light source is constructed such that at least one of the plurality of point light sources is a detecting light source for emitting a detection light toward the contact glass to detect the presence or absence of a document on the contact glass.
US07804625B2

A scanning unit is configured to slide along a guide shaft that extends in a predetermined direction. The scanning unit includes a carriage configured to slide along the guide shaft, a bearing which is disposed on a carriage and through which the guide shaft passes, and an elastic deformation allowance mechanism which permits elastic deformation of the external shape of the bearing in the predetermined direction at a predetermined time. For example, a contact image sensor unit includes a box equipped with a contact image sensor. The box has a bearing through which a guide shaft is inserted. The bearing has a pair of bosses, bushings that fit therein, and a coil spring that is disposed between the bushings. The bushings are urged by the coil spring, so that the bushings continually protrude outwards. As the contact image sensor unit slides along the guide shaft, the bushings insert in between the bosses when the bushings abut the wall surface of the frame, so that the bearing is deformed elastically. An image reading device may include a scanning unit.
US07804624B2

A device and method for scanning an image of an object are disclosed. The device includes a controlled transparency film (5) and a set of light detectors (80). A backlight (50) may be used for scanning the object. The controlled transparency film is modulated to apply a series of filters on the backlight as it bounces off the object, back toward the detectors. The light detectors are sampled while each filter is being applied. The resultant measurements correspond to coefficients of a two-dimensional image transform. These coefficients may be collected as a bitstream to be inserted into an image file. This allows the image data to be compressed as it is being captured, thereby reducing processor overhead.
US07804622B2

Disclosed is an image reading apparatus including: an original transporting device for transporting an original; an image reader for reading an image of the original in a first reading region or a second reading region while transporting the original by the original transporting device; and a correcting device for correcting image data read in the second reading region by the image reader so as to give the image data the same white level as image data read in the first reading region based on the ratio of the white level of the second reading region to that of the first reading region.
US07804617B2

A network system for remotely setting up a network device from a host terminal, the network device and the host terminal being connected to a network is provided. The network device includes a storage unit configured to store setting information, and a controller which performs a controlling operation in accordance with the setting information stored in the storage unit. The host terminal includes a display unit on which information is displayed, and an input unit configured to accept user operation. The network system has a first state in which the controller of the network device operates to display the setting information on the display unit in response to a first signal being inputted to the controller through the input unit of the host terminal, and a second state in which the controller of the network device operates to display the setting information on the display unit in such a manner that editing of the setting information is allowed in response to a second signal being inputted to the controller via the network through use of the input unit of the host terminal during the first state.
US07804616B2

A data transmission apparatus includes a holding portion that holds specified transmission destination information, and a control portion that controls the holding portion to keep holding the transmission destination information even after completion of data transmission based on the transmission destination information and stand by in a state of being capable of subsequently transmitting different data to the same transmission destination. The control portion permits or forbids holding of the transmission destination information based on the contents of data transmission. An image data transmission apparatus determines the presence or absence of a possibility that a set transmission destination is an erroneously set transmission destination. The image data transmission apparatus, after the start of image reading, requires a user to make a confirmation of correct setting of the transmission destination only when the possibility is present, and transmits stored image data to the transmission destination after the confirmation.
US07804611B2

A printing system includes printers capable of redirecting print jobs to one another. A negotiator associated with each printer negotiates print job redirections. If a printer is unable to execute a print job, the negotiator seeks to outsource the print job by communicating an outsource request to other negotiators. In formulating an outsource request, the negotiator utilizes one or more constraint services. A negotiator which receives the outsource request includes an insource mechanism which determines whether to make an offer in which the associated printer is to execute at least a portion of the print job to be outsourced. If negotiator determines to make the offer, the insource offer is communicated to the first negotiator. The negotiators may each contemporaneously conduct a plurality of negotiations for a particular print job to be outsourced and/or contemporaneously conduct a plurality of negotiations for different print jobs to be insourced.
US07804608B2

There are provided an information processing apparatus and information processing method, which can implement a job or printer device monitoring scheme that allows the user to easily detect status of printing apparatus in advance. The status of a physical printer device corresponding to a predetermined logical printer, which is set as an object to be monitored, is monitored, and a result based on monitoring is displayed on a computer display as a resident display. For example, when the resident display is displayed as an icon on the task tray on the computer display, it does not disturb display of windows of other document creation applications. Also, the user need not purposely instruct to launch a monitor utility upon printing. Hence, a job or printer device monitoring scheme which is very convenient for the user can be implemented.
US07804605B2

The present invention provides an optical multi-axis linear displacement measurement system and a method thereof, and the system can detect the reflected light from the top surface of the object so as to obtain multi-axis linear displacements of the object. The optical multi-axis linear displacement measurement system utilizes a non-contact optical method for obtaining multi-axis linear displacements of the object and it can perform simultaneous multi-axis linear displacement measurements. The advantages of the system and method include: high response speed (bandwidth) for dynamic measurement, simple structure, cost effective, and high sensitivity for displacement measurements.
US07804603B2

A measurement apparatus disclosed that has a radiation source configured to provide a measurement beam of radiation such that an individually controllable element of an array of individually controllable elements capable of modulating a beam of radiation, is illuminated by the measurement beam and redirects the measurement beam, and a detector arranged to receive the redirected measurement beam and determine the position at which the redirected measurement beam is incident upon the detector, the position at which the redirected measurement beam is incident upon the detector being indicative of a characteristic of the individually controllable element.
US07804598B2

Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems for integrating optical interfacial elements with a high power acoustic resonator. More specifically, but not by way of limitation, in certain embodiments of the present invention, one or more optical interfacial elements may be integrated with a high power acoustic resonator to provide a robust sensing device that may provide for acoustic cleaning of the optical interfacial elements and/or combining optical and acoustic measurements made by the integrated system for analysis purposes. In certain aspects, the high power acoustic resonator may include an acoustic horn for focusing acoustic energy and the optical interfacial elements may be integrated with the acoustic horn.
US07804593B2

The invention relates to a spectrometer arrangement (10) comprising a spectrometer (14) for producing a spectrum of a first wavelength range of radiation from a radiation source on a detector (42). Said arrangement also comprises: an Echelle grating (36) for the spectral decomposition of the radiation penetrating the spectrometer arrangement (10) in a main dispersion direction (46); a dispersing element (34) for separating the degrees by means of spectral decomposition of the radiation in a transversal dispersion direction (48) which forms an angle with the main dispersion direction of the Echelle grating (36), in such a way that a two-dimensional spectrum (50) can be produced with a plurality of separated degrees (52); an imaging optical element (24, 38) for imaging the radiation penetrating through an inlet gap (20) into the spectrometer arrangement (10), in an image plane (40); and a surface detector (42) comprising a two dimensional arrangement of a plurality of detector elements in the image plane (40). The inventive arrangement is characterized in that another spectrometer (12) comprising at least one other dispersing element (64) and another imaging optical element (60,66) is provided in order to produce a spectrum (68) of a second wavelength range of radiation, which is different from the first wavelength range, from a radiation source on the same detector (42). The spectra can be spatially or temporally separated on the detector.
US07804591B2

A wafer inspecting method including the steps of: multi-scanning a pattern image of a unit inspection region in a normal state and a pattern image of a unit inspection region to be inspected, respectively, using different inspection conditions; comparing the multi-scanned pattern images in the normal state with the multi-scanned pattern images to be inspected obtained by the same inspection conditions, and storing differences between the pattern images as difference images; generating a discrimination difference image by calculating a balance between the stored difference images; and discriminating a defect from noise by using the discrimination difference image.
US07804580B2

An immersion exposure apparatus includes a placement unit on which a substrate is to be placed, the substrate including a body to be processed and a resist film on the body, a projection optical system including a projection lens, a liquid supply unit including an immersion nozzle, a measurement unit for measuring positions of alignment marks Mi (i=1, 2, . . . ) on the substrate, and a control unit for controlling a position of the placement unit on which the substrate is placed so that a pattern image of the photo mask is projected onto a predetermined position on the substrate when immersion exposure to the substrate is performed based on a measurement value acquired by the measurement unit and a correction value for correcting a measurement error resulting from a change of a measurement environment caused during measurement of alignment marks Mi.
US07804576B2

An exposure apparatus is provided with a nozzle member that has at least one of a supply outlet which supplies the liquid and a collection inlet which recovers the liquid. By immersing the nozzle member in cleaning liquid LK stored in container, the nozzle member is cleaned.
US07804574B2

A lithographic apparatus and device manufacturing method is provided in which exposure is carried out by projecting through a liquid having a pH of less than 7, the liquid being in contact with a substrate to be exposed. The liquid advantageously comprises an anti-reflective topcoat.
US07804573B2

A liquid crystal display device comprises a liquid crystal display panel and a semiconductor integrated circuit for driving and controlling the liquid crystal display panel. The number of input/output wires connected to I/O terminals (bonding pads) of the semiconductor integrated circuit is reduced so as to simplify wiring patterns of the I/O wires, whereby degrees of freedom in arranging the I/O wiring patterns are enhanced. The panel has a pair of insulating substrate, and the semiconductor integrated circuit is mounted on one of the paired substrates. The semiconductor integrated circuit has a mode terminal which is fixed to a power supply potential or to a reference potential during operation of the integrated circuit, and power supply dummy terminals connected to the power supply potential or reference potential inside the semiconductor integrated circuit. The wiring patterns formed on the paired insulating substrates connect the mode terminal to the power supply dummy terminals.
US07804568B2

A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate having one surface on which a first electrode is provided, a second substrate which is provided with a second electrode, and a liquid crystal layer which is interposed between the first and second substrates. Negative dielectric anisotropy homeotropic aligning films are formed on mutually faced surfaces of the first and second electrodes, respectively. A pair of polarizing plates are arranged on a side of the other surface opposite to the one surface of each substrate. And a pair of optical compensation layers are arranged respectively between the other surfaces of the substrates and the polarizing plates, and give a retardation having a value which is substantially ¼ of a wavelength λ of transmitted visible light to the transmitted visible light.
US07804554B2

To provide source images is increased to enhance the uniformity of luminance distribution. A surface emitting device includes: a diffusing sheet constituting a light exiting surface; a reflector disposed opposite to the diffusing sheet; light sources disposed between the diffusing sheet and the reflector; and a prism sheet (light-source-image division sheet) disposed between the diffusing sheet and the light sources. The prism sheet has linear protrusions on the front surface thereof, and a flat portion parallel to the sheet surface between the adjacent linear protrusions. This generates light-source images through the flat portions in addition to the divided light-source images through the linear protrusions 16a to increase the number of light-source images, thereby improving luminance uniformity.
US07804550B2

A method of fabricating a liquid crystal display device includes forming an active pattern and a data line on a substrate, forming a first insulating layer on the data line, forming a second insulating layer on the substrate, forming a gate electrode on the second insulating layer above the active pattern, forming a third insulating layer on the substrate, forming first and second contact holes through the second and third insulating layers to expose first and second portions of the active pattern, and forming a third contact hole through the first, second, and third insulating layers exposing a portion of the data line, respectively, and forming source and drain electrodes on the third insulating layer, the source electrode connected to the first exposed portion of the active pattern through the first contact hole and connected to the first exposed portion of the data line through the third contact hole, and the drain electrode connected to the second exposed portion of the active pattern through the second contact hole.
US07804549B2

The present invention provides an image display system that secures a bright image and reduces cross-talk of a three-dimensional image display of a liquid-crystal type and provides a large viewing angle. The image display system includes a filter having a first area for transmitting light of a specific polarization and a second area for transmitting a light of polarization axis orthogonal to the light of the specific polarization provided repeatedly in the vertical direction, and a light source (201) including a light-emitting source (210), a polarizer (212) for emitting the light in the forms of the light having the specific polarization and the light having the polarization axis orthogonal to the specific polarization, and an optical element (203) for refracting the lights having the different polarizations into the directions toward the left and right eyes respectively and irradiating the same onto a liquid crystal panel (205).
US07804547B2

A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel, a backlight which illuminates the liquid crystal display panel, and a display control circuit which controls the liquid crystal display panel and the illumination light source. The display control circuit includes a panel driving section which drives the liquid crystal display panel after supply of power, a state detecting section which detects a display driving state that the panel driving section drives the liquid crystal display panel for display of a stable image corresponding to a video signal, and a light source driving section which drives the backlight in accordance with an illumination request signal, after detection of the display driving state by the state detecting section.
US07804539B2

A method of driving a solid-state imaging device is provided. The solid-state imaging device includes: a semiconductor substrate; a plurality of photoelectric converting elements arranged in a two-dimensional array on a light-receiving surface of the semiconductor substrate; and a charge transfer path disposed along each of columns of photoelectric converting elements, the charge transfer path reading out charges detected at each of photoelectric converting elements in a column of the photoelectric converting elements and transferring the charges, the photoelectric converting elements in the column thereof comprising two groups, each containing every other photoelectric converting element. Charges are read out from the two groups into the charge transfer path at a time difference between the two groups.
US07804536B2

CMOS image sensor with a rolling shutter that uses two separate clocks. One of the clocks is used during normal operation. When timing is changed, the other clock is started and used during an interim period to avoid distortion in the image. After that interim period, the new clock timing is coupled to the original clock circuit.
US07804530B2

Method and apparatus is disclosed to enhance the quality and usefulness of picture taking and other image acquisition for pleasure or business purposes. In a preferred embodiment, stereo photogrammetry is combined with digital image acquisition to acquire or store scenes and poses of interest, and/or to interact with the subject in order to provide data to or from a computer. This data may be utilized to maximize the effectiveness of photographic sessions, particularly digital still photography or cine-photography. A further embodiment discloses associated displays and teaching apparatus.
US07804525B2

A method, apparatus, and system that use a white balance operation. A selecting process is applied to each pixel selected and considered for automatic white balance statistics to determine the distance from the selected pixel to a white curve defined in a white area corresponding to an image sensor.
US07804522B2

A smoke detection method for identifying, in a current input image, an area indicative of the presence of smoke, there being a sequence of two or more input images, the method comprising the steps of: storing a background estimation for a current input image; and comparing the current input image with the background estimation to detect a partial obscuring of the background estimation indicative of the presence of smoke in the current input image.
US07804519B2

One embodiment of a method of refining a plurality of primary tracks of a plurality of targets can be broadly summarized by the following steps: receiving a plurality of primary tracks, wherein each primary track includes ordered sequences of observation events having similarities in their visual signatures; dividing the primary tracks into separate refinement packages; allocating the refinement packages to different ones of a plurality of processors; and receiving one or more refined tracks from the plurality of processors. Other methods and systems are also provided.
US07804514B2

An image forming apparatus is provided with a modulator producing a modulated signal of a pulse width decided on given image data and a driver driving an optical generator such as laser to generate a light beam. The image forming apparatus is further provided with a scanner periodically scanning the light beam generated by the optical generator and a power detector detecting information indicative of a power of the light beam scanned by the scanner. A pulse width adjustor uses the information detected by the power detector, in order to adjust the pulse width of the light beam.
US07804512B2

A method of producing an image that can eliminate an fθ lens is provided. This method of producing an image includes producing the image from a plurality of dots with varying intervals that are to be formed by linearly scanning an image forming surface with light that has been modulated using image data for producing by a polygon mirror that rotates at a constant angular velocity, and generating, before the producing the image, the image data for producing to form the image with the plurality of dots with varying intervals from original image data that forms a target output image with a plurality of dots with constant intervals. The step of generating the image data for producing includes setting a state of a first dot included in the plurality of dots with varying intervals at a state of a second dot that is included in the plurality of dots with constant intervals obtained from the original data and is at a position that is close to a position of the first dot.
US07804495B2

The present invention provides a user interface apparatus capable of determining both control content and a control amount without increasing the number of buttons.A remote controller RC is provided with a ring pad 121 as a ring-shaped operating element. The total range of the ring pad 121 is divided into a predetermined number of regions, and control content and a region number are defined for each of the regions. In the case of controlling a DVD/HD recorder DHR by using the remote controller RC, control content is specified on the basis of a region in the ring pad 121 touched by the user for the first time. In the case where the user performs an input operation of continuously tracing the ring pad 121, a control of a control amount according to the number of regions traced by the operation is performed.
US07804486B2

A trackball rotates a three-dimensional image displayed by a computer. Displacement data is generated for designated first and second non-antipodal points on the surface of the trackball's roller ball, for displacement of the designated first and second points during a time interval between a starting time and an ending time. The displacement data is used to generate a rotational transformation that is representative of a change in rotational orientation of the roller ball occurring during the time interval. The generated transformation is then applied to the displayed computer image to cause the image to be rotated around an image pivot point in correspondence with the rotation of the roller ball around its center.
US07804484B2

An input device includes a plurality of character input keys and is operable in a single alphabetic character input mode and a multiple alphabetic character input mode. In the single alphabetic character input mode, an individual character input key is assigned a single alphabetic character, and activating the individual character input key inputs the alphabetic character. In the multiple alphabetic character input mode an individual character input key is assigned multiple alphabetic characters, and the specific character that is input as a result of activating the individual character input key depends upon the number of times the individual character input key is activated.
US07804478B2

The field of the invention is that of light boxes used for illuminating optical-valve displays, especially matrix liquid-crystal displays (or LCDs). The illumination from light boxes can at the present time be produced by light-emitting diodes that emit in various spectral bands so as to reconstruct white illumination. For a number of applications, in particular aeronautical applications, it is necessary to maintain the photometric and colorimetric characteristics of this illumination independently of the environmental and ageing conditions of the components. The invention provides an electronic feedback control device for maintaining the photometric and colorimetric characteristics of this illumination at given setpoint values without introducing disturbing optoelectronic devices into the light box. Several possible technical solutions are described.
US07804476B2

A display device comprising an array of pixels, with gates of thin film transistors of the pixels in a row connected to a row conductor. Row driver circuitry provides row address signals for controlling the switching of the transistors of the pixels of the row including an ON gate voltage and an OFF gate voltage. Control circuitry shifts the ON gate voltage and the OFF gate voltage in dependence on drive and/or environmental conditions such as temperature and/or refresh rate. The control circuitry maintains a constant difference between the ON gate voltage and the OFF gate voltage. This allows the gap between the on and off voltages to be reduced, which results in power savings. The kickback voltage is kept constant so that kickback compensation is kept simple.
US07804466B2

Red, green, and blue organic electroluminescent (EL) elements formed on a pixel in an organic EL display are driven by a driving transistor. A capacitor is coupled between a gate and a source of the driving transistor to maintain a voltage for a predetermined time. Emission control transistors are coupled between the driving transistor and the red, green, and blue organic EL elements, respectively. One field is divided into three subfields, and one of the red, green and blue organic EL elements in each pixel starts to emit light in each subfield to thus represent a full color screen. The red, green and blue organic elements sequentially start to emit light in each subfield such that a color separation phenomenon caused by start emitting organic EL elements of one color during each subfield is reduced or eliminated.
US07804465B2

A plasma display apparatus comprises a plasma display panel and a driver. The plasma display panel comprises a first electrode, a second electrode, and a third electrode crossing the first electrode and the second electrode. During a first frame, the driver alternately supplies a sustain signal to the first electrode and the second electrode and supplies a constant voltage to the third electrode. During a second frame having a smaller APL of the first frame, the driver alternately supplies a sustain signal to the first electrode and the second electrode and supplies an auxiliary signal to the third electrode so as to correspond to at least one sustain signal of the sustain signals supplied to the first electrode and the second electrode.
US07804449B2

A method for calibrating an antenna and signal processing system enabling angle of arrival (AOA) determination for a frequency hopping signal, in which a calibration coefficient is determined in response to one or more calibration signals injected into the system at one or more of the frequencies in the hopping sequence and proximate in time to reception of the communication signal. The calibration coefficients are reflective of a frequency and time dependent parameter of a path between the antenna and wireless location sensor. The AOA is determined as a function of the calibration coefficient and the radio frequency energy of the received communication signal. Several embodiment of the method are illustrated.
US07804448B2

Iterative geolocation of a stationary RF emitter through the use of TDOA may include the use of a single portable geolocation (e.g., TDOA) sensor, a pair of portable geolocation sensors and three of more portable geolocation sensors. Adding portable geolocation sensors to the iterative process reduces the constraints on the signals to be located as well as providing a reduction in the number of iterations required to obtain improved location accuracy.
US07804444B2

An in-vehicle radar system, which transmits an electric wave toward a target object and measures the distance between a subject vehicle and the target object, based on the electric wave that has been reflected by the target object and is received by the in-vehicle radar system, includes subject vehicle-speed determination means for determining whether or not the subject vehicle is in a halt state or moving at a predetermined speed or lower; transmission-output control means for setting transmission output smaller than that for the case where the subject vehicle is moving, when the subject vehicle-speed determination means detects that the subject vehicle is in a halt state or moving at the predetermined speed or lower; and reception-sensitivity control means for setting a reception gain amount larger than that for the case where the subject vehicle is moving.
US07804442B2

A millimeter-wave (MMW) based screening system is provided that may operate with an active sensor, a passive sensor, or in a dual mode using both the active and passive sensors. One or more such sensors are mounted so as to rotate along an axis that passes through a target region of detection, in which a person or object is positioned for screening. A reflector is disposed radially outward from the one or more rotating sensors to reflect MMW radiation between the sensors and the target region. The system may be employed as a portal screening system, and may include a structure having a wall and a roof, for rapidly screening persons for concealed objects. Algorithms may be employed to provide data output that avoids privacy issues.
US07804440B1

A GPS enabled radar detector dynamically handles radar sources based upon previously stored geographically referenced information on such sources and data from the GPS receiver. The detector includes technology for determining the location of the detector, and comparing this location to the locations of known stationary sources, to improve the handling of such detections. The detector may ignore detections received in an area known to contain a stationary source, or may only ignore specific frequencies or may handle frequencies differently based upon historic trends of spurious police radar signals at each frequency. Notification of the driver will take on a variety of forms depending on the stored information, current operating modes, and vehicle speed.
US07804429B2

A method of resampling a digital signal involves serially receiving a plurality of samples of said digital signal and applying a plurality of filter coefficients to a first subset of the plurality of samples to generate a first plurality of intermediate results and to a second subset of the samples to generate a second plurality of intermediate results. The first plurality of intermediate results is accumulated to generate a first resampled value, and the second plurality of intermediate results is accumulated to generate a second resampled value. Upon receipt, each signal sample may be used to update each of a plurality of running accumulation values and then discarded before receipt of a next signal sample. Furthermore, multiple signals may be resampled concurrently using a single filter path by multiplexing circuit components, such as memory blocks.
US07804423B2

A system and method for providing real-time traffic information using a wireless vehicle-to-vehicle communications network. A vehicle includes a plurality of sensors that detect other vehicles around the vehicle. The wireless communications system on the vehicle uses the sensor signals to calculate a traffic condition index that identifies traffic information around the vehicle. The vehicle broadcasts the traffic condition index to other vehicles and/or road side infrastructure units that can present the information to the vehicle driver, such as in a navigation system, and/or rebroadcast the traffic information to other vehicles. The traffic condition index can be calculated using the speed of the surrounding vehicles, posted speed limits, the distance between the surrounding vehicles and the traffic density of the surrounding vehicles.
US07804422B2

A lighting device includes a light-emitting element, an ultrasonic member, a signal processing unit, a light control unit, an indicator and an indicator control unit. The light-emitting element emits a light. The ultrasonic member emits an ultrasonic signal and receives the ultrasonic signal reflected from an object. The signal processing unit is communicated with the ultrasonic member for converting the reflected ultrasonic signal into a control signal. The light control unit is interconnected between the signal processing unit and the light-emitting element for controlling the light-emitting element to emit light in a selected operating mode in response to the control signal. The indicator control unit is interconnected between the signal processing unit and the indicator for controlling the indicator to assert a notification signal indicative of the operating mode in response to the control signal.
US07804421B2

A vehicle safety system includes a vehicle having at least one pillar. The at least one pillar includes an inner surface covered with a display surface. An exterior focused camera linked to the display surface for displaying an image taken by the camera upon the display material, wherein the camera takes an image of the exterior area of the vehicle that a driver would otherwise see if the at least one pillar were not blocking the view of the driver. A camera control mechanism links a driver sitting within a driver seat of the vehicle to the camera such that the camera may be adjusted to optimize the view provided upon the display surface along the inner surface of the at least one pillar.
US07804414B2

A device for detecting a collision of a vehicle with an obstacle includes an enclosed space positioned behind a front bumper cover. Deformation or displacement of the bumper cover due to a collision is transmitted to the enclosed space. Air pressure in the enclosed space and its temperature are measured by sensors and electrical signals representing the pressure and the temperature are fed to an electronic control unit that determines whether the enclosed space is hermetically closed or not based on the pressure and the temperature of the air in the enclosed space. If the enclosed space becomes non-hermetical due to a collision impact, the air therein leaks and the pressure therein becomes atmospheric pressure irrespective of the temperature of the air in the enclosed space. Therefore, the hermetical condition of the enclosed space is surely detected.
US07804405B2

An overcap structure supports an electronic tag on a container cap. The overcap structure includes an overcap for supporting the electronic tag where the overcap is rotatably positionable about the cap of the container. The overcap includes a planar upper surface and depending annular skirt having an inwardly directed lip for positioning beneath the cap. The overcap is formed of mating components which are attachable about the cap preventing nondestructible detachment of the overcap from the container cap.
US07804403B2

A security system control module with a portable housing including a wireless receiver, control circuitry, nonvolatile memory, and a data connector. The receiver receives data transmissions from at least one wireless security device that monitors a condition of a premises in which the wireless security device is installed. The data connector exchanges data between the control circuitry and an external host device, and it also accepts from the external host device primary operating power for operating the wireless receiver, the control circuitry, and the nonvolatile memory. The control circuitry is adapted to process signals in accordance with a preprogrammed configuration file stored in the nonvolatile memory, the signals received via the wireless receiver from a wireless security device, and to communicate with an external computer located remotely from the external host device via the data connector using a first communications protocol.
US07804401B2

An apparatus and method of recognizing a surrounding state are provided. The apparatus for recognizing a surrounding state includes: a unique information obtaining unit which obtains, from a peripheral device, unique information of the peripheral device; and a surrounding state determining unit which determines a surrounding state, based on the unique information.
US07804397B2

A valve-integrated transponder includes an air valve and a casing that are integrated with each other, and is disposed within a tire. The air valve is press-fitted to a valve hole in a wheel rim. The casing houses a substrate having a detecting element mounted thereon, an inverse F antenna element, a supporting member, and the like, and is provided with a partition-like reinforcement rib. The reinforcement rib extends along an extension of an axis of the air valve and is loosely fitted in a recessed slot of the supporting member. The antenna element supported by the supporting member has a substantially line symmetrical shape where a pair of radiation conductors symmetrically extend away from each other.
US07804391B2

An electrical structure. The electrical structure includes a resistor having a length L and an electrical resistance R(t) at a time t; and a laser radiation directed onto a portion of the resistor, wherein the portion of the resistor includes a fraction F of the length L, wherein the laser radiation heats the portion of the resistor such that the electrical resistance R(t) instantaneously changes at a rate dR/dt, and wherein the resistor is coupled to a semiconductor substrate.
US07804389B2

A chip-type inductor comprising includes internal magnetic material, external magnetic material disposed on opposing sides of the internal magnetic material, and a conductor formed in a space between the internal and external magnetic material. The internal and external magnetic materials form a magnetic path along which magnetic flux of a magnetic field produced by current flowing along the conductor flows. According to at least one embodiment, the flow cross-sectional area of the magnetic flux in the internal magnetic material is at least substantially equal to a sum of the flow cross-sectional areas in the external magnetic materials.
US07804387B2

An improved field emission system and method is provided that involves field emission structures having electric or magnetic field sources. The magnitudes, polarities, and positions of the magnetic or electric field sources are configured to have desirable correlation properties, which may be in accordance with a code. The correlation properties correspond to a desired spatial force function where spatial forces between field emission structures correspond to relative alignment, separation distance, and the spatial force function.
US07804380B2

An acoustic wave duplexer has a satisfactory isolation characteristic between a reception acoustic wave filter chip and a transmission acoustic wave filter chip, and includes a reception surface acoustic wave filter chip and a transmission surface acoustic wave filter chip mounted on a substrate. The substrate includes first and second balanced terminals and a common terminal. At least one of the transmission surface acoustic wave filter chip and the reception surface acoustic wave filter chip is a balanced filter unit that includes, as an input terminal or an output terminal, a first balanced signal terminal and a second balanced signal terminal. The acoustic wave duplexer further includes a first interconnection arranged to connect the balanced filter unit and the first balanced terminal and a second interconnection arranged to connect the balanced filter unit and the second balanced terminal. The first and second interconnections intersect with each other while being insulated from each other.
US07804378B2

There is described a method and an apparatus for pulse width modulation with a predefined switching period having an adjustable ratio of the switch-on duration to the switch-off duration, in which a quantized signal is converted into a pulse-width-modulated signal and is generated in the form of a discrete pulse sequence of switch-on operations and switch-off operations with the predefined switching period, the switching edge for the switch-on duration and/or the switch-off duration being determined on the basis of the ratio of the switch-on duration to the switch-off duration.
US07804371B2

Timing measurement is performed by a digital oscillator, using a calibration value which is calculated after chip fabrication is completed, and automatically loaded into selection logic at powerup.
US07804369B2

In an exemplary embodiment, a free running VCO has two modes: a normal operating mode and a calibration mode. In the calibration mode, the free running VCO is phase lock looped with itself instead of a calibration VCO. Furthermore, in an exemplary embodiment, a tuning voltage for the free running VCO is adjusted to offset any tuning error. In addition, in various embodiments a reference crystal oscillator used in the phase lock loop is located on a DSP module instead of on the RF module. In yet another exemplary embodiment, the free running VCO is the only high frequency VCO on a radio frequency module.
US07804365B2

An amplifier module includes an integrated circuit device including a first amplifier circuit electrically connected to a first input terminal. The amplifier circuit includes a number of x first amplifier branches electrically connected to the first input terminal. The amplifier module also includes a number y of first output terminals each assigned to a respective TX frequency band, a first switching unit that electrically connects one or more of the first amplifier branches to one of the first output terminals, and a multilayer substrate, on top of which the integrated circuit device and the switching unit are mounted. The substrate includes integrated passive matching elements that are part of matching circuits where x≧1 and y≧2. Each of the first amplifier branches is adapted to deliver a different power level at its output and is matched to a load at the first output terminals by one of the matching circuits.
US07804360B2

The dead-time locking circuit includes phase detector and a delay-comparator. The delay-comparator includes two input ends for receiving phase adjusting signal and the input-exchanging signal received by the class D amplifier. After comparing, the delay-comparator outputs a gate driving signal. The phase detector detects the phase difference between the output signal of the class D amplifier and the gate driving signal of the power transistor of the class D amplifier, and accordingly adjusts the rising/falling edges of the gate driving signal outputted from and the comparator via the charge-pump. In this way, the dead-time can be locked at the predetermined value.
US07804358B2

A device with shared power amplifiers for use in a wireless telecommunication System. A plurality of input signals are tapered to alter the phase and/or amplitude distribution between the signals and are then distributed over the input ports of a plurality of power amplifiers. Power amplified replicas of the plurality of input signals are recreated at the output ports of the power amplifiers. The power amplified replicas of the signals are reverse tapered at an output of the device.
US07804344B2

Apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed that operate to generate a periodic output signal from a periodic input signal, obtain a plurality of samples of a phase difference between the output signal and the input signal, and to adjust a phase of the output signal based on the samples of the phase difference. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
US07804339B2

An interface circuit for a serial bus is disclosed and includes a receiving terminal, an output terminal, a first switching circuit, a voltage source, and a second switching circuit. The receiving and output terminals are used for receiving an input signal and outputting a first voltage signal respectively. The first switching circuit is used for determining a coupling relationship between the output terminal and the grounded terminal according to difference between the input signal and a grounding voltage provided by the grounded terminal. The voltage source is used for producing a voltage drop based on a driving voltage driving the serial bus interface circuit to provide a first voltage. The second switching circuit is used for determining a coupling relationship between the first switching circuit and the voltage source according to difference between the input signal and the first voltage.
US07804320B2

The present invention includes a circuit-level system and method for preventing the propagation of soft errors in logic cells. A radiation jammer circuit in accordance with the present invention, including an RC differentiator and a depletion mode MOS circuit, when inserted at the output of a logic cell, significantly reduces the propagation of transient glitches. The radiation jammer circuit is a novel transistor-level optimization technique, which has been used to reduce soft errors in a logic circuit. A method to insert radiation jammer cells on selective nodes in a logic circuit for low overheads in terms of delay, power, and area is also introduced.
US07804317B1

According to one exemplary embodiment, a test device includes a transistor situated on a substrate. The test device further includes a protection device coupled by a fuse to a gate of the transistor in an interconnect metal layer, where the interconnect metal layer is formed over the substrate. The fuse allows the protection device to be decoupled from the gate of the transistor prior to testing the transistor. The test device further includes first and second contact pads formed over the substrate and coupled to respective terminals of the fuse to provide access to the fuse. A current can be applied between the first and second contacts pads to cause the fuse to open to decouple the protection device from the gate of the transistor. The test device further includes an antenna coupled to the gate of the transistor with interconnect metal segments for accumulating electrical charge during wafer processing.
US07804312B2

Disclosed herein are a silicon wafer for probe bonding and a probe bonding method using the same. The silicon wafer for probe bonding is improved in structure to facilitate probe bonding on a probe substrate. The probe bonding method involves bonding supporting beams on the silicon wafer to bumps on the probe substrate. The silicon wafer is formed at a surface thereof with probe tips and supporting beams on an end of each probe tip to have a redetermined arrangement pattern. The silicon wafer is further formed with openings from an upper surface to a lower surface thereof. A portion of each supporting beam opposite to the probe tips protrudes is exposed to the outside through the openings.
US07804311B2

An electronic machine connectable to a different apparatus is disclosed. The electronic machine includes a resistance, a connector to be connected to the different apparatus, and a detecting section that detects one state from multiple states based on the resistance value of the resistance and the resistance value of a resistance included in the different apparatus connected to the connector and controls multiple parameters based on the detected one state.
US07804302B2

The average current at a plurality of measure electrodes of a resistivity imaging tool is determined and subtracted from the individual measure currents to give a resistivity image with improved dynamic range.
US07804296B2

Methods and apparatus for the characterization of formation fluids are disclosed. A downhole tool disposed in a borehole penetrating a subterranean formation obtains a NMR measurement, effects a change in a characteristic of the formation fluid, and obtains another NMR measurement subsequent to the change. Alternatively, the downhole tool effects a radial gradient of a characteristic of the formation and obtains NMR measurements at two or more selected radial distances from the wellbore wall. A parameter representative of the subterranean formation or the formation fluid is further determined from the NMR measurements.
US07804295B2

An apparatus for the detection of defects utilizing non-destructive flux leakage techniques in ferrous materials includes rare earth magnets which are supported at an angle in the order of 45 degrees with the surface of the test specimen to induce a magnetic field within the material. The angled arrangement draws the field into the specimen over a larger surface area, reducing reluctance and ensuring that the field does not shallow within the material. The device provides real-time, three dimensional, visual feedback to the user and includes built-in means for data storage and retrieval without the need for an external computer interface. A distance sensor is used to correct the signal from the sensor array for distance from the surface. A position analyzing device utilizes the magnetic field to determine the position of the apparatus along the surface of the test material, increasing the accuracy in position measurement during testing.
US07804294B1

A contactless sheet resistance measurement apparatus and method for measuring the sheet resistance of upper layer of ultra shallow p-n junction is disclosed. The apparatus comprises alternating light source optically coupled with first transparent and conducting electrode brought close to the wafer, the second electrode placed outside of illumination area. Using the measurement of the surface photovoltage signals inside illuminated area and outside this area and its phase shifts, linear SPV model describing its lateral distribution the sheet resistance and p-n junction conductance is determined.
US07804289B2

A testing device including low-pass filter with automatically switching function is disclosed in the present invention, comprising: a control circuit used to control the operation of the testing device and provide a reference frequency (Fr); a frequency detection circuit, connected to the input end and the control circuit and used to output a high frequency control signal; a low-pass filter connected to the frequency detection circuit, used to filter the testing signal of the input end to output a frequency signal; a frequency evaluation circuit connected to the control circuit and to the frequency signal outputted from the low-pass filter, the frequency evaluation circuit outputting a medium frequency control signal to the low-pass filter and outputting a frequency testing value to a display at the same time; and a voltage measuring circuit, connected to the low-pass filter and the control circuit and used to output a voltage measuring value to the display.
US07804281B2

Common mode (CM) noise is substantially canceled in a switching power supply circuit such as a boost converter by providing a split inductor and analyzing the switching power supply circuit as a bridge circuit formed of the switch, portions of the split inductor and parasitic capacitances of respective portions of the power supply circuit. The bridge can then be balanced by addition of capacitance in parallel with the parasitic capacitance of a respective portion of the power supply circuit or dividing the split inductor such that a ratio of inductances of respective portions of the split inductor approximates a ratio of parasitic capacitances of the respective power supply circuit portions which may be measured or otherwise empirically determined. CM noise reduction of up to 40 db can be achieved without symmetric circuit design, addition of circuit elements or complex filtering having added cost, space requirements and power losses. Further, such a reduction in common mode noise allows simple EMI filtering arrangements to be employed further reducing cost and space requirements for the power supply circuit.
US07804277B2

An apparatus for estimating a state of charge (SOC) of a secondary battery. A control section of a battery controller (ECU) computes a total amount of electric discharge of a secondary battery and compares the total amount of electric discharge with a predetermined threshold value. The threshold value is set so as to fall within a range of; for instance, 400 Ah to 1600 Ah. When the total amount of electric discharge is equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold value, an open-circuit-voltage (OCV)-SOC map is replaced with a map achieved in a state where a memory effect is saturated. When the total amount of electric discharge is smaller than the predetermined threshold value, a correction is made to the map so as to achieve a map that is a mixture consisting of the OCV-SOC map achieved in an initial state and the OCV-SOC map achieved in the saturated state at a predetermined ratio. The SOC is estimated by use of the corrected map.
US07804276B2

A circuit arrangement for transferring electrical charge between accumulators of an accumulator arrangement includes a number of first series circuits, each connecting in parallel to one of the accumulators, and each comprising a switching element and an inductive storage element connected in series to the load path of the switching element. The circuit arrangement also includes a further series circuit connected in parallel to the accumulator arrangement and comprising a further switching element having a load path and a control terminal, and a further inductive element connected in series to the load path, the further inductive element being inductively coupled to the inductive elements of the first series circuits. The circuit arrangement also includes a control circuit comprising a number of first control outputs connected to the control terminals of the switching elements of the first series circuits, and a further control output connected to the control terminal of the further switching element.
US07804270B2

A motor start circuit for an AC induction motor employs a DC relay whose NC contacts are placed in series with the start capacitor. A half full-wave rectifier arrangement has an AC input connected to the junction of the relay switch and the start capacitor, and DC outputs applied across the relay actuator coil. In the event of intermittent application of power to the motor, any residual charge on the start capacitor will feed current to the actuator coil to hold the relay switch open until the residual charge has decayed sufficiently, to avoid damage to the motor from capacitive discharge. A high magnetic retentivity core can be used to hold the relay off for sufficient time for stored energy to dissipate.
US07804269B2

A switched reluctance machine has salient poles on the stator and rotor. The windings of the machine are supplied from a converter which provides energization at a chosen rate. The windings of the machine may be energized at the rate at which the rotor poles pass the stator poles, or it may be operated at a fraction of that rate by energizing the windings to cooperate with every second, third or fourth rotor pole. This can extend the output of the machine.
US07804265B2

The present disclosure relates to a sensor unit for the position determination of a powered door having a position sensor and a transmission stage for the connection of the position sensor to the drive shaft of the door, with the sensor unit having its own housing so that it can be installed independently of the drive unit of the door.
US07804264B2

Present invention belongs to the field of inventers, motor controllers and pulse modulated waveform generation methods and circuits. More specifically it belongs to such methods and circuits utilizing fundamental vectors. This invention features better and more efficient fundamental vectors. The proposed method offers reduced losses, increased efficiency and longer life time of inverters and motor controllers. Better approximation of a three-phase voltage waveform approaching the ideal one is a significant advantage of the proposed method. Another advantage is an easy decomposition of any point of an ideal sinusoidal voltage waveform into the fundamental vectors. This invention is particularly useful for a vector control of asynchronous AC motors.
US07804263B2

A dynamoelectric machine that has at least one rotor component proximate a stator that is axially displaceable from the stator in response to pressure of lubrication oil delivered to its lubrication system has a system for changing axial displacement of each axially displaceable rotor component from the stator to cause a corresponding change in rotor-stator magnetic flux interaction, comprising: a hydraulic pump for generating a flow of lubrication oil; and means for regulating the flow of lubrication oil to the machine to develop a corresponding lubrication oil pressure that controls axial displacement of each axially displaceable rotor component.
US07804262B2

An electronic apparatus externally detects open protector contacts inside of a compressor. The compressor includes a compressor motor having a run winding and a start winding. The compressor motor also includes internal protector contacts that open the electrical circuit to the “C” terminal in a protection condition. A compressor running indicator circuit is electrically connected between the “S” and the “R” terminals to indicate a compressor running condition. Also, a protection indicator circuit is electrically connected between the “C” and the “S” terminals to indicate a voltage present across the “C” and the “S” terminals. The protection indicator circuit is also coupled to the compressor running indicator circuit such that the protection indicator circuit is disabled when the compressor is running normally and the protection indicator is enabled and indicates when protector contacts open inside of the compressor.
US07804259B2

A discharge lamp ballast apparatus includes a fault detecting section 9b of a discharge lamp 6; a first storing section 10 for storing a fault detected; a lighting delay detecting section 9c-3 for detecting lighting delay time from beginning of starting operation to lighting of the discharge lamp; a reigniting voltage measuring section 9c-5 for measuring a discharge lamp voltage immediately after switching of polarity applied to the discharge lamp according to AC lighting; a measuring section 9c-6 for measuring a period of time during which a current does not flow by detecting a discharge lamp current immediately after switching the polarity applied to the discharge lamp according to the AC lighting; a going out counting section 9c-4 for counting a number of times of going out by detecting going out during lighting of the discharge lamp; and a second storing section 9c for storing the lighting delay, reigniting voltage, period of time during which the current does not flow, and number of times of going out as operation records.
US07804255B2

A dimming system and method of operating the same are provided. The dimming system includes a first terminal configured to operatively connect to a first conductive line, a second terminal configured to operatively connect to a second conductive line, and a third terminal configured to operatively connect to a third conductive line. The first conductive line is configured to connect to a load, the second conductive line is configured to supply an alternating current, and the third conductive line is configured to connect to a current path. The dimming system further includes a controller operatively connected to at least one of the first, second and third terminals for controlling operation of the dimming system. The first and second terminals are configured for electrically connecting to a primary power supply and the first and third terminals are configured for electrically connecting to a secondary power supply. The primary power supply is powered through connection to neutral, and wherein the secondary power supply is powered through connection to an earth ground.
US07804249B2

The present invention relates to a light-transmitting substrate (1) which is at least provided with a light-absorbing coating (3). The light-absorbing coating comprises stabilized pigments which are incorporated in a sol-gel matrix. The light absorbing coating comprises silica particles having a size between 5 and 100 nanometers and alumina particles having a size between 5 and 50 nanometers. The total volume concentration of pigments, silica and alumina particles in the light-absorbing coating is between 20 and 65 percent. The volume concentration of silica particles is between 5 and 40 percent and the volume concentration of alumina particles between 1 and 15 percent.
US07804248B1

A lamp, a method of making a bulb for a lamp and an optical apparatus are disclosed. The lamp may include an anode and cathode disposed within a bulb. The bulb may include an optically refractive wall that is rotationally symmetric about an axis. A thickness of the wall may decrease with increase in azimuthal angle between an equatorial plane of the bulb and a point on the bulb's surface. The apparatus may include the lamp and an ellipsoidal reflecting surface. An alternative apparatus may include an ellipsoidal reflecting surface and a lamp having an anode and cathode within a bulb. A gap between the anode and cathode may be proximate a focus of the reflecting surface. The bulb may include an optically refractive wall configured such that a 0.24/0.13 NA power ratio for bulb light coupled to the interior ellipsoidal reflecting surface is between about 3.0 and about 3.3.
US07804244B2

It is an object to provide a display device having an electroluminescent element in which a contrast ratio is increased. In a display device having an electroluminescent element between a pair of light transmitting substrates, a circularly polarizing plate having stacked polarizing plates arranged on outer sides thereof is provided. At this time, opposed polarizing plates are arranged to be in a crossed nicol state or in a parallel nicol state. As a result, a display device with a high contrast ratio can be provided.
US07804242B2

A top-emission active matrix electroluminescence device and a method for fabricating the same are disclosed, wherein a counter common electrode is formed in an area outside of a pixel area, when forming a pixel electrode, so as to simultaneously enhance an emission efficiency and an electrical function of the device. Herein, the counter common electrode is electrically connected to a common electrode, thereby preventing an overload and a short-circuit of the common electrode, even though the common electrode is formed in a thin layer.
US07804241B2

An organic electro-luminescence display device emits light by applying a voltage by an image signal between an upper electrode (23) and a lower electrode which sandwich an organic electro-luminescence layer. The organic electro-luminescence layer comprises an electron transporting layer, a light emitting layer, and a hole transporting layer. The electron transporting layer includes an organic material and cesium, and has a moisture absorbing characteristic. A structure in which the same materials as the electron transporting layer are used and which has a different constituent composition and a greater amount of cesium is used as a desiccant (40) and placed in a region which does not overlap the organic electro-luminescence layer, to effectively remove moisture inside the organic electro-luminescence display device.
US07804234B2

A compact fluorescent lamp comprises a discharge tube arrangement with at least one discharge tube. The tube is formed of glass, encloses a discharge volume filled with a discharge gas and has a fluorescent phosphor coating disposed on the inner surface of the tube. The tube forms a continuous arc path and has electrodes disposed at each end of the arc path. The lamp also comprises a ballast circuit connected to the electrodes by lead-in wires and to a supply voltage by lead-out wires for controlling the current in the tube. A bulb shaped outer envelope comprises a substantially spherical portion, which encloses the tube arrangement and an elongated end portion, which encloses the ballast circuit. The end portion of the outer envelope has a neck portion with an open end on a base side for receiving a base shell. The open end of the neck portion is closed and terminated by a closing and neck reinforcing means of a material compatible with the material of the outer envelope, which has a substantially circular opening. The lead-out wires are led through the substantially circular opening to a base shell for connecting said lamp to said supply voltage through a socket.A method for manufacturing a compact fluorescent lamp as described above is also disclosed. In the proposed method the open end of the elongated portion of the outer envelope is closed and terminated with a closing and neck reinforcing means comprising a substantially circular opening for leading through the lead-out wires.
US07804233B1

A light bulb includes two or more filaments. When one filament burns out another filament can be connected so that the light bulb is still operational and does not have to be discarded.
US07804229B2

A power generation device generates power by subjecting a composite of magnetostrictive material and piezo material to a magnetic field. The composite of magnetostrictive material and piezo material may be incorporated in a battery or other storage device.
US07804202B2

A method is disclosed to add functionality to a terminal of a high voltage integrated circuit without the penalty of additional high voltage circuitry. The benefit is that alternative modes of operation can be selected for testing, trimming parameters of the integrated circuit, or any other purpose without the cost of an additional terminal. In one embodiment, ordinary low voltage circuitry monitors the voltage on the terminal that normally is exposed to high voltage. The configuration of a simple voltage detector and an ordinary latch allows easy entry into the test and trimming mode when the integrated circuit is not in the intended application, but prohibits entry into the test and trimming mode when the integrated circuit operates in the intended application.
US07804200B2

Photosensor circuits include a relay coil configured to control application of an alternating current (AC) power source to a load. A pulse width modulator circuit is configured to generate a pulse width modulated signal having a pulse width that varies responsive to an average voltage across the relay coil. A drive transistor controls the average voltage across the relay coil responsive to the pulse width modulated signal. A photo control circuit controls application of the pulse width modulated signal to the drive transistor responsive to a detected light level. A half-wave rectifier provide a power signal to the pulse width modulator circuit and the photo control circuit during one of the halves of the line cycle of the AC power source. The photo control circuit includes a phototransistor. A low pass filter circuit filters the output current of the phototransistor to provide a light level signal voltage. A select transistor couples the pulse width modulated signal to the drive transistor during one of the halves of the line cycle of the AC power source responsive to the light level signal voltage having a selected level. A capacitor coupled between the second terminal of the phototransistor and the neutral bus modulates an amount of positive feedback through the first terminal of the phototransistor proportional to a current flowing through the relay coil to provide hysteresis to control of the relay coil by the photosensor circuit.
US07804199B2

A fail-safe circuit and fail-safe methods for controlling gas valves are provided. In one illustrative embodiment, a fail-safe circuit includes at least one input that can be connected to a control device and at least one output that can be connected to a gas valve. In some cases, the fail-safe circuit may only supply an output voltage for opening the gas valve if the input signal received from the control device includes at least two different successively applied frequency signals. Other methods and embodiments are also contemplated.
US07804193B2

An energy recycle system for use with an AC current power supply, for example, an electronic ballast, is presented. The energy recycle system includes an energy recycle load connected to an output terminal of the AC current power supply, in which the energy recycle load includes a rectifier for rectifying the output AC current of the AC current power supply into a rectified DC current and a filter connected to the rectifier for removing the high-frequency harmonics from the rectified DC current. Also, the energy recycle system further includes a DC-AC converter connected to the energy recycle load for receiving the DC current outputted from the energy recycle load, which is in turn delivered to the utility grid to achieve energy recycling.
US07804192B2

A device for coupling high-frequency signals between a first component and a second component is adapted to supply a first bias voltage-current pair to the first component and a second bias voltage-current pair to the second component.
US07804179B2

A method and product which provides a thin metal or ceramic plate to the top of a plastic grid array (PGA) as a stiffener to maintain its flatness over temperature during a column attach process, and the columns are used for attachment to circuit boards or other circuit devices. These may be constructed in this manner initially or may be retrofitted plastic ball grid arrays from which the solder balls are removed and, the stiffener is attached to the top, and the solder columns have been added to replace the solder balls. The stiffener is a bonded thin metal or ceramic plate attached to the top of the PGA to maintain its flatness over temperature during the column attach process. An aluminum plate bonded to the top of a PGA results in a significant reduction in warping during a temperature cycle. This allows attachment of solder columns to the PBGA. The high melt solder columns are attached to an area array pattern on the PBGA substrate. This array is typically either a solid or perimeter grid. It is critical that the ends of the solder columns opposite the ends attached to the substrate align precisely with the matching grid of solder pads on the printed wiring board. The purpose of the stiffening plate is to maintain the flatness of the PBGA during the process of attaching the columns to the substrate as well as attaching the component to the printed wiring board such that the columns maintain their alignment over this temperature range.
US07804175B2

Semiconductor structures are disclosed including a substrate comprising a semiconductor material and having opposed first and second surfaces, and at least one conductive via extending from the first surface to the second surface. The conductive vias can extend at angles relative to the first surface, such as acute angles or 90°. The conductive vias can include segments that extend at different angles. Methods of forming conductive vias in semiconductor structures are provided. In the methods, a thermal gradient is applied in combination with an electric field to form conductive vias.
US07804173B2

A semiconductor device having conductive bumps and a fabrication method thereof are provided. The fabrication method mainly including steps of: providing a semiconductor substrate having a solder pad and a passivation layer formed thereon with a portion of the solder pads exposed from the passivation layer; disposing a first metal layer on the solder pad and a portion of the passivation layer around the solder pad; disposing a covering layer on the first metal layer and the passivation layer, and forming an aperture in the covering layer to expose a portion of the first metal layer, wherein a center of the aperture is deviated from that of the solder pad; deposing a metal pillar on the portion of the first metal layer; and deposing a solder material on an outer surface of the metal pillar for providing a better buffering effect.
US07804172B2

Electrical connections between different materials. An electrical connection system includes electrical components and an electrical connection between the electrical components. The electrical connection includes a functionally graded material. A method of making an electrical connection between different materials includes the steps of: providing an electrical component which includes a material; providing another electrical component which includes another material; and electrically connecting a functionally graded material between the electrical components. An electrical connection system includes an electrical component and a functionally graded material electrically connected to the electrical component. The functionally graded material provides a gradual transition between at least two dissimilar materials.
US07804171B2

A technique for packaging multiple devices to form a multi-chip module. Specifically, a multi-chip package is coupled to an interposer to form the multi-chip module. The multi-chip package includes a plurality of integrated circuit chips coupled to a carrier. The chips are encapsulated such that conductive elements are exposed through the encapsulant. The conductive elements are electrically coupled to the chips. The interposer is configured such that vias are aligned with the conductive elements. Conductive material may be disposed into the vias to provide signal paths from the integrated circuit chips to conductive balls disposed on the backside of the interposer.
US07804169B2

The invention discloses an integrated circuit package. The integrated circuit package comprises a substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite thereto and a first hole passing through the substrate from the first surface to the second surface. A plurality of conductive lines is disposed on a portion of the second surface of the substrate. A semiconductor chip is disposed above the second surface of the substrate, wherein a chamber is formed between the semiconductor chip and the substrate. A plurality of bonding pads are disposed on a side of the semiconductor chip which is toward the second surface of the substrate, wherein at least one of the bonding pads are electrically connected to one of the plurality of conductive lines. A first heat dissipation layer is disposed in the first hole, and extends into the chamber. A method for fabricating the integrated circuit package is also provided.
US07804166B2

An integrated circuit package system includes: providing a module substrate having dimension predetermined for attachment adjacent a device; attaching a module die adjacent the module substrate; and applying a module molding material cantilevered from the module substrate and over the module die.
US07804165B2

A device (1) comprising a sensor module (2) with a package (3) is produced at reduced costs by providing the package (3) with two or more substrates (4,5) each with a functional layer (14,15), at least one sensor (24,25) such as a magnetometer and/or an accelerometer being located in at least one functional layer (14,15), and by providing the package (3) with a system comprising solder bumps (7-12) for aligning the functional layers (14,15). The system either comprises a first number of solder bumps (7,8) for coupling the functional layers (14,15) electrically and mechanically to each other via first bonding elements (31) or comprises a third substrate (6) with a third functional layer (16) and a second number of solder bumps (9,10) for coupling the first and third functional layers (14,16) electrically and mechanically to each other via second bonding elements (32) and a third number of solder bumps (11,12) for coupling the second and third functional layers (15,16) electrically and mechanically to each other via third bonding elements (33). Mechanically and/or electrically dummy solder bumps improve the alignment of the functional layers (14,15).
US07804164B2

The invention discloses a subminiature electronic device with a hermetic cavity and method of manufacturing the same. It particularly relates to a chip type or chip scale packaged electronic device produced in substrate level. Firstly, a sacrificial layer is coated onto each of the identical microstructures disposed on a large substrate. A protective layer containing glass powders is then applied to encapsulate the sacrificial layer. Afterwards, the sacrificial layer is removed so as to form a cavity between the microstructure and the protective layer. The whole protective layer is then melted at elevated temperature to seal the cavity in an environment of specific gas. Finally, the large substrate is diced into a plurality of individual devices with a hermetic cavity over the microstructure. The applicable fields include micro-electronic circuits, micro-vibration systems, micro electrical-mechanical systems (MEMS), and gas discharge apparatuses.
US07804160B2

An ultrasonic bonding equipment for manufacturing a semiconductor device comprises a tip portion. The tip portion has a top surface which is faced to a member to be bonded, and propagates an ultrasonic vibration to the top surface. A plurality of protruding portions are provided on the top surface. Each of the protruding portions has: a first pair of opposite side surfaces inclined with respect to the top surface; and a second pair of opposite side surfaces substantially vertical to the top surface. A semiconductor device comprises: a semiconductor chip; a lead; and a bonding strap electrically connecting the semiconductor chip and the lead. A recess is formed on an upper surface of the bonding strap in at least one of a first region where the bonding strap and the semiconductor chip are connected and a second region where the bonding strap and the lead is connected. A first pair of opposite side surfaces of the recess are inclined with respect to the upper surface of the bonding strap, and a second pair of opposite side surfaces of the recess are substantially vertical to the upper surface of the bonding strap.
US07804158B2

An electronic device includes a substrate, an active circuit, and a shielding structure. The active circuit is formed on the substrate. The shielding structure is disposed surrounding the active circuit, and includes a first heavy ion-doped region, first metal stack, second heavy ion-doped region, second metal stack and top metal. The first heavy ion-doped is formed in the substrate and located at a first side of the active circuit. The first metal stack is formed on the first heavy ion-doped region of the substrate, wherein the first metal stack is connected to a ground voltage. The second heavy ion-doped region is formed in the substrate and located at a second side of the active circuit. The second metal stack is formed on the second heavy ion-doped region of the substrate. The top metal is formed on the first metal stack and second metal stack and passing over the active circuit.
US07804156B2

A semiconductor wafer assembly includes a disk-shaped semiconductor wafer including on a face side thereof a flat area having a plurality of semiconductor devices formed thereon and a beveled surface disposed around the flat surface, and a circular adhesive film bonded to a reverse side of the semiconductor wafer. The adhesive film is bonded only to an area of the reverse side which is coextensive with the flat area.
US07804153B2

A semiconductor device having a fuse structure that can prevent a bridge between a fuse pattern and a guard ring, and a method of fabricating the same are provided. The fuse pattern formed on a multiple-layered metal interconnect layer is stepped shape increasing a vertical distance between the fuse pattern and the guard ring.
US07804146B2

A semiconductor device includes an N-type MOS transistor and a P-type MOS transistor. The N-type MOS transistor has a first gate insulating film and a first gate electrode. The P-type MOS transistor has a second gate insulating film and a second gate electrode. The first gate insulating film and the second gate insulating film are made of silicon oxynitride, and the first gate insulating film and the second gate insulating film are different from each other in nitrogen concentration profile.
US07804142B2

For forming a gate electrode, a conductive film with low resistance including Al or a material containing Al as its main component and a conductive film with low contact resistance for preventing diffusion of Al into a semiconductor layer are laminated, and the gate electrode is fabricated by using an apparatus which is capable of performing etching treatment at high speed.
US07804137B2

In one aspect, a semiconductor substrate is provided having a cell area and a peripheral circuit area, and a mask layer is formed over the cell area and the peripheral circuit area of the semiconductor substrate. A FinFET gate is fabricated by forming a first opening in the mask layer to expose a first gate region in the cell area of the semiconductor substrate, and then forming a FinFET gate electrode in the first opening using a damascene process. A MOSFET gate fabricated by forming a second opening in the mask layer to expose a second gate region in the peripheral circuit area of the semiconductor substrate, and then forming a MOSFET gate electrode in the second opening using a damascene process.
US07804132B2

A gate electrode is provided such that both ends thereof in a gate width direction are projected from an active region in plane view. Partial trench isolation insulation films are provided in a surface of an SOI substrate corresponding to lower parts of the both ends, and body contact regions are provided in the surface of the SOI substrate outside the both ends of the gate electrode in the gate width direction so as to be adjacent to the respective partial trench isolation insulation films. The body contact region and a body region are electrically connected through an SOI layer (well region) under the partial trench isolation insulation film. In addition, a source tie region in which P type impurity is doped in a relatively high concentration is provided in the surface of a source region in the vicinity of the center of the gate electrode in the gate width direction.
US07804128B2

A nonvolatile semiconductor memory device according to an example of the present invention includes a semiconductor region, source/drain areas arranged separately in the semiconductor region, a tunnel insulating film arranged on a channel region between the source/drain areas, a floating gate electrode arranged on the tunnel insulating film, an inter-electrode insulating film arranged on the floating gate electrode, and a control gate electrode arranged on the inter-electrode insulating film. The inter-electrode insulating film includes La, Al and Si.
US07804114B1

In one embodiment, a tiered gate device is provided including a source, a drain, and a gate foot therebetween. A gate head is attached to the gate foot. A source extension extends from on an uppermost surface of the source toward the gate foot along the substrate. In some embodiments a drain extension extends from on and uppermost surface of the drain toward the gate foot along the substrate.
US07804113B2

An anti-blooming structure for a back-illuminated imager is disclosed. In one embodiment, the anti-blooming structure is formed in a substrate of a first conductivity type having a back side and a front side, comprising a channel region of a second conductivity type formed in the substrate; a barrier region of the first conductivity type positioned in the substrate substantially overlying the channel region and proximal to the front side of the substrate; and a drain region of the second conductivity type positioned substantially overlying the barrier region, wherein when light impinges on the back side of the substrate the light generates charge carriers that collect in the channel region, the charge carriers passing through the barrier region into the drain region when a potential corresponding to the collected charge carriers in the channel region is about equal to the potential corresponding to the barrier region. In a second embodiment, a drain region of the second conductivity type is positioned substantially extending into at least a portion of the front side of the substrate; a barrier region of the first conductivity type positioned substantially underlying about the drain region; and a channel region of the second conductivity type positioned substantially underlying and about the barrier region. The channel region, the barrier region, and the drain region are formed by ion implantation.
US07804112B2

The semiconductor device according to the present invention includes an SJMOSFET having a plurality of base regions formed at an interval from each other and an SBD (Schottky Barrier Diode) having a Schottky junction between the plurality of base regions. The SBD is provided in parallel with a parasitic diode of the SJMOSFET.
US07804097B2

A liquid crystal display device comprises at least two insulating layers formed on a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer formed between the at least two insulating layers, a first contact hole penetrating an upper insulating layer of the at least two insulating layers on the second conductive layer, a second contact hole penetrating the at least two insulating layers and exposing a portion of the first conductive layer, and a contact part comprising a bridge electrode formed of a third conductive layer for connecting the first and second conductive layers through the first and second contact holes. The second contact hole comprises an internal hole penetrating the at least two insulating layers and an external hole surrounding the internal hole forming in the upper insulating layers.
US07804093B2

A thin film transistor array panel includes an insulating substrate, a gate line and a data line disposed on the insulating substrate and insulated from and intersecting each other, a thin film transistor connected to the gate line and the data line, a partition disposed corresponding to the gate line and the data line and defining a color filter filling region, a color filter disposed in the filling region, a passivation layer disposed on the color filter and the partition, and a pixel electrode disposed on the passivation layer and connected to the thin film transistor through a contact hole disposed through the passivation layer and the color filter. A plane shape of the color filter filling region is substantially a rectangle.
US07804090B2

A self-aligned, thin-film, top-gate transistor and method of manufacturing same are disclosed. A first print-patterned mask is formed over a metal layer by digital lithography, for example by printing with a phase change material using a droplet ejector. The metal layer is then etched using the first print-patterned mask to form source and drain electrodes. A semiconductive layer and an insulative layer are formed thereover. A layer of photosensitive material is then deposited and exposed through the substrate, with the source and drain electrodes acting as masks for the exposure. Following development of the photosensitive material, a gate metal layer is deposited. A second print-patterned mask is then formed over the device, again by digital lithography. Etching and removal of the photosensitive material leaves the self-aligned top-gate electrode.
US07804089B2

A TFT array substrate is provided. The TFT array substrate includes: a gate electrode connected to a gate line; a source electrode connected to a data line that crosses the gate line and defines a pixel region; a drain electrode facing the source electrode with a channel between; a semiconductor layer forming the channel in between the source electrode and the drain electrode; a pixel electrode in the pixel region and contacting the drain electrode; a channel passivation layer formed on the semiconductor layer; a gate pad with a gate pad lower electrode that extends from the gate line; and a data pad having a data pad lower electrode separated from the data line.
US07804086B2

A phase change memory device includes a silicon substrate having cell and peripheral regions. A first insulation layer with a plurality of holes is formed in the cell region. Recessed cell switching elements are formed in the holes. Heat sinks are formed in the holes in which the cell switching elements are formed, and the heat sinks project out of the first insulation layer. A gate is formed in the peripheral region and has a stack structure of a gate insulation layer, a first gate conductive layer, a second gate conductive layer, and a hard mask layer. A second insulation layer is formed on the surface of the silicon substrate. The second insulation layer has contact holes exposing the heat sinks. Heaters are formed in the contact holes, and stack patterns of a phase change layer and a top electrode are formed on the heaters.
US07804085B2

The switching element of the present invention is of a configuration that includes: a first electrode (14) and a second electrode (15) provided separated by a prescribed distance; a solid electrolyte layer (16) provided in contact with the first electrode (14) and the second electrode (15); a third electrode (18) that can supply metal ions and that is provided in contact with the solid electrolyte layer (16); and a metal diffusion prevention film (17) that covers points of the surface of the solid electrolyte layer (16) that are not in contact with the first electrode (14), the second electrode (15) or the third electrode (18). This configuration prevents the adverse effect of metal ions upon other elements.
US07804084B2

Methods of fabricating phase change memory elements include forming an insulating layer on a semiconductor substrate, forming a through hole penetrating the insulating layer, forming a lower electrode in the through hole and forming a recess having a sidewall comprising a portion of the insulating layer by selectively etching a surface of the lower electrode relative to the insulating layer. A phase change memory layer is formed on the lower electrode. The phase change memory layer has a portion confined by the recess and surrounded by the insulating layer. An upper electrode is formed on the phase change memory layer. Phase change memory elements are also provided.
US07804079B2

A method for using optical media for identification purpose including the steps of exposing a portion of the optical media to a source of radiation; detecting an imperfection in the portion of the optical media; and, quantifying the imperfection to create a unique identifier. An apparatus for using an optical media for identification purposes, including a light source for exposing a portion of the optical media to a radiation; and, a receptor for receiving the radiation through the portion of the optical media, wherein the receptor measures a change in radiation that is received once the radiation has passed through the portion of the optical media.
US07804077B2

The invention relates to the confinement of an alloy formed of actinide transuranic radioactive wastes and beryllium metal within a neutron moderating and reflecting apparatus to cause accelerated destruction (burning) of the actinide wastes. Waste actinides, including plutonium, neptunium, americium, and curium, emit alpha particles by radioactive decay. The alpha particles are converted into neutrons by the beryllium through an alpha-neutron (alpha, n) reaction. The neutrons developed by the alpha, n reaction are moderated by a surrounding layer of graphite, which allows the slowed neutrons to cause additional fission or decay events within the waste actinide alloy. This process is passive because the alpha particles that initiate the actinide burning are an intrinsic physical property of the actinides. The burning or decay process is accelerated because neutrons that would ordinarily escape the confinement fixture (a Standard Source capsule) are reflected back into the actinide waste, transmuting them into heavier, less stable isotopes that decay more rapidly. The use of the moderator/reflector material allows the waste actinides to be destroyed in a 10,000-year repository period instead of requiring one million years to attain the same waste reduction by natural radioactive decay alone. Beryllium may also be used as a neutron moderator/reflector, but is not a cost effective choice for large scale use.
US07804073B2

An emitter of a Ga liquid metal ion source is constituted to include W12 of a base material and Ga9 of an ion source element covering a surface as construction materials. By making back-sputtered particles become elements (W and Ga) of the Ga liquid metal ion sour source, if back-sputtered particles attach to the Ga liquid metal ion source, contamination which may change physical characteristics of Ga9 does not occur. A W aperture is used as a beam limiting (GUN) aperture to place Ga of approx. 25 mg (of melting point of 30° C.) on a surface of a portion included in a beam emission region (Ga store). When emitting ions to the beam limiting (GUN) aperture, Ga in the emission region melts and diffuses on a surface of the beam emission region of the W aperture.
US07804060B2

A C/O ratio is determined using measurements of inelastically scattered gamma rays with a pulsed neutron source. Combined with look-up tables, the C/O measurement is used as an indicator of formation fluid influx into wellbore such as gas kick.
US07804055B2

An optical sensor device has a sensor unit, which includes a light transmitter, a light receiver and a lens plate, with which a beam of light emitted by the light transmitter is coupled into the window pane, coupled out of the window pane and directed onto the light receiver. On its surface facing the light transmitter and the light receiver, the lens plate includes Fresnel lens structures, and on the opposite surface facing the window pane it includes Fresnel reflector structures. This embodiment is particularly useful as rain sensor. Without light transmitter, the sensor device can be used as a light sensor.
US07804048B2

An apparatus for cooling a surface having a metal structure made of a material with high thermal conductivity, and designed to provide efficient cooling of the surface while minimizing mechanical stress between the metal structure and the surface.
US07804045B2

In one aspect, the present invention provides a consumer appliance that uses RF energy to heat foods stored in a container that is suitable for RF heating.
US07804031B2

A printed wiring board having an interlayer insulation layer and conductive circuits formed on the interlayer insulation layer. The conductive circuits include a first conductive circuit and a second conductive circuit positioned adjacent to each other, and the first and second conductive circuits satisfy a formula, 0.10 T≦|W1−W2|≦0.73 T, where W1 represents an upper conductive circuit space between the first and second conductive circuits, W2 represents a lower conductive circuit space between the first and second conductive circuits, and T represents a thickness of the first and second conductive circuits.
US07804021B2

A light transmissible solar cell module including: solar cell units, which include a transparent substrate, a mirror electrode layer provided on a part of a surface of the transparent substrate, and a solar cell section provided on the mirror electrode layer, arranged in multi-levels; a first connecting wire electrically connected to an electrode provided on a surface side of the solar cell section; and a second connecting wire electrically connected to the mirror electrode layer, wherein the solar cell units are arranged so that a light entering from one side hits the solar cell section of an arbitrary solar cell unit and is reflected, and the reflected light reaches another side by being reflected by the mirror electrode layer of a solar cell unit arranged adjacent to the arbitrary solar cell unit.
US07804013B2

Snap away musical instrument picks. A sheet of material is provided that has a plurality of musical instrument picks formed therein by cut lines around the perimeter of the picks except for uncut web areas around each pick. The ends of the cut lines turn into the picks. A pick can be detached from the card body by severing the web to remove a pick when desired, and any rough edges formed by breaking the web are not located along the outer perimeter of the pick. The sheet of material can be sized to be carried in a purse or wallet and the like for easy access.
US07804012B2

An inbred sweet corn line, designated R605, the plants and seeds of inbred sweet corn line R605, methods for producing a maize plant produced by crossing the inbred sweet corn line R605 with itself or with another maize plant, and hybrid maize seeds and plants produced by crossing the inbred sweet corn line R605 with another maize line or plant.
US07804011B2

According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH075709. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH075709, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH075709 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH075709.
US07804009B2

According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV214898. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV214898, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV214898 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV214898 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV214898.
US07804002B2

According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH148845. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH148845, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH148845 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH148845.
US07804001B2

According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV476579. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV476579, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV476579 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV476579 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV476579.
US07803998B2

The present invention provided methods and compositions for modifying flower development and reproductive development in plants. The methods involve transforming a plant with a polynucleotide construct comprising a promoter operably lined to polynucleotide molecule encoding a short vegetative phase-like transcription factor. The compositions include transformed plants, plant cells, seeds, and expression cassettes comprising a polynucleotide molecule encoding a short vegetative phase-like transcription factor or fragment or variant thereof.
US07803995B1

The present invention is in the field of soybean cultivar S07-03RM886409 breeding and development. The present invention particularly relates to the soybean cultivar S07-03RM886409 and its progeny, and methods of making S07-03RM886409.
US07803987B2

A transgenic plant transformed by a phosphatase stress-related protein (PHSRP) coding nucleic acid, wherein expression of the nucleic acid sequence in the plant results in increased tolerance to environmental stress as compared to a wild type variety of the plant. Also provided are agricultural products, including seeds, produced by the transgenic plants. Also provided are isolated PHSRPs, and isolated nucleic acid coding PHSRPs, and vectors and host cells containing the latter.
US07803983B2

The present invention relates to isolated nucleic acid molecules and their corresponding encoded polypeptides able confer the trait of modulated plant size, vegetative growth, organ number, plant architecture, growth rate, seedling vigor and/or biomass in plants. The present invention further relates to the use of these nucleic acid molecules and polypeptides in making transgenic plants, plant cells, plant materials or seeds of a plant having plant size, vegetative growth, organ number, plant architecture, growth rate, seedling vigor and/or biomass that are altered with respect to wild type plants grown under similar conditions.
US07803981B2

The invention features novel methods for the production of large quantities of xenogenous antibodies, such as human antibodies. Preferably, this result is effected by inactivation of IgM heavy chain expression and, optionally, by inactivation of Ig light chain expression, and by the further introduction of an artificial chromosome which results in the expression of xenogenous antibodies (e.g., non-bovine antibodies), preferably human antibodies.
US07803978B2

In an oligomerization process comprising at least two oligomerization reactors, at least portions of product streams from two reactors are separated in the same separator vessel. In an embodiment, a liquid product stream from the first oligomerization reactor is fed to a fractionation column and a side cut from the fractionation column feeds the second oligomerization reactor.
US07803975B2

Disclosed is a process for separating fluoroolefin from a composition comprising HF and fluoroolefin, said process comprising extracting said composition with an extractant. Also disclosed is a composition comprising HF, at least one fluoroolefin, and at least one extractant.
US07803971B2

A process for preparing cyclopentanone, at least comprising the following steps (i) to (iii): (i) providing a mixture G(i) comprising cyclopentene; (ii) providing liquid or supercritical N2O or a liquid or supercritical gas mixture G(ii) comprising at least 20% by volume of N2O, based on the total volume of the mixture G(ii); (iii) contacting the mixture G(i) with the liquid or supercritical N2O or the liquid or supercritical mixture G(ii) to obtain a mixture G(iii) comprising cyclopentanone, wherein the mixture G(i) contains at least 25% by weight and at most 95% by weight, of cyclopentene, based on the total weight of the mixture G(i).
US07803969B2

The invention relates to a process for the purification of (meth)acrylic acid in a process stage that comprises the following process steps: a) (meth)acrylic acid is crystallized out from a mother liquor; b) crystallized (meth)acrylic acid is separated from the mother liquor; c) at least part of the separated (meth)acrylic acid crystals are melted; d) the melted part is at least partially recycled to the step a) or step b). The process according to the invention, the apparatus suitable for implementing the process, and the use of the apparatus according to the invention for the production of (meth)acrylic acid are characterized by a high purity of the thereby obtainable (meth)acrylic acid as well as by a high efficiency with regard to the achievable yield and necessary energy requirement.
US07803965B2

The efficiency of vinyl acetate production is increased by scrubbing of off gas followed by CO2 absorption. A portion of the off gas containing substantial quantities of ethylene is recycled to the process, whereas another portion is employed in another ethylene consuming reaction. Despite not removing non-reactive gases, selectivity and yield based on ethylene are both increased.
US07803964B2

Disclosed is a method for synthesizing t-butyl (meth)acrylate at low cost. Specifically, disclosed is a method for synthesizing a carboxylic acid ester by performing an addition reaction between isobutylene and (meth)acrylic acid in the presence of an acidic catalyst. This method includes the steps of: (A) performing a dehydration decomposition reaction of t-butyl alcohol in the presence of a first acidic catalyst; (B) obtaining crude isobutylene gas by separating at least water from a produced gas obtained in the step A; (C) absorbing the crude isobutylene gas in an absorption solvent containing (meth)acrylic acid; and (D) producing t-butyl (meth)acrylate by performing the addition reaction by bringing the absorption solvent which has absorbed the crude isobutylene gas into contact with a second acidic catalyst.
US07803963B2

A method of imparting a physiological cooling effect to a consumer product is disclosed. The method comprises formulating into the consumer product a composition comprising at least one lactoyl ester of menthyl lactate. Also disclosed is a method of providing physiological cooling by contacting skin or mucous membranes with the lactoyl ester compositions. Coolants comprising the lactoyl esters and additional coolants are also disclosed. The lactoyl esters are conveniently prepared from menthol and lactic acid.
US07803962B2

A new process is described for the resolution of racemic verapamil, which allows the desired enantiomer to be obtained in high yields and with high enantiomeric purity. The process uses optically active 2,3-bis[(2-fluorobenzoyl)oxy]butanedioic acid as the resolving agent, and a water/dimethylformamide or water/acetonitrile or water/methanol mixture, as the reaction solvent.
US07803960B2

The present invention relates to phenyloxyaniline derivatives, to methods of their production and to uses thereof.
US07803958B2

A crosslinker (i.e., a curing agent) for polymerizing a film-forming material. The crosslinker is an organic compound including at least two functional groups reactive with a film-forming material and at least one pendent group comprising a —Si(OR)3 group, wherein each R is independently an alkyl group including from 1 to about 12 carbon atoms or an aryl group including substituted and unsubstituted phenyl and benzyl groups. Functional groups reactive with a film-forming materials include isocyanate, blocked isocyanate, uretdione, epoxide, hydroxyl, carboxyl, ester, ether, carbamate, aminoalkanol, aminoalkylether, amide, or amine groups. Embodiments include derivatives of the various crosslinkers as disclosed elsewhere herein, where the crosslinker has at least two functional groups reactive with a film-forming material and at least one pendent group comprising a —Si(OR)3 group.
US07803952B2

The present invention relates to a process for the manufacture of cyclic monocarboxylic esters (lactones) and related compounds by hydrogenation of cyclic dicarboxylic acid anhydrides in the presence of metal catalysts.
US07803948B2

A process for converting a compound C1 of the formula I in a mer isomer form into an isomeric compound C2 of the formula I in a fac isomer form.
US07803942B2

The present invention is directed to provide 17-cyclopropylmethyl-3,14β-dihydroxy-4,5α-epoxy-6β-[N-methyl-trans-3-(3-furyl)acrylamido]morphinan hydrochloride consistent in quality after production and having high purity. A crystal of 17-cyclopropylmethyl-3,14β-dihydroxy-4,5α-epoxy-6β-[N-methyl-trans-3-(3-furyl)acrylamido]morphinan hydrochloride including a A-form, B-form or C-form crystal thereof, and a process for producing the same are provided.
US07803940B2

A compound represented by the formula (I): wherein R1 is an oxo group, ═N—R or the like; a group represented by the formula: is a group represented by the formula: R2 is a group represented by the formula: R3 and R4 are each H, or C1-C6 alkyl, C3-C6 cycloalkyl, C1-C6 alkoxy, C1-C6 alkylamino, di(C1-C6)alkylamino or C1-C6 alkylthio, each of which is optionally substituted; and R5 is H, or C1-C6 alkyl, C2-C6 alkenyl, cyclic group, each of which is optionally substituted, —CO—R8 or —O—R8′, or a salt thereof. The compound of the present invention is useful as a drug for the prophylaxis or treatment of cardiovascular diseases, metabolic diseases and/or central nervous system diseases.
US07803932B2

This invention provides a recombinant nucleic acid which, when introduced in vivo into a mammalian cell endogenously expressing EB1, inhibits the expression of EB1 therein, thereby reducing the amount of stable microtubules in the cell.This invention further provides related compositions, nucleic acids, cells and methods.
US07803924B2

The hsp60 gene from a strain of Arthrobacter has been isolated and sequenced. The encoded protein is believed to be highly immunogenic, especially in fish, and also has utility as a non-specific adjuvant, and as an adjuvanting carrier for heterologous antigens.
US07803918B2

A new coronavirus is disclosed herein with a tropism that includes humans. Means and methods are provided for diagnosing subjects (previously) infected with the virus. Also provided are among others vacines, medicaments, nucleic acids and specific binding members.
US07803912B2

The disclosure relates to recombinant adult human apohemoglobin (apo-rHb) in which the stability has been increased by replacement of an amino acid with a counterpart from another organism, such as a deep sea diving mammal. This mutated apo-rHb may be more stable and/or give higher production yields than unmutated adult human apo-rHb. The mutated apo-rHb may be produced in microorganisms, such as E. coli or yeast cells, or animal erythroid cells. Some apo-rHb of the present disclosure may be used as part of a blood substitute.
US07803910B2

The present invention relates to sCD164 variants and therapeutic uses thereof, in particular for treating or preventing inflammatory or autoimmune disorders.
US07803898B2

An aminoquinoxaline compound represented by the following formula (1a), and a polyaminoquinoxaline compound obtained by polymerizing the aminoquinoxaline compound, wherein R1 and R2 independently represent a hydrogen atom, a hydroxyl group, a C1-C10 alkyl group, a C1-C10 alkoxy group, or the like, R3 and R4 independently represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a cyano group, a nitro group, an amino group, a C1-C10 alkyl group, a C1-C10 alkoxy group or the like, and X1 represents —NH—R5—NH2 or —NH—R6.
US07803890B2

A process for the preparation of a fluoroolefin polymer, including the step of: contacting in a reaction zone: an initiator; CF3CF═CH2, and optionally, at least one ethylenically unsaturated comonomer capable of copolymerizing therewith; wherein the contacting is carried out at a temperature, pressure and length of time sufficient to produce the fluoroolefin polymer.
US07803885B2

The present invention relates to a pentathienyl-fluorene copolymer having structural units represented by formula (I): here R and R′ are each independently a substituent or H. The invention also relates to a transistor containing this copolymer. The present invention addresses a problem in the art by providing an electroactive device with exceptionally low hysteresis.
US07803883B2

The present invention relates to a process for the selective hydrogenation of the carbon-carbon double bonds in a diene-based polymer latex using a water-soluble catalyst and simultaneously a water-insoluble co-catalyst.
US07803877B2

The present invention relates to novel block polymers comprising at least one first block and at least one second block that are incompatible with each other, have different glass transition temperatures (Tg), and are linked together via an intermediate segment comprising at least one constituent monomer of the at least one first block and at least one constituent monomer of the at least one second block. The block polymer has a polydispersity index I of greater than 2. The invention also relates to cosmetic compositions comprising the block polymers and processes for their use.
US07803870B2

Disclosed are a cycloolefin resin molded product having excellent flame retardance and a polymerizable composition used for producing such a molded product. A polymerizable composition comprising the cycloolefin monomer, a flame retardant and a metathesis polymerization catalyst is characterized in that a monomer having a condensed ring formed of an aliphatic ring having one or more carbon-carbon double bonds and a ring with aromatic characteristics is used as the cycloolefin monomer. A molded product can be produced through bulk polymerization of this polymerizable composition.
US07803858B2

An aqueous composition containing pigment and an acrylic polymer and having reduced flocculation of pigment particles.
US07803857B2

Biaxially oriented mono- or multilayered polyester film containing at least one UV stabilizer according to formula (I): wherein R1 is —H, C1-C12-alkyl, -aryl, —S—(C1-C12)-alkyl or —O—R9 or —O—(C1-C5)-alkylene-C(O)O—R9, wherein R9 is -aryl or C1-C12-alkyl, R3 and R4 and R2, R5, R6, R7 and R8 independently from each other represent —H, —(C1-C12)-alkyl, —O—(C1-C12)-alkyl, -aryl or —O-aryl, wherein said alkyl radicals with more than two C-atoms and alkylene radicals with more than one C-atom can be linear or branched.
US07803848B2

The invention relates to a method for selectively separating synthetic organic materials such as polymers and/or reinforced or non-reinforced copolymers in the form of wastes, in particular domestic wastes recyclable in order to be reused. Said synthetic organic materials are recuperated from broken used cars and obsolete consumer durable products. The inventive method for selective separation consists in separating materials which have an identical density threshold value and are selected from a dense medium comprising separate liquid fluid suspensions which consist of powdery disperses particles in an aqueous phase and are stabilized with respect to the density threshold value selected in such a way that a selective separation of a determined fraction of the mixture of separable used material is initiated.
US07803843B2

The subject invention provides materials and methods for improving alcohol metabolism in animals. In a preferred embodiment, the invention provides methods for increasing the ability of people to consume alcohol while reducing hangovers or other effects of intoxication. Specifically exemplified herein is the use of a cysteamine compound to reduce the adverse effects of alcohol consumption. For example, the undesirable and unpleasant symptoms association with hangovers can be reduced through consumption, according to the subject invention, of cysteamine hydrochloride.
US07803839B2

Disclosed are compounds of Formula (I) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and solvates thereof. Such compounds are MEK inhibitors and are useful in the treatment of proliferative diseases, such as cancer. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds as well as methods of using the compounds and compositions of the invention in the treatment of cancer.
US07803829B2

The invention provides low molecular weight compounds, namely 1H-thieno[2,3-c]pyrazoles, showing a high affinity for the ATP pocket of ABL tyrosine kinase. These compounds are thus ATP-competitive tyrosine kinase inhibitors displaying a significant inhibitory potency also, and in particular, towards BCR-ABL inhibitor-resistant T315I ABL mutants. The compounds of the invention find a useful application in the treatment of BCR-ABL inhibitor-resistant ABL-mediated diseases, such as Imatinib-resistant chronic myelogenous leukemia. Moreover, the invention provides a screening method for the identification of compounds capable of binding the ATP pocket of a kinase protein, in particular of the T315I mutant ABL kinase.
US07803827B2

The present invention relates to 1-N-amino-2-imidazolidinones and derivatives thereof which are effective as Kv1.5 potassium channel inhibitors providing atrial-selective antiarrhythmic agents. The present invention further relates to compositions comprising said Kv1.5 potassium channel inhibitors, and to methods for treating cardiac arrhythmia.
US07803817B2

The present invention is related to oral compositions comprising an irreversible gastric H+/K+-ATPase proton pump inhibitor (PPI) as a gastric acid secretion inhibitor and succinc acid as a parietal cell activator in the gastric lumen. The compositions of the present invention are capable of enhancing the anti-acid activity of PPI in the stomach. The present invention further relates to a method of using such compositions to reduce gastric acid secretion in a mammal.
US07803807B2

The present invention relates to compounds of Formula (I) wherein A, B and C are independently methine, said methine being optionally substituted; D is nitrogen; T, U, V and W are independently methine or nitrogen, said methine being optionally substituted and least two of T, U, V and W are said methine groups; X is —N(SO2R4)—, N(COR5)— or —CO—; Y is C(R6)(R7)—, —O— or —N(R8) and a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, ester or N-oxide derivative thereof.
US07803806B2

The present invention provides novel pyrimidinyl-thiophene kinase modulators and methods of using the novel pyrimidinyl-thiophene kinase modulators to treat diseases mediated by kinase activity.
US07803801B2

The present invention relates to an aminopyridine compound represented by the following general formula (I) or a salt thereof and an Syk inhibitor containing the compound or a salt thereof as an active ingredient. Here, X1, X2, X3, Z, Y1, Y2 represent a carbon atom or a nitrogen atom, R, R1, R5, R6 represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, etc., and R7 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a nitro group, a cyano group, —CpH2(p-1)(Ra1)(Ra2)—O—Ra3, —C(═O)—Rd1, a 5- or 6-membered saturated heterocyclic group, an aromatic heterocyclic group, —N(Rh1)(Rh2), etc. The aminopyridine compound of the present invention has not only high Syk inhibitory activity but also properties to selectively inhibit Syk.
US07803796B2

Provided is a homopiperazine compound for inhibiting ribosomal frameshifting by binding to an RNA pseudoknot structure of SARS coronavirus. Particularly, the present invention provides a pharmaceutical composition for inhibiting synthesis of protein induced by −1 frameshifting by binding to an RNA pseudoknot structure specifically existing in SARS coronavirus. The composition includes a therapeutically effective amount of homopiperazine compound of following chemical formula 1 or a pharmaceutically accepted salt thereof, and a pharmaceutically accepted carrier or excipient.
US07803791B2

The present invention is directed to a Gyrase inhibitor-protein conjugate; in particular a Gyrase inhibitor-albumin conjugate. The present invention further provides methods of the treatment of inflammatory conditions and tumors. Methods of making and producing a Gyrase inhibitor-protein conjugate are also disclosed.
US07803788B2

A novel method has led to the identification of novel mixed ester-amidates of PMPA for retroviral or hepadnaviral therapy, including compounds of structure (5a) having substituent groups as defined herein. Compositions of these novel compounds in pharmaceutically acceptable excipients and their use in therapy and prophylaxis are provided.
US07803787B2

The present invention provides a composition, and a method of use thereof for treating connective tissue damage in man and in animals, which comprises a therapeutically effective amount of chondroitin sulfate, N-acetyl D-glucosamine, and hyaluronan (hyaluronic acid). Particularly, the present invention provides a composition, and a method of use thereof, for treating connective tissue damage including, but not limited to, arthritic disease, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, osterochondrosis dessicans, cartilage damage, joint injury, joint inflammation, joint synovitis, degenerative joint disease (DJD), post surgical DJD, traumatic injury, fracture, tendon damage, ligament damage, skeletal damage, musculoskeletal damage, fiber damage, adipose tissue damage, blood cell damage, and plasma damage. Compositions for delivery of the present invention include those for parenteral, oral, and transmucosal delivery and for direct surgical placement onto the affected tissues.
US07803780B2

A drug for preventing or treating heart diseases which comprises an expression vector containing CD9 gene as the active ingredient. In the present invention, the term “heart diseases” means diseases causative of heart failure, ischemic heart diseases, cardiomyopathy, hypertensive heart diseases, valvular disease, congenital heart diseases, mayocarditis, arrhythmia and diseases associated with cardiac hypertrophy and/or tachycardia. In the present invention, the expression vector is a viral vector or a non-viral vector. A method for preventing or treating heart diseases which comprises expressing the CD9 gene in the heart. In the present invention, the prevention or the treatment is carried out by a gene therapy of transferring the CD9 gene. In the gene therapy, use is made of a drug comprising an expression vector containing the CD9 gene as the active ingredient.
US07803777B2

The present invention provides branched water-soluble polymers that allow two or more water-soluble polymers to be conjugated to another species. The branched polymers provide access to therapeutic agents that are conjugated at a single site to two or more water-soluble polymers. The branched polymers are based upon branch points that are simple branched alkyl structures, reactive side-chain amino acids and small peptides of reactive side-chain amino acids, and saccharides. Also provided is a method for preparing mono-disperse poly(ethylene glycol) of a well-defined and determinable molecular weight, and a method for the rational end-functionalization of poly(ethylene glycol). Conjugates of the branched water-soluble polymers with diverse species, e.g., peptides, lipids, glycolipids and small molecules are also provided.
US07803770B2

The present invention provides a storage-stable composition containing a parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) and methods of using a PTHrP and the PTHrP compositions described herein to treat osteoporosis, to increase bone mass or to increase bone quality. The composition is storage stable, in sterile form, and in general may be stored at room temperature for at least several weeks to allow convenient parenteral administration to human patients.
US07803769B2

Disclosed is a composition of matter comprising an OSK1 peptide analog, and in some embodiments, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. A pharmaceutical composition comprises the composition and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. Also disclosed are DNAs encoding the inventive composition of matter, an expression vector comprising the DNA, and host cells comprising the expression vector. Methods of treating an autoimmune disorder and of preventing or mitigating a relapse of a symptom of multiple sclerosis are also disclosed.
US07803762B1

Ready-to-use bivalirudin compositions, methods of using the ready-to-use bivalirudin compositions, and methods of preparing the ready-to-use bivalirudin compositions. The ready-to-use bivalirudin compositions comprise bivalirudin and one or more stabilizing agents. The one or more stabilizing agents may be buffering agents having a pKa of about 2.5 to about 6.5, pH-adjusting agents, polymers, preservatives, antioxidants, sugars or polyols, or a combination thereof. The ready-to-use bivalirudin compositions may also comprise [9-10]-cycloimido bivalirudin, [11-12]-cycloimido bivalirudin, or a combination thereof. The method of using the ready-to-use bivalirudin compositions comprises administering the ready-to-use compositions to a patient in need thereof. Further, the method of preparing the ready-to-use bivalirudin compositions comprises mixing bivalirudin with one or more stabilizing agents.
US07803756B2

The invention provides methods to exert antimicrobial effects in prophylactic or therapeutic treatment of bacterial or fungal infections employing polypeptides that have affinity to microbial and fungal toxins.
US07803749B2

The invention provides cell-permeable peptides that selectively block the branch of the JNK signaling pathway controlled by the islet-brain (IB) proteins. The provided cell-permeable peptides block the binding of intermediate kinases in the c-Jun amino terminal kinase (JNK) signaling pathway, thereby decreasing the downstream effects of c-Jun amino terminal kinase (JNK).
US07803745B2

A lubricating oil composition of the present invention which contains an ether ashless friction modifier is applicable to a sliding surface having a low friction sliding member, is capable of imparting excellent low friction characteristics thereto and, in particular, is capable of giving a fuel saving effect when applied to an internal combustion engine.
US07803742B2

Thermoset polymer particles are used in many applications requiring lightweight particles possessing high stiffness, strength, temperature resistance, and/or resistance to aggressive environments. The present invention relates to the use of two different methods, either each by itself or in combination, to enhance the stiffness, strength, maximum possible use temperature, and environmental resistance of such particles. One method is the application of post-polymerization process steps (and especially heat treatment) to advance the curing reaction and to thus obtain a more densely crosslinked polymer network. In general, its main benefits are the enhancement of the maximum possible use temperature and the environmental resistance. The other method is the incorporation of nanofillers, resulting in a heterogeneous “nanocomposite” morphology. In general, its main benefits are increased stiffness and strength. Nanofiller incorporation and post-polymerization heat treatment can also be combined to obtain the benefits of both methods simultaneously. The present invention relates to the development of thermoset nanocomposite particles. It also relates to the optional further improvement of the heat resistance and environmental resistance of said particles via post-polymerization heat treatment. Furthermore, it also relates to processes for the manufacture of said particles. Finally, it also relates to the use of said particles in the construction, drilling, completion and/or fracture stimulation of oil and natural gas wells; for example, as a proppant partial monolayer, a proppant pack, an integral component of a gravel pack completion, a ball bearing, a solid lubricant, a drilling mud constituent, and/or a cement additive.
US07803729B2

Insulating element from mineral fibers for shipbuilding with an insulating element in form of a plate or roll felt for shipbuilding the composition of the mineral fibers of the insulating element points an alkali/alkaline-earth mass ratio of the fiber structure of the insulating element is determined by an average geometrical fiber diameter of ≦4 μm and a surface weight of 0.8 through 4.3 kg/m2 and a binding agent portion above 0.5 until 4 weight %.
US07803725B2

A pliable reinforcement carrier membrane for use in a coated membrane composite includes a pliable non-woven fibrous mat of entangled polymeric fibers and a hydrophobic binder. The membrane is made so that a first surface of the mat has portions of a portion of the polymeric fibers of the mat protruding therefrom in extent and in sufficient amounts to give the first surface of the mat a fuzzy characteristic to facilitate adhesion of a coating material and a second surface of the fibrous mat has a generally smooth, non-fuzzy surface. A pliable waterproof composite, including the membrane, has a bottom surface formed by a filled asphalt, modified bitumen, or non-asphaltic polymeric coating that overlies and is adhered to the first surface of the mat to provide a barrier against liquid water transmission through the composite and a top surface formed by the second surface of the mat.
US07803720B2

A coating system and method of coating semiconductor wafers is disclosed that is able to maintain a wet condition on the outer portion of the semiconductor wafer to provide ease of spreading for a photo-resist or anti-reflective coating (ARC) that is being dispensed. The system can include a plurality of nozzles on a movable arm. A first nozzle dispenses a pre-wet solvent onto the semiconductor wafer. A second nozzle then dispenses the photo-resist or ARC coating onto the semiconductor wafer. A third nozzle dispenses additional pre-wet solvent onto the outer edge of the semiconductor wafer as the photo-resist or ARC coating is being dispensed. The nozzles dispense solutions onto the semiconductor wafer as it rotates. The system produces semiconductor wafers with few coating defects and uses less photo-resist or ARC coating.
US07803718B2

A BiCMOS device with enhanced performance by mechanical uniaxial strain is provided. A first embodiment of the present invention includes an NMOS transistor, a PMOS transistor, and a bipolar transistor formed on different areas of the substrate. A first contact etch stop layer with tensile stress is formed over the NMOS transistor, and a second contact etch stop layer with compressive stress is formed over the PMOS transistor and the bipolar transistor, allowing for an enhancement of each device. Another embodiment has, in addition to the stressed contact etch stop layers, strained channel regions in the PMOS transistor and the NMOS transistor, and a strained base in the BJT.
US07803708B2

Method for reducing resist poisoning. The method includes the steps of forming a first structure in a dielectric on a substrate, reducing amine related contaminants from the dielectric and the substrate prior to a formation of a second structure on the substrate such that the amine related contaminates will not diffuse out from either the substrate or the dielectric, wherein the reducing utilizes a plasma treatment which one of chemically ties up the amine related contaminates and binds, traps, or consumes the amine related contaminates during subsequent processing steps, forming the second structure on the substrate, and after the forming of the first structure, preventing poisoning of a resist layer in subsequent processing by the reducing.
US07803706B2

Disclosed is a semiconductor device manufacturing method in which a silicon nitride film is formed to cover an n-channel transistor formed on a semiconductor substrate and to apply a tensile stress in a channel length direction to a channel of the n-channel transistor, the method includes: forming a first-layer silicon nitride film above the n-channel transistor; irradiating the first-layer silicon nitride film with ultraviolet radiation; and after the ultraviolet irradiation, forming at least one silicon nitride film thinner than the first-layer silicon nitride film above the first-layer silicon nitride film. Silicon nitride films formed to apply the tensile stress is formed by respective steps.
US07803705B2

A dielectric film (91) made of CF is deposited on a substrate. A protective layer comprising an SiCN film (93) is formed on the dielectric film (91). A film (94) serving as a hardmask made of SiCO is deposited on the protective layer by a plasma containing active species of silicon, carbon, and oxygen. When the protective layer is formed, an SiC film (92) is deposited on the dielectric film (91) by a plasma containing active species of silicon and carbon, and thereafter the SiCN film (93) is deposited on the SiC film (92) by a plasma containing active species of silicon, carbon, and nitrogen.
US07803702B2

A method for fabricating metal-oxide transistors is disclosed. First, a semiconductor substrate having a gate structure is provided, in which the gate structure includes a gate dielectric layer and a gate. A source/drain region is formed in the semiconductor substrate, and a cleaning step is performed to fully remove native oxides from the surface of the semiconductor substrate. An oxidation process is conducted to form an oxide layer on the semiconductor substrate and the oxide layer is then treated with fluorine-containing plasma to form a fluorine-containing layer on the surface of the semiconductor substrate. A metal layer is deposited on the semiconductor substrate thereafter and a thermal treatment is performed to transform the metal layer into a silicide layer.
US07803700B2

Methods of forming semiconductor structures characterized by a thin active silicon layer on an insulating substrate by a crystal imprinting or damascene approach. The methods include patterning an insulating layer to define a plurality of apertures, filling the apertures in the patterned insulating layer with amorphous silicon to define a plurality of amorphous silicon features, and re-growing the amorphous silicon features to define a thin active silicon layer consisting of regrown silicon features. The amorphous silicon features may be regrown such that a number have a first crystal orientation and another number have a different second crystal orientation.
US07803692B2

A method of manufacturing semiconductor devices having self-aligned contacts is provided. Multiple isolation structures are formed on the substrate to define an active area. Multiple gate structures are formed on the substrate. Multiple doped areas are formed in the substrate beside each gate structure. Multiple first spacers are formed on the sidewalls of each of the gate structure. Multiple second spacers are formed on the sidewalls of each of the isolation structure. A dielectric layer is formed on the substrate. Then, a self-aligned process is performed to form multiple contact openings in the dielectric layer between the gate structures. The conductive material is filled in the contact openings.
US07803691B2

A nonvolatile memory device includes a control gate formed along a first direction over a substrate, an active region formed over the substrate, the active region being defined along a second direction crossing the control gate and including a fin type protruding portion having rounded top corners at a region where the control gate and the active region overlap, a floating gate formed over a surface of the protruding portion of the active region below the control gate and formed to a substantially uniform thickness along the surface profile of the protruding portion of the active region, a tunneling insulation layer formed between the floating gate and the active region, and a dielectric layer formed between the floating gate and the control gate.
US07803688B2

A capacitive substrate and method of making same in which first and second glass layers are used. A first conductor is formed on a first of the glass layers and a capacitive dielectric material is positioned over the conductor. The second conductor is then positioned on the capacitive dielectric and the second glass layer positioned over the second conductor. Conductive thru-holes are formed to couple to the first and second conductors, respectively, such that the conductors and capacitive dielectric material form a capacitor when the capacitive substrate is in operation.
US07803686B2

Methods for selectively etching doped oxides in the manufacture of microfeature devices are disclosed herein. An embodiment of one such method for etching material on a microfeature workpiece includes providing a microfeature workpiece including a doped oxide layer and a nitride layer adjacent to the doped oxide layer. The method include selectively etching the doped oxide layer with an etchant comprising DI:HF and an acid to provide a pH of the etchant such that the etchant includes (a) a selectivity of phosphosilicate glass (PSG) to nitride of greater than 250:1, and (b) an etch rate through PSG of greater than 9,000 Å/minute.
US07803683B2

A semiconductor device includes an insulating film formed above an upper surface of a semiconductor substrate and including a contact hole, the contact hole including an upper portion and a lower portion located on the upper portion via a boundary as a first lower end of the upper portion and a first upper end of the lower portion, the boundary including a second inner width same as the first inner width, the lower portion including a second lower end having a third inner width narrower than the second inner width, a first conductive plug made from polycrystalline silicon and formed in the lower portion of the contact hole so that the exposed upper surface of the substrate is in contact with the first conductive plug, and a second conductive plug formed on the first conductive plug and made from a conductive material different from the polycrystalline silicon.
US07803682B2

A semiconductor memory device includes a plurality of memory transistors. Each of the memory transistors has: a floating gate electrode; an interelectrode insulating film; and a control gate electrode. The floating gate electrode includes, in a cross section taken along a bit line direction, a first conductive film, first sidewall insulating films opposed to each other across the first conductive film, and a second conductive film provided on the first sidewall insulating films and the first conductive film. The interelectrode insulating film is provided on the second conductive film. The control gate electrode includes a third conductive film provided on the interelectrode insulating film and a fourth conductive film provided on the third conductive film.
US07803668B2

Process for fabricating a transistor, in which an electron-sensitive resist layer lying between at least two semiconductor fingers is formed and said resist lying between at least two wires is converted into a dielectric. For example, in one embodiment of the present disclosure an integrated circuit includes a transistor having an insulating substrate including, for example, based on silicon oxide. Transistor also includes a conducting gate region comprising, for example, TiN or polysilicon, formed on a localized zone of the upper surface of the substrate, and an isolating region, comprising, for example, silicon oxide and surrounding the conducting region. The conducting region is also bounded in the direction normal to the plane of the drawing.
US07803665B2

Manufacturing a semiconductor device involves forming (200) a sacrificial layer where a micro cavity is to be located, forming (210) a metal layer of thickness greater than 1 micron over the sacrificial layer, forming (220) a porous layer from the metal layer, the porous layer having pores of length greater than ten times their breadth, and having a breadth in the range 10 nm-500 nanometers. The pores can be created by anodising, electrodeposition or dealloying. Then the sacrificial layer can be removed (230) through the porous layer, to form the micro cavity, and pores can be sealed (240). Encapsulating MEMS devices with a porous layer can reduce costs by avoiding using photolithography for shaping the access holes since the sacrificial layer is removed through the porous membrane.
US07803655B2

Briefly, in accordance with an embodiment of the invention, a method to manufacture a phase change memory is provided. The method may include forming a first electrode contacting the sidewall surface and the bottom surface of the phase change material. The method may further include forming a second electrode contacting the top surface of the phase change material.
US07803653B2

A method of manufacturing an image sensor includes forming a device isolation region in an active pixel sensor area of a semiconductor substrate and alignment keys in a scribe lane area of the semiconductor substrate, such that the depth of the alignment keys is equal to or shallower than the depth of the device isolation region. The method further includes forming a photoelectric converter in the active pixel sensor area, polishing a rear surface of the semiconductor substrate and using the alignment keys to form a microlens at a position corresponding to the photoelectric converter on the polished rear surface of the semiconductor substrate.
US07803650B2

A sensor thin film transistor includes a gate electrode, a gate insulation layer formed on the gate electrode, a semiconductor layer having a portion positioned above the gate electrode and on a side of the gate insulation layer opposite the gate electrode, and a source electrode and drain electrode having spaced apart ends positioned on the semiconductor layer, wherein the sensor thin film transistor is operative such that a signal-to-noise ratio is equal to or greater than about 200 when the gate-off voltage applied to the gate electrode is equal to or less than about 0V.
US07803648B2

A nitride semiconductor light-emitting device includes a substrate, a nitride semiconductor layer incorporating therein a first electroconductive semiconductor layer, a light-emitting layer and a second electroconductive semiconductor layer, a transparent electrode contiguous to at least part of a first surface of the second electroconductive semiconductor layer, and a second electrode contiguous to the first electroconductive semiconductor layer; wherein the substrate has a first surface thereof provided with a first region exposed by removal of a first part of the nitride semiconductor layer in a peripheral part of the device and a second region exposed by removal of at least a second part of the nitride semiconductor layer contiguous to the transparent electrode except the peripheral part of the device till the substrate. A method for the production of the device includes removing a first part of the nitride semiconductor layer in a peripheral part of the device till the substrate is exposed to form a first exposed region thereof and removing at least a second part of the nitride semiconductor layer contiguous to the transparent electrode except the peripheral part of the device till the substrate is reached to form a second exposed region thereof, wherein the steps are taken by combining the removal with a laser and the removal by wet etching.
US07803643B2

In one embodiment, a method of forming a high voltage element includes forming a sense element overlying at least a portion of a semiconductor substrate, and also includes operably coupling a first circuit to use a sense signal formed by the sense element for one of detecting a line under-voltage condition, detecting a line over-voltage condition, determining input power, limiting input power, power limiting, controlling standby operation, a line feed-forward function for current mode ramp compensation, regulating an output voltage, or detecting an energy transfer state of an energy storage element.
US07803641B2

A mold structure for packaging LED chips includes a top mold and a bottom mold. The bottom mold is mated with the top mold. The bottom mold has a main flow channel, a plurality of receiving spaces formed beside the main flow channel, a plurality of secondary flow channels for respectively and transversely communicating the receiving spaces with each other, and a plurality of ejection pins penetrating through the bottom mold.
US07803636B2

The present invention provides devices, methods and kits for detecting the presence of an analyte in a liquid sample. The invention provides devices having a positive control area covered with an opaque, movable material, such as an ink, dye, or other material, that is moved on the device by the flow of liquid sample, thereby exposing the positive control area underneath. Using the interaction of colored signals from the positive control area and the analyte binding area, a recognizable symbol is revealed on the device that correlates with the test results, and appears as the test is conducted.
US07803624B2

An automated method for classifying a cytological sample is provided. The method comprises interrogating the sample with one or more wavelengths of light to obtain a result, and then attaching one or more designators to the sample based on whether the result meets a given criterion. The method allows for rapid feedback on the characteristics of the sample, permitting automated designation of the sample as positive for a given characteristic, and allowing for immediate remedial actions if the sample fails to meet the criterion.
US07803621B2

A gene transfer vector is prepared by introducing an exogenous gene into an inactivated virus envelope, through a freezing and thawing treatment or mixing with a detergent. There are also provided a pharmaceutical composition for gene therapy containing this gene transfer vector, a kit containing this gene transfer vector, and a gene transfer method employing this gene transfer vector.
US07803620B2

Disclosed are the complete polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) polyketide synthase (PKS) systems from the bacterial microorganisms Shewanella japonica and Shewanella olleyana, and biologically active fragments and homologues thereof. More particularly, this invention relates to nucleic acids encoding such PUFA PKS systems, to proteins and domains thereof that comprise such PUFA PKS systems, to genetically modified organisms (plants and microorganisms) comprising such PUFA PKS systems, and to methods of making and using the PUFA PKS systems disclosed herein. This invention also relates to genetically modified plants and microorganisms and methods to efficiently produce lipids enriched in various polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) as well as other bioactive molecules by manipulation of a PUFA polyketide synthase (PKS) system.
US07803619B2

Disclosed are embryoid bodies having a uniform size of approximately 415 nm and comprising genetically modified embryonic stem cells, and methods of making same. The genetically uniform embryoid bodies can be multiplexed as one embryoid body per well in a multiwell format, and used as a high to medium throughput screen for test agents that affect the development and homeostasis of animals, including humans. The genetic modification of the embryonic stem cells is a promoter-report-selection construct that enables the selection and detection of cells of a particular lineage in the EB, to determine the effects of a test agent.
US07803612B2

The present invention relates to recombinant anti-Nipah virus vaccines and the administration of such vaccines to animals, advantageously pigs. Advantageously, the anti-Nipah virus vaccine may comprise a recombinant avipox virus containing a Nipah virus glycoprotein gene. The invention encompasses methods of vaccinating animals, advantageously pigs, by administration of anti-Nipah virus vaccines that may comprise a recombinant avipox virus that may contain a Nipah virus glycoprotein gene.
US07803611B2

The present invention provides compositions and methods suitable for expressing 1-x RNAi agents against a gene or genes in cells, tissues or organs of interest in vitro and in vivo so as to treat diseases or disorders.
US07803610B2

A method for separating eucaryotic or procaryotic cells or other particularly biological material which is sensitive against high shearing forces from a suspension is provided using at least one hydrocyclone with an inlet and an outlet. The outlet of the hydrocyclone is essentially opposite to the inlet and the interior space of the hydrocyclone converges towards the outlet. The suspension is delivered to the inlet of the hydrocyclone, and the suspension enriched with the cells is drained off from the outlet. The enriched suspension is then guided from or through the outlet by a flow means in such a way, that a minimum of shearing stresses occurs and the kinetic energy of the enriched suspension at the outlet of the hydrocyclone is reduced that the viability of the cell material is influenced at a minimum.
US07803601B2

The present invention includes compositions and methods for making and using an isolated cyanobacterium that includes a portion of an exogenous bacterial cellulose operon sufficient to express bacterial cellulose, whereby the cyanobacterium produces extracellular glucose. The compositions and methods of the present invention may be used as a new global crop for the manufacture of cellulose, CO2 fixation, for the production of alternative sources of conventional cellulose as well as a biofuel and precursors thereof.
US07803599B2

A microfluidic fluid flow system (100) is disclosed having a fluid chamber or channel (150) with inlet and outlet ports (104, 106), allowing the fluid channel to be filled with a fluid. One or more flow obstructions or perturbances, such as cylinders (152), are provided in the channel. An oscillatory boundary condition is applied, for example, with a piezoelectric driver (130), that is selected to induce a conservative, low-intensity steady streaming flow in the channel. The low-intensity streaming flow produces distinct eddies that can be utilized, for example, for fluid-dynamically trapping or retaining particles (90) such as cells (92) at well defined locations in the channel. The system may be used to trap and study individual cells or for concentrating or filtering particles in a fluid.
US07803591B2

Described are multimeric oxidoreductase complexes which function in the enzymatic conversion of a carbon substrate. The complexes having a dehydrogenase subunit and a cytochrome C subunit. Also described are polynucleotides coding for the multimeric complexes and methods of use thereof.
US07803587B2

A method for developing a culture medium using genome information and in silico analysis. In one implementation, the method involves developing a minimal synthetic medium, including the steps of constructing a metabolic network using genome information of prokaryotic cell or eukaryotic cell, selecting components of the minimal synthetic medium removing any one among external metabolites from the constructed metabolic network and conducting metabolic flux analysis using in silico simulation, and determining a final culture medium by actual culture.
US07803583B2

The degree of polymerisation (DP) is an important parameter for analysis of saccharide antigens, particularly in glycoconjugates. The invention provides methods that can be used to measure DP for capsular saccharides, particularly for meningococcal saccharides e.g. from serogroups W135 and Y. A preferred method is based on reduction of terminal sialic acid residues on saccharides, with DP then being calculated by comparing the molar ratio of total sialic acid to reduced sialic acid.
US07803573B2

Method for increasing the emission of light from a chemiluminescent reaction including luminol, a peroxidase enzyme, an oxidant and a mediator of electrons through the use of a hypernucleophilic acylation catalyst belonging to the class of 4-aminopyridines. It is also described the use in diagnostic assays of chemiluminescent substrates containing said catalysts.
US07803563B2

The invention relates to methods and system for detecting ligand binding to membrane receptors and endocytosis. A method for detecting ligand binding to a membrane receptor includes the steps of: incubating the cell with a dye and a ligand; and detecting dye-containing endocytic vesicles in the cell. A system for screening ligand binding to membrane receptors includes an automatic liquid handling device; an x-y stage for positioning a plate; a microscope configured to image endocytic vesicles of a cell; a software for automatic analysis of FM spots (endocytic vesicles); and a control unit configured to control the movement of the x-y stage and the microscope.
US07803562B2

A novel human sodium phosphate cotransporter expressed on the apical surface of intestinal epithelial cells (huNpt2B) and polypeptides related thereto, as well as nucleic acid compositions encoding the same, are provided. The subject polypeptides and nucleic acid compositions find use in a variety of applications, including research, diagnostic, and therapeutic agent screening applications. Also provided are methods of inhibiting Npt2B activity in a host and methods of treating disease conditions associated with Npt2B activity.
US07803561B2

The invention provides methods of identifying metastatic disease as well as ligands such as antibodies that bind to GPR30. These antibodies are useful in the detection or treatment of endocrine tumors.
US07803556B2

The Proteins of the PR-5 family having a lectin-like β barrel domain control apoptosis in yeast through receptor binding. Receptors that specifically bind to PR-5 proteins having a lectin-like β barrel domain have been found to be homologous to mammalian adiponectin receptors, and such PR-5 proteins can act as functional homologues of adiponectin and control adiponectin response in mammals. PR-5 proteins having a lectin-like β barrel domain, for example osmotin, can be used in the treatment of conditions in mammals which are the result of activation or inhibition of adiponectin receptor-mediated metaboloic pathways. PR-5 proteins having a lectin-like β barrel domain, nucleic acids encoding such proteins, and receptors that specifically bind such proteins, can also be used in screening and rational design of new therapeutic agents for use in mammals.
US07803552B2

The present invention relates to the identification and use of gene expression profiles with clinical relevance to prostate cancer. In particular, the invention provides the identity of genes whose expression, at the transcriptional and protein levels, is correlated with prostate cancer progression. Methods and kits are described for using these gene expression profiles in the study and/or diagnosis of prostate cancer diseases, in the prediction of prostate cancer progression, and in the selection and/or monitoring of treatment regimens. The invention also relates to the screening of drugs that target these genes or their protein products, in particular for the development of therapeutics for modulating prostate cancer progression.
US07803545B2

Heteroduplex band resolution is found to be improved by modifying the induced heteroduplex generator (IHG) molecule such that the identifier is spaced apart from the nucleotide position immediately adjacent to the site of the polymorphism which is to be genotyped. Unexpectedly, it is found that, when such modified IHG molecules are used, the resolution of the induced heteroduplexes is significantly improved.
US07803543B2

Disclosed herein is a method for determining whether a target polynucleotide sequence contained in a nucleic acid sample has nucleotide variation(s) in a selected region thereof, the steps of which involve the use of a pair of primers that allows the formation of a PCR product having a sequence covering that of the selected region of the target polynucleotide sequence via a PCR process, and a peptide nucleic acid (PNA) that acts as a PCR clamp as well as a sensor probe. Also disclosed herein is a kit for use in determining the presence of nucleotide variation(s) in the target polynucleotide sequence, which includes the pair of primers and the PNA.
US07803535B2

The present invention relates to methods as well as to nucleotide sequences used in these methods for prognosis and/or diagnosis of diseases associated with at least one of the polymorphisms Nod2-SNP8, Nod2-SNP12, Nod2-SNP13 in the NOD2/CARD15 gene.
US07803532B2

The present invention relates to novel methods for the diagnosis and therapy of lymphoproliferative diseases. Specifically, the present invention relates to novel methods for the diagnosis and therapy taking advantage of the detection of chromosomal breakpoints in chromosome 12 and/or translocation of chromosomal material from chromosome 12, said chromosomal breakpoints and/or translocation(s) being associated with lymphoproliferative diseases, such as primary cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL). The present invention further relates to the use of neuron navigator 3 gene (NAV3) or an equivalent or functional fragment thereof involved in chromosomal breakpoints in chromosome 12 and/or translocations thereof, said gene and/or translocations thereof being associated with lymphoproliferative diseases, such as primary cutaneous T-cell lymphomas (CTCL), as a diagnostic and therapeutic agent. The present invention also relates to the development of therapy.
US07803523B2

This invention is directed to a method for preparation of a biological sample for measurement of protein epitopes that allows for the preservation of intracellular protein epitopes and detection of signal transduction pathways based on the ability to capture transient activation states of the epitopes. The method provided by the invention allows for the rapid fixation of biological samples containing red blood cells, to ensure that epitopes of signal transduction molecules and other intracellular protein epitopes are preserved in the active state. The method of the invention further allows for lysis of red blood cells, thereby making it a useful method for cytometric analysis of biological samples, including, for example, whole blood, bone marrow aspirates, peritoneal fluids, and other red blood cell containing samples. The invention also provides a method to recover or “unmask” epitopes on intracellular antigens that have been made inaccessible by the cross linking fixative necessary to fix the sample. Significantly, the methods of the invention allow preservation and analysis of phospho-epitope levels in biological samples taken directly from patients to determine disease-specific characteristics.
US07803508B2

A toner which combines excellent cleaning ability, image quality and durability, as well as a developer and an image forming method using the toner are provided.A toner comprising a toner base particle which comprises at least a binding resin and a colorant, and an external additive, wherein an external additive is a non-spherical amorphous silica particle and a major axis of the silica particle is 40 nm to 180 nm.An aspect wherein the non-spherical amorphous silica particle has a true specific gravity of 1.8 to 2.3 and the silica particle is hydrophobilized and a hydrophobilization degree is 40 or more, and an aspect wherein the non-spherical amorphous silica particle is produced by a dry system and a mass reduction rate is 5% by mass or less when the silica particle is heated from 30° C. up to 250° C. are preferable.
US07803505B2

In a method of fabricating a mask for a semiconductor device, a phase shift layer and a light blocking layer are formed on a transparent substrate. The light blocking layer is patterned to form light blocking patterns which partially expose a surface of the phase shift layer. An extension defect or a bridge defect is detected. A photoresist layer, which does not react to light, is formed on a resulting structure including the detected defect. The extension defect is removed by performing a repair process on the light blocking patterns. The bridge defect is removed by etching using the light blocking patterns as a mask.
US07803504B2

Provided is a mask pattern of a semiconductor device. The mask pattern includes a plurality of main patterns and a plurality of assistance patterns. The main patterns are adjacent to one another. The assistance pattern is disposed on at least one of an end portion and a middle portion of each of the main patterns and has a line width greater than that of the main pattern. The assistance patterns are staggered.
US07803503B2

A halftone mask includes translucent film patterns for forming a middle gradation area and light blocking film patterns disposed to an entire periphery of the translucent film patterns.
US07803500B2

A photomask capable of preventing a pattern outside a chip region from being transferred onto a wafer. A non-circuit pattern (a monitor pattern for measuring the accuracy of the position of a mask pattern, for example) formed by making openings in which a phase shift layer is exposed only in a light shielding layer is located around the chip region where the light shielding layer is removed and where the phase shift layer in which openings corresponding to circuit patterns are made is exposed. This prevents the non-circuit pattern from being transferred onto the wafer by the influence of a flare.
US07803495B2

The polymer electrolyte membrane for a fuel cell comprises a hygroscopic substrate and a proton conductive polymer disposed at the inside, one side, and/or both sides of the hygroscopic substrate.
US07803477B2

A method for the deposition of metals in bacterial cellulose and for the employment of the metallized bacterial cellulose in the construction of fuel cells and other electronic devices is disclosed. The method for impregnating bacterial cellulose with a metal comprises placing a bacterial cellulose matrix in a solution of a metal salt such that the metal salt is reduced to metallic form and the metal precipitates in or on the matrix. The method for the construction of a fuel cell comprises placing a hydrated bacterial cellulose support structure in a solution of a metal salt such that the metal precipitates in or on the support structure, inserting contact wires into two pieces of the metal impregnated support structure, placing the two pieces of metal impregnated support structure on opposite sides of a layer of hydrated bacterial cellulose, and dehydrating the three layer structure to create a fuel cell.
US07803474B2

A fuel cell assembly includes multi-cell modules disposed in series and in a stacking direction, and an external member provided along the plurality of multi-cell modules in the stacking direction, and an external restrainer member provided along the external member in the stacking direction. Each multi-cell module of the plurality of multi-cell modules has, a multi-cell assembly formed by stacking a plurality of cells, and a module frame having a first wall that surrounds the multi-cell assembly and that extends in the cell stacking direction of the multi-cell assembly, and wherein the external restrainer member is provided between an internal surface of the external member and an external surface of the first wall of the module frame of the multi-cell module, and contacts the internal surface of the external member and the external surface of the first wall.
US07803470B2

One inventive aspect relates to a high-frequency magnetic thin film capable of working in a GHz-level band, and an electronic device comprising the film. The film comprises a magnetic layer and an insulating layer that are laminated alternately. The magnetic layer includes a first magnetic layer and a second magnetic layer. The first magnetic layer has a higher anisotropic magnetic field than the second magnetic layer, and the second magnetic layer has a higher saturation magnetization than the first magnetic layer.
US07803469B2

A white organic light emitting diode (OLED) includes an emission layer that includes a blue emission layer and an emission layer excluding blue. The emission layer excluding blue includes a phosphorescent material and a mixture of a hole transporting material and electron transporting material.
US07803468B2

An organic electroluminescent element including a pair of electrodes and one or more organic compound layers including at least one light-emitting layer disposed between the pair of electrodes, wherein the at least one light-emitting layer contains at least one luminescent dopant and a plurality of host compounds. The ionization potential of the dopant is Ip(D), the minimum value out of the ionization potentials of the plurality of host compounds is Ip(H)min, and ΔIp is defined by ΔIp=Ip(D)−Ip(H)min and satisfies a relationship of ΔIp>0 eV. The electron affinity of the dopant is Ea(D), the maximum value out of the electron affinities of the plurality of host compounds is Ea(H)max, and ΔEa is defined by ΔEa=EA(H)max−Ea(D) and satisfies a relationship of ΔEa>0 eV.
US07803450B2

UHMWPE panels of large width may be prepared by a continuous ram extrusion process by employing a slit die which preferably narrows from both sides in a direction transverse to the machine direction, and/or which employs a plurality of transversely positioned cooling zones located on the top and the bottom of the die, proximate the exit thereof. The panel exits the die at a temperature lower than the crystalline melt temperature.
US07803448B2

A nonwoven fabric that is not easily damaged during use is provided. A fiber web supported by a predetermined supporting member from the lower face side is blown with fluid, mainly composed of gas, from the upper face side of the fiber web to move fibers that constitute the fiber web, thereby forming at least a plurality of open areas. The nonwoven fabric includes a plurality of open areas continuously formed along a predetermined direction with a predetermined interval and a plurality of joining portions, each of which are formed between the open areas adjacent to each other in a predetermined direction.
US07803447B2

There are provided a honeycomb structure capable of suppressing a decrease in isostatic strength attendant on the thinning of the honeycomb structure, a honeycomb structure converter thereof, and a method of manufacturing the honeycomb structure. There is provided a honeycomb structure 1 having a number of cells 3 partitioned by partition walls 2 and extending to a axial direction. There are the honeycomb structure wherein a thickness (TY) of a partition walls (2Y) whose longitudinal direction is one direction (Y-direction) in a section perpendicular to the axial direction of the honeycomb structure 1 is greater than that (TX) of a partition walls (2X) whose longitudinal direction is the other direction; and a honeycomb structure converter thereof. There is provided a method of molding the above-mentioned honeycomb structure, wherein the honeycomb structure is extrusion molded such that the Y-direction is a direction of gravity.
US07803438B2

An article comprising at least one cured, liquid-impervious polymeric shell substantially free from defects, at least one liner, and a non-tacky, thermoplastic adhesive layer between the shell and the liner, wherein the adhesive layer is melted and solidified to create a non-tacky bond between the shell and the liner, which can be moisture-absorbing or cut-resistant, whereby the liner supports and limits stretch ability of the shell, thereby preventing adhesive delamination between the adhesive layer and either of the shell and/or the liner; a method for the manufacture of an article comprising a supported, polymeric shell, such as a glove, a gauntlet, an apron, or a boot, comprising providing a cured, liquid-impervious, polymeric shell, providing a knitted/woven liner, incorporating a non-tacky, thermoplastic adhesive layer between the shell and the liner, such as by hot-melt spraying, dry-powder spraying or fiber-coating, creating intimate contact between the shell, the adhesive layer, and the liner, subjecting the shell, the adhesive layer, and the liner to infrared radiation to melt the adhesive layer and create a bond between the shell and the liner, and cooling the shell; as well as other methods.
US07803431B2

A method for coating yarn is proposed, including steps in which the yarn is first placed in contact with a dispersion of the coating agent in a dispersing agent or with the coating agent in melted form, optionally excess dispersion or melt is scraped back off the yarn, and then the coating is formed on the yarn, where in the case of the dispersion this occurs by means of at least partially removing the dispersing agent by heating, and the yarn thus coated is then cooled down and wound, which is distinguished by the fact that the coated yarn undergoes additional cooling before winding.
US07803423B2

A method of producing nanoparticles comprises effecting conversion of a nanoparticle precursor composition to the material of the nanoparticles. The precursor composition comprises a first precursor species containing a first ion to be incorporated into the growing nanoparticles and a separate second precursor species containing a second ion to be incorporated into the growing nanoparticles. The conversion is effected in the presence of a molecular cluster compound under conditions permitting seeding and growth of the nanoparticles.
US07803422B2

A novel method of forming water in oil microcapsules is disclosed. According to the invention microcapsules are obtained by steps comprising dispersing an oil soluble amine modified polyfunctional polyvinyl monomer and an oil soluble bi- or polyfunctional vinyl monomer along with a thermal or UV free radical initiator (optionally included in one or both of the oil or water phases) and an organic acid into an internal phase oil; heating or UV exposing for a time (and temperature) sufficient to oligomerize the amine modified polyfunctional polyvinyl monomer and oil soluble bi- or polyfunctional vinyl monomer forming a pre-polymer. Thereafter the process involves adding to the oil phase oil a water phase comprising a dispersion in water of an anionic emulsifier (and optionally initiator), and adding an emulsifying agent. Emulsifying the water phase into the oil phase (W/O) is controlled through the quantity of water employed. The emulsion is then UV exposed or heated for a time (and temperature) sufficient to decompose the free radical initiators in the oil and/or water phases; thereby forming microcapsule wall material at the interface of the water and oil phases.
US07803406B2

Methods of forming coatings comprising a polycationic peptide for medical devices are disclosed. Also disclosed is a coating comprising a polycationic peptide.
US07803389B2

The present invention relates to a mutant Toxoplasma gondii which exhibits enhanced homologous recombination. The mutant of the present invention is a knockout in the KU80-dependent nonhomologous end-joining pathway which finds application in generating T. gondii gene knockouts and gene replacements for use in vaccine and drug development.
US07803379B2

CASB7439 polypeptides and polynucleotides, immunogenic compositions comprising them and methods for producing such polypeptides by recombinant techniques are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for utilizing CASB7439 polypeptides and polynucleotides in diagnostics, and vaccines for prophylactic and therapeutic treatment of cancers, particularly colorectal cancers, autoimmune diseases, and related conditions.
US07803372B2

The present invention provides a composition comprising naked humanized, chimeric, and human anti-CEA antibodies and a therapeutic agent, which is useful for treatment of CEA expressing cancers and other diseases, and methods of use in treatment using this composition.
US07803369B2

Provided herein are methods and devices for inducing the formation of functional replacement nonarticular cartilage tissues and ligament tissues. These methods and devices involve the use of osteogenic proteins, and are useful in repairing defects in the larynx, trachea, interarticular menisci, intervertebral discs, ear, nose, ribs and other fibrocartilaginous tissues in a mammal.
US07803367B2

The invention relates to a composition for promoting angiogenesis, for controlling DNA synthesis of a cell, and for controlling chemotactic motility of a cell. The invention also relates to a method for treating ischemia diseases.
US07803366B2

Bioavailability of Coenzyme-Q 10 (“Co-Q10”), an oil-soluble substance, can be enhanced in a subject by modifying, e.g. nanonizing or charging, the form of Co-Q10. Co-Q10 bioavailability also can be enhanced by administering Co-Q10 to the subject as an oil (lipid)-based and water (hydro)-based mixed composition, along with other optional components, such as oils, resins and other carriers. Accordingly, the invention provides various Co-Q10 compositions, e.g. compositions comprised of (i) Co-Q10 dissolved in one or more Co-Q10-soluble oils and (ii) Co-Q10 in admixture with at least one water-dispersible agent. A Co-Q10 complex of the invention, therefore, yields an increased cell absorption rate, as well as an enhanced percentage of Co-Q10 peak absorption, compared to previously known compounds. Methods for making and using the aforementioned compositions also are provided.
US07803362B2

The invention relates to interferon-α molecules having certain O-linked oligosaccharide structures.
US07803359B1

UV absorbing compounds that are particularly useful in ophthalmic devices are disclosed.
US07803358B2

Siloxane resin compositions obtained by mixing a MQ siloxane resin with a propyl silsesquioxane resin are disclosed. These siloxane resins are useful in a variety of personal, household, automotive and medical care applications, and in particular, as a resin additive in pigmented cosmetic formulations.
US07803356B2

The present invention generally relates to compositions containing at least one silicone resin, and at least one volatile non-cyclic silicone oil.
US07803354B2

A method for depigmenting and/or lightening the skin and/or hair, including body hair, including applying a composition including at least one oxidation-sensitive hydrophilic active principle chosen from ascorbic acid and its derivatives and at least one maleic anhydride copolymer, comprising one or more maleic anhydride comonomers and one or more comonomers chosen from vinyl acetate, vinyl alcohol, vinylpyrrolidone, olefins comprising from 2 to 20 carbon atoms, and styrene, in a physiologically acceptable medium comprising an aqueous phase, to the skin and/or hair.
US07803352B2

A method for visualizing a blood clot or plaque disposed within a body lumen comprising: binding a contrasting complex comprising a contrast material and a thrombolytic material or a clot dissolving agent to the blood clot or plaque; and visualizing the blood clot or plaque over a period time by a visualizing system.
US07803346B2

A method for selectively obtaining carbon nanotubes having specific structures by selectively obtaining carbon nanotubes having structures different from the structures of the carbon nanotubes to be vanished by irradiating carbon nanotubes with a light beam of single wavelength so as to have carbon nanotubes in specific electron states in the excited states, and oxidizing and combusting the carbon nanotubes in the excited states by an oxygen or an oxidizing agent so as to vanish the same.
US07803336B2

A process for leaching a value metal from a titanium-bearing ore material comprising the step of leaching the ore material at atmospheric pressure with a lixiviant comprising a chloride and hydrochloric acid is disclosed. The leaching conditions are such that titanium is leached and remains in solution. The temperature is maintained at less that 85° C., and the concentration of hydrochloric acid is preferably less than 20% (mass ratio). The preferred chloride is magnesium chloride. The lixiviant may contain oxidant e.g. sodium chlorate or chlorine.
US07803329B2

A gasification plant and methods for producing ammonia, Fischer-Tropsch fuels, electrical power, and/or sulfur from carbon-bearing feedstocks including coal and/or petroleum coke. Methods for production of desired relative amounts of ammonia and Fischer-Tropsch liquid hydrocarbons by adjusting the amount of synthesis gas bypassing the Fischer-Tropsch reactor. The multi-product and integrated plants may be used to reduce the amount of CO2 vented into the atmosphere during the production of these products.
US07803323B2

A cleaning system and method for in-process sensors wherein a scouring jet discharges process fluid as the cleaning agent to remove solids and other contaminants from the surface of the sensor.
US07803321B2

A system and method for formulating a chemical solution using both volumetric and weight based measurements of components of the chemical solution is disclosed. The components of the chemical solution include water and at least one other component, which may take any form, such as, without limitation, liquid, solid, powder or gaseous form. Formulation of the chemical solution is administered by combining water with the one or more other components at an output port, from which this combination is dispensed to a solution storage tank. In response to a user's request to formulate a specified amount of the chemical solution, the volume of water provided to the output port is monitored by a flow meter and the weight of the other component(s) provided to the output port is monitored by one or more load cells. Based on such monitoring, appropriate amounts of water and the other component(s) are combined together to formulate the specified amount of the chemical solution in the solution storage tank.
US07803316B2

A device and method provide an aerosol germicide to a device having a lumen within a container. The container is divided into at least two compartments by an interface across which extends the lumen device, with one end of the lumen in one compartment and another end of the lumen in another compartment. A pressure differential can be used to flow the germicide through the lumen.
US07803314B1

Non-toxic shot having 40-60% tungsten, 20-60% tin and 0-10% iron. A process of formulating the material is disclosed in which 95% by weight of the particles of each component having mesh sizes less than 325 are blended with a flux having 99.9% by weight particles less than 100 mesh. The blended material is then compaction formed into shape at a pressure range of between 20 and 40 tons per square inch. Finally, the blended material is sintered at a temperature in the range of 350 and 425° F. bonding the powdered metals and driving off the flux.
US07803308B2

The present invention provides a method for separating a mold from solidified imprinting material that includes creating deformation in the template in which the mold is included. The deformation is sufficient to create a returning force that is greater than an adhesion forced between the solidified imprinting material and the mold. For example, the deformation may result from a pressure differential created between the mold and a side of the template disposed opposite to the mold. In this manner, the distortion may be undulations in the template of sufficient magnitude to contact a substrate upon which the solidified imprinting material is disposed.
US07803305B2

A co-injection process is provided for fabricating improved multi-layer containers, including but not limited to blood collection tubes, evacuated blood collection tubes, culture bottles, centrifuges tubes, and syringe barrels. The container includes a tube (10) having a bottom wall (12) and a side wall (14) with an open end (18). The container can be provided with a stopper having an upper portion (22) and a skirt with an outside portion (30), a well (34) and a cavity (36). The tube and stopper assembly can be used for medical purposes including containing a blood sample within an enclosed interior space (40).
US07803299B2

An extruded profiled element, based on a cross-linkable rubber composition, is delimited in width by two lateral faces which connect radially inner and outer faces to one another for the tread. A conducting element is provided in the profiled element to connect the inner face electrically to the outer face between the lateral faces and all along the length of the profiled element. The remainder of the profiled element is based on an electrically insulating material. When the profiled element is viewed in cross-section, the conducting element has a layered structure including electrically conducting layers which are essentially concentric and which have a curvature towards at least one of the inner and outer faces, with at least one of the layers emerging at the surface of the outer face.
US07803293B2

An optical film manufacturing method, including steps of: casting a dope in which a thermoplastic resin is dissolved in a solvent, on a support so as to form a web; peeling and conveying the web from the support; measuring a physical property of the conveyed web at plural positions along a lateral direction of the web and obtaining a deviation among plural measurement values of the physical property at the plural positions: and drying the web by adjusting drying conditions at the plural positions to differ in accordance with the deviation.
US07803292B2

An optical film producing method, comprises steps of: extruding a melted material including a melted cellulose ester resin from a casting die by using an extruding device; forming a film by pressing the extruded melted material between a first rotating member and a second rotating member; and winding up the formed film, wherein the following formulas are satisfied: 30° C.≦T1−T2≦60° C., 0° C.≦T2−T3≦20° C., Tg
US07803283B2

Provided are azeotropic and azeotrope-like compositions of 2-chloro-3,3,3-trifluoropropene (HCFO-1233xf) and 2-chloro-1,1,1,2-tetrafluoropropane (HCFC-244bb). Such azeotropic and azeotrope-like compositions are useful as intermediates in the production of 2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene (HFO-1234yf).
US07803279B2

A concentrator is used for concentrating a fluid, particularly a plasma component out of blood, for treatment of a patient. The concentrator apparatus includes a main housing defining a centrifuge chamber, that also holds the filter. The concentrator allows viewing of the fluid after centrifuging, with an outlet port positionable at a height corresponding to the level of the fraction of the fluid to be further concentrated. Once the fluid is centrifuged, a portion of the fluid is drawn through the outlet, and then pressured past the filter to further concentrate the fluid using the same vessel as used for centrifuging. The same plunger is preferably used to draw centrifuged fluid from the centrifuge chamber as to pressure the centrifuged fluid past the filter.
US07803277B2

A process for reducing the fluorosurfactant content of an aqueous fluoropolymer dispersion by filling a container with fluoropolymer dispersion, inserting into the container a fabric pouch containing a fluorosurfactant sorbent so that the sorbent contacts the fluorosurfactant-containing aqueous fluoropolymer dispersion in the container and retains the fluorosurfactant to reduce fluorosurfactant content of said fluorosurfactant-containing aqueous fluoropolymer dispersion, and removing the fabric pouch from the container.
US07803272B2

A first treatment tank (1) to a fourth treatment tank are installed prior to ultrapure water production apparatus (5), dilute wastewater recovering apparatus (34), general service water recovering apparatus and wastewater treatment apparatus. The treatment tanks (1, 2, . . . ) each have a micro-nano bubble generation tank (6, 23, . . . ) and an anaerobic measuring tank (7, 24, . . . ). Accordingly, microbes within the respective anaerobic measuring tanks (7, 24, . . . ) are activated by micro-nano bubbles generated in each micro-nano bubble generation tank (6, 23, . . . ) to thereby enhance the treatment efficiency of low-concentration organic matter. Further, when the value measured by dissolved oxygen meter (13, 30, . . . ) or oxidation-reduction potentiometer (14, 31, . . . ) of each anaerobic measuring tank (7, 24, . . . ) exceeds an individually determined given range, the rotational speed of a circulating pump (9, 26, . . . ) is controlled to thereby decrease the generation of micro-nano bubbles. Thus, the micro-nano bubble content in water undergoing treatment is held appropriate.
US07803271B2

The invention provides a method of extracting the hydrogen sulfide contained in a gas comprising aromatic hydrocarbons, wherein the following stages are carried out:a) contacting said gas with an absorbent solution so as to obtain a gas depleted in hydrogen sulfide and an absorbent solution laden with hydrogen sulfide,b) heating and expanding the hydrogen sulfide-laden absorbent solution to a predetermined temperature and pressure so as to release a gaseous fraction comprising aromatic hydrocarbons and to obtain an absorbent solution depleted in aromatic hydrocarbons, said temperature and pressure being so selected that said gaseous fraction comprises at least 50% of the aromatic hydrocarbons and at most 35% hydrogen sulfide contained in said hydrogen sulfide-laden absorbent solution,c) thermally regenerating the absorbent solution depleted in aromatic hydrocarbon compounds so as to release a hydrogen sulfide-rich gaseous effluent and to obtain a regenerated absorbent solution.
US07803265B2

A process is disclosed for converting distillate to gasoline-range hydrocarbons using a two-stage catalyst system including a first catalyst containing platinum, palladium, or platinum and palladium, and an acidic support, and a second catalyst containing iridium and an inorganic oxide support, and optionally nickel.
US07803263B2

In a through hole closing process, a metal plate is attached to one surface of a conductive base member having a plurality of through holes by the use of a magnet, in a copper plating process, a copper plating layer is formed on the conductive base member and the metal plate exposed within the through holes, from the side of the conductive base member where the metal plate is not attached, thereby to fill up the through holes, in a film forming process, a Pd alloy film is formed by plating on the surface of the conductive base member after removal of the metal plate, and in a removal process, the copper plating layer is removed by selective etching, thereby to produce a hydrogen production filter that is used in a reformer of a fuel cell so as to be capable of stably producing high purity hydrogen gas.
US07803259B2

The invention describes an electrochemical cell for the electrolysis of an aqueous solution of hydrogen chloride, comprising at least an anode half-cell with an anode, a cathode half-cell with a gas diffusion electrode as cathode and an ion exchange membrane arranged between the anode half-cell and the cathode half-cell, the membrane consisting of at least a perfluorosulfonic acid polymer, wherein the gas diffusion electrode and the ion exchange membrane are adjacent to each other, characterised in that the gas diffusion electrode and the ion exchange membrane, under a pressure of 250 g/cm2 and at a temperature of 60° C., have a contact area of at least 50%, with respect to the geometric area.
US07803258B2

A machine for localized cleaning, using pickling acid or a composition/mixture of chemical elements with the effect of pickling acid, applied by mechanical feed instruments (54, 55) to the surface to be treated (5), presenting: the acid kept in a limited quantity in the work position by a cell (1; 11); the volume of this cell (7; 17) is made to match with that of the acid used, i.e. by filling it completely with acid projected on the surface to be treated; the cell having a peripheral edge (6; 23) against the aforementioned surface; the pickling acid activated by an electrode (8; 18) that activates the acid's pickling action. A machine wherein near the cell is provided with an open collecting device for aspirating the returning air (A) and the fumes leaving the cell and the excess of pickling acid (G) that escape laterally from the cell; the open collecting device comprises a hood (12; 19) the bottom edge (20) of which surrounds the edge of the cell (1; 11); a separator (58; 59; 60; 61) is located between the cell and a fan (62) for aspirating the pickling acid and polluting fumes (G); the acid is separated from the air and fumes (F) in the aforementioned separator.
US07803252B2

The invention relates to a flexible and porous fabric structure comprising a support structure (1) and a coating material for use in a paper machine. The coating material (2) is arranged solely on the surface of the support structure (1) at a predefined location(s) so that the coating material (2) does not substantially alter the permeability properties of the support structure (1). The invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a fabric structure.
US07803250B2

Wiping products are disclosed containing an additive composition that enhances the cleaning properties of the product. The additive composition, for instance, comprises an aqueous dispersion containing an alpha-olefin polymer, an ethylene-carboxylic acid copolymer, or mixtures thereof. The alpha-olefin polymer may comprise an interpolymer of ethylene and octene, while the ethylene-carboxylic acid copolymer may comprise ethylene-acrylic acid copolymer. The additive composition may also contain a dispersing agent, such as a fatty acid.
US07803235B2

A method to passivate a metal or metal oxide or metal suboxide powder, especially a valve metal powder such as tantalum or niobium and the passivated powders formed therefrom are described. The method includes passivating a starting powder with a gas having at least 25 wt. % oxygen present. Passivation is preferably achieved without performing any evacuation steps. Capacitors made from the passivated powders are also described.
US07803228B2

By using oxygen-containing silicon wafers obtained by the CZ method and by combining the first heat treatment comprising controlled heat-up operation (ramping) with the second heat treatment comprising high-temperature heat treatment and medium temperature heat treatment in accordance with the process for producing high-resistance silicon wafers according to the present invention, it is possible to obtain high-resistance silicon wafers capable of maintaining their high resistance even after heat treatment in the process of device manufacture while efficiently inhibiting the formation of oxygen donors and preventing changes in resistivity. Further, excellent epitaxial wafers and SOI wafers can be produced using those high-resistance silicon wafers and, therefore, they can be applied in a wide field including high-frequency communication devices and analog/digital hybrid devices, among others.
US07803223B2

Metal alloys having low electrical and thermal conductivity including relatively large fractions of P-Group element additions. The P-Group elements may be selected from the group including phosphorous, carbon, boron, and silicon. The resultant alloys do not exhibit significantly increased brittleness, and are applied as a coating that provides a metallic thermal barrier coating.
US07803216B2

A compact pressurized high-temperature gas cooler having superior heat exchange performance and excellent economical efficiency is provided. A return-flow structure is formed in which a flue through which high-temperature gas flows is formed in a pressure container, a heat exchanger is disposed in the flue, and a partition dividing the internal cross-sectional area of the flue is provided so that the high-temperature gas supplied from a bottom or a top portion of the pressure container flows back in a return direction. The cross-sectional-area division ratio dividing the internal cross-section of the flue is set so that the flow rate of the high-temperature gas flowing in one direction matches that flowing in the direction opposite thereto.
US07803215B2

The invention relates to a process for removing heavy hydrocarbons and hydrogen sulfide from natural gas. The combination of a silica-gel and an activated carbon adsorber allow for a significant reduction in the overall bed volume required for removal of hydrocarbons.
US07803209B2

Provided is an Sb—Te alloy sintered compact sputtering target having at least Sb or Te as its primary component, wherein surface roughness Ra is 0.4 μm or less, purity excluding gas components is 4N or more, content of gas components as impurities is 1500 ppm or less, and average crystal grain size is 50 μm or less. With this Sb—Te alloy sintered compact sputtering target, the density of defects having a maximum length of 10 μm or greater arising in a surface finish by machining is 80 or less in an 800 μm square. Thus, the Sb—Te alloy sputtering target structure can be uniformalized and refined, generation of cracks in the sintered target can be inhibited, and generation of arcing during sputtering can be inhibited. Further, surface ruggedness caused by sputter erosion can be reduced in order to obtain a high quality Sb—Te alloy sputtering target.
US07803205B2

A multi-cyclone dust separating apparatus includes a cyclone unit and a separable filter assembly adapted to be disposed at least partially in a discharge path of the cyclone unit. The cyclone unit includes a main cyclone, a secondary cyclone adapted to be disposed at substantially a same plane as the main cyclone, and a dust collecting casing adapted to substantially surround the main cyclone and the secondary cyclone. The dust collecting casing includes a dust chamber to collect dust separated at the main cyclone and the secondary cyclone.
US07803200B2

The present invention provides a fuel additive composition, and more particularly, to the fuel additive composition comprising hydrogen peroxide, silicate, borax, sodium hydroxide or potassium hydroxide, and water.When the fuel additive composition of the present invention is added to fuels such as coal, oil, gas and etc., it stimulates fuel combustion, induces the complete combustion of fuel, and increases the heat transfer by preventing clinker formation and fouling in combustion apparatus. In particular, when the fuel additive composition is added to the coal, it increases a pulverizing efficiency in pre-treatment process, thereby facilitating supply of the coal to combustion apparatus advantageously.
US07803198B2

Provided is a hair dye comprising 0.1 to 3.0% by weight of at least one of aqueous acid dyes and a resin comprising a terpolymer constituted from a vinyl cyclic amide, an acrylic acid derivative and a quaternary derivative of acrylic acid, wherein a content of the resin is 0.1 to 2.5% by weight in terms of a solid content; and the hair dye further comprises 1.0 to 20% by weight of a hair dyeing auxiliary agent, 20 to 60% by weight of a lower alcohol and 20 to 60% by weight of water and has a pH of 2 to 4.
US07803197B2

Disclosed are thiol dyes of formula (1) wherein L1 is hydrogen; C1-C12alkyl; or phenyl-C1-C4alkyl; X is C1-C12alkylene, C2-C12alkenylene, C5-C10cycloalkylene, C5-C10arylene, or C5-C10arylene-C1-C10alkylene, which may by interrupted by —O—, —NH—, —S—, —CO—, o-SO2—; Y is the residue of an organic dye Z is a group of formula (1b) or —C≡N; wherein A is O; S; or N-L2; B is L3; —OL3; —NL3L4; or —SL3; and L2, L3 and L4, independently from other are hydrogen; C1-C12alkyl; C5-C12aryl-C1-C12alkyl. The compounds are useful for the dyeing of organic materials, such as keratin fibers, preferably human hair.
US07803196B2

A method for modifying fibers is provided, which method comprises suspending and dispersing in water under shear force a cellulose ether having such a low degree of substitution that a molar degree of substitution with an alkyl group and/or a hydroxyalkyl group ranges from 0.05 to 1.3, applying the resulting dispersion and a crosslinking agent or an aqueous resin emulsion to fibers, and thermally treating the applied fibers.
US07803192B2

An artificial intervertebral disc and method of attaching the disc to vertebral bodies includes a plurality of separate structural members arranged in a stacked configuration, wherein each structural member comprises a female cavity having a unique size compared with the female cavities of the other structural members, wherein a top and middle structural member comprise male bodies defined by outer edges of the respective female cavities of the top and middle structural members, wherein the male body of the top structural member is dimensioned and configured to sit in the female body of the middle structural member, wherein the male body of the middle structural member is dimensioned and configured to sit in the female body of a bottom structural member, and wherein each of the top and bottom structural member comprise at least one projecting member outwardly extending therefrom.
US07803178B2

The present invention provides inflatable porous implants, such as grafts, stent-grafts, and bladders, as well as methods and kits for drug delivery. In particular, the grafts and stent-grafts of the present invention provide for the delivery of a therapeutic agent into a flow conduit in the body. The inflatable porous implants provide for direct delivery of larger, more precise dosages of drugs over longer administration periods into the body. Moreover, these inflatable porous implants are often flexible when inserted and have a low profile delivery configuration for easy placement. The implants of the present invention further provide a mechanical or structural function in addition to drug delivery in a single integrated structure.
US07803169B2

A blood occlusion auger having an in vivo distal auger tool coupled in operative association with an ex vivo auger control for opening and traversing occlusions in a blood vessel The auger control allows the selection of predetermined threshold forces and step-lengths values and operates in successive repetition of identical sequential stages, to traverse occlusions. Once disposed adjacent an occlusion, the auger tool, commanded by the auger control, operates in two states, first to radially dilate the vessel and second to penetrate distally into a furrow.
US07803160B2

A surgical instrument for grinding the cotyloid cavity includes an instrument head and a drive shaft. In order to offer easier access during a minimally invasive operation, the drive shaft, which can include an optionally provided shank, is located at an angle with respect to the rotation axis of the instrument head. In order to facilitate the alignment of the instrument head and the exertion of the advancing force, a handle can be provided that is located in the direction of the rotational axis of the instrument head but is connected to the instrument head or to the shank at a location outside of the rotational axis.
US07803133B2

An apparatus for selecting a flow rate of a fluid includes an axle including an elongated cylindrical member having flow paths, each flow path being defined by a corresponding set of radial holes, each set of radial holes comprising at least one radial hole that extends substantially between an outer surface of the axle and an interior cavity of the axle, and a barrel including an elongated cylindrical member within which the axle is disposed, the barrel having input ports and an output port, the barrel being configured to enable the axle to rotate about an axis of rotation that extends along a length of the axle, wherein a flow rate of a fluid is selected by rotating the axle to a position so that a set of radial holes is in alignment with one or more ports of the barrel.
US07803132B2

A syringe includes a hollow barrel, a hollow plunger movable within the barrel and a needle assembly secured within and at a distal end of the barrel. The needle assembly includes a needle holder, a resilient member that biases the needle holder toward the proximal end opening of the barrel, and a retaining member releasably secured to the needle holder via a reduced material section. The retaining member maintains the needle holder at the distal end of the barrel against the bias of the resilient member. When the plunger is fully depressed within the barrel, the plunger engages the needle holder such that the retaining member is forced to break away and separate from the needle holder along the reduced material section to facilitate retraction of the needle holder and a needle secured to the needle holder into the retraction cavity disposed within the plunger.
US07803126B2

A massage apparatus comprising a main body operatively engaged to one or more massage actuators with one of the massage actuators being engaged to a malleable wire capable of being bent to any orientation and retain that bent orientation relative to the main body is disclosed. A removable battery compartment having a control panel is adapted to be operatively engaged to the main body for controlling the operation of the one or more massage actuators when the removable battery compartment is operatively engaged to the main body of the massage apparatus.
US07803125B2

A pelvic support unit is coupled to a base by a powered vertical force actuator mechanism. A torso support unit, which is affixed to the patient independently of the pelvic support unit, is connected to the base by one or more powered articulations which are actuable around respective axes of motion. Sensors sense the linear and angular displacement of the pelvic support unit and the torso support unit. A control unit is coupled to these sensors and, responsive to signals from them, selectively control the displacement actuator and articulation(s).
US07803124B2

An apparatus for modulating the pressure of a fluid such as a gas within the expandable portion of a guide wire catheter. A preferred embodiment apparatus features a mechanism for controllably gripping and releasing the open, proximal end of a tubular guide wire, a mechanism for introducing a fluid to a desired pressure and volume into the expandable portion of the tubular guide wire through the open end, and, while maintaining the pressure and volume of fluid in the tubular guide wire, a mechanism for introducing a sealing member into the chamfered, open end of the tubular guide wire to consistently seal the fluid in the tubular guide wire. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the apparatus also features a deflation tool for piercing the seal and letting the fluid out. Using this apparatus, the tubular guide wire can be re-sealed and re-opened as necessary.
US07803123B2

A device for sampling body fluid, the device comprising, a main body, a lancet disposed within the main body, a carrier disposed within the main body fixedly attached to the lancet, a biasing means in communication with the lancet and the carrier, an annular space disposed within the main body adjacent the lancet, and a means for measuring a body fluid. Wherein the means for measuring the body fluid may include micro-porous test strips, an electronic testing device, an optical/reflectance testing measuring device, or a visual inspection.
US07803120B2

The invention features a monitoring device that measures a patient's vital signs (e.g.). The device features a first sensor configured to attach to a first portion of the patient's body that includes: i)a first electrode configured to generate a first electrical signal fron the first portion of the patient's body; ii)a first light-emitting component; and iii)a first photodetector configured to receive radiation from the first portion of the patient's body after the radiation is emitted by the first light-emiting component and in response generate a first optical waveform. The device also features a second sensor that includes essentially the same components. An amplifier system, in electrical contact with the first and second electrodes, receives first and second electrical signal from the two sensors to generate an electrical waveform. A processor, in electrical contact with the amplifier system, receives the electrical waveform, the first optical waveform, and the second optical waveform. The processor runs computer code that processes the input waveforms with an algorithm to determine at least one of the patient's vital signs.
US07803119B2

A method for diagnosis includes receiving a signal associated with respiration of a patient during sleep, and processing the signal to detect occurrences of a pattern corresponding to multiple cycles of periodic breathing. A cumulative duration of the occurrences is computed, and a prognosis of the patient is determined based on the cumulative duration.
US07803117B2

The invention relates to a method, device, and computer program product for monitoring the physiological state of a person. In the method, the heartbeat of the person is detected in order to obtain a pulse signal, and at least one parameter depicting the respiration of the person is determined in the time domain with the aid of time stamps made of the basis of the pulse signal. With the aid of the method, it is possible to calculate an estimate of the person's energy consumption during exercise, without complicated calculations or preliminary data based on measurements.
US07803116B2

An ultrasound based technique for detecting and imaging vibrations in tissue caused by eddies produced during bleeding through punctured arteries or from organs. A clutter signal, normally suppressed in conventional color flow imaging, is employed to detect and characterize local tissue vibrations, to detect internal bleeding in an image, or as an audible or palpable signal, or a readout. Using a tissue vibration image, the origin and extent of vibrations relative to the underlying anatomy and blood flow can be visualized in real time, enabling measurements of vibration amplitude, frequency, and spatial distribution. Bleeding rate can be determined from the frequency and amplitude of the vibrations. Signal processing algorithms usable to identify tissue vibrations from an ensemble of 2D ultrasound data include those based on phase decomposition, spectral estimation using eigendecomposition, and spectral estimation using autoregressive modeling for isolating vibrations from clutter, blood flow, and noise.
US07803113B2

Rotations at multiple longitudinal levels (e.g., rotations from different short axis views) are determined. Three-dimensional representations are generated as a function of the rotations, such as distorting the representation to show rotation and/or modulating the display values as a function of the rotations. Twist and/or torsion of the heart may be calculated from the rotations.
US07803110B2

A veterinary otoscope permitting examination of an ear is defined by an instrument head including a proximal end and a distal insertion portion that is insertable into the ear. The veterinary otoscope includes an imaging lens train disposed within the instrument head, wherein each of the imagine lens train, an eyepiece and a distal opening of said insertion portion are aligned along an optical axis. The veterinary otoscope further includes a focusing mechanism for selectively moving at least one of the imagine lens train and the optics contained within the eyepiece relative to one another along the optical axis. The imagine lens train and the optics in the eyepiece define an optical system such that an entrance pipil is substantially located in the distal insertion portion of the instrument head, thereby enabling the entire tympanic membrane to be viewed at once by the user.
US07803109B2

An apparatus which is self-contained, disposable, utilized for protecting the distal lens of endoscopes. The apparatus is sterile and is used as a holder or as an anti-fog solution applicator for the scope while protecting it from impact with a shock absorbent outer housing. A new method for protecting endoscopes by placing an inexpensive sterile protective cover over the distal lens of the endoscope which entails, placing the protector over the distal lens prior to medical procedure, protective cover is used intermittently and repeatedly during the medical procedure when the scope is not in use. Finally, at the end of the medical procedure the protective cover is placed over the distal lens and not removed until the scope reaches the area where it will be cleaned and sterilized. By protecting the scope prior to, during and after a medical procedure, endoscope repairs are reduced thereby saving hospitals money.
US07803098B2

A handlebar assembly and related methods for utilizing the handlebar assembly with a push apparatus. The handlebar assembly includes handlebars pivotally mounted to a support frame, which in turn is coupled to the push apparatus. The handlebar assembly can be utilized with a variety of different push apparatus including either user propelled or self-propelled push lawnmowers. The handlebar assembly can incorporate additional user control features such as a hand operated throttle control or brake assembly. Through the use of the handle bar assembly, the push apparatus can be propelled or otherwise directed in a continuous motion such that stopping and pivoting movements are not required to change the operating direction of the push apparatus. The handlebar assembly allows for an increase in exercise intensity while simultaneously providing improved turning control to the push apparatus.
US07803094B1

The invention relates to a seating device having exercise functionality. In particular, the invention relates to a seating device that can be used as furniture as well as an exercising device. The invention further relates to a seating device having stretchable cords threaded through its framework. Furthermore, the invention relates to a seating device that has brackets attached to its framework to facilitate the movement of the stretchable cords when the seating device is being used for exercise purposes.
US07803091B2

A ski exercising apparatus has a set of at least two parallel, partially arcuate rails joined to an underlying frame structure at opposite ends, the rails providing a track rising from each end, a wheeled carriage riding on the track, such that the carriage, in side-to-side movement rises to a maximum height at the center of the track, and descends from the center to each side, at least one articulated footpad mounted to the wheeled carriage, and at least one power band providing constraint for the wheeled carriage as it rides on the track. A variety of improvements in such an exercising apparatus are taught and claimed.
US07803087B2

The embodiments described herein include a control system and method for a vehicle. In one embodiment, the control system is able to determine the occurrence of NVH anomalies due to gear lash and control the operation of various vehicle devices to reduce the effects of gear lash. If such NVH anomalies are foreseen, a predetermined torque is applied to the vehicle wheels for a predetermined time period. Subsequently, the applied torque is gradually increased until a creep torque is reached.
US07803086B2

A control apparatus for a vehicular drive system including (a) a differential portion having a differential mechanism operable to distribute an output of an engine to a first electric motor and a power transmitting member, a second electric motor disposed in a power transmitting path between the power transmitting member and a vehicle drive wheel, and a switching clutch and a switching brake provided in the differential mechanism and operable to limit a differential function of the differential portion, and (b) a step-variable automatic transmission portion constituting a part of the power transmitting path and operable to perform a clutch-to-clutch shifting action by a releasing action of a coupling device and an engaging action of another coupling device, the control apparatus including a step-variable shifting control configured to change an amount of racing of an input speed of the automatic transmission portion during the clutch-to-clutch shifting action, depending upon whether the differential function of the differential portion is limited by the switching clutch and brake.
US07803081B2

In system and method of controlling an automatic transmission that includes a lowest gear-stage friction element and has a lowest gear stage having a largest gear ratio and a gear stage other than the lowest gear stage, the lowest gear stage being established through engagement of the lowest gear-stage friction element, the gear stage other than the lowest gear stage being established while the lowest gear-stage friction element is kept in disengagement, a temperature of working oil in the automatic transmission is sensed, and use of the lowest gear stage is inhibited and use of the gear stage other than the lowest gear stage is allowed when the sensed temperature of the working oil is lower than a first predetermined temperature as a predetermined extremely low temperature at which an engagement failure of the lowest gear-stage friction element is caused.
US07803080B2

An improved link for a chain for use with a sprocket, the link comprising a body having a pair of apertures for receiving connecting pins and a pair of teeth having outside flanks, and inside flanks between the teeth defining a crotch. The improvement includes an effective outer flank angle between a line tangent to the outer flank of the link at 1.5 P and a vertical line intersecting the tangent line of less than or equal to 29 degrees, an effective inner flank angle between a line tangent to the inner flank of the link at 0.5 P and a vertical line intersecting the tangent line of less than or equal to 29 degrees, and a plurality ratios. The links may be assembled into a chain and connected by a plurality of pins.
US07803075B2

A vehicle transmission includes a crankshaft extending through a seal cover and into an oil-storing end portion of a driven shaft. The oil-storing end portion of the driven shaft defines a lubricating space filled with lubricating oil, and extends into the seal cover. A unidirectional clutch is disposed in the lubricating space and outwardly of the seal cover.
US07803069B2

A golf ball includes an inner core having an outer surface and a geometric center and being formed from a first substantially homogenous composition such that the inner core has a hardness of 45 Shore C to 65 Shore C. An intermediate layer is disposed about the inner core and has an outer surface and an inner surface and is formed from a thermoplastic composition comprising an ionomer whose acid groups are 100% neutralized such that the intermediate layer has a hardness of 20 Shore D to 80 Shore D. A cover layer is disposed about the outer core layer. The inner core outer surface hardness is lower than the hardness of the geometric center to define a negative hardness gradient, and the hardness of the outer surface of the intermediate layer is the same as the hardness of the inner surface to define a zero hardness gradient.
US07803055B2

A wall mounted video game has a cabinet. A relatively thin monitor is received in the upper portion of the cabinet. The lower portion of the cabinet is deeper than the upper portion. Manual controls are set in the lower portion. The cabinet has a back hingedly connected to the body of the cabinet. The back of the cabinet is mounted on the wall and the cabinet is locked in a closed position mounted on the wall. Circuitry for the video game is connected to the back of the cabinet and is in the interior of the cabinet, connected by an electrical harness to the controls and the monitor.
US07803036B2

A contour follower includes a plurality of sensors spaced around a waterjet nozzle, each of the sensors being configured to measure a distance between a working surface and a first plane, perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the nozzle. The sensors may include hall-effect sensors lying in the first plane and magnets lying in a second plane, parallel to the working surface. A detecting circuit processes signals from the sensors to determine an angle of the working surface, relative to the first plane, and a distance between an aperture of the nozzle and the working surface. A collision detection sensor provides a signal in the event the device approaches to within a selected distance of an obstruction in the plane of the working surface. A shield plate blocks and dampens secondary spray-back of cutting fluid occurring at low angles above the working surface.
US07803028B2

A strap with tapered-apertures for open-heeled swim fins is stretched from a first end connection to a conventional boss-button and boss-post structure, whereby the strap will apply a desired level of force as a holding-pressure against the heel of a swimmer. The strap's tapered-apertures are cast to link the tapered dimensions of aperture walls to an easy passage of the strap over the boss button and to a highly resistant passage of the strap-top to a designed seat against the top's raised arches. The manufactured formation of the unique aperture shapes result in an unexpected elasticity of the strap. The combination of aperture structure within the raised arches guide the orifice walls of the aperture into compression, instead of tension, greatly resisting forces to release the strap from the boss-posts and buttons.
US07803026B2

A marine engine exhaust system is provided. One exemplary embodiment of the system includes first and second manifolds. A first gas is transferred through a first conduit from the first manifold and is isolated from cooling water through at least a portion of the first conduit. A second conduit is in fluid communication with the second manifold and allows a second gas to be transferred through that is isolated from cooling water through a portion of its length. The first and second conduits are in fluid communication with a third conduit in which the first and second gases merge. Cooling water is merged with either the first or second gas, or both, in the first and second conduits before the first gas and second gas merge in the third conduit.
US07803023B2

A connector for an automobile with high current capability includes a circular terminal and a connector housing. The circular terminal is configured with a cylinder and has a slot formed in an outer periphery of the cylinder at one end and at least one projection formed on the outer periphery at the other end. The connector housing has a cylindrical space for receiving the circular terminal. The cylindrical space has an anti-separation protrusion formed on an inner periphery thereof and coupled with the slot of the circular terminal to prevent separation of the circular terminal. Also, the cylindrical space has at least one anti-rotation groove formed in the inner periphery thereof and engaged with the at least one projection of the circular terminal so as to prevent rotation of the circular terminal. This connector may keep the coupling between the circular terminal and the connector housing in a stable state.
US07803021B1

An implantable control module of an electrical stimulation system includes a housing, an electronic subassembly disposed in the housing, and a plurality of conductors. The housing defines a connector receptacle configured and arranged to receive a proximal end of a lead. The housing further defines, within the connector receptacle region, a plurality of spaced-apart leaf spring connective contacts. Each leaf spring connective contact is corrugated and wrapped around at least a portion of an inner surface of the connector receptacle. Each conductor couples the electronic subassembly with at least one of the leaf spring connective contacts.
US07803017B2

A cable connection with at least one cable as a wire conducted signal interconnection between two cables module circuits connected to respective ends of the cable connection. Conductors of the cable may be directly and permanent electrical connected at each end to the respective contacts at the respective cable module circuit. The cable module circuits may be arranged for sending and/or receiving of a wire-conducted signal transmitted via the cable connection. During fabrication of the integrated cable module the cable module circuits can be matched to the respective cable impedance with high accuracy. Further, by connecting the cable permanent and directly to transceiver circuits at each end of the cable, the connection may be protected from different kinds of disturbances, enabling high simultaneous bidirectional bit rates using such interconnections between electronic units or modules.
US07803015B2

A relay socket may include an opening for insertion of a relay into the opening, and a plurality of integral locking members for attaching and locking the relay socket to at least one of a structure surface and a relay without the use of attachment hardware.
US07803002B2

The present invention is available in hub technique field and provides a hub, which comprises a circuit board, a plug coupled to the circuit board, an upper cover and a bottom cover. The upper cover and the bottom cover cooperatively package the circuit board therein. The circuit board comprises at least one board socket facing toward the upper cover. The upper cover defines a first insertion opening disposed to be aligned with the board socket. The hub further comprises a rotating cover. The rotating cover is interposed between the upper cover and the circuit board and is coupled to and rotatable about the upper cover. The rotating cover defines a second insertion opening disposed to be aligned with the board socket. The rotating cover covers the board socket when the rotating cover is positioned at a first position. The first and the second insertion openings are in communication with each other to expose the board socket when the rotating cover is positioned at a second position. The present invention uses the rotating cover to cover the board socket when the hub is not in use, thereby preventing the hub from external corrosion. When use, the first and the second insertion openings become in communication with each other by rotating the rotating cover, thereby exposing the board socket to allow insertion of peripheral equipments. The entire process which it is easy and convenient to be operated.
US07803001B2

A ground connector including a frame and a U-bolt. The frame has a first conductor contact surface and a second conductor contact surface. The first and second conductor contact surfaces are angled relative to each other. The U-bolt has ends configured to extend through portions of the frame. The U-bolt and the frame are configured to directly contact and clamp a member therebetween.
US07802995B2

A rotatable connector includes a first rotating member, a second rotating member rotatable relative to the first rotating member, at least one conductive connecting member sandwiched between the first rotating member and the second rotating member, and a shaft. The first rotating member includes a first rotating body and a first flexible printed circuit board fixed to the first rotating body. The first rotating body includes at least one conductive portion electrically connected to the first flexible printed circuit board. The second rotating member includes a second rotating body and a second flexible printed circuit board fixed to the second rotating body. The second rotating body includes at least one conductive protrusion. The at least one conductive connecting member electrically connects the least one conductive protrusion to the at least one conductive portion. The shaft extends through the first rotating body, the second rotating body and the second flexible printed circuit board.
US07802983B2

An injection molding apparatus includes a manifold having a melt channel for receiving a melt stream of moldable material from a source. A nozzle having a nozzle channel is coupled to the manifold for receiving the melt stream from the manifold melt channel. The nozzle includes a heater. A mold cavity is in communication with the nozzle channel, the mold cavity for receiving the melt stream from the nozzle channel through a mold gate. A temperature sensor is disposed at the manifold for use in adjusting the heater of the nozzle or for use in adjusting a heater of an inlet body.
US07802981B2

A device for extracting the mold core and a mold assembly using the same are disclosed. The extracting device comprises a first gear, a plurality of first racks and a plurality of transmission assemblies, wherein the transmission assemblies and the corresponding first racks are spaced apart along the periphery of the first gear such that each transmission assembly is located between the first gear and first racks. The rotating motion of the first gear is transformed into a reciprocating motion of each of the first racks from a first position to a second position.
US07802980B2

According to embodiments of the present invention, there is provided a system, a method and an apparatus for configuring an end of arm tool within a molding environment. The end of arm tool comprises a base structure attachable, in use, to an actuator of the molding system, the base structure comprising a mounting structure interface; a mounting structure configured to be releasably accepted, in use, within the mounting structure interface; the mounting structure for receiving, in use, a part receptacle; the base structure comprising a service connecting interface configured to connect, in use, a service to the part receptacle via the mounting structure.
US07802977B2

An apparatus for melt spinning and winding up synthetic yarns comprising a spinning appliance, a treating appliance and a windup machine. The treating appliance comprises a runoff godet for guiding the yarns before entry and distribution of the yarns into a plurality of winding stations in the windup machine, the runoff godet being arranged above the windup machine and guiding the yarns in a parallel side by side arrangement on its circumference. The runoff godet is arranged transversely to a winding spindle and above the windup machine, the windup machine comprising a plurality of head yarn guides which are disposed upstream of the winding stations and are arranged in a vertically oriented runup plane. To ensure a very low-friction guidance for the yarns, the invention provides that the head yarn guides of the winding stations are disposed downstream of the runoff godet immediately in the yarn path and such that on deflection of the yarns into the runup plane an angle of deflection of not more than 15° is not exceeded.
US07802976B2

The mold for molding a tire has the contact part 42 that contacts with the end surface in the circumferential direction of the adjacent pieces and the non-contact part 44 that does not contact with the end surface in the circumferential direction of the adjacent pieces at the end surface 40 in the circumferential direction of the piece 30 in the segments right after the mold of the cycle of the tire molding process in which the opening and closure of the mold are repeated is closed, and the non-contact part 44 is present in the inner side of the tire radial direction, the contact part 42 is present outside of the tire radial direction than the non-contact part, and right before the mold in the cycle of the tire molding process is opened, the end surface 40 in the circumferential direction of the piece 30 in the segments contacts with the end surface 40 in the circumferential direction of the adjacent pieces in the non-contact part 44.
US07802974B2

A compressor includes a male rotor (26) having a screw-type boy portion (30) extending from a first end (31) to a second end (32) and held within a housing assembly for rotation about a first rotor axis (500). A female rotor (27, 28) has a screw-type female body portion (33, 34) meshed with the male body portion and extending from a first end (35, 36) to a second end (37, 38) and held within the housing assembly for rotation about a second rotor axis (501, 502). An end seal (120) has a first surface (126) engaging the female body portion first end and being asymmetric around the second axis.
US07802973B2

A vane pump can effectively utilize the total quantity of a working fluid delivered from a vane section. The pump can be used for fluid pressure operated equipment requiring a high flow rate, does not create torque loss due to a throttle valve, and can prevent the occurrence of cavitation caused by a shortage of suction. The vane pump pressurizes and delivers a working fluid through a vane section. A returning working fluid flowing through a return port is throttled and accelerated by a throttle valve, and a working fluid sent from a suction port is attracted by the accelerated returning working fluid so that the returning working fluid and the working fluid sent from a tank are sent into the vane section.
US07802962B2

A bearing support structure is provided for installation in a gas turbine engine between radially inner first and second bearings adapted to rotatably support a first and a second rotor, respectively, and a radially outer engine frame. The support structure includes a first annular plate-shaped part and an arrangement for supporting the first bearing at one end thereof and a second annular plate-shaped part and an arrangement for supporting the second bearing at one end thereof. The first and second plate-shaped parts are joined together forming a one-piece unit for installation in the gas turbine engine.
US07802959B2

A compact palletizer combines a plate apron and an apron conveyor as a layer build area positionable both vertically and horizontally to implement receipt and organization of items as layers and to stack item layers on a pallet. A puller bar serves to pull item rows into layers in a layer building operation and to act as a backstop in delivering an item layer onto a stack of items. An apron serves to also deliver empty pallets to a stack build area.
US07802958B2

The invention relates to versatile cargo trailer decks, and to methods for moving cargo onto such cargo trailer decks. In embodiment, a cargo trailer deck may have first and second moving apparatus attached to a deck member. The first moving apparatus may be adapted to move cargo between the back end of the deck member and the front end of the deck member, while the second moving apparatus may be adapted to rotate cargo from one orientation on the deck member to a second orientation on the deck member. The deck member may be adapted to move in backward, forward, left, right, vertical, and tilt directions, in order to align the deck member for loading and/or unloading cargo.
US07802951B2

An adhesive insert includes a first end and a second end, and comprises a threaded portion at the first end, the threaded portion having a circular cross-section. A securing portion is provided at the second end, the securing portion including an anti-rotation structure formed therein which resists rotation of the insert under cyclic loading by the building element. The anti-rotation structure may be a triobular cross-section formed in the securing portion. Other anti-rotation structures are provided.
US07802950B2

A tool clamping insert has a tool holder for receiving a tool shank. The tool holder hole is nominally smaller than the tool shank to be therein but upon heating of the insert expands to a size permitting insertion of the tool shank and, upon cooling, shrink fitting therein. The insert has an external clamping surface and is positioned in a clamping unit. The clamping surface and the tool holder hole are each configured with diameters, external and internal respectively, that change along the progression of their axial lengths.
US07802944B2

A tool for chip removing machining, including a basic body having a connecting surface included in an insert seat, and an indexable cutting insert mounted in the basic body and having a connecting surface in mechanical engagement with the connecting surface of the basic body, and fixed by a tightening element. The connecting surface of the basic body includes a solitary, polygonal elevation that protrudes from a bottom surrounding the elevation from all sides. The elevation includes two external side support surfaces orientated at an angle to each other. The connecting surface of the cutting insert includes a solitary depression that is wider and deeper than the elevation. The depression is surrounded by a frame in which there are included at least three banks running at an angle to each other and including internal shoulder surfaces, two of which are pressed against the two side support surfaces of the elevation, and lower base surfaces, which are situated in a common plane, three of which rest against the bottom. In addition, the invention relates to a basic body and a cutting insert as such.
US07802938B2

A binder for holding documents is disclosed. The binder has a spine with a pair of cover flaps attached to each side of the spine. Attached to the spine is a latching device, also referred to as a locking device, that includes a first retaining member, a latching member, and a second retaining member. The first and second retaining members are parallel to each other and extend perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the spine. The binder is configured to hold a plurality of document modules, each of which hold a set of documents, which are flexible sheets of material, such as paper or plastic. Each module has first and second ends. The first end is contoured to mate with a portion of an external profile of the first retaining member. The second end attaches to the second retaining member. The latching member moves between a latched position where it engages the first end of the module and an unlatched position where it is not engaged to the first end of said module.
US07802934B2

An image generating apparatus includes a rotatable roller for carrying a paper, provided movably in an axial direction, a roller gear fixedly mounted on the roller, a drive gear meshing with the roller gear and driven by a driving source, and a position adjustment member regulating an axial position of the roller gear so as to hold the roller gear from axial both sides while capable of moving the roller gear to a separate position for separating the roller gear and the drive gear from each other in a state of applying no pressing force to the roller gear and to a mesh position for meshing the roller gear and the drive gear with each other in carrying the paper.
US07802926B2

The present invention provides an optical fiber connection device comprising a part (103) of a screw-threadless multi-part (101, 103) optical fiber cable connector (100), the multi-parts (101, 103) of the connector (100) being inter-connectable, the part (103) comprising a body (102), the body (102) comprising: an optical fiber cable connection end (105) for connection with an optical fiber cable (106); a part connection end (104) for connection with another part (101) of the multi-part optical fiber cable connector (100); and one or more formations (113) adapted to co-operate with a retainer (213, 313) in a mounting (200, 300) for the connector (100), the mounting (200, 300) used to retain the optical fiber cable (106) and the connector (100) when the optical fiber cable (106) is connected to the optical fiber cable connection end (105) of the body (102), the formations (113) adapted to co-operate with the mounting retainer (213, 313) to resist rotational and/or axial movement of the connector (100) when the connector (100) is assembled with an optical fiber cable (106) and the other parts (103, 101) of the connector (100) and mounted in the mounting (200, 300).
US07802924B2

Consistent with the present disclosure, a ferrule is provided that includes first and second channels, for example. Multiple fibers of a ribbon cable, for example, are divided into groups and fed into corresponding channels of the ferrule. Since multiple channels are provided, however, each channel can be made relatively narrow. Thus, by providing smaller channel widths, the fibers in those channels experience less thermal stress. Moreover, the channels are spaced from one another so that the lateral spacing between adjacent fibers in the ribbon cable is maintained in the ferrule. As a result, the fibers are not bent laterally, and thus may experience little bending stress.
US07802910B2

The invention provides a light guide exposure device comprising light emitting diodes arranged in a single array defining an array width and a flexible light guide having a proximal end and a distal end; the proximal end defining a proximal end diameter. The array is positioned in substantial alignment with the light guide proximal end to direct substantially all of the light from the array to the proximal end. There is no optical element between the light emitting diodes and the proximal end which optical element would decrease the intensity of light directed from the light emitting diodes to the proximal end. The array width is substantially equal to the proximal end diameter.
US07802908B2

A light guide module and a display device with the light guide module are disclosed. The light guide module includes a rigid light guide film and a soft light guide film. The soft light guide film is pasted on the rigid light guide film. The soft light guide film has a first surface, and a pattern is formed on the first surface. The area of the first surface without the pattern is pasted on the rigid light guide film. The pattern is positioned between the soft light guide film and the rigid light guide film. The display device includes at least one light guide module and a light source located at one side of the light guide module. When the light source is on, the pattern is lit and visible.
US07802906B2

A lamp assembly for mounting to a panel includes a housing assembly having a lamp section holding a light source assembly, and a lens section extending from the lamp section. The lens section has a lens through which light from the light source assembly is directed, wherein the lens is configured to be received within a mounting opening of the panel. A locking tab extends from an outer surface of the lens section, wherein the locking tab is configured to be received within the mounting opening of the panel and wherein the locking tab is configured to engage a locking surface to secure the housing assembly relative to the panel.
US07802905B2

The present invention provides a light diffuser plate, the surface of which is less likely to be scratched, capable of laminating a film base material (3) with a high lamination strength.The light diffuser plate (1) of the present invention includes a transparent material and a light diffusing agent dispersed in the transparent material, wherein one or both surfaces are rough surfaces (1a) having a ten-point average roughness (Rz) of 20 to 40 μm. A film-laminated light diffuser plate (4) can be obtained by laminating an adhesive film (5) comprising the film base material (3) and an adhesive layer (2) formed on at least one surface of the film base material on the rough surface.
US07802901B2

Light emitting device multi-chip lighting units and related methods are disclosed. According to one aspect, a white LED chip, a red LED chip, a blue LED chip, and a green LED chip are operably configured to a semiconductor substrate positioned within a lighting unit housing. The lighting unit can therefore provide a white light beam, a red light beam, a green light beam, and a blue light beam. The LED chips can be configured on the substrate such that the emitted light beams can overlap. Thus, in addition to the white LED chip providing a white light beam, the red LED chip, the blue LED chip, and the green LED chip can be actuated simultaneously with the white LED chip to combine and emit a more powerful and intense white light beam. Additionally, the red LED chip, the blue LED chip and the green LED chip can be actuated simultaneously to emit an intermediary intensity white light beam from the lighting unit.
US07802896B2

A floor lamp which is constructed of a plurality of elongated members having a plurality of rings affixed to an interior surface of each of the elongated members to provide a substantially circular arrangement with a translucent shade extending substantially along the entire length of the elongated members with a stem secured to and extending upwardly from a base and supporting a plurality of low light level bulbs and terminating in a general area lighting means which extends below the upper surface of the shade so that the tubular shade hides the low light level bulbs and the general area lighting means.
US07802895B2

The direct-type backlight device of the present invention includes a reflecting plate, a plurality of point light sources and a light diffusing plate in this order. A light emitting surface of the light diffusing plate is provided with a fine concavo-convex structure which is a split image forming member. By the fine concavo-convex structure, images A1, B1, C1 and D1 on the light emitting surface corresponding to four point light sources A, B, C and D which constitute a convex quadrilateral which has the smallest area and the shortest circumference length among the plurality of point light sources are observed in a specific region W in a region surrounded by positions A0, B0, C0 and D0 which are positions of the projected image of the point light sources A, B, C and D on the light diffusing plate.
US07802887B2

A wiremap projector apparatus for projecting moving three-dimensional images within a three-dimensional viewing space. The wiremap projector apparatus includes an array of wires disposed within a three-dimensional viewing space defined between a first and second sheet. A digital projector is positioned with respect to said array of wires such that the projector projects multiple lighted pixel lines onto the array of wires to display a moving three-dimensional image within the three-dimensional viewing space. A position control actuator includes an actuating force means for moving the one or more wires, and a position controller generates and sends a position control signal to the position control actuator. The position controller generates the position control signal from image data processed by the projector to project multiple lighted pixel lines onto the array of wires to display a moving three-dimensional image within the three-dimensional viewing space.
US07802886B2

An ophthalmic apparatus has an optical system for presenting a target to an examinee's eye through a lens, an optical system placed in an optical path of the target presenting optical system, for correcting a refractive error of the eye seeing the target, a switching unit arranged to switch an aperture size of a diaphragm, which is placed in a position substantially conjugate with a pupil with respect to the lens, between a first size corresponding to a pupil size of the eye in photopic vision and a second size larger than the pupil size in scotopic vision, an inputting unit arranged to generate a signal for switching the aperture size between the first and second sizes, and a control unit arranged to control driving of the switching unit based on the signal from the inputting unit to switch the aperture size between the first and second sizes.
US07802885B2

A stripe pattern of known distance is imaged on the ocular fundus by the imaging unit for opthalmological devices. This makes it possible to carry out absolute measurements of distances and objects at the ocular fundus with knowledge of the initial values serving as a basis. The imaging unit for opthalmological devices, particularly fundus cameras, according to the invention comprises a device for generating and imaging any, but a known, stripe pattern or line pattern on the retina of an eye to be examined, a camera for recording the stripe pattern or line pattern on the retina, and an evaluating unit for determining the distances on the retina. The imaging unit is constructed in such a way that the stripe pattern or line pattern to be imaged is coupled into the beam path between the opthalmological device and the eye to be examined. The use of an imaging unit of this kind as an accessory to opthalmological devices also expands the possibilities for its use in measurements at the ocular fundus. Although the proposed solution is particularly suited to fundus cameras, it can also be used for other opthalmological device.
US07802882B2

A target transport device includes a transport belt that transports a target from an upstream side to a downstream side, a support member that supports the target transported by the transport belt over the transport belt, a heating unit that heats the support member, and a heat applying unit that applies heat from the heating unit to the support member so that a difference in temperature occurs on a surface of the supporting member supporting the target in a transport direction of the target.
US07802876B2

An actuator unit for applying pressure to liquid in each of pressure chambers formed in a passage unit includes a piezoelectric layer; a common electrode formed on one surface of the piezoelectric layer to be positioned over the pressure chambers; and electric field blocking layers formed on an opposite surface of the piezoelectric layer from the one surface to be opposed to the common electrode and outside regions of the respective pressure chambers. Each electric field blocking layer is porous and lower in dielectric constant than the piezoelectric layer. The actuator unit further includes lands each positioned to sandwich an electric field blocking layer between the land and the piezoelectric layer; and individual electrodes formed on the opposite surface to be opposed to the respective pressure chambers and the common electrode and neighbor the respective electric field blocking layers. Each individual electrode is electrically connected to the corresponding land.
US07802874B2

A restrictor with a structure to prevent a back flow of ink and an inkjet head including the restrictor. In the inkjet head, an ink channel is formed in a channel plate, and the ink channel includes an ink inlet, a plurality of pressure chambers, a manifold, a plurality of restrictors respectively connecting the pressure chambers to the manifold, and a plurality of nozzles. Piezoelectric actuators are formed on the channel plate. Each of the restrictors includes a plurality of protrusions formed on an inner surface thereof in a structure suitable to increase a flow resistance of the restrictor when ink flows from the pressure chamber to the manifold through the restrictor. Each of the protrusions includes a first surface facing a flow of ink moving through the restrictor in a direction from the manifold to the pressure chamber, and a second surface facing a flow of ink moving through the restrictor in a direction from the pressure chamber to the manifold. The first surface has a low flow resistance, and the second surface has a high flow resistance. Therefore, a black flow of ink is restricted when ink is ejected, and sufficient ink can be supplied through the restrictor during an ink refill process.
US07802863B2

An ink-jet recording apparatus of the present invention includes one or more ink-jet heads, a drive waveform generation circuit, a plurality of drive waveform selection circuits, and a plurality of drive signal generation circuits. The drive waveform generation circuit generates m different drive waveforms (m is equal to or greater than three). The drive waveform selection circuit selects n drive waveforms (n is smaller than m, and equal to or greater than two) from the m drive waveforms. The drive signal generation circuit selects in every predetermined recording cycle one drive waveform for one nozzle from the n drive waveforms selected by the drive waveform selection circuit, and generates a drive signal based on the drive waveform thus selected. At least one of the n drive waveforms selected by any one of the plurality of drive waveform selection circuits is the same as the drive waveform selected by another one of the drive waveform selection circuits.
US07802859B2

In one embodiment, a method for refilling a used ink cartridge includes determining a quantity of ink remaining in an ink holding chamber in the cartridge, determining a desired quantity of ink to refill the chamber based on a difference between a capacity of the chamber and the quantity of ink remaining in the chamber, and refilling the chamber with the desired quantity of ink. In another embodiment, a method for refilling a used ink cartridge includes introducing ink into an ink holding chamber in the cartridge, simultaneously with introducing ink into the chamber, monitoring the level of ink in the chamber, and ending the introduction of ink into the chamber when the level of ink in the chamber reaches a desired level.
US07802854B1

The invention is directed towards a system and method for removing shingles from a roof comprising a shingle removal head, a boom arm assembly, a vacuum, and a containment bin. The head includes a frame that defines a shingle disposal area and includes a prying member having a lifting surface for engaging the underside of shingles and lifting them from the roof and directing them to the shingle disposal area. The head also includes a cutting member for receiving and decreasing the size of the removed shingles for removal from the head by the vacuum into the containment bin, both of which may be carried by a transportation unit. The head may be attached to the boom arm assembly that is carried by a transportation unit so that the assembly causes the head to engage and lift shingles from a roof, allowing operation of the head frame from the ground.
US07802851B2

The object of the invention is a method and an apparatus for adjusting mutual position of two structural elements of a patient chair, like the back rest and the head rest, articulated with each other, in which method the mutual position of the two structural elements (3, 4, 5) connected with each other by articulation is adjusted by a drive device (13). With the help of the drive device (13) it is possible to produce, for example, an essentially high rotational motion that can be converted to a linear motion with the help of a thread. The linear motion is converted to an essentially slow rotational motion with the help of a thread element (9) functionally connected to an articulated shaft (6, 7) belonging to the position adjustment mechanism.
US07802847B2

An angle-adjusting structure for a backrest of a chair is mounted at a rear side of a butterfly-shaped mounting member of the chair. The angle-adjusting structure includes a main body and a rotating member jointly passed through by a shaft having external teeth. A resilient element is mounted around an end of the shaft. A cover is secured to the main body by threaded fasteners. A pressing member is mounted on the other end of the shaft. By pressing the pressing member inward, the external teeth of the shaft are disengaged from internal teeth of the rotating member, and the rotating member is allowed to rotate freely. When the pressing member is released, the resilient element mounted around the end of the shaft extends outward to re-engage the external teeth of the shaft with the internal teeth of the rotating member, thereby securing the rotating member in place.
US07802842B2

The invention relates to a roof module of a motor vehicle, which can be fastened to the chassis of the motor vehicle and defines a roof area. The aim of the invention is to improve the utility of the roof module or the motor vehicle. For this purpose, the roof module (9) is a planar full roof that is non-transparent or at least partially transparent, or the roof module (9) is a panoramic roof that projects towards the top and/or is at least partially transparent and/or comprises a roof box fixed to the top thereof, or comprises a bearing device (18) for detachably fixing a roof box (19) to the top of the roof module (9).
US07802831B2

Locking structures each include a locking claw portion formed on a desired object, and a locking clamp mechanism formed on at least one of left and right wall portions of a console device. The clamp mechanism has a fitting hole portion formed in the wall portion for fitting therein of the locking claw portion, a locking support portion for lockingly supporting the claw portion fitted in the fitting hole portion, and a pair of opposed movement-preventing projecting portions formed on opposite ends of the support portion for preventing movement of the object between the opposite ends. The clamp mechanism also having a resiliently-deformable elastic portion formed integrally with the wall portion to extend into the hole portion for resiliently pressing the claw portion against the support portion.
US07802830B2

A method and apparatus for handling an article in semiconductor fabrication in which the article is completely separated from a gripper by a frozen liquid. The gripper includes a feeding device for introducing a liquid such as a high-purity water or a decontaminating liquid. The gripper also includes a cooling device for freezing the liquid. A suction take-in device applies negative pressure to hold the article against the frozen liquid.
US07802828B2

Various embodiments of the present invention are illustrated. A first embodiment is a safety cover for a deadbolt of a door. The cover includes a housing having a first open end and a second open end. The housing is mounted to the door and positioned to substantially surround the deadbolt with the first open end and to contain a deadbolt actuator knob of the deadbolt within a cavity formed from the housing. The safety cover includes a cap mountable, via the second open end, into snug mating engagement with the interior of the housing. The cap is positioned such that upon actuation the cap slides axially within the housing until an inner wall of the cap meets the deadbolt actuator knob and wherein upon further actuation the inner wall grips and rotates the deadbolt actuator knob.
US07802816B2

A vehicular frame assembly is provided and includes a pair of control arm support brackets. Each of the control arm support brackets define a pair of recesses. The first control arm support bracket and the second control arm support bracket are substantially identical and are configured to be positioned along a vehicular frame such that one of the pairs of recesses defined by a control arm support bracket receives forward legs of right and left suspension support members and the other of the pairs of recesses defined by the other of the control arm support bracket receives rearward legs of right and left suspension support members. A vehicle is also provided.
US07802810B2

An airbag module for a motor vehicle. The airbag module includes an airbag. The airbag includes an airbag sleeve enclosing an interior of the airbag. The airbag module further comprises a module receptacle on which the airbag is accommodated as an airbag package, a top surface, and a cover extending along the top surface. When the airbag module is installed, the top surface is arranged such that it faces the associated seat. At least one layer of the airbag forming a component of the airbag sleeve extends in front of the outer surface of the cover facing the seat. Components of the airbag module arranged in front of the outer surface of the cover, insofar as they are not located between the outer surface of the cover and the at least one airbag layer, remain connected to the airbag sleeve during inflation of the airbag.
US07802803B2

A trailer slider locking system includes body rails longitudinally slidable relative to a suspension frame side rail. The body rails have holes providing multiple suspension positions. A pin locking system includes a pin moveable between retracted and locked positions. An end of the pin is received in one of the holes in the locked position. The pin has a first centerline and the holes have a second centerline. The end of the pin extends through the hole with the centerlines being offset from one another in the locked position. The pin has a tapered end so that the pin will extend through the body rail hole prior to advancing to the fully locked position.
US07802796B2

A seal is formed of a material including about 80.0% to about 95.0% by weight fluoropolymer, about 1.0% to about 10.0% by weight aromatic polymer, and graphite fiber.
US07802793B2

A game of chance playable by two or more players and a method of playing the game, the game of chance comprising a gaming ticket (2) including removable first portions (8) removable by a first player to reveal first indicia and removable second portions (10) removable by a second player to reveal second indicia, wherein the first and second players compete against each other by removing the respective removable first indicia until a winner of the game is determined.
US07802789B2

A sheet conveying device includes a conveying unit that conveys a sheet in a sheet conveying direction; a measuring unit that measures a position of a side edge of the sheet in a measurement area; a shielding unit having an end portion that is projected into the measurement area for shielding the sheet; a first determining unit that determines whether the shielding unit is detectable in the measurement area; and a second determining unit that determines whether the measuring unit has been mounted in the sheet conveying device based on a result obtained in the first determining unit.
US07802787B2

A sheet discharging device and image forming apparatus are provided. The sheet discharging device includes a sheet discharging port; a sheet discharging tray which is provided correspondingly to the sheet discharging port, a sheet discharged from the sheet discharging port being stacked on the sheet discharging tray; and a plurality of sheet lifting members provided so as to be moveable between a retraction position and a protrusion position; wherein when a leading end portion of the sheet contacts with the sheet lifting members, the sheet lifting members move from the retraction position to the protrusion position, the sheet lifting members stay at the protrusion position and lift up the sheet while the sheet is discharged from the sheet discharging port to the sheet discharge tray, and the sheet lifting members return to the retraction position when the sheet has been discharged from the sheet discharging port.
US07802780B2

Flat articles are inserted into printed products (3) continuously conveyed by grippers (11) of a gripper conveyor (1), wherein the printed products are held by the grippers at their fold or spine edges and wherein the grippers (11) are conveyed through a deflection region from below round an essentially horizontal deflection axis (2). Pegging elements (4) rotating around the deflection axis (2) are arranged along both sides of the deflection region and synchronized with the grippers, and form axially aligned and inter-spaced pairs and are radially distanced from the grippers. The printed products (3) are conveyed in a hanging manner into the deflection region and they are opened immediately upstream of the deflection region. The pegging elements (4) are activated as the grippers (11) enter the deflection region to grab the trailing part (32) of one opened printed product (3) and the leading part (31) of the next product by the corners opposite the fold or spine edge by clamping them together until the grippers (11) exit the deflection region.
US07802770B2

A climbing cam having opposed asymmetrically sized cam members to eliminate the interference that limits the expansion range of climbing aids of the cam type. An optional cam member provides an opposing force to assist in maintaining the placement of the cam in the rock.
US07802760B2

A boundary layer control arrangement comprises a pulse generator communicating with a surface having a fluid boundary layer thereacross. The boundary layer control arrangement further includes a fluid supply means for supplying a fluid to the surface via the pulse generator. The pulse generator is constructed such that fluid acts on the pulse generator to cause the fluid to pulse. Pulsing fluid passes from the pulse generator to the surface.
US07802759B2

To provide an aircraft wing which has both high bending flexibility in the wing chord direction and high capacity to maintain the wing shape in the wing span direction, and to which morphing aircraft technology can be applied in the high-speed regime where aerodynamic forces are high.The wing is formed by arranging a plurality of CFRP rods having maximum anisotropic stiffness in the axial direction, so as to be parallel to the wing span direction, and filling the gaps between the CFRP rods with an elastic material.
US07802758B2

An aircraft brake rotor includes a circular rotor disk (10) having first and second walls (12) and a peripheral wall (14) connecting the first and second walls (12), the peripheral wall (14) including at least one notch (16) having a bottom wall (18) and first and second side walls (20) extending away from the bottom wall (18), an insert (22, 50, 60) having a first portion (24, 62) mounted against the first side wall (20) and a retainer (30, 74) connected to the rotor disk (10) and having at least one projection (38, 82), a portion of the at least one insert (22, 50, 60) extending between the at least projection (38, 82) and the first side wall (20), thus limiting movement of the insert (22, 50, 60) in a direction perpendicular to the first side wall (20).
US07802754B2

Tilt-rotor aircraft experience increased efficiency and fuel economy by including wing extensions outboard of the tilting nacelles. Stall and buffeting during conversion from rotor-born hover to wing-born forward flight are reduced to an acceptable level using wide chord flaps deflected upwards by at least 15-20°, preferably in combination with leading edge slats. The outboard wing or wing portion preferably has a span at least 25-40% of a span of the inboard section, and a total surface area at least 10-20% the total surface area of the corresponding inboard section.
US07802746B2

Disclosed herein is a hanging device including: a reeling portion which includes a reel adapted to reel a cord connected to an electronic device or component part and in which the reel is turned to pull out the cord from an orifice portion of a casing and to reel the cord through the orifice portion; an engaging portion disposed in the vicinity of the orifice portion of the reeling portion; and a connecting member attached to the cord so as to be engageable with and disengageable from an engaging portion of the orifice portion.
US07802744B2

A worm shaft disposed on an upper side of a master gear shaft. A spool shaft disposed on an opposite lower side of the master gear shaft. An engaging member arranged to engage a spiral groove in worm shaft is also disposed on the upper side of the master gear shaft. A slider body includes a first mounting portion disposed on the opposite lower side of the master gear shaft and is a portion to which the spool shaft is fixed, a second mounting portion that is disposed on the upper side of the master gear shaft and is a portion to which the engaging member is engaged, and a coupling portion for coupling the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion so that the master gear shaft is straddled by the first mounting portion and the second mounting portion when the spool shaft is disposed most forward.
US07802743B2

A system and method for producing a spool having a continuous fabric strip is disclosed which produces an extended length fabric strip made from a plurality of seamed standard lengths of the fabric, the extended length fabric strip being substantially spirally wound upon a hollow core with consecutive windings of the extended length fabric strip being located close adjacent each other, and with consecutive rows of the extended length fabric strip overlaying each other on the hollow core. In a first embodiment, the standard length fabric strips are joined together at their respective contiguous ends using a small strip of heat-activated seaming tape. In a second embodiment, the standard length fabric strips are stitched together at their respective contiguous ends using thread. The winding operation simultaneously controls both the lateral position at which the extended length fabric strip is wound onto the core and the rotation of the core to achieve the tight and highly compact winding operation, with the speed of the winding operation being controlled according to the amount of the extended length fabric strip which is available at any given time. The extended length fabric strip is suitable for use in the manufacture of paint roller covers.
US07802734B2

The described method and apparatus pertains namely to the HVAC (Heating, Ventilating, and Air Conditioning) industry, though its many functions extend into any and all forms of air-fluid movement, metering, distribution, and containment. Essentially, the scope of operation of the method and apparatus encompasses all forms of scientific and engineering measurement dealing with fluid dynamics, fluid statics, fluid mechanics, thermal dynamics, and mechanical engineering as they pertain to precise, articulated control of air-fluid distribution and delivery. The described method and apparatus offers complete, comprehensive, and correct utilization of air-fluid movers and terminal devices under unique sensor logic control, from initial lab testing stages through to equipment cataloguing, selection, design and construction of any and all air-fluid distribution systems in entirety, whereas previously there was no such cohesive, total and terminal method of control for these systems or their components.
US07802733B2

A fluid delivery control system including a rotatable flow control member to provide a flow control signal to a controller and a rotatable temperature control member to provide a temperature control signal to a controller.
US07802728B2

An electronic card (100) configured to be read by a reading device (300) is disclosed. The card (100) comprising a card portion (270) having a surface (156) onto which are formed a plurality of user interface elements (154) and electronic apparatus (259) attached to the card portion (270). The apparatus (259) comprising a memory (276) in which are retained a plurality of data strings. At least one of the data strings is associated with a corresponding one of the user interface elements (154). The apparatus (259) also comprises a processor means (275) coupled to the memory means (276) and communication means (278) for coupling the processor means (275) to the reading device (300). The processor means (275) is configured to relate reading signals generated from a selection of at least one of the elements (154) and received via the communication means (278) with at least one of the retained data strings. The retained data strings are inaccessible to the reading device (300).
US07802726B2

In a system according to the invention, a communication section of a mobile terminal detects a carrier from an external R/W, starts communication with the external R/W, and acquires content simplified data of contactless card function content from the external R/W. The acquired content simplified data is transferred to a control section using the contactless card function content and stored. Further, in this system, by connecting to a URL contained in the content simplified data, content body data of the contactless card function content corresponding to the content simplified data is downloaded and stored in the mobile terminal.
US07802723B2

A system, method, and computer program product for authenticating a requestor using a previously-stored biometric print. Records are stored in a database, where each record contains a previously-stored biometric print corresponding to an individual and is disassociated from an identity of the individual. An identifier and a biometric sample are requested from the requester. The identifier is then used to locate one of the plurality of records corresponding to the requestor. The requestor is authenticated if the biometric sample matches the previously-stored biometric print.
US07802701B2

Current designs of dispensers often do not allow for proper ventilation. Additionally, current designs often do not permit proper liquid sealing during shipment. The disclosed apparatus can overcome these shortcomings. This foam dispenser comprises a container, a cylinder device, a collar connected to the cylinder device, the collar operably connecting the container with the cylinder device, and a seal located on the collar, wherein the seal expands under compression to a locked position to create an airtight and liquid tight seal substantially preventing air and liquid from entering or exiting the cylinder device.
US07802697B2

A storage device for bottles with a neck, comprising at least one coupling member suitable for suspending the device beneath a shelf of a domestic refrigerator, and a hollow dispensing guide extending longitudinally from a rear end to a front end having a dispensing opening. The dispensing guide has a top face provided with the coupling member, a bottom face and a C-shaped cross section with an opening into the bottom face. The opening has a width suitable for allowing the narrowed portion of the neck of a bottle to slide freely and so that the longitudinal rims of the opening oriented toward the inside form bearing rails of a length more than twice the diameter of the widened portion of the neck of the bottle, on which this widened portion rests when the bottle is suspended.
US07802694B2

The invention relates to a pressure apparatus that can be used to process solid waste materials into useful, fuel and recyclable streams. The pressure vessel utilizes, conditions of heat and pressure to process the solid waste into the fuel and recyclable streams reducing hazardous materials and offensive odors. The vessel comprises an elongated container having enclosed volume and at least one open end. The open end is sealed using a closure having a closing apparatus. The closing apparatus is a rapidly actuated easily used mechanism that maintains the door in a sealed closed position maintaining useful pressure but can be readily opened with little effort for either removing processed waste or for introducing unprocessed solid waste.
US07802681B2

Packaging for an ICSI pipette (50) has a base (10) and a slider (20) on which the pipette is retained by clips (29) and (36). The base (10) has a transparent rod (16) projecting above the thin end (52) of the pipette (50), acting as a lens to enable the tip of the pipette to be viewed. A grip portion (26) on the slider (20) projects above the pipette (50) and the rod (16) to enable the slider to be moved relative to the base such that the thick end (52) of the pipette projects beyond the end of the base for access and removal.
US07802672B2

A diverter gate generally includes a bracket which connects to an actuator and a flag which releasably engages with the bracket via cooperating engagement members. The cooperating engagement members may be symmetrical, and may comprise one or more tabs and one or more corresponding receptacles. The tabs may be dimensioned slightly larger than the receptacles so as to create a positive interference fit. The bracket and the flag may include openings to receive a fastener extending substantially across the length of the gate. Tightening the fastener compresses the tab(s) against the receptacle(s) to result in a compression fit between the flag and the bracket. The two-piece design allows the flag to be easily removed and reversed or replaced, without disassembling or removing the bracket or the actuator.
US07802657B1

A gravity actuated torque generator for generating torque to run a generator by continually adding weights to the apparatus. The gravity actuated torque generator includes a support assembly, a drive assembly being supported by the support assembly, and a weight assembly being engagable to the drive assembly while moving downwardly due to gravitational forces for generating torque.
US07802651B2

Disclosed herein is an air duct assembly for vehicles which reduces noise generated by the flow of intake air which flows along a path of the air duct provided in a vehicle and is fed to an engine. The air duct reduces the noise of a low frequency range in initial engine start operation, and in addition, the noise of a whole frequency range, thus allowing a vehicle to be traveled while providing the environment having minimum noise to a driver and passenger riding in the vehicle. Therefore, it is not necessary to install an additional resonator.
US07802637B2

A drilling system includes a steerable bottomhole assembly (BHA) having a steering unit and a control unit that provide dynamic control of drill bit orientation or tilt. Exemplary steering units can adjust bit orientation at a rate that approaches or exceeds the rotational speed of the drill string or drill bit, can include a dynamically adjustable articulated joint having a plurality of elements that deform in response to an excitation signal, can include adjustable independently rotatable rings for selectively tilting the bit, and/or can include a plurality of selectively extensible force pads. The force pads are actuated by a shape change material that deforms in response to an excitation signal. A method of directional drilling includes continuously cycling the position of the steering unit based upon the rotational speed of the drill string and/or drill bit and with reference to an external reference point.
US07802635B2

A rotating control drilling device includes an upper sealing element and a lower sealing element positioned around a drillstring and forming a chamber therebetween and a leak detection device. The leak detection device includes a piston in communication with the chamber, a magnet disc disposed on an end of the piston, and a plurality of magnetic sensors arranged in a magnetic sensing ring around the rotating control drilling device. Upon reaching a selected critical pressure in the chamber, a spring is configured to compress as the magnet disc is positioned proximate to the plurality of magnetic sensors. Furthermore, a method to detect leaks in a rotating control device includes positioning a leak detection device in communication with a chamber located between upper and lower sealing elements and signaling with the leak detection device when a pressure of the chamber exceeds a selected critical pressure.
US07802624B2

An underwater stabplate connection is provided by lowering a counterbalanced first part of the connection in a horizontal disposition by a lift line, the first part being attached to an umbilical. The first part of the connection mates with a second part of the connection, the second part being attached to an underwater structure such as a well tree.
US07802622B2

A technique protectively arranges at least one cable on the outside of and along at least one pipe section of a pipe string. The cable is secured to at least one cable protector coupled to the outside of at least one pipe section of the pipe string. The cable protector comprises a cable-retaining strip. The cable-retaining strip is provided with at least one continuous cable track arranged along the cable-retaining strip, the cable track opening outwards relative to the pipe section. The at least one cable is also secured to the at least one cable track, whereby the cable is protected from the external environment.
US07802619B2

Methods and devices are provided for controlling detonation of explosives in a well bore for perforation or a well bore casing, which avoid or reduce unintentional or undesirable detonations while ensuring or increasing desirable detonations. An explosive trigger system or tool may comprise a central processing unit (CPU), memory, and one or more sensors disposed for measuring one or more downhole conditions. Downhole conditions may be measured with the sensor and then used to program detonation parameters (such as temperature or pressure) or preconditions (such as time or distance traveled) to the trigger system. Detonation can only occur when the programmed parameters or preconditions are satisfied. In this way, undesirable detonations are avoided by requiring certain preconditions to arming the trigger system. To further control arming and/or detonating, a line sequencer may be provided, wherein energy is propagate down along the physical deployment line as pulses or line “jerks” through mechanical manipulations of physical deployment line near surface. These pulses can form signals for downhole control of the trigger system.
US07802612B2

In a die-casting mold used in a casting method, a fixed insert includes a recessed cavity portion, and a fixed mold body is arranged to hold the fixed insert. The fixed insert includes a first insert and a second insert. The first insert is held with the fixed mold body. The second insert is fitted and held within a recess formed on the first insert. The size of the second insert is minimized so as to just surround the recessed cavity portion.
US07802610B2

An apparatus for the safe closure of the open area of mobile containers, having a tarp connected to a spring loaded tarp assembly and to the container by brackets. These brackets allow the tarp to be lowered and raised using the spring loaded tarp assembly. A metal plate at the bottom of the tarp is used to secure the bottom of the trap while in the closed position. The spring loaded tarp assembly comprises three main components a sleeve, a rod, and tension springs. The rod allows the free flow rotation of the sleeve with the tension spring acting as a back stop.
US07802597B2

A press apparatus includes upper and lower heating plates arranged in a vertical direction to hot-press the product therebetween, a fixed platen to which the upper heating plate is fixed, a movable platen to which the lower heating plate is fixed, a movable platen driving unit configured to move the movable platen along the vertical direction with respect to the fixed platen, an upper cooling plate, a lower cooling plate, the upper and lower cooling plates being arranged in the vertical direction to cold-press the product therebetween, and a cooling plate driving unit moving the upper and lower cooling plates in a horizontal direction between a first position for cold pressing that is located between the upper and lower heating plates and a second position for hot pressing that is located apart from the upper and lower heating plates in the horizontal direction.
US07802596B2

There is provided a pneumatic tire capable of improving on-snow performance on a snowy road surface including a sherbet-like snowy road surface without deteriorating on-ice performance. An assistant groove 6 less in width than the main grooves 2 extends in the circumferential direction TC of the tire in each middle land 4. The lateral grooves 7 include right and left first lateral grooves 8 extending from the center land 3 outward in the widthwise direction of the tire beyond the tire ground contact ends TF, and right and left second lateral grooves 9 extending from the middle lands 4 outward in the widthwise direction of the tire beyond the tire ground contact ends TF, the first lateral grooves 8 and second lateral grooves 9 being alternately disposed in the circumferential direction TC of the tire. The groove area percentage in the center region portion 1C of the tread surface 1 is less than the groove area percentage in the ground contact surface region G of the tread surface 1.
US07802587B1

A valve and method allows efficient closure for a pipe containing liquid. The valve in the preferred form is operated by a float in a sump pit should the sump pump fail to operate. The float is lifted by rising water and an arm attached to the float is supported on rollers when the valve is normally open turns to disengage from the rollers to close the valve. A shaft positioned in the conduit is attached to a cap which reacts to the expansion of a spring to thus close the end of the conduit and prevent further liquid flow therethrough. An audible alarm system sounds as the rising liquid level reaches a water sensor on the valve to warn a homeowner or building occupant. The alarm also sounds when a manual test switch is closed or if the smoke sensor is activated.
US07802580B2

An umbrella includes a staff assembly, a plurality of upper ribs, a plurality of corresponding lower ribs and a canopy. The staff assembly includes an inner staff member and an outer staff member slidably mounted thereon. The upper ribs are pivotally connected to the inner staff member. The lower ribs are pivotally connected to the outer staff member and to the upper ribs. The canopy is mounted on the upper or lower ribs. Sliding the inner and outer staff members with respect to each other in a longitudinal direction thereof shifts the ribs and the canopy between a deployed position in which the ribs and canopy extend generally radially outwardly from the staff assembly so as to open the umbrella, and a retracted position in which the ribs and the canopy are collapsed inwardly toward, the staff assembly so as to close the umbrella.
US07802577B2

A harness for stretching the penis, includes a belt for encircling the waist of the user, with a fastening mechanism secured to a rear part of the belt. A first tractive means applies tractive forces at the base of the penis of a user of the harness, and is secured to the belt via the fastening mechanism. A second tractive means applies tractive forces at the edge of the head of the penis of a user of the harness, and is also secured to the belt via the fastening mechanism. The first tractive means and the second tractive means apply a stretching force to the penis of the user of the harness.
US07802574B2

Medical component systems are described in which individual hand-held components are enhanced by adjacent restraint and by combinations of function, including: suction devices with a port for regulating suction with single-finger-operable valve for repeatable incremental user control of suction-vacuum variation by aperture shapes like triangles and slots and tactile feedback means like plane changes for amplifying tactile feedback to a user to enhance distinguishing of control increments; clips and tubing restraints for attachment between devices; endotracheal tubes with feedback features so a user knows where the distal end is; wound kits and splash shields for use in combination with various irrigation sources; combination cough shields with medical components; endotracheal tube adapters with less dead space and improved flanges and monitoring ports; and improved long syringes and medical lights.
US07802568B2

For meteredly dispensing a liquid over a period of several months from a container which can be stored over a long period of time, the need is for a container which is practically diffusion-tight and in which the liquid does not come into contact with the ambient atmosphere. The cartridge according to the invention is a three-shell container comprising a collapsible bag which contains the liquid, a container which is stable in respect of shape and a stiff metal casing. The cartridge can be releasably connected to a dispensing device. The cartridge can be provided with a micro-opening with which the time for pressure equalisation between the cartridge and the ambient atmosphere can be adjusted. The cartridge is suitable for aqueous and for alcoholic liquids which contain a pharmaceutically active substance. The liquid in the cartridge is protected from external influences. The cartridge can be used in an atomiser for producing an inhalable aerosol for the treatment of illnesses.
US07802564B2

In a ceiling part of a heating chamber, a sub-cavity is provided in which a steam-heating heater is housed. Steam generated by a steam generating device is heated by the steam-heating heater inside the sub-cavity to be brought into an overheated state, and is then jetted out through upper jet holes provided in the ceiling part of the heating chamber and through side jet holes provided in lower parts of the side walls of the heating chamber at both sides thereof. Food is supported on a rack to be in a state floating above the floor surface of the heating chamber, and, through the side jet holes, steam is jetted toward under the food.
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