US07881261B2
An exemplary method and apparatus provide improved dormant handoff of mobile stations having multiple packet data service instances. Each time a dormant IS-2000 mobile station undergoes a packet data mobility event it sends a dormant handoff request to the supporting network for each packet data service instance associated with it. If the mobile station does not have a traffic channel already assigned to it, each dormant handoff request are sent over common access channels. By recognizing that a given mobile station is re-registering multiple service instances for the same mobility event, the network can avoid excess common channel signaling by assigning a traffic channel to the mobile station responsive to receiving the dormant handoff request for its first service instance. Such an assignment causes the mobile station to send dormant handoff requests for any remaining service instances over the assigned traffic channel rather than over the common access channel.
US07881253B2
A wireless network includes a leaf node, which generates a data message. The data message is routed through infrastructure nodes to a gateway infrastructure node, which is coupled to a wired network. A wireless interface module is also coupled to the wired network and communicates with the gateway infrastructure node. Multiple copies of the data message are created in the wireless network due to redundancy mechanisms supported in the wireless network, such as redundant connectivity and redundant message routing. The multiple copies of the data message are received at the gateway infrastructure node or the wireless interface module, which identifies the copies and communicates a single copy of the data message over the wired network to a destination. In this way, the redundancy mechanisms supported in the wireless network are concealed from wired components coupled to the wired network.
US07881250B2
The present invention provides a packet communication system including a mobile host, a home agent, a correspondent host, and a mobility agent, where the mobility agent operates in such a way that when the mobile host is in an active mode and has no need for buffering packets, the mobility agent forwards packets received from the home agent or the correspondent host to the mobile host; and alternatively, in the case when the mobile host is in an active mode, but requires buffering of packets, the mobility agent buffers the packets, and further in the case when the mobile host is in an idle mode, the mobility agent buffers the packet and notifies the mobile host of arrival of the packet, in order to prevent the loss of a packet addressed to a mobile host thus decreasing the traffic and the transmission frequency of Binding Update packets.
US07881240B1
Methods and systems are provided for dynamic configuration of the EV-DO-A slot cycle index based on communication application. In an exemplary embodiment, an access terminal: (1) executes a set of communication applications, each application associated with a respective slot cycle index; (2) identifies a desired slot cycle index at least in part by determining, among the respective slot cycle indexes associated with the set of executing applications, which slot cycle index is associated with the shortest slot cycle; (3) sends a request message to an access node, requesting the desired slot cycle index; (4) negotiates with the access node to agree on a negotiated slot cycle index; and (5) checks for pages from the access node according to a slot cycle that is determined at least in part by the negotiated slot cycle index.
US07881239B2
A device for a node in a digraph network comprising is disclosed. The device comprises an internal time reference, a radio receiver, a radio transmitter. The device further comprises a temperature sensor for stabilizing the internal time reference against drifting with respect to an internal time reference of another node in the network and a microprocessor for managing the reception and transmission of information.
US07881237B1
A method and apparatus for processing a radio frequency signal. The method includes compensating a digital in-phase signal and a digital quadrature signal for any imbalance; converting the compensated digital in-phase signal and the compensated digital quadrature signal into a frequency domain digital OFDM symbol; generating a plurality of channel estimates, wherein each channel estimate corresponds to an estimate of the channel for a corresponding sub-carrier of the frequency domain digital OFDM symbol; and generating (i) a most likely estimate of the imbalance between the digital in-phase signal and the digital quadrature signal and (ii) a most likely estimate of a common phase error in the plurality of channel estimates. The most likely estimate of the imbalance is used to compensate the digital in-phase signal and the digital quadrature signal, and the most likely estimate of the common phase error is used to compensate the plurality of channel estimates.
US07881235B1
Multiple users participate in a conference while taking maximum advantage of hardware and bandwidth capabilities of each participant. Each user's system makes known to a directory service its hardware sending and receiving capabilities. The directory service makes this information available to other users who may then wish to join a conference with the user. An initiating user sends invitations via the directory service to the remote users. Each user that accepts an invitation transmits its network address to the initiating user, who then establishes a peer-to-peer connection with each of the remote users. Each participant system exchanges information about hardware capabilities and bandwidth, and a conference manager determines a best model for connecting each of the participants. Depending on the hardware and bandwidth capabilities of the participants, the manager chooses from a duplicate streams model, a multicast model, and a host-among-peers model for connecting the participants.
US07881225B2
A method of initializing, provisioning, and managing a cable modem and a customer premise equipment device includes, prior to receiving the configuration file for the cable modem, providing an equipment identification message containing a description of the customer premise equipment device connected to the cable modem. In the case where the cable modem has yet to be provisioned, the configuration file received from the network server is a particular access-limiting configuration file that is selected from a group of access-limiting configuration files. The selection of the particular access-limiting configuration file is based on the description of the customer premise equipment device in the equipment identification message. This allows different devices to have different network restrictions or different walled gardens.
US07881205B2
Systems, methods, and devices for novel error detection and retransmission processes are described. These processes may be implemented on intermediate communication links between two end terminals, wherein the intermediate links are via satellite. Error control mechanisms to detect and retransmit lost or corrupted frames may be implemented at the network layer, or between the network and data link layers. Processes for discovering error control protocol-aware terminals are described. Features of these error control processes may include a configurable delay limit, tailored to traffic type or class.
US07881203B2
A terminal regulation management device capable of flexibly managing terminals in times of unexpected incident, to ensure communications of users whose daily life zone overlaps with the site of the incident and of users whose daily life zone is outside the site. A priority information memory stores, with respect to each base station, priority information indicating priority levels as to subscribers' incoming/outgoing calls and including communication counts that the subscribers have communicated using their radio terminals. A communication information receiver receives communication information on the terminal communications from a radio network controller for controlling the base stations. A priority decision unit updates the communication counts stored in the memory, based on the received communication information, and determines the priority order of the priority information in accordance with the updated communication counts. A priority information transmitter transmits the priority information stored in the priority information memory to the base stations.
US07881199B2
A method is provided for ensuring that specific traffic flows are adequately prioritized in a public packet communication network even when the network is heavily congested. Per-flow QoS capability is added to VPN tunnels. Connection requests are routed through a specific port in an access provider's network to designated VPN gateway. Deep packet inspection is performed on traffic through the port in an attempt to determine whether the connection request was accepted. If the connection request was accepted, the traffic flows associated with that session may be given a specific priority of QoS level when transiting a packet access network.
US07881192B2
A system for providing aggregate-rate communication services is provided. The system comprises a provider network, having an arbitrary topology; a plurality of customers; and a plurality of port nodes, comprising at least one aggregation-group. Port nodes in the at least one aggregation-group share capacity of the at least one aggregation-group fairly. Each of the plurality of customers is associated with at least one of the plurality of port nodes to access the provider network.
US07881191B2
The present invention sets forth a method for performing packet combined scheduling of dedicated transport channels for packet services in UMTS downlinks, comprising the following steps: a) prior to each DCH scheduling period, performing pre-selection processing of a transport format combination of each DPCH according to the predetermined restriction conditions for the DCH combined packet scheduling, so as to determine a usable transport format combination set for each DPCH; b) restricting a total downlink transmit power of DCHs for NRT packet services to a schedulable power not exceeding a schedulable power value in the estimation of a total downlink power during said scheduling period; c) based on the fairness of DCH transportation and the QoS requirements of the DCH-borne services, determining weighted values which the respective DCHs correspond to in the optimization of the DCH combined packet scheduling; and d) based on the results of steps a), b), and c), calculating the maximum number of bits which each DCH is schedulable to output, using a 0-1 programming algorithm. The present invention guarantees the fairness, priority and QoS (Quality of Service) of different DCHs and can achieve maximum total data throughput.
US07881180B2
Systems and methods for orthogonal frequency division multiplexing are provided. In one embodiment, a multi-carrier modem comprising: a receiver configured to de-modulate symbols from at least one of a plurality of spectrally overlapping carrier signals; a transmitter configured to modulate symbols onto at least one of a plurality of the spectrally overlapping carrier signals; a processor coupled to the transmitter, wherein the processor outputs data for transmission by the transmitter, wherein the processor applies an inverse Fourier transform to the data transmitted by the transmitter; and a controller programmed to multiplex both payload data and control data onto a first carrier of the spectrally overlapping carrier signals.
US07881179B2
A system controlling recording on an optical disc is provided. A first counter performs a bit count according to provided channel bit clock signals. A second counter performs a sector count responsive to the bit count obtained by the first counter. The Land/Groove switch predicts machine uses the result of bit count and sector count to predict the land/groove switch point. The processor uses the physical ID (PID) to determine the track type of a sector at which a recording operation initiates. The power controller determines a recording power for the recording operation according to the Land/Groove switch predict machine.
US07881171B2
A method for reproducing an optical recording medium includes: determining a kind of optical pick-up device placed to reproduce an optical recording medium; detecting a push-pull signal or a pre-pit signal of an inserted recording medium according to the kind of optical pick-up device; and reproducing the optical recording medium by using an optical pick-up device from which the push-pull signal or the pre-pit signal is detected.
US07881154B2
Seismic processing method, in which, in order to eliminate multiple reflections on seismic data, seismic data are migrated in time or in depth (110) arid the data thus migrated are processed to determine an approximation of multiple reflections to be subtracted from, seismic data (120 to 160).
US07881149B2
A method and circuitry for improved write latency tracking in a SDRAM is disclosed. In one embodiment, a delay locked loop is used in the command portion of the write path, and receives the system clock as its reference input. The DLL includes a modeled delay which models the delay in transmission of the internal Write Valid signal and system clock distribution to the deserializers in the data path portion of the write path, which is otherwise controlled by the intermittently asserted write strobe signal. With the input distribution delay of the system clock (Clk) and the write strobe (WS) matched by design, the distributed system clock and Write Valid signal are synchronized to the WS distribution path by means of the DLL delay with reference to the system clock input to the DLL. By backing the distribution delay out of system clock as sent to the deserializers, the write valid signal is effectively synchronized with the write strobe, with the effect that data will be passed out of the deserializer circuitry to the memory array on time and consistent with the programmed write latency.
US07881146B2
A semiconductor memory apparatus includes a first bank block including a first bank group, a second bank block including a second bank group, and an address control unit that receives an address signal to selectively provide a decoded row address signal to the first bank block or the second bank block in response to a bank address signal.
US07881143B2
An interface circuit between a first device capable of being supplied with a first power and a second device capable of being supplied with a second power independent of the first power includes a first reference voltage generation unit configured to generate a first reference voltage from the first power, a second reference voltage generation unit configured to generate a second reference voltage from the second power, and a switching unit configured to switch to input respective different ones of the first and the second reference voltages to the first and the second devices. In this configuration, the memory controller can be separately powered off while electric power is being supplied to the memory which is connected to the memory controller via a bus.
US07881142B2
A storage device and its control method are described, according to which a bias voltage to be supplied to a memory cell array is selected from boosted voltages which are increased from an external voltage and non-boosted voltages which are not increased from the external voltage. In the period during which a DC-DC converter section supplies a boosted voltage increased from the external voltage to an internal bias line for supplying a bias voltage to the memory cell array, a non-boosted voltage supply section for supplying a non-boosted voltage equal to or less than the external voltage is in its inactive state. In the period during which the non-boosted voltage supply section supplies a non-boosted voltage to the internal bias line, the DC-DC converter section is in its inactive state. In the period during which a boosted voltage is supplied to the internal bias line, the DC-DC converter section is used for ensuring sufficient power supply ability, and in the period during which the non-boosted voltage is supplied to the internal bias line, the DC-DC converter section can be kept in its inactive state. Thus, the power consumed by the DC-DC converter section can be saved in the period during which the supply of a boosted voltage is unnecessary.
US07881134B2
Electronic systems and methods of operating memory devices are provided. In one such embodiment, a memory device receives an external address that addresses a non-defective column of memory cells of a sequence of columns of memory cells of the memory device in place of a defective column of memory cells of the sequence of columns of memory cells such that the non-defective memory column replaces the defective memory column. The non-defective column of memory cells is proximate non-defective column of memory cells following the defective column of memory cells in the sequence of columns of memory cells that is available to replace the defective column of memory cells.
US07881128B2
A negative word line voltage generator for semiconductor memory device includes a comparison unit configured to compare a reference voltage and a feedback voltage and to output a comparison result as an output signal, a pull-down driving unit configured to pull down a negative word line voltage in response to an output signal of the comparison unit, a sub pull-down driving unit configured to pull down a voltage level of the negative word line voltage node additionally during an activation period of a precharge signal, and a feedback unit configured to provide the feedback voltage corresponding to a voltage level of the negative word line voltage.
US07881127B2
A nonvolatile memory device includes a clock input stage configured to receive a clock signal for a test, a control signal output unit configured to output data input-output (IO) control signals according to the clock signal, n number of IO stages for data IO, and n number of storage units connected to the respective n number of IO stages and configured to temporarily store data to be exchanged between the respective n number of IO stages and internal circuits according to the respective data IO control signals. The n number of storage units are further commonly connected to a first IO stage of the n number of IO stages and configured to sequentially input or output data through the first IO stage in a test mode according to the respective data IO control signals.
US07881124B2
A method is provided for block writing in an electrically programmable non-volatile memory, in which a block to be written in the memory includes at least one word. The method includes determining a word write time by dividing a fixed block write time by the number of words in the block to be written, and controlling the memory to successively write each word in the memory during the write time.
US07881120B2
A semiconductor memory device comprises a plurality of memory cells connected to a bit line; and a sense amplifier operative to sense the magnitude of cell current flowing via the bit line in a selected memory cell connected to the bit line to determine the value of data stored in the memory cell. The sense amplifier includes a first transistor for precharge operative to supply current in the bit line via a first and a second sense node, a second transistor for charge transfer interposed between the first and second sense nodes, and a third transistor for continuous current supply operative to supply current in the bit line not via the first and second sense nodes.
US07881105B2
Flash memory systems and methodologies are provided herein for facilitating single logical cell erasure and quad or more bit storage in a flash device. The single logical cell erasure can be accomplished by employing a single program and erase entity as a single logical cell. The single program and erase entity is a combination of neighboring drain/source regions of two adjacent physical memory cells. By mapping two adjacent physical cells as a single logical cell, the flash memory device can be programmed and erased on a single bit or variable bit length basis. The memory cells can contain four or more data states, and each of the two adjacent memory cells in the single program and erase entity can be programmed independently from each other. As a result, the single program and erase entity can store four or more bits.
US07881100B2
The present disclosure includes methods, devices, modules, and systems for sensing memory cells using a state machine. One method embodiment includes generating a first sensing reference according to a first output of a state machine. The method includes bifurcating a range of possible programmed levels to which a memory cell can be programmed with the first sensing reference. The method also includes generating a second sensing reference according to a second output of the state machine. The method further includes determining a programmed level of the memory cell with the second generated sensing reference.
US07881098B2
A memory unit includes a giant magnetoresistance cell electrically coupled between a write bit line and a write source line and a magnetic tunnel junction data cell electrically coupled between a read bit line and a read source line. A write current passing through the giant magnetoresistance cell switches the giant magnetoresistance cell between a high resistance state and a low resistance state. The magnetic tunnel junction data cell is configured to switch between a high resistance state and a low resistance state by magnetostatic coupling with the giant magnetoresistance cell. The magnetic tunnel junction data cell is read by a read current passing though the magnetic tunnel junction data cell.
US07881083B2
A switch control device, a switch control method, and a converter using the same are disclosed. The converter includes: a switch; an energy transfer element that converts input energy into output energy according to a switching operation of the switch; and a switch control device that generates a first signal, which is maintained at a first level during a first interval starting from a first time at which the switch is turned on by using a feedback signal corresponding to the output energy and is then gradually lowered from the first level to the feedback signal during a second interval, and controls the switching operation of the switch by using a second signal corresponding to a current flowing at the switch and the first signal. A malfunction due to an LEC can be effectively prevented, and the converter and the converter controller can be implemented to be compact and low-priced.
US07881082B2
A power conversion apparatus includes a series circuit having a first switching element and a second switching element, the series circuit being connected to a DC power source in parallel, a resonant circuit including a capacitor and a primary winding of a transformer, the resonant circuit being connected to one of the first and second switching elements in parallel, an intermittent signal generator, a controller to control the start and stop of a switching operation of the first and second switching elements according to the intermittent signal, a current detector to detect a resonant current passing through the resonant circuit, and a timing generator to generate a timing signal when the detected resonant current satisfies a resonant condition. After the switching operation of the first and second switching elements is suspended according to the intermittent signal, the controller resumes the switching operation in response to the timing signal.
US07881076B2
A buck-boost PFC converter is provided and includes an inductor, first and second transistors, a first diode, and a control circuit. The inductor has a first terminal and a second terminal. The first transistor is coupled to a positive-power rail and the first terminal of the inductor. The second transistor is coupled to the second terminal of the inductor and a negative-power rail. The first diode is connected from the second terminal of the inductor to an output of the buck-boost PFC converter. The control circuit generates a first signal and a second signal coupled to control the first transistor and the second transistor respectively. The first signal is utilized to turn on the first transistor for conducting the positive-power rail to the inductor. The second signal is utilized to turn on the second transistor for conducting the inductor to the negative-power rail.
US07881074B2
A blanking panel includes a main body extending from a first end to a second end and adapted to cover a rack having at least two posts, a fastener portion at the end of each of the first and the second ends, and an alignment member at the end of each of the first end and the second end, the alignment feature including a first pin and a second, removable pin such that the main body can be alternatively attached to a square hole with the removable pin intact, or attached to a round hole with the removable pin removed and the first pin extending through the hole.
US07881071B2
A multilayer printed wiring board includes: a build-up layer that is formed on a core substrate and has a conductor pattern disposed on an upper surface; a low elastic modulus layer that is formed on the build-up layer; lands that are disposed on an upper surface of the low elastic modulus layer and connected via solder bumps to a IC chip; and conductor posts that pass through the low elastic modulus layer and electrically connect lands with conductor patterns. The conductor posts have the aspect ratio Rasp (height/minimum diameter) of not less than and the minimum diameter exceeding 30 μm, and the aspect ratio Rasp of external conductor posts, which are positioned at external portions of the low elastic modulus layer, is greater than or equal to the aspect ratio Rasp of internal conductor posts, which are positioned at internal portions of the low elastic modulus layer.
US07881068B2
Provided herein is a composite layer including an electronically functional structural component adapted to integrate a plurality of electronic functions into a laminate cover, layer, and/or laminate component, for protecting, supporting, and/or forming a complete electronic device (such as a multimedia device). The composite layer includes a plurality of structural and/or protective layers interspersed with electronically functional layers or electronic components in communication with the multimedia device to form a supportive and electronically functional layer, cover, protective layer, and/or electronic device. Thus, the composite layer provided allow for the cost-effective addition of thin and lightweight functional, protective, and/or decorative layers to a multimedia device or other electronic device at a sales location or other customization location.
US07881065B1
An RFID tag includes a capacitor between the ASIC ground pin and the circuit ground. The value of the capacitor is selected so that in the case of electrostatic discharge (ESD), the potential drop is primarily across the capacitor rather than the ASIC. Thus, the ASIC is protected against ESD.
US07881053B1
A heat-dissipating seat for exclusive use with notebook computers is provided. A cooling fan is provided in a base plate of the heat-dissipating seat. The base plate is bilaterally provided with retractable extension bars for expanding the base plate. Each of the extension bars has an end fixedly provided with a rotatable leg. The heat-dissipating seat has a compact, intricate design that allows easy portability.
US07881052B2
Compact HDD carrier mechanism featuring self actuating EMC springs to prevent HDD component shorting
An improved carrier comprises a tray, an EMC component, and a bezel. The EMC component comprises a top spring set and a bottom spring set. Each spring set comprises a plurality of spring biased contacts connected by a plate and a bar so that each spring set moves in unison when depressed or released. Each tray has a first flange and a second flange and each of the flanges has a cut out portion. When an improved carrier is moved out of an array enclosure, the flanges depress the top spring of the EMC component of the carrier below. When the improved carrier is moved into the array enclosure, the flanges depress the top spring set of the carrier below until the top spring set of the carrier below is released by the cut-out portions of the flanges. When released, the top spring set of the carrier below contacts the bottom spring set of the carrier above to form a continuous EMC shield.
US07881043B2
A wound electric double-layer capacitor suppresses electrochemical reaction on polarized electrode layers, reduces characteristic degradation, and has high reliability. The capacitor has a capacitor element formed by winding positive and negative electrodes with a separator interposed between them, a metal case for storing the capacitor element and an electrolyte for driving, and a sealing member for sealing an opening of the metal case. In the positive and negative electrodes, positive and negative electrode lead wires are coupled to exposed parts of current collectors having polarized electrode layers on their both surfaces, respectively. The negative electrode is wound at least one extra turn from the winding end of the positive electrode of the capacitor element, and hence a part where the polarized electrode layers formed in the negative electrode face each other through the separator is formed on the outermost periphery of the capacitor element.
US07881038B2
A variable capacitor including a first electrode part, which is provided at a fixed part that includes a substrate, and a movable part, which has a second electrode part forming the capacity of said variable capacitor between itself and the first electrode part, and the movable part is displaced in response to a first drive signal to selectively go into an opposing status, in which the second electrode part opposes the first electrode part, and a non-opposing status, in which the second electrode part essentially does not oppose the first electrode part. This variable capacitor is able to obtain at least a two-value capacity in which the mutual ratio is large without specially requiring another capacitor or a switch, and it is able to obtain the desired capacity variation range by combining a plurality of capacitors.
US07881037B2
An air bag device of the present invention includes squibs and a capacitor, an electric discharge circuit as well as a backup power supply, a voltage stabilizer and ignition circuits. The voltage stabilizer converts the voltage of the backup power supply to the predetermined target voltage, and the converted voltage is supplied for the ignition circuit. The capacitor removes a noise emitted by the ignition circuit. The electric discharge circuit discharges electricity accumulated in the capacitor right after the supply of an ignition current from the ignition circuit has ended. In this manner, a voltage rise of the capacitor occurring after the end of the supply of the ignition current can be resolved immediately, thereby enabling a supply of a stable ignition current for the squibs.
US07881024B2
A tunnel-type magnetic detecting element is provided. The tunnel-type magnetic detecting element includes a first ferromagnetic layer; an insulating barrier layer; and a second ferromagnetic layer. The first ferromagnetic layer, the second ferromagnetic layer, or both have a Heusler alloy layer contacting the insulating barrier layer. Equivalent planes represented by {110} surfaces, are preferentially oriented parallel to a film surface in the Heusler alloy layer. The insulating barrier layer is formed of MgO and the equivalent crystal planes represented by the {100} surfaces or the equivalent crystal planes represented by the {110} surfaces are oriented parallel to the film surface.
US07881021B2
A magnetoresistive device with CPP structure, comprising a nonmagnetic intermediate layer, and a first ferromagnetic layer and a second ferromagnetic layer stacked and formed with said nonmagnetic intermediate layer interposed between them, wherein each of said first and second ferromagnetic layers comprises a sensor area joining to the nonmagnetic intermediate layer and a magnetization direction control area that extends further rearward from the position of the rear end of said nonmagnetic intermediate layer; a magnetization direction control multilayer arrangement is interposed at an area where the magnetization direction control area for said first ferromagnetic layer is opposite to the magnetization direction control area for said second ferromagnetic layer to produce magnetizations of the said first and second ferromagnetic layers which are antiparallel with each other; and said sensor area is provided at both width direction ends with biasing layers working such that the mutually antiparallel magnetizations of said first and second ferromagnetic layers intersect in substantially orthogonal directions.
US07881018B2
A differential giant magnetoresistive sensor for sensing a magnetic signal. The differential sensor has a structure configured to minimize spin torque noise. The differential magnetoresistive sensor includes first and second magnetoresistive sensor elements and a three lead structure including an inner lead sandwiched between the first and second sensor elements and first and second outer leads. each of the sensor elements includes an antiparallel coupled free layer structure with the free layer of each of the sensor elements preferably being positioned near the inner lead. The three lead structure allows sense current to be supplied to the sensor such that electrons travel first through the free layer of each sensor element and then through the pinned layer structure.
US07881011B2
A magnetic structure, such as a pole tip, and method for forming the same includes forming a pole tip layer of magnetic material. A layer of polyimide precursor material is added above the pole tip layer and cured. A silicon-containing resist layer is added above the layer of polyimide precursor material and patterned. The resist layer is exposed to oxygen plasma for converting the resist into a glass-like material. Exposed portions of the cured polyimide precursor material are removed for exposing portions of the pole tip layer. The exposed portions of the pole tip layer are removed for forming a pole tip. Chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) can then be performed to remove any unwanted material remaining above the pole tip.
US07880998B2
Two pass writing system and method for patterned media. In a first step, a write head of a hard disk drive writes with a strong write field. In a second step, a write head of the hard disk drive writes with a weak field. In this manner, magnetic islands of patterned media are written in the first step. In the second step, only those magnetic islands with a low switching field are written.
US07880996B2
According to one embodiment, an apparatus includes a near field transducer comprising a conductive metal film having a main body with front and back edges and a ridge extending from the front edge of the main body. Also, the apparatus includes an optical waveguide for illumination of the near field transducer, wherein a distance between the ridge and the back edge of the main body is between about 60 and about 240 nanometers.
US07880994B2
In a data storage device, a head writes data so as to protect data from off track writing to adjust tracks. A control unit acquires large ring buffer during sequential writing and performs a retry to return adjacent tracks, according to data of a return sector area of the ring buffer when a write error occurs. A write error due to a detection mistake of an off track error can be prevented.
US07880992B2
Phase detector that compensates for frequency variation induced bias in phases of servo burst fields
In a servo control loop, phase detection between a clock signal and servo burst fields on a movable storage media is carried out with compensation for the effects of frequency variation in the timing of servo burst fields.
US07880990B2
Patterned-media magnetic recording disks are made from a master template that has nondata regions that contain a pattern of one or more discrete nondata islands and discrete gaps, with the pattern representing a scrambled number. All disks made from the master template, or from replica molds made from the master, will have the same patterns. When the disks are DC-magnetized so that all the nondata islands are magnetized in the same direction, these patterns will include one or more of discrete magnetized nondata islands and discrete nonmagnetic gaps that are scrambled in a pseudo-random manner. During operation of the disk drive the patterns are detected by the read head and interpreted within the disk drive using knowledge of the pseudo-random scrambling function, so that reading and writing of data can occur in the conventional manner. If the disks are copied in an attempt to replicate the master template, the resulting disks will be inoperable in a disk drive because of the scrambling.
US07880989B1
A write driver circuit includes a first write driver that communicates with a first node of a write head. A first feedback path communicates with a control input and an output of the first write driver. The first feedback path includes a first resistance connected between the output of the first write driver and the control input of the first write driver. A second write driver communicates with a second node of the write head. A second feedback path communicates with a control input and an output of the second write driver. The second feedback path includes a second resistance connected between the output of the second write driver and the control input of the second write driver.
US07880987B2
Certifying a storage media while servowriting the media by formatting a full compliment of servo data in storage tracks of the media in a minimum number of passes per storage track while simultaneously performing a 100% media certification of the storage tracks during the minimum number of passes per storage track.
US07880974B2
A zoom lens includes a negative first lens group, a positive second lens group, and a positive third lens group; wherein, when changing power from a wide-angle end state to a tele end state, the first lens group moves such that air space between the first lens group and the second lens group decreases, and air space between the second lens group and the third lens group increases, and the second lens group moves toward the object side; and wherein the first lens group includes a negative lens with both faces formed aspherically and the concave face facing the image side, and a positive meniscus lens with at least one face formed aspherically and the convex face facing the object side, satisfying 2.8<|f1/fw|<3.3 where f1 represents the focal length of the first lens group, and fw represents the entire focal length in the wide-angle end state.
US07880971B2
A light-collimating film includes a transparent substrate, multiple reflective elements, and multiple micro structures. The transparent substrate has a light incident surface and a light-emitting surface opposite the light incident surface. The reflective elements are formed on the light incident surface, wherein each two adjacent reflective elements define a longitudinal aperture. The micro structures are arranged on the light-emitting surface in a direction parallel to longitudinal axes of the longitudinal apertures and overlap the longitudinal apertures to form multiple rows of micro structures. The micro structures include a first side portion to deflect a first light beam incident thereon toward a first virtual central plane of the micro structure which equally divides the micro structure, and a second side portion to deflect a second light beam incident thereon toward a second virtual central plane of the micro structure which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal aperture.
US07880961B1
An optical amplifier, such as an optical waveguide amplifier (e.g., an optical fiber amplifier or a planar waveguide) or a non-guiding optical amplifier, that exhibits a net phase-mismatch selected to at least partially reduce gain-induced phase-matching during operation thereof is disclosed. In one aspect of the invention, an optical amplifier structure includes at least one optical amplifier having a length and a gain region. The at least one optical amplifier exhibits a net phase-mismatch that varies along at least part of the length thereof selected to at least partially reduce gain-induced phase-matching during operation thereof.
US07880957B2
A lighting system operating using a digital mirror as its operative device. The digital mirror is used to shape the light which is a passed through advanced optical devices in order to produce an output.
US07880956B2
An electrophoretic display includes a display panel and a scanning device. The display panel includes a magnetic rotating ball layer and a soft magnetic layer. The magnetic rotating ball layer includes a plurality of magnetic rotating balls. Two magnetic poles of each magnetic rotating ball have white and black colors respectively. The soft magnetic layer includes a plurality of soft magnetic bodies each facing at least one of the rotatable magnetic rotating balls. The scanning device is movably attached to the display panel and includes a plurality of electromagnets facing the soft magnetic layer. The electromagnets are spatially corresponding to a row of the soft magnetic bodies. Each electromagnet magnetize corresponding one soft magnetic body when the electromagnets are moved along the display panel. Each magnetic rotating ball corresponding to one soft magnetic body is driven by one soft magnetic body to display white or black colors.
US07880951B2
A micro oscillating device includes a frame, an oscillating part including a first drive electrode for application of a reference electric potential, and a connecting part for connecting the frame and the oscillating part to each other, where the connecting part defines an axis of an oscillating motion of the oscillating part. A second drive electrode is fixed to the frame to cooperate with the first drive electrode for generation of a driving force for the oscillating movement. The first drive electrode includes a first end extension and a second end extension separated from each other and extending in a direction crossing the axis. The second drive electrode is within a separation distance between the first and the second end extensions.
US07880945B2
A method for manufacturing a hologram projection screen includes the steps of: 1) recording hologram lens information on a photoresist plate; 2) metalizing the photoresist plate that has been exposed, to produce a master nickel plate of a hologram lens array through electroforming and joining; and 3) using the master nickel plate to emboss thermoplastic material, to obtain a screen body, on which the information of the hologram lens array is arranged. The hologram projection screen manufactured by this method can provide a variety of display contents.
US07880943B2
A security article is a substrate having a diffractive grating thereon, coated with a windowed high index layer and a color shifting coating visible through the window. The color shifting coating is disposed on the high index layer or on the opposite side of the substrate. Alternatively, a thin film color shifting structure conforming the diffractive grating is disposed between the grating and the windowed high index layer, also conforming to the shape of the diffractive grating. Alternatively, an ink with low density of color shifting pigments is applied over the high index layer conforming to the shape of the diffractive grating. The resulting color shifting image provides a reference to a holographic image.
US07880940B2
An image processing apparatus including: a storage unit including a plurality of memory modules, the storage unit storing image data having been subjected to a main scanning shift processing into the memory modules; and a control unit dividing a first memory area at a center position of main scanning, the first memory area set to increase a total storage capacity as a shift amount in a sub scanning direction becomes larger, the control unit superposing the divided first memory areas so as to counteract memory un-use areas to set a second memory area, the control unit selecting the memory modules corresponding to the second memory area to read and write the image data, the control unit thereby performing sub scanning shift processing of the image data.
US07880938B2
An image processing apparatus that enables to embed a secure pattern code in an output image with an inexpensive configuration. An image reader has a color reference plate and reads image data of an original. An image forming apparatus forms an image on an image carrier based on the image data of the original. A laser controller irradiates the color reference plate with laser light. An image sensor controller reads a pattern image generated by irradiating the color reference plate with the laser light. The image forming apparatus adds data concerning the pattern image read by the image sensor controller to the image data of the original read by the image reader and forms an image based on the image data of the original to which the data concerning the pattern image is added.
US07880929B2
An image data conversion apparatus for embedding a second image into image data corresponding to a first image, comprising an embedded image acquisition unit that acquires a second image for embedding in the first image, an embedment area acquisition unit that receives a location of an embedment area where the second image may be embedded in the first image, an ink set memory unit that stores a first and second set of inks and associated quantities, wherein the second set of inks and may be substituted for the first set of inks, and an ink amount data conversion unit that converts the image data into converted ink quantity data that corresponds to the image data such that the second image embedded in the first image can be observed by making a differentiation between portions of the first image where the first and second set of ink are used.
US07880928B2
This disclosure provides color image process methods and systems to control hue variation associated with a color printing system. In particular, it provides a method and system to adjust a control patch associated with a color separation to force a chromatic difference and control perceived color accuracy.
US07880927B2
An image forming apparatus, an image forming method, a program, and a recording medium that succeed in reducing recording agent consumption without causing image quality degradation are provided. A modification region processing section detects, out of image data, A locations where a region identification signal provided from a region separation processing section changes from a ground region mode to a character region mode, and vice versa, as the boundary between the ground region and the character region, and thereby specifies a modification region which is continuous with the ground region and overlaps with a part of a periphery of the character region which is contiguous to the ground region. The modification region is assigned color data indicating a color that can be represented by the recording agent for use in ground region formation thereby to generate image data.
US07880910B2
When image data is transmitted from a digital camera (DSC) to a PD printer apparatus and printed, the PD printer apparatus transmits its Capability to the DSC. The DSC restricts the setting items of a UI screen displayed on the display to functions of the PD printer apparatus in accordance with Capability, and displays the items.
US07880908B2
A print apparatus which prints image data on a recording sheet, comprises a first calculation unit adapted to calculate the number of printable sheets from a battery remaining amount of the print apparatus, a second calculation unit adapted to calculate the number of printable sheets from a recording sheet remaining amount or ink remaining amount, a determination unit adapted to determine the number of sheets printable by the print apparatus based on the number of printable sheets calculated by the first calculation unit and the number of printable sheets calculated by the second calculation unit, and a display unit adapted to display the number of printable sheets determined by the determination unit.
US07880906B2
A folder created in a print data storing region for storing print data received from an external device is checked. When it is judged that there is print data, a print job is created by adding a restraining image corresponding to the folder to the print data. The created print job is transmitted to a multi-function printer, and an image with the added restraining image is formed on paper. It is thus possible to add an image for restraining copying.
US07880904B2
In accordance with one aspect of the present exemplary embodiment, a printing system comprises a media feeder that receives and stores asymmetrically thick media from an outside source and outputs such media to the printing system via a feed mechanism. A conveyer system transports the asymmetrically thick media from the media feeder utilizing at least one linear belt wherein a sensor is employed to determine the presence of the asymmetrically thick piece of stock. A controller coupled to the conveyer determines the location and orientation of an image on a piece of the asymmetrically thick stock. An imaging system receives the asymmetrically thick media from the conveyer system and places an image on the media in the proper location and orientation based at least in part on information from the controller.
US07880895B2
An apparatus has an optical system detecting spectral information and having an optical scanner and a driving unit changing the optical path length by moving an optical member, a monitor, a control unit obtaining a tomographic image by performing Fourier analysis on the information and displaying the obtained image, and a unit previously setting an image on the monitor, in which the member is moved from an initial position and presence or absence of the tomographic image is determined, when the presence is detected, whether the tomographic image is normal or inverted is determined, and when the tomographic image is not the set image, the member is moved to obtain the set image, and when the tomographic image is the set image, the member is moved so that a position of the tomographic image in the depth direction coincides with a predetermined adjustment position and the driving unit is stopped.
US07880882B2
The invention discloses a system for optical spectroscopy comprising a multi-wavelength semiconductor light source comprising a plurality of semiconductor light sources disposed on a silicon sub-carrier and emitting a plurality of radiation components spanning a wavelength range. The radiation components are coupled to a waveguide array disposed on the same silicon subcarrier. Output from the waveguide array provides a compact multi-wavelength laser source with wide tuning range via a plurality of laser sources. The system further comprises means for directing radiation components to a sample, and an optical detector configured to detect one of a radiation reflected from and transmitted through said sample. The system can be used in a variety of applications including the analysis of in-vivo human tissue, agricultural samples, and pharmaceutical samples. Typical wavelength ranges are 650-1000 nm, 700-1700 nm, and 1100-2500 nm.
US07880877B2
A detection system is used during irradiation of an interaction region of a structure with laser light. The structure includes embedded material. The detection system includes means for receiving light emitted from the interaction region. The detection system further includes means for separating the received light into a spectrum of wavelengths. The detection system further includes means for analyzing at least a portion of the spectrum for indications of embedded material within the interaction region.
US07880876B2
Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopic (SERS) systems and methods for detecting biomolecules of interest, such as a bacterium are provided.
US07880873B2
A pattern formation device is for forming a pattern on a substrate includes first and second foreign matter detection sensors. Each of the first and second foreign matter detection sensors includes a light projecting unit and a light receiving unit disposed across a transport path of the substrate from the first light projecting unit. The light projecting unit is configured and arranged to emit a detection light along an upper surface of the substrate. The light receiving unit being configured and arranged to receive the detection light to detect foreign matter on the substrate based on an amount of the detection light received by the light receiving unit. The light projecting units of the first and second foreign matter detection sensors are disposed on opposite sides of the transport path.
US07880872B2
The present invention features a method to determine relative spatial parameters between two coordinate systems, which may be a mold and a region of a substrate in which mold is employed to generate a pattern. The method includes sensing relative alignment between the two coordinate systems at multiple points and determines relative spatial parameters therebetween. The relative spatial parameters include a relative area and a relative shape.
US07880870B1
Detection sensors utilizing linear arrays using one or more linear arrays of detectors sampled at a high rate. The invention is useful for target detection including hydrocarbon events such as guns, mortars, RPG missiles and artillery firings, lightning, and other optical events.
US07880859B2
A substrate processing system processes a plurality of substrates in a single-substrate processing mode by a plurality of processes and provided with a plurality of modules respectively for carrying out processes. When a defect is found in a substrate, a defective processing unit that caused the defect can be easily found out. The substrate processing system and a substrate processing method to be carried out by the substrate processing system can suppress the reduction of throughput when a large number of substrates are to be processed. The substrate processing system is provided with a plurality of modules for processing a plurality of substrates (W) in a single-substrate processing mode by a plurality of processes and includes a substrate carrying means (A4) for carrying a substrate (W) from a sending module to a receiving module, and a control means (6) for controlling the substrate carrying means (A4) on the basis of one of at least two carrying modes each assigning receiving modules to sending modules. The control means (6) changes the carrying mode in effect for the other carrying mode upon the reception of a carrying mode change command while substrates are being processed and makes the substrate carrying means (A4) carry substrates in the carrying mode newly brought into effect.
US07880857B2
An active matrix substrate includes a transistor, a pixel electrode connected with one of the current-flowing electrodes of the transistor, a storage capacitor wiring, a lead wiring extending from one of the current-flowing electrodes of the transistor, and a repair wiring extending from the storage capacitor wiring. The repair wiring overlaps a portion of the lead wiring with an insulating layer interposed therebetween. As a result, TFT defects (for example, a short circuit between a source electrode and a drain electrode) can be repaired, and performance of fast display and reduction in electric power consumption can be realized.
US07880856B2
A pixel unit including a pixel electrode, a scan electrode, a common voltage electrode, a data electrode and at least one redundancy electrode is provided. During the fabricating process of the pixel unit, if a particle is simultaneously located between any two of the pixel electrode, the scan electrode and the common voltage electrode, it would cause a short circuit between the two electrodes. The pixel unit can generate a cross-shaped defect signal at the location where a short circuit happens when the pixel unit undergoes an array test or a cell test. The user can thereby quickly locate the defect and repair it.
US07880854B2
A liquid crystal display panel includes a TFT substrate, a color filter (CF) substrate opposed to the TFT substrate, a sealant disposed between the TFT substrate and the CF substrate and disposed between portions of both the substrates located immediately outside display regions thereof, and a liquid crystal layer disposed between the TFT substrate and the CF substrate. The CF substrate is provided with a light-shielding layer at a portion located immediately outside its display region. The light-shielding layer is provided with a slit at a region that coincides with a line on the TFT substrate.
US07880851B2
An array substrate for a liquid crystal display device includes gate and data lines crossing on a substrate, common lines parallel to and between the gate lines, thin film transistors at crossing portions of the gate and data lines, and a pixel electrode. The common lines define pixel regions, which are each divided into first and second regions by the corresponding gate line. The thin film transistors each include a gate electrode in a first direction, a semiconductor layer on the gate electrode, and source and drain electrodes on the semiconductor layer in a second direction. The source and drain electrodes cross the gate electrode in each of the first and second regions. The pixel electrode is connected to the drain electrode.
US07880849B2
A display panel includes gate lines formed on a substrate, storage electrode lines formed on the substrate and being parallel to the gate lines, data lines insulated from the gate lines and crossing the gate lines, a plurality of thin film transistors (TFTs) connected with the gate lines and the data lines, and pixel electrodes having a first sub-electrode connected with a TFT and a second sub-electrode formed at a side opposite the first sub-electrode with respect to a gate line, wherein the TFT and a storage electrode line are disposed between the first and second sub-electrodes.
US07880847B2
A high resolution, wide viewing angle, low power consumption liquid crystal display device which utilizes nematic liquid crystal and which can attain both the memory effect and wide-viewing-angle display characteristic. A liquid crystal display device that utilizes nematic liquid crystal and includes a pair of transparent substrates; a group of electrodes for applying to a liquid crystal layer disposed between the pair of substrates an electric field having a component substantially parallel to the surfaces of the substrates; and an alignment layer disposed between the liquid crystal layer and at least one of the pair of substrates and having been subjected to liquid crystal anchoring treatments in plural directions. The plurality of liquid crystal anchoring directions of the alignment layer form substantially equal angles relative to one another, and a rising angle in each of the liquid crystal anchoring directions with respect to the corresponding substrate surface is substantially zero.
US07880843B2
A liquid crystal display device (10) of the present invention includes a backlight (3), a display liquid crystal panel (1) and a viewing angle control panel (2) for switching a viewing angle of the display liquid crystal panel (1) between a wide viewing angle mode and a narrow viewing angle mode. The viewing angle control panel (2) includes a control panel upper polarizing plate (22), a liquid crystal cell (21) and a control panel lower polarizing plate (23) stacked in this order, and phase difference plates (24, 25) are provided between the polarizing plates (22, 23) and the liquid crystal cell (21), respectively. The viewing angle control panel (2) is arranged such that Re1 in a white display portion in the wide viewing angle mode is nλ/2 (n is an integer of 1 or more), Re2 in a white display portion in the narrow viewing angle mode is nλ/2 (n is an integer of 1 or more), and Re3 in a black display portion in the narrow viewing angle mode is nλ (n is an integer of 1 or more).
US07880842B2
A liquid-crystal display device comprising a liquid-crystal cell with plural domains and a transparent film comprising at least two domains that differ in in-plane retardation (Re) and/or thickness-direction retardation (Rth) for a visible light wavelength λ nm is disclosed. The domains of the transparent film and the domains of the liquid-crystal cell have no correlation in terms of their arrangement and/or size.
US07880841B2
An exemplary liquid crystal display (LCD) (1) includes a first substrate (211), a second substrate (221), and a liquid crystal layer (230) sandwiched between the two substrates. The LCD further includes a common electrode layer (212) formed at an inner side of; a dielectric compensating layer (213) formed at an inner side of at an inner side of the common electrode layer; and a plurality of pixel electrodes (224) formed at an inner side of the second substrate. The dielectric compensating layer is configured to compensate changes in the dielectric constant of the liquid crystal layer which occur according to gradation voltages provided to the liquid crystal layer.
US07880828B2
Disclosed is a liquid crystal display (LCD) device provided with a flexible printed circuit (FPC) on a main support, the FPC integrally formed with a color sensor to detect colors of red, green and blue (RGB). The LCD device comprises: a main support having a concaved groove and a through hole partially formed at the concaved groove, the concaved groove formed at a lower surface of a frame with a prescribed width; a light emitting means provided at one side of the main support, and emitting light; a color sensor FPC composed of a flexible printed circuit (FPC) provided at the concaved groove of the main support, and a color sensor fixed to the FPC and inserted into the through hole of the main support, for detecting a color characteristic of light emitted from the light emitting means; and a liquid crystal (LC) panel provided on the main support, and receiving light.
US07880823B2
A liquid crystal display (LCD) is provided that can improve lateral visibility while preventing a decrease in luminance. The LCD includes first and second gate lines which are arranged in parallel with each other and sequentially transmit a gate voltage; a data line which intersects the first and second gate lines and transmits a data voltage; a pixel electrode which is disposed in a pixel and includes first and second sub-pixel electrodes that are connected to each other through a first charge-sharing capacitor; a first switching device which is connected to the first gate line, the data line and the first sub-pixel electrode; a second switching device which is connected to the first sub-pixel electrode through a second charge-sharing capacitor; and a third switching device which is connected to the second gate line and the second sub-pixel electrode and is also connected to the first sub-pixel electrode through the second charge-sharing capacitor.
US07880814B2
The invention achieves a visual processing device that can execute precise contrast adjustment on image signals that have been input and that does not cause discrepancies in the output timing of the image signals that are output. The visual processing device is provided with a gain-type visual processing portion that outputs a first gain signal having predetermined gain characteristics with respect to the input image signal, and a correction portion that corrects the input image signal based on the first gain signal.
US07880806B2
An imaging operation controller including a casing, a control panel attached to a back part of the casing and having a plurality of operating members and function indicators that indicate the functions of the operating members and placed near the operating members, respectively. The control panel includes a base plate attached to the casing, a mounting plate placed on the base plate and a printed indicator sheet placed on the mounting plate. The plurality of operating members are supported on the base plate, indicator lighting light sources are supported on the base plate at positions respectively corresponding to the function indicators so as to emit light backward. The indicator lighting light sources are white light-emitting diodes attached to the base plate so as to emit light backward.
US07880804B2
A weighted gain generator sets a high frequency information detecting frame in an imaging screen of an image sensor, after that, sets a reference point in the high frequency information detecting frame, and sets such a weighting that has correspondence to a distance between a position of a targeted pixel in the imaging video signal and the reference point to a gain of the targeted pixel. A gain adjuster makes the gain weighted by the weighted gain generator act on the high frequency component of the imaging video signal.
US07880798B2
A device and method for optically converting a three-dimensional object into a two-dimensional planar image includes a camera, a lighting source and a concentric-shaped mirror positioned about a concentric inspection surface of an object to be inspected. A planar image of the object inspection surface about 360 degrees is generated and inspected for defects, marking indicia or other qualities of interest without having to rotate the camera or object.
US07880796B2
An image pickup device provided on a base board, comprises an image pickup element provided on the base board and including a photoelectrically converting section in which pixels are arranged, a peripheral surface formed around the photoelectrically converting section and a side surface crossing the peripheral surface; an optical member including a lens section to form an image of an object onto the photoelectrically converting section of the image pickup element, a leg section to support the lens section and a contact surface to be brought in contact with the image pickup element, wherein the lens section, the leg section and the contact surface are made in a single body. The optical member is mounted on the image pickup element such that the contact surface is brought in contact with the peripheral surface or with a surface member when the surface member is provided on the peripheral surface.
US07880794B2
An object of the present invention is to provide: a thin imaging device in which a high image resolution is obtained and in which the resolution does not uniformly vary even when the shooting distance is changed; and a lens array used therein. The present invention relates to an imaging device comprising: a lens array 130 constructed by arranging in parallel a plurality of lens elements having optical power in at least one surface; and an image sensor 110 in which an optical image formed by an optical system having each of the lens elements is received by each of mutually different imaging regions each having a plurality of photoelectric conversion sections so that the optical image is converted into an electric image signal, wherein each lens element and the imaging region corresponding to the lens element constitute an imaging unit, while the imaging units have diverse imaging region areas. The present invention relates also to a lens array used therein.
US07880791B2
An image sensor includes a pixel having a protection circuit connected to a charge multiplying photoconversion layer. The protection circuit prevents the pixel circuit from breaking down when the voltage in the pixel circuit reaches the operating voltage applied to the charge multiplying photoconversion layer in response to the image sensor being exposed to a strong light. The protection circuit causes additional voltage entering the pixel circuit from the charge multiplying photoconversion layer over a predetermined threshold voltage level to be dissipated from the storage node and any downstream components.
US07880789B2
A solid-state image pick-up device is configured for more effectively reducing dark current of an interlace scanning type of CCD so that electrodes connected to transfer shift gates are sequentially arranged on two adjacent vertical transfer paths and are driven such that signal charges are prevented from staying longer in the vertical transfer path below the electrodes connected to the transfer shift gates. This prevents signal charges from waiting longer for vertical transfer during a horizontal transfer period, thereby reducing dark current otherwise caused in the vertical transfer paths.
US07880788B2
An optical sensor circuit has a photodiode PD, a MOS transistor Q1, a voltage controller 13 which supplies a gate voltage and a drain voltage to the transistor, etc. The voltage controller includes initial setting means 15. In the initial setting means, an electrostatic capacitance element of the photodiode is charged/discharged while setting a gate voltage of the transistor Q1 to a high gate voltage value VgH, only for a predetermined time period, and setting a drain voltage to a low drain voltage value VdL, only for a predetermined time period. Thereafter, the drain voltage is set to VdH, and, after elapse of a predetermined time period, the gate voltage is set to VgL. VgH, VdH, and VdL satisfy relational expressions of “VgH−VdH
US07880781B2
A solid-state image pickup apparatus selects, in a first image pickup circumstance in which dark current is liable to occur in vertical transfer paths of an array of photo-sensors, a first transfer mode in which the potential well capacity in the vertical transfer paths is relatively small, and, in a second image pickup circumstance in which the dark current is small in quantity, a second transfer mode which is greater in potential well capacity than the first transfer mode. As a positive voltage applied to the read-out gates of the photo-sensors, a first voltage mode indicating a relatively low positive voltage that suppresses impact ionization is set in the first image pickup circumstance, and, a second voltage mode indicating a positive voltage higher than in the first voltage mode is set in the second image pickup circumstance so as to cause the impact ionization.
US07880780B2
A sensor including an array of sensor elements generates an image responsive to electromagnetic radiation exposure. The sensor reads coordinates for predetermined hot sensor elements and calculates a dark count for each hot sensor element. The sensor determines a temperature indicator based on the dark count for the hot sensor elements and calculates the dark count for all sensor elements based on the temperature indicator. Based on the dark count the sensor is able to compensate for dark current.
US07880773B2
An imaging device has an image sensor, and a color filter. The color filter is located on the image sensor and has at least four color elements that respectively have different spectral transmission properties. Further, the imaging device has a matrix-selection processor and a color conversion processor. The matrix-selection processor detects the spectral distribution properties of an object that are present in the series of color signals. Then, the matrix-selection processor selects one color matrix appropriate for the detected spectral distribution property from a plurality of color matrices according to the particular spectral distribution properties of a given object. The color-conversion processor generates R, G, and B primary color signals from the series of color signals by a color-conversion process using the selected color matrix.
US07880772B2
An imaging apparatus includes: an imaging section configured to approximate one of color matching functions representing sensitivity of the human eye to color by a spectral sensitivity that is obtained as a difference in output between, from among mutually adjacent photoelectric conversion elements, the photoelectric conversion elements arranged at predetermined positions, the imaging section having the photoelectric conversion elements arranged at the predetermined positions; and a signal processing section configured to apply to an output of the imaging section signal processing for converting an output of a photoelectric conversion element into a signal of a color image.
US07880771B2
An imaging apparatus comprises an image acquiring section. The image acquiring section images a subject based on an exposure reference value as a reference for an exposure in imaging to acquire image data by. An image outputting section outputs the image data obtained by the image acquiring section together with the exposure reference value.
US07880761B2
An external wireless communication module for enabling a camera to communicate with a remote device. The wireless communication module includes one or more pressure connectors configured to directly connect to one or more external ports of the camera, each of the one or more external ports may provide access to an internal function, control, signal, and/or power of the camera.
US07880759B2
A line head includes a substrate, light emitting elements disposed on the substrate, drive circuits that drive the light emitting elements, and wirings that electrically connect the drive circuits and the light emitting elements. The light emitting elements form n (n≧2) light emitting element rows. The drive circuits are electrically connected with the wirings to light emitting elements belonging to a number of light emitting element rows equal to or smaller than n−1.
US07880757B2
In an image forming device, a Light Emitting Diode (LED) head is attached to a slide member. The slide member includes a slidable base side member and a leading end side member which can move with respect to the base side member in a direction that is different from a sliding direction of the base side member. The LED head is provided on the leading end side member, and a positioning pin is provided on the LED head. The LED head is positioned with respect to a photoconductive drum by the positioning pin.
US07880754B2
In a method for activation of a print head operating according to the thermotransfer principle, the print head having a number of printing elements, in which the energy quantity to be supplied to a printing element is determined in a determination step, and the energy quantity is supplied to the printing element in a supply step in order to transfer ink from an ink carrier device associated with the print head onto a substrate associated with the ink carrier device. A print parameter set characteristic of the ink carrier device is read from a memory associated with the ink carrier device in a read step preceding the determination step and the energy quantity is determined in the determination step using at least the print parameter set.
US07880751B2
Method and system for projecting a first orthodontic related image at a predetermined location within a display unit, selecting a second orthodontic related image on the display unit, and projecting the second orthodontic related image at the predetermined area within the display unit such that a difference between the first orthodontic related image and the second orthodontic related image is displayed at the predetermined area within the display unit are provided.
US07880750B2
A raster image processing system and method accepts a digital page description as a series of page elements (text, graphics, images, etc.) and creates output video-ready (“flattened”) raster without allocating large amounts of raster memory (arrays of pixels) and without creating a display list of all page elements. This technique improves performance (greater speed with fewer resources consumed) in the typical output process: rendering, image processing, compression, and transmission. The method records each page element in memory in a manner that largely retains the inherent compression of the element description, and fully retains the positional relationships with its neighboring elements. Where an incoming page element overlaps an existing one, the intersections are calculated on the fly, and elements underneath are immediately split, merged, shrunken, or deleted. Each incoming page element is immediately processed and recorded as described above, and then discarded. The result is a continuously precise, simple, non-overlapping (“flat”) representation of the final output raster. In other words, in one embodiment, the representation starts empty, then stays compressed and flat throughout while accumulating representations of page elements.
US07880749B2
A computer readable storage medium includes executable instructions to define an abstraction layer disposed between a business intelligence application and a set of visualization libraries. The abstraction layer provides an application programmer interface for the business intelligence application to the set of visualization libraries. A visualization settings model is defined within the abstraction layer. The visualization settings model describes a visualization that can be rendered by a visualization library in the of visualization libraries.
US07880747B1
A technique for handling floating-point special values, e.g., Infinity, NaN, −Zero, and denorms, during blend operations is provided so that blend operations on fragment color values that contain special values can be performed in compliance with special value handling rules. In particular, the presence of special values is detected or the potential presence of special values is detected. This information is used to qualify when blend optimizations may be performed, so that floating point blend operations can remain conformant to special value handling rules.
US07880739B2
A system and method for simulating to one or more individual observers a view through a window using a display screen comprising a storage device containing in electronic form one or more images of a scene selected from the group consisting of one or more images of the scene at different angles and one or more images of the scene at different magnifications. A display screen is adapted to display the images to one or more individual observers, and a sensor is adapted to locate observers with respect to the display screen. A controller is adapted to select one or more of the images based on angle or distance of the individual observers with respect to the display screen and display the selected images on the display screen to simulate to the observers a view through a window of the scene.
US07880731B2
An electronic device includes a base, a touchpad and a touchpad cover apparatus for covering an operating surface of the touchpad. The touchpad is fastened to a bottom plate of the base. An opening is defined in the shell for revealing the operating surface of the touchpad. The touchpad cover apparatus includes a rail guide extending from a bottom surface of the shell and a touchpad cover. A pair of parallel guiding channels is defined in the rail guide. The touchpad cover is slidably inserted between the pair of parallel guiding channels, being slidable between a first position such that the operating surface of the touchpad is revealed through the opening of the shell, and a second position such that an operating surface of the touchpad is covered by the touchpad cover.
US07880725B2
An improved handheld electronic device and an improved method facilitate the entry of data when the data is provided in a predetermined data format. In the depicted exemplary embodiment, the handheld electronic device includes a user interface that facilitates the entry of data having a predetermined data format.
US07880721B2
An ultrasonic receiver receives an ultrasonic signal having a period in which an amplitude thereof progressively increases as time elapses. A pattern matching unit determines whether a comparative pattern, which is generated as a result of comparison between the respective maximum amplitude values of a plurality of successive waves of said wave signal and a threshold value set by a threshold setting unit, matches a reference pattern or not during the period of the ultrasonic signal. The pattern matching unit determines that the ultrasonic receiver has successfully received the ultrasonic signal if the comparative pattern matches the reference pattern.
US07880718B2
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed to control an application interface displayed on electronic paper. A detection module is included to detect intentional bending of an electronic paper at a particular location. A correlation module is included to correlate the particular location where the electronic paper is bent with a user interface command in an application. An execution module is included to execute the user interface command. In one embodiment, a display module is included to update display information on the electronic paper in response to execution of the user interface command. The electronic paper may include a detector in contact with the electronic paper to provide electronic paper bend position information to the detection module.
US07880717B2
A haptic device for human/computer interface includes a user interface tool coupled via cables to first, second, third, and fourth cable control units, each positioned at a vertex of a tetrahedron. Each of the cable control units includes a spool and an encoder configured to provide a signal corresponding to rotation of the respective spool. The cables are wound onto the spool of a respective one of the cable control units. The encoders provide signals corresponding to rotation of the respective spools to track the length of each cable. As the cables wind onto the spools, variations in spool diameter are compensated for. The absolute length of each cable is determined during initialization by retracting each cable In turn to a zero length position. A sensor array coupled to the tool detects rotation around one or more axes.
US07880716B2
A liquid crystal display device includes liquid crystal pixels, signal line groups each including a predetermined number of signal lines, and a drive circuit which selects the pixels on a row-by-row basis and drives the pixels of the selected row via the signal lines. The drive circuit includes a signal line driver which outputs a predetermined number of pixel voltages for each group driving period while the pixels of each row are being selected, a multiplexer which distributes to each signal line group the pixel voltages output from the signal line driver, and a controller which controls the multiplexer to electrically connect all of the signal line groups to the signal line driver and electrically disconnect the signal line groups one by one from the signal line driver for each group driving period, in a selection period of the pixels of an initial row that requires polarity inversion.
US07880712B2
An LCD device and a method of driving the same are disclosed, to improve a picture quality by realizing a rapid response speed, wherein the LCD device comprises an image display part which includes liquid crystal cells formed in respective regions defined by a plurality of gate and data lines; a timing controller which modulates data inputted according to a first frame frequency to modulation data to realize a rapid response speed of liquid crystal, and outputs the modulation data or data to a second frame frequency; a gate driver which generates gate on voltages under control of the timing controller, and supplies the gate on voltages to the gate lines in sequence; and a data driver which converts the modulation data or data supplied from the timing controller to a data voltage, and supplies the data voltage to the data line in synchronization with the gate on voltage.
US07880707B2
An exemplary liquid crystal module (20) includes liquid crystal panel (200) and a driving chip (210). The driving chip includes an interface circuit (230), a storing member (260), and a plurality of input ports. The plurality of input ports are configured for receiving display data. The storing member and the interface circuit share at least one common input port of the plurality of input ports. The storing member receives at least one mode selection signal for controlling a working mode of the driving chip via the at least one common input port in a first period of time. The storing member outputs the at least one mode selection signal to the interface circuit, and then the interface circuit receives the display data via the plurality of input ports including the at least one common input port according to the working mode in a second period of time.
US07880702B2
A picture display apparatus, which displays a picture on a display section based on a picture signal, includes an input determining section determining whether the picture signal is input, a display determining section determining, based on whether sight/hearing restricting information is added to the picture signal, whether the picture based on the picture signal can be displayed, when the input determining section determines that the picture signal is input, a scramble determining section determining whether the picture signal is scrambled, when the input determining section determines that the picture signal is input, and a display control section lowering a brightness of a backlight of the display section and displaying a predetermined display with hollow characters indicating that the picture cannot be displayed when the picture signal is not input, when the picture based on the picture signal cannot be displayed, and when the picture signal is scrambled.
US07880701B2
A display device includes a substrate, first and second signal lines formed on the substrate, a first thin film transistor connected to the first and second signal lines, a gate driver and a data driver connected to the first signal line and the second signal line, respectively, and a second thin film transistor formed in at least one of the gate driver and the data driver The first thin film transistor and the second thin film transistor include a first semiconductor and a second semiconductor, respectively, and the first semiconductor and the second semiconductor are formed at the different layers from each other.
US07880700B2
In the liquid crystal display panel of a horizontal electric field type, a gate pattern includes a gate electrode provided at a substrate, a gate line connected to the gate electrode and a lower gate pad electrode connected to the gate line. A data line is disposed to cross the gate line and the common line, having a gate insulating film therebetween to thereby define a pixel area. A thin film transistor is positioned at each intersection between the gate line and the data line. A transparent electrode pattern includes a pixel electrode electrically connected to the thin film transistor and disposed such that at least a portion thereof is parallel to the common electrode. An opaque conductive pattern is disposed to overlap with the transparent electrode pattern.
US07880698B2
A delta pixel circuit and a light emitting display are able to minimize a color separation phenomenon by adjusting an emitting point of a plurality of emitting diodes (or devices), reduce the number of driving circuits, and have a high aperture ratio. A first, second, and third light emitting diodes are arranged in a delta pattern and respectively correspond to a red color, a green color, and a blue color. A driving circuit is commonly connected with the first, second, and third light emitting diodes and is for supplying a current to each of the diodes. A switching circuit is connected between the driving circuit and the first, second, and third light emitting diodes and selectively supplies the current to the first, second, and third light emitting diodes.
US07880683B2
A horizontally polarized antenna array allows for the efficient distribution of RF energy into a communications environment through selectable antenna elements and redirectors that create a particular radiation pattern such as a substantially omnidirectional radiation pattern. In conjunction with a vertically polarized array, a particular high-gain wireless environment may be created such that one environment does not interfere with other nearby wireless environments and avoids interference created by those other environments. Lower gain patterns may also be created by using particular configurations of a horizontal and/or vertical antenna array. In a preferred embodiment, the antenna systems disclosed herein are utilized in a multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) wireless environment.
US07880679B2
In a multiband antenna system for a vehicle windshield, an antenna conductor structure is provided in lateral recesses of the heating conductor field. The antenna conductor structure is non-electrically coupled to the heating conductor field with low resistance using high-frequency technology. This system ensures defrosting of the vehicle windshield in the entire wiped area without being affected by the antenna conductor structure.
US07880675B1
Mitigation of the effects of multipath signals is provided. Such mitigation can include electronically steering the main beam of a receive pattern associated with a phased array antenna away from a transmitting antenna. In addition, a phase taper is applied to groups of antenna elements to create a null in the main beam, bifurcating that beam. The multipath signal may be placed in or towards the null, while the direct path signal may be placed on one of the halves of the main beam adjacent the null, such that the signal strength of the multipath signal is attenuated as compared to the signal strength of the direct path signal.
US07880673B2
A position determination system includes a mobile terminal configured to receive GPS information from a GPS; a base station device configured to measure a round trip time (RTT) from the mobile terminal; a base-station position table unit configured to store position information on the base station device; a cable-length table unit configured to store a cable length between the base station device and an antenna assembly provided to the base station device, the antenna assembly communicates with the mobile terminal; and a position determination device configured to determine the position of the mobile terminal on the basis of the round trip time measured by the base station device, the cable length obtained from the cable-length table unit, the position information on the base station obtained from the base-station position table unit, and the GPS information received from the mobile terminal.
US07880672B1
A phase component of a nonlinear frequency modulated (NLFM) chirp radar pulse can be produced by performing digital integration operations over a time interval defined by the pulse width. Each digital integration operation includes applying to a respectively corresponding input parameter value a respectively corresponding number of instances of digital integration.
US07880666B2
A system for detecting turbulence along a path that is subject to turbulence. The system may make use of at least one transmitter to transmit electromagnetic (EM) energy along the path and at least one receiver to receive the EM energy. At least one of the transmitter and the receiver moves along the path. The receiver may have an antenna responsive to incident EM energy to produce a received signal, and an input for accepting a velocity signal indicating a velocity that the receiver or the transmitter is moving. The receiver processes the received signal using the velocity signal to remove a shift associated with the received signal because of relative motion between a source of the EM energy and the receiver or transmitter that is moving along the path. Thus, the receiver determines an alteration of the EM energy caused by the turbulence and outputs a signal indicative of the turbulence.
US07880665B1
A system and method for adaptation of a radar receiver in response to frequency drift in a transmission source is disclosed that utilizes a stable local oscillator established at a single, non-fluctuating frequency and compensates for transmission frequency fluctuation in the signal processor module. The disclosed system and method use mathematical processing techniques to compensate for variations in transmitter frequency during baseband processing of radar reflectivity signals. The system estimates the frequency of the transmitter to a high degree of accuracy and mathematically converts the reflectivity signal energy to a baseband intermediate frequency which is adjusted to compensate for fluctuations in transmitter frequency. A digital down converter circuit and numerically controlled oscillator circuit are also utilized to convert reflectivity signal energy to baseband and compensate for transmitter frequency drift. These new systems allow the stable local oscillator frequency to remain constant and thereby increase receiver stability.
US07880659B2
A pipeline analog-to-digital converter includes a conversion unit receiving an analog input signal and outputting a plurality of digital signals corresponding to quantization values obtained by quantizing the input signal, the conversion unit including a plurality of stages that output the plurality of digital signals, the plurality of stages being connected in a cascade manner, each of the stages receiving a residue analog signal from a previous stage, and a first stage receiving an analog input signal and a digital correction logic receiving the plurality of digital signals, correcting an error, and outputting a digital output signal corresponding to the input signal, wherein a first reference voltage is applied to the plurality of stages, a second reference voltage, which is different from the first reference voltage, is applied to at least one of the plurality of stages, at least one of the plurality of stages includes a plurality of unit capacitors that sample the residue analog signal, and at least one of the plurality of unit capacitors is coupled to the second reference voltage.
US07880658B2
Disclosed are various embodiments of interpolation circuits for use in conjunction with optical encoders. The analog output signals provided by incremental or absolute motion encoders are provided to an interpolation circuit, which is capable of providing high interpolation factor output signals having high timing accuracy. The disclosed interpolation circuits may be implemented using CMOS or BiCMOS processes without undue effort.
US07880656B2
The invention generally relates to a radio frequency (RF) chip and/or a baseband chip for use in a wireless transmitter and/or receiver. Embodiments of the invention solve a problem caused by a mismatch in amplitude and/or phase between in-phase (I) and quadrature (Q) signals in such communication devices. According to an aspect of the invention, there is provided a communication device including: a baseband signal processing unit configured to output a plurality of analog baseband signals through a corresponding plurality of channels; and a radio frequency (RF) processing unit coupled to the plurality of channels, the RF processing unit configured to convert the plurality of analog baseband signals into a plurality of digital signals using a shared analog-to-digital converter (ADC), the RF processing unit further configured to generate an RF signal based on the plurality of digital signals.
US07880650B2
A data converter for converting analog signals to digital signals, or for converting digital signals to analog signals is provided. In one embodiment, a production self-test is provided. In one embodiment, a high-speed lower-resolution method or mode for a data converter is provided. In one embodiment, a differential data converter with a more stable comparator common mode voltage is provided. In one embodiment, the input range of a digitally calibrated data converter is provided and maintained so that there is no loss in input range due to the calibration. In one embodiment, digital post-processing of an uncalibrated result using a previously stored calibration value is provided.
US07880649B2
An AD converting apparatus converts an analog input signal into a digital output signal. The apparatus includes a plurality of AD converters that are supplied with sampling clocks differing from each other by a prescribed phase and that each output an individual signal obtained by digitizing the input signal according to the sampling clock supplied thereto, a common compensating section that commonly compensates for prescribed common non-linear distortion in the individual signals, and a plurality of individual compensating sections that each individually compensate for individual non-linear distortion in a corresponding one of the individual signals. The individual non-linear distortion is obtained as a ratio between the non-linear distortion and the common non-linear distortion in each individual signal. The apparatus further includes a combining section that combines the individual signals to generate the output signal.
US07880642B2
Disclosed herein is a traveler information monitoring and dissemination system. The system disclosed herein provides real time information to a traveler, wherein the real time information may be pre-selected by the traveler. The system ensures consistent and quality data are produced and issued to the traveler.
US07880637B2
A low-profile signal device is provided having a plurality of light emitters disposed on at least one support member, the plurality of light emitters configured to emit light in a plurality of colors that indicate one or more predefined conditions; a housing substantially enclosing the at least one support member; a signal interface coupled to the plurality of light emitters and configured to selectively activate light emitters from the plurality of light emitters in response to a received control signal.
US07880634B2
A method for remote monitoring of real-time information is provided. In the method, a representation is displayed of each of a plurality of items configured to generate the real-time information. Also displayed is a representation of each of a plurality of destinations configured to receive the real-time information. The real-time information is received from the items. A command is received which selects one of the items and one of the destinations. After receiving the command, at least a portion of the real-time information received from the selected item is transmitted to the selected destination.
US07880632B2
A measuring arrangement for assembly on or in a tool, in particular, in an injection moulding tool, comprising two or more sensors for the simultaneous measurement of measured parameters, each sensor generating a measurement signal in the operating state, at least two measurement signals being of different types from each other. The measuring arrangement comprises a signal converter with an output interface, all measured signals being converted into the same type of output signal in the signal converter. Said output signals can be transmitted through the output interface by means of a detachable signal line to an analytical unit.
US07880625B2
A liquid level warning device with a separate audible alarm is disposed in a liquid tank for indicating the amount of liquid in the tank. The device also includes a plurality of float switches disposed at pre-selected levels within the tank and a plurality of LED's for indicating the level of liquid in the tank. A separate audible alarm independent of the visual indicators sounds an alarm when the tank is at a pre-selected level. A float switch is also disclosed.
US07880624B2
A method and system for detecting an inclusion within an infusion system. The method includes monitoring an output signal of a flowrate sensor as fluid flows through an infusion system. The output signal is then converted with a noise reduction filter to obtain a filtered output signal. The filtered output signal is compared to a threshold value and an alarm is activated if the filtered output signal falls below a desired threshold, thereby indicating an occlusion within the infusion system.
US07880613B1
A system, device and method for reminding a user of a forgotten article are disclosed. According to one aspect, a reminder system includes an object identification discrimination module operable to identify at least one object identification tag proximally located to the object identification discrimination module in response to activating a discrimination operating mode of the object identification discrimination module. The reminder system further includes at least one object identification tag identifiable by the object identification discrimination module when proximally located to the object identification discrimination module.
US07880604B2
The present Self-Configuring Alarm System uses a decentralized (ad hoc or mesh) architecture where any node is capable of autonomously reporting the alarm event directly to all other nodes in the ad hoc network independent of where the alarm event occurred. In addition, the Self-Configuring Alarm System includes a plurality of autonomous output devices which function to provide an audible alarm that directs the occupants to the location of the hazard and/or provides an indication of the nature of the detected hazard or whether an indication of the hazard has been received at a Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) that serves the dwelling or locale. The alarm networks and output networks may not be coextensive in their coverage areas.
US07880602B2
An image-data loading unit loads image data of an image requested to be displayed based on an input signal in an image memory. A display-image determining unit determines an image to be displayed on the display device based on a priority of the image after the image data is loaded in the image memory. An image-data output unit reads out the image data of the image determined to be displayed by the display-image determining unit from the image memory, and outputs read image data to a display device.
US07880591B2
A technique is provided for detecting whether consumer abuse has occurred in an electronic device. In accordance with this technique, a system is provided for detecting the occurrence of a consumer abuse event and storing a record thereof. In one embodiment, the system provides one or more sensors coupled to an abuse detection circuitry for detecting the occurrence of an abuse event. The system may further provide a memory, wherein upon detecting an abuse event, the abuse detection circuitry may store a record of the abuse event into the memory. The system may further provide an interface by which a diagnostic device may access the memory and analyze the abuse event records to determine if an abuse event occurred in the electronic device.
US07880583B2
A remote control apparatus for a vehicle according to the invention includes a portable-device determination unit, and a distance determination unit. The portable-device determination unit determines whether a first portable device, which can remotely control a vehicle function, is present in the vehicle. The distance determination unit determines whether a distance between the user of the vehicle and the vehicle is greater than or equal to a predetermined distance. When the portable-device determination unit determines that the first portable device is present in the vehicle, and the distance determination unit determines that the distance between the user and the vehicle is greater than or equal to the predetermined distance, the remote control apparatus permits a second portable device, which can remotely control a vehicle function, to remotely control the vehicle function.
US07880581B2
A PTC thermistor includes two electric conducting plates connected with different electrodes and an intermediate insulating plate clamped between the two electric conducting plates. The intermediate insulating plate has its surface bored with openings at locations respectively corresponding with those of each PTC thermal resistance member for the PTC thermal resistance member to be engaged therein. The intermediate insulating plate can surely separate and insulate the two different-electrode electric conducting plates and stably fix the PTC thermal resistance members in position.
US07880575B2
A transformer having high and low voltage coils mounted to legs of a core is provided. Each low voltage coil includes conductor sheeting having opposing first and second ends and opposing first and second side edges. A pair of coil bus bars is provided for each low voltage coil. Each coil bus bar has first and second portions, wherein the first portion has a width that is more than one and a half times greater than a width of the second portion. Each coil bus bar is secured to the conductor sheeting of its low voltage coil such that the first portion of the coil bus bar is disposed at the first side edge of the conductor sheeting and the second portion of the coil bus bar is disposed at the second side edge of the conductor sheeting.
US07880559B2
The present invention relates to a programmable microwave circuit (1) four ports (3), and combinations of such circuits. Between each pair of ports there is at least one connection without amplification, at least one connection having amplification from a first port of the pair of ports to a second port of the pair of ports, and at least one connection having amplification from the second port to the first port. Further, there is control electronics (2) with the ability to open and close the respective connection and respective port, by which the microwave circuit could be configured for different purposes, such as amplifier, power splitter/power combiner and router.
US07880548B2
A class G headphone amplifier circuit with improved power efficiency and low EMI. It may use an automatic signal level detector to detect the signal level of incoming signals and determine positive and negative power supplies for headphone amplifiers accordingly. A voltage generator may generate pairs of differential output voltages at a plurality of amplitude steps, and supply to headphone amplifiers the pair with the amplitude determined by the automatic signal level detector. As a result, headphone amplifiers are biased according to the input signal level, and the multiple voltage rails may improve power efficiency and avoid clipping.
US07880541B1
An instrumentation amplifier includes a pair of buffered operational amplifiers that accept a pair of input signals, and a differential operational amplifier that outputs an output signal indicative of a difference between the input signals. A low pass filter provides passive band limiting of the output signal. Each operational amplifier is implemented as a multi-path amplifier that includes a low frequency path and a high frequency path between an input and an output of the operational amplifier. Further, each multi-path amplifier includes a differential input transconductance stage within the low frequency path and a differential input transconductance stage within the high frequency path. Within each multi-path amplifier, the differential input transconductance stage of the high frequency path is noisier than, but consumes less power than, the differential input transconductance stage of the low frequency path. Each multi-path amplifier provides noise shaping that results in an increase in noise above a crossover frequency of the multi-path amplifier.
US07880538B2
A switched-capacitor amplifier arrangement and a method to amplify a signal are presented. A forward path has at least one switched capacitor (10) controlled by a clock signal, thus providing an amplification phase (1) of the forward path and an additional clock phase (2). A damping means (22) is connected to the forward path, the damping means being designed for attenuation of the signal peak at the beginning (2p) of the amplification phase. This avoids an undesired feed forward effect at the beginning of the amplification phase of an SC circuit.
US07880532B2
There is provided a reference voltage generating circuit including: a first PN junction element (PN1) whose forward voltage is a first voltage V1; a second PN junction element (PN2) having a current density different from the first PN junction element and whose forward voltage is a second voltage V2 higher than the first voltage V1; and generating circuits (101 to 103) inputting the first voltage V1 and the second voltage V2 and generating a reference voltage expressed by A2×V2+A3×(A2×V2−A1×V1) in which A1, A2, and A3 are set to be coefficients, and in which A1 and A2 are different values.
US07880526B2
Implementations are presented herein that include a level shifter circuit.
US07880511B2
A MOS integrated circuit includes: a voltage-to-current conversion circuit configured to convert first and second voltages to a first current having a current value corresponding to the first voltage and a second current having a current value corresponding to the second voltage; and a current comparison circuit configured to compare the respective current values of the first and second currents and to output a voltage showing the comparison result. Oxide films of MOS transistors of the current comparison circuit are thinner than oxide films of MOS transistors of the voltage-to-current conversion circuit.
US07880509B2
A wired signal receiving apparatus including a signal receiver, a signal peak detector, and a signal comparator is disclosed. The signal receiver includes an operation current detecting circuit for detecting an operation current. The signal receiver further receives a transmission signal. The signal peak detector receives the operation current, detects a peak thereof, and generates a peak current. The signal comparator compares a reference signal and the peak current to generate an output current for regulating the operation current.
US07880497B2
The exemplary embodiments provide a resilient integrated circuit. An exemplary IC comprises a plurality of composite circuit elements, a state machine element (SME), and a plurality of communication elements. Each composite circuit element comprises an element interface and a selected circuit element which may vary by element type, and which may be configurable. The state machine element assigns various functions based on element type, such as assigning a first configuration to a first element type, assigning a second configuration to a second element type, and providing a first data link for the corresponding assignments. In response to detection of a fault or failure, the state machine element re-assigns the first configuration to another composite circuit element and creates a second data link for performance of the same function. The assignment, routing, fault detection, and re-assignment and data re-routing can occur in real time for a wide variety of programs and algorithms, providing for the IC to continue the same functioning despite defects which may arise during operation.
US07880495B2
A display device is provided with a light detection unit that detects the intensity of ambient light and is capable of automatically controlling the luminosity of an illumination unit and/or the luminosity of the display device on the basis of the intensity of ambient light detected by the light detection unit. Moreover, the display device makes it possible to easily conduct a test on light-sensor characteristics.
US07880484B2
Methods are provided for reducing interference from stray currents in buried pipelines/metal structures during MEIS testing or other current-sensing applications in the pipeline. Methods are also provided for measuring bulk complex electrical impedance between a buried pipe and the soil, thereby rendering an indication of the quality of the anti-corrosive coating. Methods are also provided for measuring the complex propagation constant of AC voltages propagating along an attenuative pipeline. This information is useful for assessing the general condition of the anti-corrosive coating involved, or to enhance MEIS inspection of the pipeline. Methods are also provided for enhancements to MEIS testing, including (a) canceling magnetometer offset effects associated with the Earth's magnetic field after the magnetometer is positioned for measurement, (b) implementing a separate sensing connection to the pipe so as to avoid interference from voltage loss in the pipe feed-line connection, (c) providing a power amplifier to excite the pipe with large-amplitude signals.
US07880481B2
A system includes a capacitive sensor including a first electrode and a second electrode. The system includes a measurement system configured to sense a capacitance between the first electrode and the second electrode and apply a first offset to the sensed capacitance to provide an offset compensated capacitance.
US07880480B2
A method includes measuring a first frequency response of an electrode at a first frequency across a range of environmental conditions, measuring a second frequency response of the electrode at a second frequency across the range of environmental conditions, and comparing the first and second frequency responses measured to define a data set representing an effect of the environmental conditions. An occupant detection system includes an electrode and a detector circuit. The detector circuit is configured to measure an actual frequency response of the electrode and compare the actual frequency response to the data set to determine the effect of the current environmental condition.
US07880475B2
A modified Series A universal serial bus (USB) receptacle connector is equipped with the functionality to allow the electronic system in which it resides to be configured either as a host device or a peripheral device. The modified USB Series A receptacle connector, according to one embodiment of the invention may include a mechanism such as an additional pin or a mechanical switch to detect the presence of a standard USB Series A plug being inserted into it. Upon detection of a plug, an algorithm may allow the system to determine whether it is to act as a host device or a peripheral device and to determine which device supplies power.
US07880470B2
A test apparatus for a device under test (DUT) that includes a signal output device that outputs a signal according to a test signal and a detecting section that detects a signal output from the DUT that outputs a detection result. The signal output device includes an output port, a high-voltage side switching circuit between a first terminal and a second terminal, a low-voltage side switching circuit between a first terminal and a second terminal, and a control section that outputs the first and second control signals. Each of the high-voltage and the low-voltage side switching circuits include a plurality of switching devices serially connected between the first and second terminals. The plurality of switching devices are opened substantially in synchronization with each other, such that a voltage inputted to the first terminal is outputted from the second terminal by short-circuiting between the first and second terminals.
US07880467B2
An industrial quality and process control (QPC) system, includes inter alia at least one packed array of MRI/NMR devices of substantially no fringing magnetic fields, adapted to analyze adjacent lines of goods simultaneously.
US07880455B2
A regulator with a high side pass device and a low side pass device coupled in series to the high side pass device is disclosed. The apparatus further includes a control module coupled to the high side pass device and the low side pass device. The control module is coupled to the high side pass device and the low side pass device to control the high side pass device and the low side pass device. The control module is operable to lock out the high side pass device under certain conditions.
US07880451B2
Techniques are disclosed to control a power converter with multiple output voltages. One example regulated power converter includes a an energy transfer element coupled between a power converter input and first and second power converter outputs. A switch is coupled between the power converter input and the energy transfer element such that switching of the switch causes a first output voltage to be generated at the first power converter output and a second output voltage to be generated at the second power converter output. A current in the energy transfer element is coupled to increase when a voltage across the energy transfer element is a difference between an input voltage at the power converter input and the first output voltage. The current in the energy transfer element is coupled to decrease when the voltage across the energy transfer element is a sum of the first and second output voltages.
US07880449B2
Electronic circuits couple energy storage devices, such as double layer capacitors or rechargeable battery cells, to a power supply output, thereby improving noise suppression and extending ride-through capability of the power supply. In a typical circuit, an energy storage device is coupled in series with a switch that controls the charging current into the energy storage device. The switch is controlled by a comparator that receives a signal related to the voltage level of the power supply. In some embodiments, the comparator also receives a feedback signal related to a charging current flowing into the energy storage device. The circuit is configured so that the switch limits the charging current to a predetermined current level, or does not allow the charging current to flow until the output voltage of the power supply reaches a predetermined voltage level.
US07880446B2
One embodiment of the invention is a compensation circuit that includes a comparator that is coupled to receive a reference voltage. The compensation circuit can also include a capacitance coupled to receive a feedback voltage associated with an output voltage of a converter. Furthermore, the compensation circuit can include an adjustable resistance that is coupled to the capacitance and to the comparator.
US07880443B2
The charging circuit for charging a battery of an electronic device using a connected AC power adaptor includes circuitry responsive to an applied regulated voltage for charging the battery connected to the charging circuitry. The circuitry prevents the regulated voltage applied to the circuitry from falling below a settable voltage level. Additionally, the circuitry switches a charging current between a quick charge level and a trickle charge level responsive to a state of a transistor.
US07880439B2
A battery-capacity management device comprises a charged/discharged-capacity integrating unit that detects a voltage and a current of a driving battery and that calculates a discharged capacity of the driving battery. The device also comprises a battery temperature sensor that detects a temperature of the driving battery, a memory, and an available-capacity calculating unit. Map data that represents relationships among voltages, currents, and temperatures of the driving battery at states in which remaining capacity of the driving battery has reached a preset value can be stored in the memory. The available-capacity calculating unit calculates a renewed available capacity of the driving battery based on a discharge capacity discharged over a period between a time when the driving battery is charged and a time when the voltage value detected by the charged/discharged-capacity integrating unit reaches a voltage value corresponding to the current value and the battery temperature in the map data.
US07880438B1
An uninterruptible power supply system includes an input configured to couple to a power source, an output configured to couple to a system load, a battery, power circuitry coupled to the input, the output, and the battery, and configured to transfer power from the input to the output and to transfer power from the battery to the output, a test load, a test switch coupled to the battery and the test load and configured to selectively couple the battery to the test load, a voltage monitor coupled to the battery and configured to provide an indication of a voltage provided by the battery, and a processor coupled to the test switch and the voltage monitor and configured to effect a first partial-discharge test on the battery by actuating the test switch to couple the battery to the test load to partially discharge the battery, and by using information from the voltage monitor regarding the voltage provided by the battery at different times during the test before a complete discharge of the battery to determine a capacity of the battery.
US07880436B2
An energy management system for a transport device, in particular for a motor vehicle running on fuel and electricity, includes an energy source, an intermediate energy store and an electric energy consumer, in particular an electric drive. Control and/or regulation of the provision of energy, which is dependent on information relating to future energy requirements and supplied by means of at least one part of the transport device, can be carried out by the energy management system by means of the intermediate energy store and/or the energy requirements.
US07880426B2
A method for driving a power bridge (1) which is used for controlling a multiphase electric load (3), connectable to said electric load (3) via several arms and drivable by switching functions which determine free wheel controlling vectors and are active for controlling the load. The inventive method consists in selecting a first switching function production method which produces a reduced number of combinations of switching functions corresponding to the free wheel control vectors or a second switching function production method which produces combinations of switching functions corresponding only to the active control vectors, wherein said method are defined according to a given reference voltage vector and in applying said selected for producing a sequence of control vectors from the produced combinations of switching functions.
US07880424B2
A rotary electric apparatus comprise a synchronous machine of field winding type, an inverter, a DC power supply, a current flow regulator, and a controller. The DC power supply outputs first voltage of a first voltage value and second voltage of a second voltage value higher than the first voltage value. The current flow regulator regulates directions of currents flowing through a field winding by rotor exciting currents into one way, the current flow regulator being electrically connected to the field winding. The controller controls the inverter such that the inverter produces armature currents consisting of synchronized currents producing rotating fields depending on a rotating position of a rotor and rotor exciting currents different in waveforms from the synchronized currents and superposed on the synchronized currents. At least the rotor exciting currents are powered on a second voltage from the DC power supply.
US07880423B2
A detector device and a method for detecting a stall condition in a stepper motor, wherein the characteristics of the back EMF are identified directly from a waveform of the back EMF, specifically a first peak of the back EMF, a valley of the back EMF, and a second peak of the rectified integral of the back EMF, to determine a condition of the stepper motor.
US07880421B2
An electrically driven fan arrangement, suitable for energy-conserving installations, includes a fan, an electric motor (110) serving to drive the fan, and associated control apparatus, namely: a sensing apparatus (140) for sensing a volumetric air flow rate (125) generated by the fan (120) and for generating a measured volumetric air flow value (Vmess), and a volumetric flow rate control arrangement (160) for automatically controlling the volumetric air flow rate (125) generated by the fan (120) to a predetermined target volumetric air flow value (V_s). The volumetric flow rate control arrangement (160) is configured to generate a target rotation speed value (N_s) for the electric motor (110). A rotation speed controller (170), which automatically controls the rotation speed of the electric motor (110) to the target rotation speed rate (N_s) generated by the volumetric flow rate control arrangement (160), is also provided.
US07880415B2
A brushless electrical machine has at least one phase winding which produces magnetic flux in the machine. A controller controls the flux in the machine with reference to a demanded flux and a stabilisation signal which, in combination, enable the controller to operate in a stable manner in the presence of disturbances in the inputs or parameters of the controller. The controller is able to operate with either a hardware rotor position detector or with a sensorless position algorithm.
US07880414B2
A control and motor arrangement in accordance with the present invention includes a motor configured to generate a locomotive force for propelling the model train. The control and motor arrangement further includes a command control interface configured to receive commands from a command control unit wherein the commands correspond to a desired speed. The control and motor arrangement still further includes a plurality of detectors configured to detect speed information of the motor, and a process control arrangement configured to receive the speed information from the sensors. The process control arrangement is further configured and arranged to generate a plurality of motor control signals based on the speed information for controlling the speed of said motor. The control and motor arrangement yet still further includes a motor control arrangement configured to cause power to be applied to the motor at different times in response to the motor control signals.
US07880411B2
In a motor controller which supplies electric power to a motor of an electric power steering device from a main power supply and an auxiliary power supply, an N-channel MOS-FET is connected in parallel with a diode which is provided to prevent a sneak current from the auxiliary power supply to the main power supply. When electric power is supplied to the motor from the main power supply, the MOS-FET is turned on. Then, most of currents flow into the MOS-FET such that a power loss is reduced and a reduction in efficiency is prevented. The MOS-FET has high speed responsibility and excellent durability.
US07880397B2
The described DC to AC inverter efficiently controls the amount of electrical power used to drive a cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL). Additionally, during striking of the CCFL, a higher energy initial energy pulse is used. During normal operation, a lower energy pulse is used.
US07880395B2
A method for restoring the function of a plasma display panel according to the present invention restores a function of a plasma display panel by raising the temperature of the plasma display panel to 400° C. to 800° C.
US07880390B2
A vehicular room illuminating lamp includes: a plurality of illumination units applying voltages through courtesy wires thereof to lamps which irradiate positions in a vehicle cabin, the positions corresponding to four doors; a mode switch capable of selecting an all-lights-on mode, a door mode and a light-off mode; and a controller that individually receives a mode selection signal of the mode switch and respective door open/close signals of the four doors. The controller applies the voltages to all of the courtesy wires in the all-lights-on mode, applies the voltage only to the courtesy wire of the illumination unit corresponding to the door indicated to be open by the door open/close signal in the door mode, and does not apply the voltage to any of the courtesy wires irrespective of states of the door open/close signals in the light-off mode.
US07880385B2
The present invention relates to a photomultiplier having a fine structure capable of realizing high detection accuracy by effectively suppressing cross talk among electron-multiplier channels. The photomultiplier comprises a housing whose inside is maintained vacuum, and, in the housing, a photocathode, an electron-multiplier section, and anodes are disposed. The electron-multiplier section has groove portions for cascade-multiplying photoelectrons as electron-multiplier channels, and the anodes are constituted by channel electrodes corresponding to the groove portions respectively defined by wall parts. In particular, at least parts of the respective channel electrodes are located in spaces sandwiched between pairs of wall parts defining the corresponding groove portions.
US07880384B2
An organic light emitting display device capable of preventing damage to signal and power lines that drive a pixel region, and a method for fabricating the same. The organic light emitting display device includes a device substrate including at least a pixel region; an encapsulation substrate to overlap at least one region of the device substrate including the pixel region; a sealing agent arranged between the device substrate and the encapsulation substrate to seal a region therebetween; at least one wire formed on the device substrate to extend from inside a sealing region to the outside of the sealing region; a first protective layer formed on the wire; and a second protective layer formed on the first protective layer to overlap at least one edge of the encapsulation substrate which is arranged to cross the wire.
US07880381B2
A plurality of different frequency absorbing materials are placed between an LED and a surface so as to generate a non-monochromatic colors. In one embodiment, a light device is arranged with light sources, each of which emit light of a different color, and by surrounding the different colored light sources with a color changing media, each of which absorb light of different colors and by allowing the light sources to be individually calibrated as to power level, a variety of colors can be achieved.
US07880379B2
The invention relates to the improvement of phosphorescing organic electroluminescent devices characterized in that the emission layer, which consists of a matrix material which is doped with at least one phosphorescing emitter, directly adjoins an electrically conducting layer.
US07880376B2
Field emission devices comprising carbon nanotube mats which have been treated with laser or plasma are provided. Mats are formed from carbon nanotubes, also known as carbon fibrils, which are vermicular carbon deposits having diameters of less than about one micron. The carbon nanotube mats are then subjected to laser or plasma treatment. The treated carbon nanotube mat results in improved field emission performance as either a field emission cathode or as part of a field emission device.
US07880368B2
An ultrasonic transducer arraying at even intervals ultrasonic transducers for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic waves and layering a plurality of acoustic matching layers on them, comprising an transducer shape forming member made of a fiber-reinforced thermosetting PPE for filling a gap formed on the side face of the ultrasonic transducer with the same material as that of the acoustic matching layer, mixing a colorant in a division member adjacent to a predefined ultrasonic transducer from among a plurality of ultrasonic transducers, and arraying the plurality thereof.
US07880354B2
A spindle motor, comprising a base having a cylindrical drawn portion formed by plastic working, a sleeve that is inserted in the drawn portion, a shaft that is inserted in a state of being rotatable relative to the sleeve, and a lubricant that fills the gap between the sleeve and the shaft, in which the sleeve is affixed with an adhesive agent to the drawn portion inner periphery, wherein there are adhesive reservoirs around the inner periphery of the drawn portion. These adhesive reservoirs are formed during a series of plastic working steps in which the cylindrical drawn portion is formed.
US07880349B2
A stator lead retainer assembly includes a stator lead retainer body and a stator lead retainer clip. The stator lead retainer body includes at least one through-hole extending longitudinally therethrough, each through-hole configured to receive a stator lead. The stator lead retainer clip is attached to the retainer body, and includes an aperture for receiving a stator lead.
US07880348B2
A method comprises providing a motor with a stator comprising a plurality of laminations stacked side to side to form a contiguous stator core with each of the laminations having a plurality of radial fins projecting outward from a periphery of the lamination, and a rotor with permanent magnets spaced about the rotor configured to synchronously magnetically couple with a rotating magnetic field in the stator. The method further comprises providing a cooling tower with a fan disposed therein having a shaft extending from a center of the fan for rotating the fan. The motor is installed in the cooling tower such that the rotor of the motor is coupled directly to the fan shaft and rotates the fan when the motor is energized during normal operation of the cooling tower.
US07880347B2
A belt-driven electric machine for a vehicle includes a front housing including at least one front housing opening and a rear housing including at least one rear housing opening. The electric machine further includes at least one fan capable of urging cooling air into the electric machine through the at least one front housing opening and out of the electric machine through the at least one rear housing opening. A method for cooling a belt-driven electric machine for a vehicle includes urging cooling air into the electric machine at substantially the front of the electric machine. The cooling air is flowed substantially rearward in the electric machine, and heat is radiated from the electric machine into the cooling air. At least a first portion of the cooling air is expelled from the rear of the electric machine in a substantially axial direction.
US07880346B2
Apparati and methods for generating electricity which comprise in one embodiment a pair of stationary magnets oriented so that their like poles are facing one another with a space between them, and having a stationary length of wire disposed in the space between said magnets of said pair and enabling or causing the passing of a piece of metal through said space sufficient to cause an electrical potential in the wire. In one embodiment, the length of wire comprises a coil of wire having any number of turns between about 10 and about 5000. In another embodiment, the length of wire comprises a plurality of serpentine sections or loops disposed along the length of a tube or other form inside of which the piece of metal is made to move.
US07880345B2
A linear actuator system is described that includes a linear actuator, a first motor, and a second motor. The linear actuator is configured to transmit rotational motion to linear motion. The first motor is operatively connected to the linear actuator. The second motor is also operatively connected to the linear actuator. The first motor is configured to provide a different amount of force and a different speed to the linear actuator than the second motor. Methods of operating a linear actuator are also disclosed.
US07880331B2
In one technique of the present invention, DC electric power from a DC bus is inverted to provide AC electricity to one or more electrical loads, and AC power from a variable speed generator is rectified to provide a first variable amount of electric power to the DC bus. This technique also includes determining power applied to the electrical loads, and dynamically controlling the amount of power supplied from the generator and an electrical energy storage device in response to the power applied to the loads.
US07880330B2
A load is powered by a power source and a capacitive element in series such that the voltage provided to the load is the sum of the voltages of the power source and the capacitive element. A power converter imposing a limit on a flow of current through at least a portion of the power converter is coupled to the power source and the capacitive element, and selectively causes the capacitive element to either be charged or to discharge depending on the amount of current drawn by the load. As the capacitor discharges, the power source is permitted to supply a relatively higher amount of current to the load.
US07880324B2
A transmitter for sending a data transmission signal to an f electric net, whereby the apparatus comprises signal-shaping and adjustment devices (3) and connecting devices (50) including necessary accessories for connection to the electric net, signal amplifiers (20) and a connecting cable between the transmitter and the connecting point of the electric net, as for instance 230 V, 50 Hz phase rail (L) and zero rail (N) or a wall outlet as connecting points. The apparatus is divided into two or several parts, at least a first part (3) and a second part (TX/REMU), whereby second part (TX/REMU) includes at least connecting a unit (50) for connection to the electric net and a connecting cable and for connecting said second part to the electric net, whereby the length (LW) of connecting cable is under 5 m.
US07880317B2
A semiconductor device is provided in which the heat dissipation characteristic of a flip-chip mounted semiconductor chip is improved. A semiconductor device is provided with a substrate, a semiconductor flip-chip mounted on the substrate, a sealing resin layer for sealing around the semiconductor flip-chip. A sealing resin layer for sealing the semiconductor chip is formed around the semiconductor chip. In this semiconductor device, the back surface of the semiconductor chip is exposed and is convex with respect to the upper surface of the sealing resin layer.
US07880303B2
An integrated circuit structure includes a semiconductor substrate; a metallization layer over the semiconductor substrate; a first dielectric layer between the semiconductor substrate and the metallization layer; a second dielectric layer between the semiconductor substrate and the metallization layer, wherein the second dielectric layer is over the first dielectric layer; and a contact plug with an upper portion substantially in the second dielectric layer and a lower portion substantially in the first dielectric layer. The contact plug is electrically connected to a metal line in the metallization layer. The contact plug is discontinuous at an interface between the upper portion and the lower portion.
US07880302B2
A semiconductor device that includes a metal wiring formed on the insulating film and having a main wiring portion laminated with a plurality of metal films and a metal protection film formed at least on the upper surfaces of the main wiring portion and made of a precious metal material.
US07880296B2
The present invention provides a chip carrier structure having a semiconductor chip embedded therein and a protective metal layer formed thereon and a fabrication method thereof. The chip carrier structure includes a chip-embedded carrier structure, and a metal layer formed by electroplating on the bottom surface and side surfaces of the chip-embedded carrier structure. The metal layer prevents moisture from crossing the side surfaces of the chip-embedded carrier structure, so as to prevent delamination, provide a shielding effect, and improve heat dissipation through the metal layer.
US07880294B2
The invention relates to a circuit arrangement with an electronic circuit on a printed circuit board and an electrically screening housing surrounding the circuit board, wherein there are on said circuit board a HF plug-and-socket connector connected to the electronic circuit with an outer conductor part and an inner conductor part, wherein the HF plug-and-socket connector penetrates through an opening in the housing. The outer conductor part of the HF plug-and-socket connector is electrically isolated from the housing, and wherein a tunnel-like screening sleeve surrounds the outer conductor part both axially and circumferentially at least partially, the sleeve being connected electrically to the housing and capacitively to the outer conductor part of the HF plug-and-socket connector.
US07880286B2
A chip-on-film package may include a tape wiring substrate, a semiconductor chip mounted on the tape wiring substrate, and a molding compound provided between the semiconductor chip and the tape wiring substrate. The tape wiring substrate may include a film having upper and lower surfaces. Vias may penetrate the film. An upper metal layer may be provided on the upper surface of the film and include input terminal patterns and/or output terminal patterns. The input terminal patterns may include ground terminal patterns and/or power terminal patterns. A lower metal layer may be provided on the lower surface of the film and include a ground layer and/or a power layer. The ground layer and the power layer may cover at least a chip mounting area.
US07880283B2
A high reliability power module which includes a plurality of hermetically sealed packages each having electrical terminals formed from an alloy of tungsten copper and brazed onto a surface of a ceramic substrate.
US07880282B2
The invention provides a mounting for a printed circuit board which mounting is suitable for receiving a semiconductor assembly wherein the mounting comprises: a base support having a semiconductor assembly facing surface, and an opposed printed surface board facing surface; a cover having a semiconductor assembly facing surface, an opposed heat radiating surface; a connecting formation which joins the cover to the base support and provides an electrical and thermal communication between the cover and the base support wherein the connecting formation has a semiconductor assembly facing surface, an outer opposed surface and a thickness between the two surfaces; and a plurality of package connectors extending from the base support each of which package connectors have a printed surface board facing surface; an array of mountings; and a semiconductor package comprising a semiconductor assembly having one or more semiconductor chips, which assembly is mounted on the mounting wherein the package connectors of the mounting are in a spaced relationship with the base support and are linked electrically with the semiconductor assembly and the cover is arranged to be in a spaced parallel relationship with the base support.
US07880280B2
An electronic component has at least two semiconductor devices, a contact clip and a leadframe with a device carrier portion and a plurality of leads. The contact clip extends between the first side of at least two semiconductor devices and at least one lead of the leadframe to electrically connect a load electrode of the at least two semiconductor devices to at least one lead.
US07880279B2
In an optical semiconductor integrated circuit device using a lead frame, a transparent epoxy resin composition for molding an optical semiconductor contains (A) an epoxy resin; (B) a curing agent; (C) a thiol; and (D) an amine-based curing catalyst represented by following Chemical Formula 1: R1: a hydrogen atom (—H), an alkyl group, or a phenyl group R2: an alkyl group (—CH3, —C2H5, —C3H7).
US07880277B2
A semiconductor device includes a substrate, a die assembly attachable to the substrate and a flexible strip extending over the substrate and the die assembly. The flexible strip has one or more routing circuits carried thereon. The die assembly and the substrate are arranged to be electrically connected through the one or more routing circuits carried on the flexible strip.
US07880274B2
A method of enabling alignment of a wafer in at least one exposure step of an integrated circuit process after a UV-blocking metal layer is formed over the whole wafer covering a patterned upmost metal layer of the integrated circuit is described, wherein the wafer has an edge portion where a composite dielectric layer corresponding to the dielectric layers of the integrated circuit is formed. The method includes forming a cavity in the composite dielectric layer over the edge portion of the wafer in the patterning process of the upmost metal layer, such that an alignment mark is formed after the UV-blocking metal layer is formed.
US07880260B2
A semiconductor device includes an active region with a vertical drift path of a first conduction type and with a near-surface lateral well of a second, complementary conduction type. In addition, the semiconductor device has an edge region surrounding the active region. This edge region has a variable lateral doping material zone of the second conduction type, which adjoins the well. A transition region in which the concentration of doping material gradually decreases from the concentration of the well to the concentration at the start of the variable lateral doping material zone is located between the lateral well and the variable lateral doping material zone.
US07880258B2
The present invention is directed toward a detector structure, detector arrays, and a method of detecting incident radiation. The present invention comprises several embodiments that provide for reduced radiation damage susceptibility, decreased affects of crosstalk, reduced dark current (current leakage) and increased flexibility in application. In one embodiment, a photodiode array comprises a substrate having at least a front side and a back side, a plurality of diode elements integrally formed in the substrate forming the array, wherein each diode element has a p+ fishbone pattern on the front side, and wherein the p+ fishbone pattern substantially reduces capacitance and crosstalk between adjacent photodiodes, a plurality of front surface cathode and anode contacts, and wire interconnects between diode elements made through a plurality of back surface contacts.
US07880253B2
The disclosure relates to an integrated circuit comprising at least one photosensitive cell. The cell includes a photosensitive element, an input face associated with the said photosensitive element, an optical filter situated in at least one optical path leading to the photosensitive element and an interconnection part situated between the photosensitive element and the input face. The optical filter is disposed between the photosensitive element and the surface of the interconnection part closest to the input face. In particular, the optical filter can be disposed within the interconnection part. The disclosure also proposes that the filter be formed using a glass comprising cerium sulphide or at least one metal oxide.
US07880250B2
A magnetic tunnel junction transistor and method of operating the same. In a particular embodiment, the magnetic tunnel junction transistor includes electrically conductive source, drain and gate electrodes. An electrically insulating material having a non-magnetoelectric region and a magnetoelectric region is positioned such that the non-magnetoelectric region is, at least partially, between the source electrode and the drain electrode. The magnetoelectric region of the insulating material, when energized, is configured to change magnetic state of the insulating material. The gate electrode is positioned proximate the magnetoelectric region of the insulating material.
US07880249B2
Methods are presented for fabricating an MTJ element having a precisely controlled spacing between its free layer and a bit line and, in addition, having a protective spacer layer formed abutting the lateral sides of the MTJ element to eliminate leakage currents between MTJ layers and the bit line. Each method forms a dielectric spacer layer on the lateral sides of the MTJ element and, depending on the method, includes an additional layer that protects the spacer layer during etching processes used to form a Cu damascene bit line. At various stages in the process, a dielectric layer is also formed to act as a CMP stop layer so that the capping layer on the MTJ element is not thinned by the CMP process that planarizes the surrounding insulation. Subsequent to planarization, the stop layer is removed by an anisotropic etch of such precision that the MTJ element capping layer is not thinned and serves to maintain an exact spacing between the bit line and the MTJ free layer.
US07880232B2
A process may include first etching a trench isolation dielectric through a dielectric hard mask that abuts the sidewall of a fin semiconductor. The first etch can be carried out to expose at least a portion of the sidewall, causing the dielectric hard mask to recede to a greater degree in the lateral direction than the vertical direction. The process may include second etching the fin semiconductor to achieve a thinned semiconductor fin, which has receded beneath the shadow of the laterally receded hard mask. The thinned semiconductor fin may have a characteristic dimension that can exceed photolithography limits. Electronic devices may include the thinned semiconductor fin as part of a field effect transistor.
US07880231B2
A method and the resultant memory is described for forming an array of floating body memory cells and logic transistors on an SOI substrate. The floating bodies for the cells are formed over the buried oxide, the transistors in the logic section are formed in the bulk silicon.
US07880230B2
The following discloses and describes a zero capacitor RAM as well as a method for manufacturing the same. The zero capacitor RAM includes an SOI substrate. This SOI substrate is composed of a stacked structure of a silicon substrate, an embedded insulation film and a silicon layer. This layer is patterned into line types to constitute active patterns. Moreover, a first insulation layer forms between the active patterns and gates form on the active patterns as well as the first insulation layer to extend perpendicularly to the active patterns. In addition, a source forms in the active pattern on one side of each gate, a drain forms in the active pattern on the other side of each gate which is achieved by filling a metal layer. Continuing, a contact plug forms between the gates on the source and an interlayer dielectric forms on the contact plug in addition to the gates. Finally, a bit line forms on the interlayer dielectric to extend perpendicularly to the gates and come into contact with the drain.
US07880228B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate, a gate insulating film, a gate electrode, a source/drain layer, and a germanide layer. The gate insulating film is formed on the semiconductor substrate. The gate electrode is formed on the gate insulating film. The source/drain layer is formed on both sides of the gate electrode, contains silicon germanium, and has a germanium layer in a surface layer portion. The germanide layer is formed on the germanium layer of the source/drain layer.
US07880224B2
Semiconductor component including a drift region and a drift control region. One embodiment provides a drift zone and a drift control zone. A drift control zone dielectric is arranged between the first drift zone and the drift control zone and has at least two sections arranged at a distance from one another in a current flow direction of the component. At least one separating structure is arranged between the drift zone and the drift control zone in the region of an interruption, defined by the at least two sections, of the drift control zone dielectric and has at least one PN junction.
US07880221B2
A method of forming an electronic device is provided that includes selectively implanting ions into a workpiece, wherein ions are implanted into a first region of the workpiece that includes a semiconductor material, while substantially none of the ions are implanted into a second region of the workpiece that also includes a semiconductor material. The method further includes depositing a metal-containing film over the first region and the second region after selectively implanting, and then reacting the metal-containing film with the semiconductor material to form a first metal-semiconductor film within the first region and a second metal-semiconductor film within the second region. The first metal-semiconductor film has a first thickness and the second metal-semiconductor film has a second thickness that is different from the first thickness.
US07880213B2
A structure and a method of fabricating a bottom electrode of a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) capacitor are provided. First, a transition metal layer is formed on a substrate. Thereafter, a self-assembling polymer film having a nano-pattern is formed on the transition metal layer to expose a portion of the transition metal layer. Using the self-assembling polymer film as a mask, the exposed portion of the transition metal layer is treated to undergo a phase change so that the bottom electrode can achieve a nano-level of phase separation. Thereafter, the self-assembling polymer film is removed.
US07880207B2
A photo detector device comprising a first layer comprising a first material, and a second layer arranged adjacent to the first layer, the second layer comprising strained silicon, wherein the second layer further comprises a light absorption region located substantially within the strained silicon, wherein the first or the second layer is arranged on a substrate.
US07880195B2
An ESD protection device comprises a P-type substrate, a first substrate-triggered silicon controlled rectifiers (STSCR) disposed in the P-type substrate and a second STSCR disposed in the P-type substrate. The first STSCR comprises a first N-well, a first P-well, a first N+ diffusion region, a first P+ diffusion region, and a first trigger node. The second STSCR comprises a second N-well electrically connected to the first N-well, a second P-well electrically connected to the first P-well, a second N+ diffusion region electrically connected to the first P+ diffusion region, a second P+ diffusion region electrically connected to the first N+ diffusion region, and a second trigger node. A layout area of an integrated circuit and a pin-to-pin ESD current path can be reduced.
US07880194B2
A cross-point switch and cross-point switch fabric utilizing phase change material, and method of operating the same. The cross-point switch includes a phase change cross-point circuit containing a plurality of terminal nodes connected to a central node. The connections between the terminal nodes and the central nodes are regulated by phase change switches comprised of a phase change material. The phase change switches being controlled by heating elements capable of melting or crystallizing the phase change material in the phase change switch. The heating elements are operated by a separate heating circuit. Each individual heating element is regulated by an individual transistor.
US07880184B2
An image display unit and a method of producing the image display unit, wherein the image display unit includes an array of a plurality of light emitting devices for displaying an image, and wherein the method of producing the image display unit employs, for example, a space expanding transfer, whereby a first transfer step includes transferring the devices arrayed on a first substrate to a temporary holding member such that the devices are spaced from each other with a pitch larger than a pitch of the devices arrayed on the first substrate, a second holding step includes holding the devices on the temporary holding member, and a third transfer step includes transferring the devices held on the temporary holding member onto a second board such that the devices are spaced from each other with a pitch larger than the pitch of the devices held on the temporary holding member.
US07880183B2
Disclosed is a light emitting device having a plurality of light emitting cells. The light emitting device comprises a thermally conductive substrate, such as a SiC substrate, having a thermal conductivity higher than that of a sapphire substrate. The plurality of light emitting cells are connected in series on the thermally conductive substrate. Meanwhile, a semi-insulating buffer layer is interposed between the thermally conductive substrate and the light emitting cells. For example, the semi-insulating buffer layer may be formed of AlN or semi-insulating GaN. Since the thermally conductive substrate having a thermal conductivity higher than that of a sapphire substrate is employed, heat-dissipating performance can be enhanced as compared with a conventional sapphire substrate, thereby increasing the maximum light output of a light emitting device that is driven under a high voltage AC power source. In addition, since the semi-insulating buffer layer is employed, it is possible to prevent an increase in a leakage current through the thermally conductive substrate and between the light emitting cells.
US07880180B2
The disclosed subject matter provides a composite semiconductor device which can include a common substrate, a first semiconductor light emitting structure, and a second semiconductor light emitting structure. The first semiconductor light emitting structure can include an epitaxial grown layer containing a light emitting layer formed on part of the common substrate either directly or via a bonding layer. The second semiconductor light emitting structure can be provided in a notch at at least one location to which the epitaxial grown layer is not bonded, or in a recess formed in the notch at one location. The disclosed subject matter also provides a method of manufacturing a composite semiconductor device having the above-described and other structures.
US07880176B2
Provided are a top-emitting nitride-based light emitting device having an n-type clad layer, an active layer and a p-type clad layer sequentially stacked thereon, comprising an interface modification layer formed on the p-type clad layer and a transparent conductive thin film layer made up of a transparent conductive material formed on the interface modification layer; and a process for preparing the same. In accordance with the top-emitting nitride-based light emitting device of the present invention and a process for preparing the same, there are provided advantages such as improved ohmic contact with the p-type clad layer, leading to increased wire bonding efficiency and yield upon packaging the light emitting device, capability to improve luminous efficiency and life span of the device due to low specific contact resistance and excellent current-voltage properties.
US07880174B2
An object of the present invention is to reduce the conducting loss of an existing conversion circuit while suppressing its noise. The present invention is typically a circuit arrangement includes at least one switching device and a free-wheel diode connected in parallel with the switching device. The free-wheel diode is formed by connecting a silicon PiN diode in parallel with a Schottky barrier diode that uses a semiconductor material having a wider band gap than silicon as a base material. The silicon PiN diode and Schottky barrier diode are separate chips.
US07880172B2
A unit cell of a metal-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MESFET) includes a semi-insulating substrate having a surface, an implanted n-type channel region in the substrate, and implanted source and drain regions extending from the surface of the substrate into the implanted channel region. A gate contact is between the source and the drain regions, and an implanted p-type region is beneath the source region. The implanted p-type region has an end that extends towards the drain region, is spaced apart vertically from the implanted channel layer, and is electrically coupled to the source region. Methods of forming transistors including implanted channels and implanted p-type regions beneath the source region are also disclosed.
US07880171B2
A bipolar device has at least one p− type layer of single crystal silicon carbide and at least one n− type layer of single crystal silicon carbide, wherein those portions of those stacking faults that grow under forward operation are segregated from at least one of the interfaces between the active region and the remainder of the device.
US07880167B2
An object of the present invention is to provide an EL display device having high operation performance and reliability.A third passivation film 45 is disposed under the EL element 203 comprising a pixel electrode (anode) 46, an EL layer 47 and a cathode 48, and diffusion of alkali metals from the EL element 203 formed by ink jet method into TFTs is prevented. Further, the third passivation film 45 prevents penetration of moisture and oxygen from the TFTs, and suppress degradation of the EL element 203 by dispersing the heat generated by the EL element 203.
US07880165B2
Provided is a molecular electronic device including an electrode including a conductive polymer electrode layer. The molecular electronic device includes a first electrode; a funtional molecular active layer, self-assembled on the first electrode, including an electroactive functional group having a cyclic compound; and a second electrode disposed on the functional molecular active layer. The second electrode includes a conductive polymer electrode layer contacting with the functional molecular active layer and a metal electrode layer disposed on the conductive polymer electrode layer. The conductive polymer electrode layer of the second electrode prevents damage to the functional molecular active layer, thereby preventing a short circuit in an ultra-thin molecular electronic device.
US07880164B2
A conducting polymer composition containing a siloxane material of Formula (1) below and a conducting polymer, and an electronic device including a layer formed using the conducting polymer composition: where A and a are the same as described in the detailed description of the invention. The electronic device including the layer formed using the conducting polymer composition has excellent electrical characteristics and long lifetime.
US07880142B2
A method for improving image resolution of a three dimensional structure of at least one molecule conformation includes: determining a three dimensional structure of at least one conformation of a molecule in a sample from a first data set obtained from a series of 2D measurements of different geometrical projections of the molecule at a low electron beam dose in an electron microscope; producing a second data set including calculated two dimensional projections of the determined three dimensional structure of the at least one conformation of the same molecule; correlating data from a third data set obtained from at least one measurement of the same molecule using a higher electron beam dose with the second data set; and using the correlated data to improve the resolution of the three dimensional structure of the at least one conformation of the molecule by increasing the first data set with the correlated data and re-determining a three dimensional structure.
US07880141B2
In the resin film evaluation method and method for manufacturing a semiconductor device applying the resin film evaluation method of the present invention, first, a substrate having a resin film formed on an insulating film with an opening in which the surface of the insulating film is exposed is irradiated with charged energetic particles. Then, the surface potentials of the substrate surface irradiated with charged energetic particles are measured. Based on the measurements, the difference in surface potential between the resin film and the insulating film exposed in the opening is obtained. Based on the difference in surface potential, a physical quantity such as the resin film residue count obtained after a given treatment is predicted. In this way, the degenerated layer formed on the surface of a resin film due to charged energetic particles such as implantation ions can be evaluated in a simple and highly accurate manner.
US07880138B2
Provided is an apparatus and method for analyzing contaminants on a wafer. The apparatus includes: a wafer holder for supporting a wafer on which contaminants to be analyzed are located, a laser ablation device for irradiating a laser to the wafer to extract a discrete specimen from the wafer, an analysis cell for collecting a discrete specimen from the surface of the wafer by irradiating the laser, and an analysis device connected to the analysis cell for analyzing contaminants from the collected discrete specimen.
US07880128B2
An image intensifier device and a method of fabricating the image intensifier device are disclosed. The image intensifier device includes a microchannel plate (MCP) having a thin-film applied to a surface thereof. An anode assembly comprising an image sensor mounted to a header is positioned adjacent the MCP. A spacer defining a mounting surface is positioned against a mounting surface of the header of the anode assembly for separating the MCP from the anode assembly. A recess is defined in either the header or the spacer at the interface between the header and the spacer. The recess forms a passageway defined between the spacer and the header thru which organic gases pass.
US07880117B2
A method of drilling holes in a work piece includes receiving a laser beam directed along an optical path; and directing the laser beam through a beam former, disposed in the optical path, to form an array of sub-beams of a first pitch size. The method demagnifies the array of sub-beams to form a reduced-size pattern of a second pitch size on the work piece. The array of sub-beams is translated, or moved in a perpendicular direction to the optical path. After translating the array of sub-beams, the method forms the reduced-size pattern of the second pitch size on the work piece. The second pitch size may be smaller than the wavelength of the laser beam.
US07880113B2
A method and structure use characteristics of a plasma discharge for verifying a hermetic seal. The plasma discharge is created in a hermetically sealed cavity by a pair of spaced electrodes that extend from tips inside the hermetically sealed cavity to contacts outside the sealed cavity. An electrical bias is applied to the contacts that is sufficient to create a plasma discharge in a properly hermetically sealed cavity but not in an unsealed cavity.
US07880110B2
An operational process for product distribution includes grouping product into groups when the product is in a first sort level and sorting the groups of product, in a first pass operation, to a second level sort. The method further includes sequencing the second level sort product including late arriving product, in a second pass operation, into a sequence of product. A machine readable code can also be used to implement the functionality of the operational process.
US07880102B2
An attachment structure includes a bracket that is arranged around a steering, a rotary connector device that has an engagement portion for being provisionally fixed to the bracket in a provisionally fixed state, and a combination switch that has a guide portion for being slidably retained to the bracket in the provisionally fixed state. The rotary connector device and the combination switch are completely fastened together with the bracket by a screw member from the provisionally fixed state.
US07880099B1
Shape based postage rate criteria as to whether a postage item (an envelope) is greater than certain thicknesses above which the rate of postage of the item changes is provided by a gauge utilizing the platform of a scale on which the item is weighed. A roller is pivotally mounted on an arm so as to be set at heights over the platform at which the postage rate changes, for example, for envelopes ¼″ thick and for envelopes ¾″ thick, the envelope is then slid between the roller and the weighing platform. A display operated by the scale reads a weight change if the envelope is above the thickness at which the roller is set. Accordingly, the shape of the postage item provides a direct indication of whether the envelope satisfies postage rate criteria established by the postal authorities.
US07880098B2
The invention relates to a receptacle (1) particularly suitable for wiring one or more solar cells (81). The receptacle (1) comprises a housing (10) and a connecting shaft (60) that can be separately closed by a cover (63). The receptacle (1) is raised from the back side of the solar panel (80).
US07880095B2
A gasket is interposed between a circuit board that generates electromagnetic waves and a conductive member, and includes an elastic member separating the circuit board from the conductive member. The gasket is electrically connected with the circuit board by a conductive layer to receive the electromagnetic waves from the circuit board. The conductive layer is covered with an insulating layer except for a contact area where the conductive layer is coupled with the circuit board. The insulating layer blocks the electromagnetic waves received from the circuit board. The electromagnetic wave noise of a display apparatus is reduced even if a contact failure occurs between the gasket and a top chassis.
US07880094B2
A positive differential signal trace and a negative differential signal trace are formed on different layers of a printed circuit board. A first ground trace is formed on the layer on which the positive differential signal trace is formed, and a second ground trace is formed on the layer on which the negative differential signal trace is formed. An insulation layer is positioned between the two layers and has a predetermined thickness. A differential mode impedance and a common mode impedance of differential signals are dependent on the predetermined thickness of the insulation layer, width and thickness of each differential signal trace, and a space between each differential signal trace and the corresponding ground trace formed on the same layer.
US07880085B2
A water deflection system is provided for use with a wall mounting assembly, wherein the water deflecting system and the wall mounting assembly are suitable for mounting to a wall of a structure, such as a building. The mounting plate and the cover plate of the wall mounting assembly are spaced apart from one another and/or provide sufficient clearance to allow for a downward flow of water therebetween. The water deflection system interrupts, channels, and/or directs this downward flow of water and safely diverts the water away from the region proximate to the top portion of the cut hole towards a region proximate to and/or below the bottom of the cut hole, thereby preventing the damage associated with water being introduced behind the siding.
US07880075B2
An angle adjusting structure adapted to a high-hat stand supporting the high-hat cymbals is constituted of a receiving member supporting high-hat cymbals, a first thread attached to the receiving member, a second thread which engages with the first thread and which is revolved to move the first thread up/down so as to adjust a tilting angle of the receiving member, a support member supporting the second thread, and a revolution limiting member limiting the revolution of the second thread. The revolution limiting member includes a plurality of first engagers (e.g. recesses) which are formed on the lower end of the second thread in its circumferential direction and a second engager (e.g. a projection) which is shaped to engage with the first engager and is attached to the support member.
US07880074B2
Apparatus is provided for covering a floor in order to place a drum or a plurality of drums on the floor. The apparatus includes a flexible substrate having an upper surface and an under surface for covering a region of a floor onto which a drum is to be assembled such that a plurality of support feet contact the upper surface of the substrate and a plurality of rigid foot locators extending from the upper surface each at a desired location for a specific one of the support feet. The foot locators are secured firmly to the substrate without fixtures that protrude from the under surface, so as not to cause floor damage and the foot locators restrict movement of the support feet thereby restricting movement of a supported drum while the drum is being played.
US07880067B2
The invention relates to the breeding and selection of potatoes. The invention provides a potato plant or part derived thereof having at least one amf-allele said potato plant or part further provided with an increased capacity to store a protein as characterized by an increased protein content of its tubers. Furthermore, the invention provides a method for breeding and selecting a potato with an increased capacity to store a protein comprising crossing a first parent potato with at least one amf-allele with a second parent potato without an amf-allele, and selecting progeny for the presence of at least one amf-allele with a protein content of its tubers higher than detected in said first parent or said second parent.
US07880066B1
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1016494. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1016494. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1016494 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1016494 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US07880062B2
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated 4568207. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety 4568207. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety 4568207 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety 4568207 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US07880058B2
This invention pertains to nucleic acid fragments encoding plant proteins that are homologs to the cis-prenyltransferases UPP synthase from the bacterium Micrococcus luteus or Dedol-PP synthase from yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. More specifically, this invention pertains to cis-prenyltransferase homologs from wheat, grape, soybean, rice, African daisy, rubber tree latex and pot marigold.
US07880056B2
A transgenic plant transformed by a Signal Transduction Stress-Related Protein (STSRP) 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 STSRPs, and isolated nucleic acid coding STSRPs, and vectors and host cells containing the latter.
US07880048B2
A process for once-through conversion of a hydrocarbon feed comprising at least olefins containing 4 carbon atoms and at least olefins containing 5 carbon atoms is described for the production of propylene, said process comprising passing said feed into at least one reaction unit provided with at least one catalyst in the form of spherical beads with a diameter in the range 1 to 3 mm, each of said spherical beads comprising at least one zeolite and at least one alumina-based support and having a pore distribution such that the macroporous volume, measured by mercury porosimetry, is in the range 0.10 to 0.20 ml/g and the mesoporous volume, measured by mercury porosimetry, is in the range 0.25 to 0.35 ml/g.
US07880047B2
The invention is directed to polyalphaolefins (PAOs) and processes for forming PAOs. In one embodiment, the invention is to a process for forming a PAO comprising polymerizing C8-C12 α-olefin monomers in the presence of hydrogen, a C8-C12 saturated hydrocarbon, e.g., a C8-C12 saturated straight-chain hydrocarbon, and a catalyst system in a reaction vessel, wherein the C8-C12 saturated straight-chain hydrocarbon has about the same number of carbon atoms as the C8-C12 α-olefin monomers. The C8-C12 saturated straight-chain hydrocarbon optionally is derived from a crude PAO product formed by the process of the invention. The invention is also directed to reaction systems for performing the processes of the invention, to processes for controlling PAO viscosity based on residence time, and to the removal of spent catalyst using a solid adsorbent particles.
US07880031B2
A process is provided for producing an enriched carboxylic acid compositions produced by contacting composition comprising a carboxylic acid with an enrichment feed in an enrichment zone to form an enriched carboxylic acid composition. This invention also relates to a process and the resulting compositions for removing catalyst from a carboxylic acid composition to produce a post catalyst removal composition.
US07880027B2
The present invention relates to an improved alkane (amm)oxidation process in which sulfur-bearing impurities present in the alkane feedstock are removed upstream from the (amm)oxidation reaction.
US07880021B2
3-hydroxyflavone derivatives are useful in the detection and the quantification of cell apoptosis. Such derivatives are also useful as fluorescent probes in studying lipid asymmetry of cell plasma membrane and in detecting apopoptic cells. The derivatives can be used to monitor the evolution of diseases involving cell apoptosis.
US07880016B2
The invention relates to a process for preparing a salt of an optionally substituted 4-benzimidazol-2-ylmethylamino)-benzamidine, characterised in that (a) an optionally correspondingly substituted diaminobenzene is condensed with 2-[4-(1,2,4-oxadiazol-5-on-3-yl)-phenylamino]-acetic acid, b) i) the product thus obtained is hydrogenated, ii) optionally the amidino group is carbonylated, without isolating the intermediate product of the hydrogenation beforehand and iii) without prior isolation of the intermediate product of the carbonylation the desired salt is isolated.
US07880007B2
The present invention relates to modulators of muscarinic receptors. The present invention also provides compositions comprising such modulators, and methods therewith for treating muscarinic receptor mediated diseases.
US07880006B2
Disclosed are compounds that have excellent insecticidal activity and are usable as agricultural and horticultural insecticides. Compounds represented by formula (I) or agriculturally and horticulturally acceptable acid addition salts thereof have excellent insecticidal activity and are usable as agricultural and horticultural insecticides.
US07880005B2
5-Methyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrothiazolo[5,4-c]pyridine of formula (6) or a salt thereof, is prepared by reacting 2-amino-5-methyl-4,5,6,7-tetrahydrothiazolo[5,4-c]pyridine of formula (2) or a salt thereof, with an alkali metal nitrite in the presence of a reducing agent in an aqueous solution of an acidic compound.
US07880000B2
The present invention relates to chemical compounds having a general formula I wherein A, B, D, E, G, H1-5 and R1-4 are defined herein, and synthetic intermediates, which are capable of modulating various protein kinase receptor enzymes and, thereby, influencing various disease states and conditions related to the activities of these kinases. For example, the compounds are capable of modulating kinase enzymes thereby influencing the process of angiogenesis and treating angiogenesis-related diseases and other poliferative disorders, including cancer and inflammation. The invention also includes pharmaceutical compositions, including the compounds, and methods of treating disease states related to the activity of protein kinases.
US07879998B2
The present invention relates to 4-alkenyl-2-azetidinone derivatives, a process for preparing 4-alkenyl-2-azetidinone derivatives and multicyclic compounds prepared using 4-alkenyl-2-azetidinone derivatives. More specifically, the present invention relates to a 4-alkenyl-2-azetidinone derivative having a novel structure represented by the following chemical formula 1, in which an alkenyl group such as 1,3-dien-2-yl or 1,2,4,5-hexatetraen-3-yl is substituted at the C-4 position of azetidinone; to a process for preparing the 4-alkenyl-2-azetidinone derivative by reacting 4-acetoxy-2-azetidinone with organic indium, which is prepared by reacting a propargyl halide derivative with indium; and to a novel multicyclic compound prepared using the compound represented by the following chemical formula 1 as an intermediate in the Diels-Alder reaction.
US07879995B2
An organic electroluminescent device, which has, between a pair of electrodes, at least one organic layer including a light-emitting layer, in which the organic layer contains a specific tetraphenylene compound, and in which the light-emitting layer contains a phosphorescent material; and a specific tetraphenylene compound that can be used in the device.
US07879988B2
The present invention provides nucleic acid compositions encoding a novel colorless GFP-like protein, acGFP, from Aequorea coerulscens and fluorescent and non-fluorescent mutants and derivatives thereof, as well as peptides and proteins encoded by these nucleic acid compositions. The subject protein and nucleic acid compositions of the present invention are colored and/or fluorescent and/or can be photoactivated, and can be used in a variety of different biological applications, particularly for labeling. Finally, kits for use in such biological applications are provided.
US07879987B2
The present invention provides chimeric and humanized antibodies that specifically recognize α5β1 integrin, and methods for using the antibodies for reducing or inhibiting angiogenesis in a tissue. Also provided are methods of determining therapeutically acceptable doses of the antibodies and pharmaceutical compositions including the same.
US07879986B2
The specification discloses quenchers of excited state energy, probes and other conjugates comprising the same, and methods for their use. The quenchers of excited state energy have a structure comprising at least one reactive functional group for linking the quencher to a carrier molecule and at least three radicals covalently linked via exocyclic diazo bonds, the at least three radicals including at least one comprising a julolidine of the nominal formula: and the remainder of the at least three radicals being selected from the group of substituted and unsubstituted aryls, substituted and unsubstituted heteroaryls, and combinations thereof.
US07879976B2
The invention relates to a method for stabilizing an aqueous protein solution against exogenous stress and to the use of a container for stabilizing an aqueous protein solution.
US07879975B2
Methods, apparatus, systems, computer programs and computing devices related to biologically assembling and/or synthesizing peptides and/or proteins are disclosed.
US07879971B2
A multiblock copolymer includes a polysulfone repeating unit, a sulfonated polysulfone repeating unit, a polydialkylsiloxane repeating unit and an ethylenic unsaturated group at a terminal of the multiblock copolymer. Also provided are a method of preparing the multiblock copolymer, a polymer electrolyte membrane prepared from the multiblock copolymer, a method of preparing the polymer electrolyte membrane, and a fuel cell including the polymer electrolyte membrane. The polymer electrolyte membrane that has a high ionic conductivity and good mechanical properties and minimizes crossover of methanol can be manufactured at low cost. In addition, the structure of the multiblock copolymer can be varied to increase selectivity to a solvent used in a polymer electrolyte membrane.
US07879964B2
A phosphorus-containing polymer is provided comprising the reaction product of a chain-transfer agent having at least one pH bond with an unsaturated carboxylic, phosphonic or sulphonic acid. The invention also provides the aforementioned phosphorus-containing polymer further comprising phosphorus-containing end-caps. The polymers have a biodegradability of at least 20% per 28 days (as determined by OECD 306).
US07879962B2
Powders or hydrophilic manufactured articles of E/CTFE and/or E/TFE thermoprocessable polymers, or of CTFE copolymers, wherein, on the surface of the powder or the manufactured article, one or more of the following hydrophilic units are present: —C(COOH)H—CH2—; —C(COOM)H—CH2—; —C(OCOOH)H—CH2—; —C(OCOOM)H—CH2—; with M=alkaline ion.
US07879960B2
A high molecular weight propylene polymer exhibiting high stereoregularity (isotactic) and high position selectivity can be effectively produced by polymerizing at least one monomer selected from propylene, α-olefins and polyenes in the presence of a catalyst for olefin polymerization comprising: (A) a bridged metallocene compound represented by the General Formula [I] given in claims (diphenylmethylene(3-tert-butyl-5-ethyl-cyclopentadienyl)(fluorenyl)zirconium dichloride, etc.); and (B) one or more compound(s) selected from (b-1) an organoaluminumoxy compound (b-2) a compound which reacts with the bridged metallocene compound (A) to form an ion pair, and (b-3) an organoaluminum compound.
US07879958B2
A method for quenching an active polymerization mixture, the method comprising introducing a polyhydroxy compound to an active polymerization mixture.
US07879956B2
A circuit-connecting material for interposing between circuit electrodes facing each other and electrically connecting the electrodes, after curing by heat and pressure, either by direct contact or via conductive particles present in the material. The circuit-connecting material features the following essential components: (1) a curing agent capable of generating free radicals upon heating, (2) a phenoxy resin having a weight average molecular weight of 10,000 or more, and that is chemically modified by a carboxyl-group-containing elastomer, and (3) a radical-polymerizable substance.
US07879937B2
The invention provides a molded polymer material which is obtained by subjecting a polymer composition that includes (A) at least one polymer containing α,β-ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid, (B) at least one diene polymer, (C) at least one metal cation source, and (D) at least one organic peroxide, and has a chemical structure arrived at by neutralizing some or all of the carboxyl groups in component A with component C in the presence of component B, to molding and crosslinking under the influence of radicals generated by decomposing component D. The molded polymer material has a high resilience, a high hardness and a good durability, making it well-suited for use in golf balls.
US07879931B2
The invention relates to a glass fiber-reinforced molding composition composed of an olefin polymer, in particular a propylene polymer. The molding composition comprises an olefin polymer which contains 5-50% by weight of glass fibers which are bonded to the olefin polymer by means of a compatibilizer, and from 10−4 to 1% by weight, preferably from 10−3 to 1031 1% by weight, of a phthalocyanine pigment as the nucleating agent. The low costs and the fact that even a very small fraction of the phthalocyanine pigment in the polymer leads to sufficient nucleation ensures extremely inexpensive production. The nucleation with the phthalocyanine pigment leads to an improvement in the impact strength, and also in the yield stress and tensile strain at break of the molding composition.
US07879928B2
The present invention describes a process for preventing the formation of aldehydic contaminants in polyether polyols, polyester polyols or polyurethanes which comprises incorporating into said polyether polyols, polyester polyols or polyurethanes an effective amount of a) a phenolic antioxidant, b) one or more compounds selected from (i) aminic antioxidants, (ii) benzofuran-2-ones, and (iii) phosphites or phosphonites, or (iv) mixtures thereof.
US07879927B2
The present invention relates to a moulded object made of a transparent and colored plastic exhibiting a polychromatic effect, characterized in that the transparent plastic comprises from 0.1 to 1500 ppm of at least one fluorescent dye and from 50 to 10 000 ppm of at least one optical brightener. It also relates to the resin used for forming the moulded object. It also relates to a light device combining the said moulded object with at least one artificial light source which exhibits an emission in the region of excitation of the optical brightener, in particular in the 300-450 nm range, preferably 350-420 nm range, more preferably still 350-400 nm range.
US07879911B2
Compounds having the formula wherein the symbols have the meaning described in the specification are hydroxamic acid derivatives of phenoxy-acetic acids and analogs capable of inhibiting the lethal effects of infection by anthrax bacteria and are useful in the treatment of poisoning by anthrax.
US07879905B2
Compositions containing 5,6,7-trihydroxyheptanoic acid and analogs and their use for treating posterior segment ocular diseases and diseases characterized by cellular hyperproliferation or angiogenesis, are disclosed.
US07879895B2
The present invention is directed to novel benzimidazole derivatives, pharmaceutical compositions containing them and their use in the treatment of disorders and conditions modulated by the androgen receptor.
US07879894B2
Methods for treating carpal tunnel syndrome and tarsal tunnel syndrome in a subject involve providing an effective amount of an anti-cytokine agent at or near inflammation in the carpal or tarsal tunnel. Anti-cytokine agents, such as, TNF-a inhibitors, NF-κB inhibitors, IL-1 inhibitors, IL-6 inhibitors, IL-8 inhibitors, IL-12 inhibitors, IL-15 inhibitors, IL-10, Interferon-gamma (IFN-?) act to prevent further inflammation initiated by cytokine factors. One embodiment includes, adding with the anti-cytokine agent one or more of an antibiotic or analgesic. Delivery of the anti-cytokine agent may be provided to the inflamed tissue of the carpal or tarsal tunnel by injection, implantation, or a transdermal patch. These agents, individually or in combination, directly address the underlying inflammation that causes the discomfort, pain, and restricted movement associated with carpal and tarsal tunnel syndrome.
US07879890B2
This invention relates to compounds of the Formula (I): or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate, ester or isomer thereof, which can be useful for the treatment of diseases or conditions mediated by MMPs, ADAMs, TACE, aggrecanase, TNF- or combinations thereof.
US07879887B2
The present invention provides novel α-amino acid derivatives of formula (1): (wherein, R1, R2, R3, R4, X and Y are as defined in the claims) or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, prodrugs or solvates thereof. The derivatives of formula (1) have βARK1 inhibitory activity and are useful for preventing or treating heart failure. Moreover, the derivatives of formula (1) also have antitumor activity, particularly dual inhibitory activity on Aurora kinase and CDK, and are useful for cell proliferative diseases such as cancer.
US07879885B2
The present invention provides thioalkeneamides of formula (I) which are useful as transketolase inhibitors: wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, Ra-Rd, n and ring A are as defined herein. The present invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds of formula (I). The invention provides methods for inhibiting transketolase activity, reducing cellular ribose-5-phosphate levels, inhibiting nucleic acid synthesis, inhibiting cell proliferation and tumor cell growth in vitro and in vivo, stimulating apoptosis in tumor cells and treating cancer by administering a compound of formula (I) or a pharmaceutical composition thereof.
US07879870B2
Methods for the treatment of inflammatory and ulcerative diseases of the bowel (e.g., Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis) with a therapeutically effective dose less than 50 mg. of opioid antagonists (e.g., naltrexone, nalmefene or naloxone) are disclosed. An embodiment of the invention includes a method of pharmaceutical treatment comprising orally administering to a human subject having Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis a therapeutic pharmaceutical composition once per day in the evening or at bedtime, wherein the pharmaceutical composition comprises form about 3 mg to about 4.5 mg of naltrexone, nalmefene, naloxone, or a hydrochloride salt thereof in an immediate release solid dosage formulation.
US07879857B2
The present invention provides compounds of formula (I), their use as PARP inhibitors as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising said compounds of formula (I) wherein n, R1, R2, R3, R4 and X have defined meanings.
US07879850B2
The present invention provides compounds of the following structure; A-Q-B—C-D that are useful for treating conditions or disorders associated with DGAT1 activity in animals, particularly humans.
US07879838B2
The present application discloses a compound, or enantiomers, stereoisomers, rotamers, tautomers, racemates or prodrug of said compound, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts or solvates of said compound, or of said prodrug, said compound having the general structure shown in Formula 1: and the pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates or esters thereof. Also disclosed is a method of treating chemokine mediated diseases, such as, palliative therapy, curative therapy, prophylactic therapy of certain diseases and conditions such as inflammatory diseases (non-limiting example(s) include, psoriasis), autoimmune diseases (non-limiting example(s) include, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis), graft rejection (non-limiting example(s) include, allograft rejection, xenograft rejection), infectious diseases (e.g, tuberculoid leprosy), fixed drug eruptions, cutaneous delayed-type hypersensitivity responses, ophthalmic inflammation, type I diabetes, viral meningitis and tumors using a compound of Formula 1.
US07879835B2
The present invention relates to a use of a specific alpha-arylmethoxyacrylate derivative, or its pharmacologically acceptable salt or solvate for preventing and treating metabolic bone diseases.
US07879827B2
The present invention provides new derivatives of 4- or 5-aminosalicylic acid, and a pharmaceutical composition containing these derivatives of 4- or 5-aminosalicylic acid as active ingredients, useful for the treatment of intestinal diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and for the prevention/treatment of colon cancer. More particularly, these derivatives comprise a hydrogen sulfide releasing moiety linked via an azo, an ester, an anhydride, a thioester or an amide linkage to a molecule of 4- or 5-aminosalicylic acid. Furthermore, the present invention provides a process for preparing these compounds and their use for treating IBD and IBS and the prevention/treatment of colon cancer.
US07879822B2
A method of stabilizing sulforaphane is provided. The method includes contacting sulforaphane, or an analog thereof, and a cyclodextrin to form a complex between the sulforaphane, or analog thereof, and the cyclodextrin.
US07879819B1
The invention discloses the nanoparticles composed of chitosan, poly-glutamic acid, and at least one antibiotics or equivalent bioactive agent characterized with a positive surface charge and their enhanced permeability in oral drug delivery.
US07879818B2
Methods are disclosed for preparing novel biodegradable cross-linked nanoparticles based on covalently cross-linking modifications of hyaluronic acid. The final products of the present invention are stable in aqueous media, and may be used as detergents and as additives for pharmaceutical compositions for drug delivery, DNA carrier system and other applications. The nanoparticles made from the biopolymers of the present invention may also be used in controlled release applications, super-absorbent materials as well as biomaterials like enzyme immobilization.
US07879815B2
The present invention provides nucleoside aryl phosphoramidates of structural formula (I) which are precursors to inhibitors of RNA-dependent RNA viral polymerase. These compounds are precursors to inhibitors of RNA-dependent RNA viral replication and are useful for the treatment of RNA-dependent RNA viral infection. They are particularly useful as precursors to inhibitors of hepatitis C virus (HCV) NS5B polymerase, as precursors to inhibitors of HCV replication, and/or for the treatment of hepatitis C infection. The invention also describes pharmaceutical compositions containing such nucleoside aryl phosphoramidates alone or in combination with other agents active against RNA-dependent RNA viral infection, in particular HCV infection. Also disclosed are methods of inhibiting RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, inhibiting RNA-dependent RNA viral replication, and/or treating RNA-dependent RNA viral infection with the nucleoside aryl phosphoramidates of the present invention.
US07879805B2
A stabilized pharmaceutical composition in the form of a lyophilized product to be later reconstituted to generate an aqueous drug product is described herein. The therapeutically active ingredient in the form of a peptide of sequence TDLQERGDNDISPFSGDGQPFKD is stabilized with a buffer, carbohydrate stabilizer, a nonionic bulking agent and a surfactant to facilitate reconstitution. The preferred preparation contains a peptide of the sequence TDLQERGDNDISPFSGDGQPFKD, histidine buffer, mannitol or glycine, sucrose and/or Polysorbate 20. This combination of excipients has demonstrated exceptional stability as a lyophilized product when stored at the elevated temperature of 40° C. for at least 6 months and for at least 3 Months at 50° C. The lyophilized mixture thus formed is reconstituted to a high peptide concentration without apparent loss of stability of the peptide. Also, this combination of excipients has also enabled the ability to terminally sterilize the lyophilized product using gamma irradiation without affecting the stability of the active ingredient of the formulation.
US07879803B2
This application describes methods of treatment involving a protease for activating the blood clotting factor VII, which (a) activates blood clotting factor VII, (b) is inhibited by the presence of aprotinin, (c) is increased in its activity by the presence of at least one of the following: calcium ions, heparin, or heparin related substances, and (d) in SDS-PAGE, on subsequent staining in the non-reduced state, has one or more bands in the molecular weight range from 50 to 75 kDa, and in the reduced state has a band at 40 to 55 kDa and one or more bands in the molecular weight range from 10 to 35 kDa, and a band, which corresponds to a proenzyme, in the molecular weight range from 60 to 65 kDa.
US07879802B2
The invention provides novel guanylate cyclase-C agonist peptides and their use in the treatment of human diseases including gastrointestinal disorders, inflammation or cancer (e.g., a gastrointestinal cancer). The peptides can be administered either alone or in combination with an inhibitor of cGMP-dependent phosphodiesterase. The gastrointestinal disorder may be classified as either irritable bowel syndrome, constipation, or excessive acidity etc. The gastrointestinal disease may be classified as either inflammatory bowel disease or other GI condition, including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis, and cancer.
US07879799B2
The invention provides methods for generating an antibody specific for the deglycosylated form of a glycopolypeptide using a peptide corresponding to an N-linked glycosylation site of a glycopolypeptide. The invention additionally provides methods for generating an antibody specific for a glycopolypeptide using a peptide corresponding to amino acids adjacent to an authentic N-linked glycosylation site.
US07879790B2
Mixed salts of sulfonated estolides and other derivatives of fatty acids, and methods of making them
Sulfo-estolides and methods of making them are described. Also described are phase-stable compositions formed from mixtures of different salts of sulfo-estolides, particularly mixtures of sodium and potassium salts of sulfo-estolides, and methods of obtaining phase-stable sulfo-estolide mixed salt compositions. The sulfo-estolide mixed salt compositions can be used in detergent formulations, such as laundry detergents, household, industrial and institutional cleaning formulations, and person care products.
US07879786B1
A detergent composition is disclosed, which comprises: (A) an alkali metal hydroxyl compound in an amount of 0.1 to 20 parts by weight; (B) a nonionic surfactant represented by the following formula (I) in an amount of 0.1 to 30 parts by weight: wherein R1 is hydrogen or methyl; R2 is hydrogen or methyl; n is an integer from 0 to 10; and m is an integer from 4 to 20; (C) an anionic surfactant in an amount of 0.1 to 10 parts by weight; (D) a chelating agent in an amount of 0.1 to 20 parts by weight; (E) an additive in an amount of 0.1 to 20 parts by weight; and (F) water of remaining parts based on 100 parts by weight of the detergent composition.
US07879778B2
High performance base stock, base stock blending component and performance additive comprising bis(hydroxyphenyl)alkyl ethers. Such ethers exhibit superior thermal and oxidation stability, low volatility and superior low temperature properties.
US07879777B2
A lubricating oil composition contains a major portion of a lubricating base oil and an antioxidant additive at about 0.1-5.0 mass percent, the additive including: a secondary diarylamine, an organo molybdenum compound, and an organoammonium tungstate compound.
US07879773B2
A lubricating oil composition having superior storage stability and load-carrying effect is disclosed. The composition comprises four components: (1) an alkali metal borate; (2) an oil-soluble sulfur compound; (3) a trialkyl hydrogen phosphite; and (4) a mixture of greater than 50% neutralized acidic phosphates that are essentially free of monothiophosphates.
US07879768B2
The present disclosure relates to drilling fluids for use in bitumen recovery from oil sands. In particular, the disclosure relates to a drilling fluid composition containing hydrophobically associating polymers which encapsulate the bitumen, and a method and use of the composition.
US07879765B2
A biochip and a biochip scanning method and apparatus using phase changes are provided, wherein a laser beam is radiated to a biochip having immobilized probes placed thereon to cause a phase change in a phase change layer located under the biochip and the reflectance on the phase change layer according to the phase change is detected to allow reproduction or recording of bio information on the biochip. A phase change biochip and a phase change detection method using phase changes based on resistance detection are also provided, wherein the resistance between two electrodes connected respectively to both ends of a phase change layer including a bio spot where a phase change occurs is measured so that it is possible to easily detect phase changes in the biochip based on changes in the resistance.
US07879764B2
Apparatus and methods are disclosed for electrically active combinatorial-chemical (EACC) chips for biochemical analyte detection. An apparatus includes a substrate that has an array of regions defining multiple cells, wherein each of the cells includes a reaction cavity that contains multiple functional binding groups. A method of detecting an analyte providing the reaction cavity between a source and a drain or a pair of electrodes, applying a voltage and monitoring a parameter indicative of an analyte characteristic. A process of fabricating an EACC include bonding an analyte to the multiple functional binding groups of each reaction cavity, and forming an analyte sensing structure including the substrate.
US07879758B2
A catalytically active porous element for promoting catalytic gas phase reactions is proposed, said element comprising a porous structural element of sintered ceramic or metallic primary particles, which are selected from fibrous and/or granular particles, a secondary structure of titania nano particles deposited on the surface of said sintered primary particles and a catalytic component deposited on the surface of the titania nano particles. Thereby porous catalytic elements for catalytic gas phase reactions which are useful not only in NOX reduction reactions but also for other catalytic gas phase reactions are provided.
US07879756B2
A method of producing an iron catalyst for catalyzing the hydrogenation of carbon monoxide is disclosed. The method comprises using a reduced amount of acid for iron dissolution compared to certain previous methods. The resulting acidic iron mixture is heated without boiling to obtain a nitrate solution having a Fe2+:Fe3+ ratio in the range of about 0.01%:99.99% to about 100%:0% (wt:wt). Iron phases are precipitated at a lower temperature compared to certain previous methods. The recovered catalyst precursor is dried and sized to form particles having a size distribution between 10 microns and 100 microns. In embodiments, the Fe2+:Fe3+ ratio in the nitric acid solution may be in the range of from about 3%:97% to about 30%:70% (wt:wt) and the calcined catalyst may comprise a maghemite:hematite ratio of about 1%:99% to about 70%:30%.
US07879752B2
An electrocatalyst including an active catalyst component and an additive including a transitional metal, transitional metal oxide or complex precursor thereof, products including such an electrocatalyst and methods of making and using the same.
US07879751B2
A solid catalyst component for olefin polymerization, comprising titanium atoms, magnesium atoms, halogen atoms and hydrocarbyloxy groups, wherein the following filtrate contains titanium atoms in a concentration of 0.08 mg-Ti/ml-filtrate or lower, measured according to a method comprising the steps of (1) preparing a suspension of the solid catalyst component for olefin polymerization in heptane having a concentration of 0.1 g-solid catalyst component/ml-suspension, (2) heating the suspension at 70° C. for 30 minutes under stirring, (3) filtering the suspension, thereby obtaining a filtrate, and (4) measuring a concentration of titanium atoms contained in the filtrate; and a production process of the solid catalyst component.
US07879734B2
A nanostructure is a porous body comprising a plurality of pillar-shaped pores and a region surrounding them, the region being an oxide amorphous region formed so as to contain C, Si, Ge or a material of a combination of them. Such a nanostructure can be used as a functional material in light emitting devices, optical devices and microdevices. It can also be used as a filter.
US07879727B2
A method of fabricating a semiconductor device including depositing a hardmask layer on a layer of the semiconductor device, selectively etching a pattern of continuous lines in the hardmask layer, depositing an antireflective coating over remaining portions of the hardmask layer, depositing a photoresist layer on the antireflective coating, patterning the photoresist layer with a plurality of isolation trenches via a lithography process, each of the isolation trenches extending perpendicular to and crossing portions of at least one of the continuous lines of the underlying hardmask layer, and with each isolation trench having an initial width. The method further includes reducing the width of each of the isolation trenches from the initial width to desired width via a shrinking process, etching the antireflective coating underlying the isolation trenches to expose intersecting portions of the underlying continuous lines, and etching the exposed intersecting portions of the underlying continuous lines of the hardmask layer to form a pattern of line segments having line ends separated by the desired width.
US07879724B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device has polishing a film, and cleaning a polished surface by carrying out a first exposing the polished surface to an acidic first cleaning fluid having an effect of etching at least a partial region of the polished surface, and a second exposing the polished surface to an alkaline second cleaning fluid after the first exposing.
US07879722B2
A semiconductor device includes a silicon substrate, and a NiSi layer provided on the silicon substrate aiming to suppress oxidation of the surface of a NiSi layer and the resistivity increase. The NiSi layer includes a bottom NiSi region and a top NiSi region. The bottom NiSi region provided in contact with silicon surface, and containing substantially no nitrogen. The top NiSi region is a nitrided NiSi region provided in contact with the bottom NiSi region, and containing nitrogen. The NiSi layer has a total thickness of 50 nm or below.
US07879721B2
The present process for rapidly heating and cooling a target material without damaging the substrate upon which it has been deposited. More specifically, target material is coated onto a first substrate. A self-propagating nanoenergetic material is selected that combusts at temperatures sufficient to change the target material and creates a flame front that propagates sufficiently quickly that the first substrate is not substantially heated. The nanoenergetic material is deposited on the target material, such that the target material and the nanoenergetic material is sandwiched between the substrate and the target material. The nanoenergetic material is ignited and the flame front of the nanoenergetic material is allowed to propagate over the second substrate and change the target material.
US07879716B2
A method and structure for reducing the corrosion of the copper seed layer during the fabrication process of a semiconductor structure. Before the structure (or the wafer containing the structure) exits the vacuum environment of the sputter tool, the structure is warmed up to a temperature above the water condensation temperature of the environment outside the sputter tool. As a result, water vapor would not condense on the structure when the structure exits the sputter tool, and therefore, corrosion of the seed layer by the water vapor is prevented. Alternatively, a protective layer resistant to water vapor can be formed on top of the seed layer before the structure exits the sputter tool environment. In yet another alternative embodiment, the seed layer can comprises a copper alloy (such as with aluminum) which grows a protective layer resistant to water vapor upon exposure to water vapor.
US07879713B2
A mounting method of a semiconductor element whereby the semiconductor element is mounted on a wiring board via an outside connection projection electrode not containing lead (Pb), the mounting method includes a step of applying a reflow heating process for connecting the outside connection projection electrode of the semiconductor element and the wiring board and then cooling the connected semiconductor element and wiring board at a cooling rate equal to and lower than 0.5° C./s.
US07879709B2
A semiconductor structure comprises a semiconductor substrate. A layer of an electrically insulating material is formed over the semiconductor substrate. An electrically conductive feature is formed in the layer of electrically insulating material. A first layer of a semiconductor material is formed between the electrically conductive feature and the layer of electrically insulating material.
US07879707B2
Embodiments of the invention provide a semiconductor integrated circuit device and a method for fabricating the device. In one embodiment, the method comprises forming a plurality of preliminary gate electrode structures in a cell array region and a peripheral circuit region of a semiconductor substrate; forming selective epitaxial films on the semiconductor substrate in the cell array region and the peripheral region; implanting impurities into at least some of the selective epitaxial films to form elevated source/drain regions in the cell array region and the peripheral circuit region; forming a first interlayer insulating film; and patterning the first interlayer insulating film to form a plurality of first openings exposing the elevated source/drain regions. The method further comprises forming a first ohmic film, a first barrier film, and a metal film; and removing portions of each of the metal film, the first barrier film, and the first ohmic film.
US07879705B2
A method is set forth of forming an ohmic electrode having good characteristics on a SiC semiconductor layer. In the method, a Ti-layer and an Al-layer are formed on a surface of the SiC substrate. The SiC substrate having the Ti-layer and the Al-layer is maintained at a temperature that is higher than or equal to a first temperature and lower than a second temperature until all Ti in the Ti-layer has reacted with Al. The first temperature is the minimum temperature of a temperature zone at which the Ti reacts with the Al to form Al3Ti, and the second temperature is the minimum temperature of a temperature zone at which the Al3Ti reacts with SiC to form Ti3SiC2. As a result of this maintaining of temperature step, an Al3Ti-layer is formed on the surface of the SiC substrate. The method also comprises further heating the SiC substrate having the Al3Ti-layer to a temperature that is higher than the second temperature. As a result of this step of further heating the SiC substrate reacts with Al3Ti of the Al3Ti-layer to form a Ti3SiC2-layer on the surface of the SiC substrate.
US07879699B2
A wafer includes a wafer frontside and a region adjacent to the device surface, wherein the region includes vacancy-oxygen complexes and the wafer frontside includes a predetermined surface structure to form thereon a device with a desired property.
US07879694B1
A system and method is described for applying a pre-gate plasma etch in a semiconductor device manufacturing process in order to increase the integrity of a subsequently grown gate oxide layer. During the manufacture of a semiconductor device a sacrificial oxide layer is grown over a silicon substrate. The pre-gate plasma etch process is applied to the sacrificial oxide layer. Then the sacrificial oxide layer is stripped away and a gate oxide layer is grown over the silicon substrate. The gate oxide layer has an increased integrity due to the application of the pre-gate plasma etch process.
US07879687B2
A manufacturing method of a highly reliable semiconductor with a waterproof property. The method includes the steps of: sequentially forming a peeling layer, an inorganic insulating layer, and an element formation layer including an organic compound layer, over a substrate; separating the peeling layer and the inorganic insulating layer from each other, or separating the substrate and the inorganic insulating layer from each other; removing a part of the inorganic insulating layer or a part of the inorganic insulating layer and the element formation layer, thereby isolating at least the inorganic insulating layer into a plurality of sections so that at least two layers among the organic compound layer, a flexible substrate, and an adhesive agent are stacked at outer edges of the isolated inorganic insulating layers; and cutting a region where at least two layers among the organic compound layer, the flexible substrate, and the adhesive agent are stacked.
US07879679B2
A method for manufacturing an electronic component on a semiconductor substrate, including forming at least one opening in the substrate; forming in the bottom and on the walls of the opening and on the substrate an alternated succession of layers of a first material and of a second material, the second material being selectively etchable with respect to the first material and the substrate; trimming the layer portions of the first material and of the second material which are not located in the opening; selectively etching a portion of the first material to obtain trenches; and filling the trenches with at least one third material.
US07879677B2
A FinFET includes a fin that is on a substrate and extends away from the substrate. A device isolation layer is disposed on the substrate on both sides of the fin. An insulating layer is between the fin and the substrate. The insulating layer is directly connected to the device isolation layer and has a different thickness than the device isolation layer. A gate electrode crosses over the fin. A gate insulating layer is between the gate electrode and the fin. Source and drain regions are on the fins and on opposite sides of the gate electrode. Related nonvolatile memory devices that include FinFETs and methods of making FinFETs and nonvolatile memory devices are also disclosed.
US07879675B2
A semiconductor device comprising a gate electrode formed on a gate dielectric layer formed on a semiconductor film. A pair of source/drain regions are formed adjacent the channel region on opposite sides of the gate electrode. The source and drain regions each comprise a semiconductor portion adjacent to and in contact with the semiconductor channel and a metal portion adjacent to and in contact with the semiconductor portion.
US07879674B2
The use of a germanium carbide (GeC), or a germanium silicon carbide (GeSiC) layer as a floating gate material to replace heavily doped polysilicon (poly) in fabricating floating gates in EEPROM and flash memory results in increased tunneling currents and faster erase operations. Forming the floating gate includes depositing germanium-silicon-carbide in various combinations to obtain the desired tunneling current values at the operating voltage of the memory device.
US07879673B2
A method for forming a semiconductor device is presented. The method includes providing a substrate prepared with first and second regions with a first device layer. A second device layer including nanocrystals is also formed. A cover layer is provided over the second device layer. The cover layer is patterned to expose portions of the second device layer in the first and second regions. The exposed portions of the second device layer in the first and second regions are processed to form modified portions. The processing of the exposed portions at least reduces the nanocrystals to a diameter below a threshold diameter in the modified portions. The modified portions are removed.
US07879667B2
A technique is presented which provides for a selective pre-amorphization of source/drain regions of a transistor while preventing pre-amorphization of a gate electrode of the transistor. Illustrative embodiments include the formation of a pre-amorphization implant blocking material over the gate electrode. Further illustrative embodiments include inducing a strain in a channel region by use of various stressors.
US07879661B2
A semiconductor device of a dual-gate structure including a P-channel type field-effect transistor formed at a first region of a substrate and an N-channel type field-effect transistor formed at a second region of the substrate, includes a gate electrode including a polycrystalline silicon film continuously formed on the substrate to cover the first and second regions and a metal silicide film formed on the polycrystalline silicon film. The polycrystalline silicon film has a P-type part located on the first region and an N-type part coming into contact with the P-type part and located on the second region, and the P-type part is further doped with a heavier element than a P-type impurity that determines a conductivity type of the P-type part.
US07879660B2
Methods of forming a semiconductor structure having FinFET's and planar devices, such as MOSFET's, on a common substrate by a damascene approach, and semiconductor structures formed by the methods. A semiconductor fin of the FinFET is formed on a substrate with damascene processing in which the fin growth may be interrupted to implant ions that are subsequently transformed into a region that electrically isolates the fin from the substrate. The isolation region is self-aligned with the fin because the mask used to form the damascene-body fin also serves as an implantation mask for the implanted ions. The fin may be supported by the patterned layer during processing that forms the FinFET and, more specifically, the gate of the FinFET. The electrical isolation surrounding the FinFET may also be supplied by a self-aligned process that recesses the substrate about the FinFET and at least partially fills the recess with a dielectric material.
US07879651B2
A packaging conductive structure for a semiconductor substrate and a method for forming the structure are provided. The dielectric layer of the packaging conductive structure partially overlays the metallic layer of the semiconductor substrate and has a receiving space. The lifting layer and conductive layer are formed in the receiving space, wherein the conductive layer extends for connection to a bump. The lifting layer is partially connected to the dielectric layer. As a result, the conductive layer can be stably deposited on the edge of the dielectric layer for enhancing the reliability of the packaging conductive structure.
US07879649B2
The present invention provides a method and apparatus for a programmable capacitor associated with an input/output pad in the semiconductor device. The apparatus includes a semiconductor die having an upper surface, a first capacitor deployed above the upper surface of the semiconductor die, a separation layer deployed above the first capacitor, and a bond pad deployed above the separation layer such that at least a portion of the bond pad lies above the first capacitor.
US07879648B1
A fabrication method for a high pin count chip package is provided herein. First, a lead frame is provided, wherein the lead frame has a chip carrier and a plurality of first lead pins configured around the chip carrier. A first channel is formed on the first lead pins to define a first contact portions and a second contact portion. A die mounting process, a wire bonding process, and a molding process are performed in turn, wherein the molding compound is utilized to encapsulate the chip, the wires, and the first channel. After that, a backside sawing process is performed to electrically isolate the first contact portions and the second contact portions. The present invention achieves high pin count chip package without changing the appearance and size of product and the reasonable width limitation of the lead pins.
US07879646B2
The invention includes a device displaying differential negative resistance characterized by a current-versus-voltage profile having a peak-to-valley ratio of at least about 9. The invention also includes a semiconductor construction comprising a substrate, and a first layer over the substrate. The first layer comprises Ge and one or more of S, Te and Se. A second layer is over the first layer. The second layer comprises M and A, where M is a transition metal and A is one or more of O, S, Te and Se. A third layer is over the second layer, and comprises Ge and one or more of S, Te and Se. The first, second and third layers are together incorporated into an assembly displaying differential negative resistance. Additionally, the invention includes methodology for forming assemblies displaying differential negative resistance, such as tunnel diode assemblies.
US07879643B2
Memory cells are described along with methods for manufacturing. A memory cell described herein includes a bottom electrode comprising a base portion and a pillar portion on the base portion, the pillar portion having a top surface and a width less than that of the base portion. A memory element is on the top surface of the pillar portion and comprises memory material having at least two solid phases. A top electrode is on the memory element.
US07879641B2
A method for determining the light intensity of a light signal in each of a plurality of spectral bands is disclosed and a method for fabricating a photodetector is also disclosed.
US07879632B2
Provided is a method for manufacturing a surface-emitting laser capable of forming a photonic crystal structure inside a semiconductor highly accurately and easily without direct bonding. It is a method by laminating on a substrate a plurality of semiconductor layers including an active layer and a semiconductor layer having a photonic crystal structure formed therein, the method including the steps of forming a second semiconductor layer on a first semiconductor layer to form the photonic crystal structure, forming a plurality of microholes in the second semiconductor layer, forming a low refractive index portion in a part of the first semiconductor layer via the plurality of microholes thereby to provide the first semiconductor layer with the photonic crystal structure having a one-dimensional or two-dimensional refractive index distribution in a direction parallel to the substrate, and forming a third semiconductor layer by crystal regrowth from a surface of the second semiconductor layer.
US07879629B2
Provided is a method for manufacturing a floating structure of a MEMS. The method for manufacturing a floating structure of a microelectromechanical system (MEMS), comprising the steps of: a) forming a sacrificial layer including a thin layer pattern doped with impurities on a substrate; b) forming a support layer on the sacrificial layer; c) forming a structure to be floated on the support layer by using a subsequent process; d) forming an etch hole exposing both side portions of the thin layer pattern; and e) removing the sacrificial layer through the etch hole to form an air gap between the support layer and the substrate.
US07879621B2
The invention provides, inter alia, methods, devices and reagents for the preparation of native and non-denatured biomolecules using solid-phase extraction channels. The invention is particularly suited for the purification, concentration and/or analysis of protein analytes. The invention further provides, inter alia, methods, devices and reagents for the purification, concentration and/or analysis of multi-protein complexes.
US07879616B2
The present invention provides a method for analyzing the C-terminal amino acid sequence of a peptide by using a reaction for successively releasing the C-terminal amino acids of the peptide, which method can suppress, when successively releasing the C-terminal amino acids of a peptide of long amino acid length, such a undesirable side reaction as cleavage of peptide bond in the intermediate position of the peptide and can carry out the chemical treatment thereof under widely applicable conditions; In the method, a dry sample of a peptide with long amino acid length is beforehand subjected to an N-acylation treatment; by using a reaction reagent where an alkanoic acid anhydride is combined with a small amount of a perfluoroalkanoic acid, successive release of C-terminal amino acids is conducted under mild conditions; a hydrolysis treatment is applied; then, selective fragmentization at site of arginine residue is performed by digestion by trypsin; thereafter, decreases in molecular weight are measured for the C-terminal side fragments derived from a series of reaction products with use of a MALDI-TOF-MS apparatus; thereby, the C-terminal amino acid sequence of the peptide sample is identified.
US07879615B2
A method and device for blood hemostasis analysis is disclosed. A blood sample is displaced to reach a resonant state. The resonant frequency of the blood sample is determined before, during and after a hemostasis process. The changes in the resonant frequency of the blood sample are indicative of the hemostasis characteristics of the blood sample.
US07879613B2
A method and apparatus is provided for a system for maintaining hydrogen purity in an electrical power generator. The purity system includes: a generator, a hydrogen generator configured to provide hydrogen gas to the generator, a purity monitor for detecting the level of hydrogen purity in the generator and providing a signal when the purity drops below a predetermined threshold. The system automatically compensates for gas loss or contamination to maintain the desired level of efficiency in the electrical generator.
US07879610B1
A method for facilitating a delivery of a molecule into an interior space of a cell includes the steps of introducing a molecule into a target tissue comprising a cell and applying a substantially continuous low-level electric field to the target tissue. The field is applied for a duration sufficient to effect a change in porosity the cell of the target tissue sufficient to facilitate an entry of a desired molecule into an interior of the cell.
US07879607B2
An article is provided herein for use in seeding cells on at least one filter extending across at least one well of an assay device. The article includes an elastomeric body having spaced-apart first and second surfaces, and at least one channel extending between, and through, the first and second surfaces. The channel is formed to sealingly, and detachably, engage an outer surface of the well with the filter being at least partially encompassed by the channel. Advantageously, with the subject invention, a cell monolayer can be formed on the exterior surface of the filter. The assay device may be a multiwell plate, an insert plate, a column, a test tube, or a pipette.
US07879599B2
A tube port includes a tubular first stem having an interior surface and an exterior surface extending between a first end and a longitudinally spaced apart second end. The interior surface bounds a passage that longitudinally extends through the first stem. The tube port also includes a flange encircling and radially outwardly projecting from the first end of the first stem. The flange and the first stem are integrally formed as a unitary member comprised of a flexible elastomeric material having a durometer on a Shore A scale with a value of less than 90.
US07879598B2
The invention relates to embodiments of an optical system for luminescence determination, comprising two or more excitation light sources, a sensor platform and an optical component with several discrete facets for beam deflection towards the sensor platform. Further subjects of the invention are methods for luminescence determination with an optical system according to the invention and analytical systems, as well as the use of these methods for quantitative affinity sensing and for various other applications. The aim of the present invention is to provide optical and analytical measuring devices for highly sensitive detection of one or more analytes, using a multitude of measurement areas on a common carrier.
US07879597B2
The systems of the invention include test cells with a first sorbent material defining a first flow path for a solution, a second sorbent material defining a second flow path distinct from the first flow path for a sample, and a test site with immobilized antigens or antibodies or other ligand binding molecules such as aptamers, nucleic acids, etc. located at the junction of the first and second sorbent materials for identifying one or more ligands. The first and second sorbent strips touch each other at the test site location. The test cell may be used to test for pregnancy, HIV (including different HIV antigens or peptides), tuberculosis, prion, urin-analysis/drug, cardiac markers, cancer markers, Chagas, Chlamydia, dental bacteria (SM/LC), influenza A, influenza B, adenovirus, rotavirus, strep A, other bacteria or viruses, etc., and veterinary applications such as CPV, FIV, FeLV, heartworm, etc., although it is not limited to those applications.
US07879594B2
The present invention relates to a method for detecting a target biomolecule in a sample comprising a plurality of biomolecules, whereby the target biomolecule is provided with a tag, said tag comprising a catalytic active moiety which catalyses a reaction yielding an insoluble reaction product which precipitates on flexible electrically conductive nanoelectrodes. The precipitation onto said nanoelectrodes causes a change in their electroconductivity which is accessible to electroanalytical methods. The invention relates further to a biochip comprising a solid support with nanoelectrodes attached thereto and probe molecules bound to all or to a plurality of said nanoelectrodes which may be the same or different, a segment of said probe molecules being able to interact specifically with a segment of the target biomolecules.
US07879584B2
A process is provided for improving sensory properties of essential oils by treatment and incubation with a microbial culture during the extraction process. A method for increasing the patchulol content in essential oil extracted from leaves of Pogostemon cablin is provided, comprising contacting a dried patchouli biomass with microbial cultures, incubating the patchouli biomass under conditions suitable for allowing the increase in the patchulol content and extracting the oil. This process results in increased patchulol content without decreasing the overall oil yields. The patchouli oil also has enriched aroma.
US07879574B2
The present invention provides for novel reagents whose fluorescence increases in the presence of particular proteases. The reagents comprise a characteristically folded peptide backbone conjugated to two fluorophores such that the fluorophores are located opposite sides of a cleavage site. When the folded peptide is cleaved, as by digestion with a protease, the fluorophores provide a high intensity fluorescent signal at a visible wavelength. Because of their high specificity and their high fluorescence signal in the visible wavelengths, these protease indicators are particularly well suited for detection of protease activity in biological samples, in particular in frozen tissue sections. Thus this invention also provides for methods of detecting protease activity in situ in frozen sections.
US07879567B2
Disclosed is a sugar and/or a sugar alcohol as a substance for suppressing dephosphorylation reaction of a phosphorylated coenzyme. Also disclosed is a method for stabilizing a phosphorylated coenzyme which is characterized by having at least a substance for suppressing dephosphorylation reaction of the phosphorylated coenzyme coexist with the phosphorylated coenzyme.
US07879562B2
A method for diagnosing endometriosis in a human subject comprising the steps of detecting a test amount of an antibody that specifically binds to ME-5 (SEQ ID NO:3) polypeptide or a peptide comprising an epitope of ME-5 in a sample from the subject; and comparing the test amount with a normal range of the antibody in a control sample from a subject who does not suffer from endometriosis, whereby a test amount above the normal range provides a positive indication in the diagnosis of endometriosis.
US07879561B2
The invention is a method of detecting CAD in a CKD diagnosed human patient or CKD in a diagnosed CAD patient, or detection the presence of both CDK and CAD by assaying a plasma or serum sample of a human patient for elevated levels of BMP-4.
US07879552B2
The present invention relates to the identification of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in a ubiquinol-cytochrome c reductase core protein I (UQCRC1) gene and its associations association with fat deposition and fatty acid composition. The invention further encompasses methods and systems, including network-based processes, to manage the SNP data, haplotype data and other data relating to specific animals and herds of animals, veterinarian care, diagnostic and quality control data and management of livestock which, based on genotyping, have predictable meat quality traits, husbandry conditions, animal welfare, food safety information, audit of existing processes and data from field locations.
US07879550B2
A nucleic acid probe for classification of pathogenic bacterial species is capable of collectively detecting bacterial strains of the same species and differentially detecting them from other bacterial species. Any one of the base sequence of SEQ ID NO. 94 and complementary or modified sequences thereof or a combination of at least two of them is used for detecting the gene of an infectious disease pathogenic bacterium.
US07879547B2
Several genes are upregulated in the lung of asthma or allergy sufferers. Many of the genes up-regulated in asthma are involved in arginine metabolism in the lung. Moreover, a set of 291 signature genes was found that can be used to indicate a patient's predilection for developing asthma or the patient's degree of suffering. Also, a set of 59 signature genes were found that indicate a patient's predilection for developing allergies. Many of the up-regulated genes relating to asthma were from the arginine metabolic pathway. Other genes, such as ADAM8, SPRR2A and SPRR2B were also strongly up-regulated in asthma. Treatment of asthma may be accomplished by administering compositions which decrease the levels of Arginase I, Arginase II, CAT2, or other arginase pathway members in the lung. Additionally, detection of altered levels of these proteins or the mRNA encoding them may be useful to diagnose the presence of asthma in a patient.
US07879539B2
The present invention relates to a method for improving post-thaw survival of cryopreserved biological material comprising applying hydrostatic pressure to said biological material; keeping the said biological material at the hydrostatic pressure for a predetermined time period; releasing the hydrostatic pressure; and freezing the said biological material using any protocol applicable thereto. The invention also relates to the use of a pressurizing device for the pretreatment of a biological material that is to be cryopreserved, as well as to a pressurizing device for the pretreatment of a biological material that is to be cryopreserved, said device comprising a pressure chamber for receiving biological material, means to produce said pressure, and means to maintain said pressure in said chamber.
US07879538B2
Systems and methods for generating an image are provided. These systems and methods include generating multiple light beams from a light source by controlling at least one parameter of the light source to be different among each of the multiple light beams. The systems and methods further include forming multiple light patterns of circuit structures that are separated in frequency by directing each of the light beams at a mask of circuit features. The systems and methods, when used in lithography for example, further include directing each of the light patterns toward a silicon substrate. The silicon substrate includes a silicon wafer having a surface at least partially covered with at least one of a photoresist material and a reversible contrast enhancement material (R-CEM).
US07879531B2
Suitable additives that may be added into immersion fluids, immersion fluids comprising at least one carrier medium selected from an aqueous fluid, a non-aqueous fluid, and mixtures thereof, and immersions fluids comprising at least one carrier medium and at least one additive useful for performing immersion lithography at an operating wavelength ranging from 140 nm to 365 nm are disclosed herein.
US07879528B2
A resist composition and a method of forming a resist pattern that enable contamination within the exposure apparatus to be prevented in lithography processes using an electron beam or EUV (extreme ultraviolet light). In this method, an organic solvent containing, as the principal component, one or more compounds selected from a group consisting of propylene glycol monomethyl ether (PGME), methyl amyl ketone (MAK), butyl acetate (BuOAc), and 3-methyl methoxy propionate (MMP) is used as the resist solvent.
US07879523B2
A toner composition including toner particles, wherein the toner particles are prepared by a method in which toner constituents including at least a binder resin and a colorant are kneaded upon application of heat to prepare a toner constituent mixture; the toner constituent mixture is dissolved or swelled in an organic solvent capable of dissolving or swelling at least the binder resin to prepare an oil phase liquid; the oil phase liquid is emulsified in an aqueous liquid to prepare an emulsion; the emulsion is coagulated; and then the coagulated emulsion is dried to prepare the toner particles.
US07879517B2
An electrophotographic photoreceptor is disclosed, comprising on an electrically conductive support an intermediate layer, a charge generation layer and a charge transport layer in this order, wherein the charge transport layer contains a charge transport material represented by formula (1) and a compound represented by formula (2) and the content of the compound represented by formula (2) is not less than 100 ppm and not more than 5000 ppm.
US07879515B2
A method of determining positioning error between lithographically produced integrated circuit patterns on at least two different lithographic levels of a semiconductor wafer comprising. The method includes exposing, developing and etching one or more lithographic levels to create one or more groups of marks comprising a target at one or more wafer locations. The method then includes exposing and developing a subsequent group of marks within the target on a subsequent lithographic level. The method then comprises measuring the position of the marks on each level with respect to a common reference point, and using the measured positions of the groups of marks to determine the relative positioning error between one or more pairs of the developed and etched lithographic levels on which the marks are located.
US07879510B2
A method for etching quartz is provided herein. In one embodiment, a method of etching quartz includes providing a filmstack in an etching chamber, the filmstack having a quartz layer partially exposed through a patterned layer, providing at least one fluorocarbon process gas to a processing chamber, biasing a quartz layer disposed on a substrate support in the processing chamber with a plurality of power pulses less than 600 Watts and etching the quartz layer through a patterned mask. The method for etching quartz described herein is particularly suitable for fabricating photomasks having etched quartz portions.
US07879509B2
The present invention provides polyurethane systems which cure by radiation and thermal action with crosslinking, and use thereof for the production of holographic media. The polyurethane compositions of the invention comprise A) polyisocyanates, B) isocyanate-reactive block copolymers, C) compounds having groups which react on exposure to actinic radiation with ethylenically unsaturated compounds with polymerization, D) optionally free radical stabilizers and E) photoinitiators.
US07879502B2
A method for revising a reference polarization curve of a fuel cell stack that identifies the relationship between the voltage and the current of the stack over time. When the stack is operating at a low load where kinetic voltage losses of the stack dominate, a first adaptation value is revised as the difference between the actual stack voltage and the stack voltage of the reference polarization curve. When the stack is operating at higher loads where ohmic voltage losses of the stack dominate, a second adaptation value is revised as the difference between the actual stack voltage and the stack voltage of the reference polarization curve.
US07879499B2
An electrolyte for a lithium ion secondary battery includes a non-aqueous organic solvent; lithium salt; and difluoro oxalato borate and fluoro ethylene carbonate (FEC). The capacity retention property and durability of a lithium ion secondary battery including the electrolyte is excellent even when the battery is left at a high temperature.
US07879497B2
A battery is adapted such that a nickel hydroxide particle group constituted of a number of nickel hydroxide particles filled in a void part of a positive electrode substrate contains, at a ratio of 15 wt % or less, small-diameter nickel hydroxide particles each having a particle diameter of 5 μm or less. The positive electrode substrate is configured such that a front-surface-side nickel layer and a back-surface-side nickel layer are made larger in thickness than a middle nickel layer, and an average thickness B of either the front-surface-side nickel layer or the back-surface-side nickel layer, which is thicker one, and an average thickness C of the middle nickel layer satisfy a relation of C/B≧0.6.
US07879493B2
Disclosed is a doped lithium titanate and its use as an electrode in a battery. Further disclosed is a method for making an alkali metal titanate, which method includes mixing an alkali metal compound and a titanium compound, impact milling the mixture, and heating the milled mixture for a time, and at a temperature, sufficient to convert the mixture to the alkali metal titanate. The alkali metal compound can be in the form of Li2CO3 and the titanium compound can be in the form of TiO2. A dopant may be included in the mixture.
US07879489B2
To provide a high-capacity non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery that exhibits satisfactory charge/discharge cycle characteristics even in a high temperature environment. The battery has: a positive electrode including a nickel-containing lithium composite oxide; a negative electrode capable of charging and discharging; a separator interposed between the positive and negative electrodes; and a non-aqueous electrolyte containing a non-aqueous solvent and a solute dissolved therein. The non-aqueous electrolyte contains a fluorine atom-containing aromatic compound. The nickel-containing lithium composite oxide is represented by, for example, LiNixM1-x-yLyO2 where element M is at least one selected from the group consisting of Co and Mn; element L is at least one selected from the group consisting of Al, Sr, Y, Zr, Ta, Mg, Ti, Zn, B, Ca, Cr, Si, Ga, Sn, P, V, Sb, Nb, Mo, W and Fe; and x and y satisfy 0.1≦x≦1 and 0≦y≦0.1.
US07879487B2
A rechargeable battery includes a housing having a housing wall, at least one cell in the housing, and a contact element electrically connected to the at least one cell. The rechargeable battery also includes a plastic sealing element extrusion-coated on the contact element. The sealing element includes a supporting surface which lies flat against the housing wall at an interface. The supporting surface is transmission laser-welded to the housing wall at the interface. One of the supporting surface and the housing wall is at least partially transparent for the laser beam and the other of the supporting surface and the housing wall is absorbent for the laser beam.
US07879483B2
Cooling air intake port (52), cooling air exhaust port (55), and securing walls (86, 87), which contact and secure the side surfaces of one or more battery cells (72), may be defined within two battery pack housing halves (50, 80). When battery pack (99) is assembled, at least one cooling air passage (91, 92) is defined by the side surfaces of the battery cells, the interior surface of the battery pack housing, and the securing walls. The cooling air passage connects the cooling air intake port to the cooling air exhaust port. Further, the securing walls isolate or physically separate the cooling air passage from battery terminals (72a, 72b). By forcing cooling air through the cooling air passage, the battery cells can be effectively and efficiently cooled. In addition, if the battery terminals are isolated from the cooling air by the securing walls, the electrical contact areas of the battery cells are protected or shielded against outside moisture and foreign substances that may be introduced into the battery pack by the cooling air.
US07879478B2
A battery module comprises: first and second rechargeable batteries, each of which includes a casing for storing an electrode assembly and a cap assembly provided on top of the casing; an interconnector provided between an upper portion of the first rechargeable battery and a lower portion of the second rechargeable battery so as to connect the first and second rechargeable batteries with each other; and an insulation cover which covers interconnected portions of the first and second rechargeable batteries, and which has at least one ventilation outlet.
US07879477B2
A polymer battery pack includes a polymer battery, an outer case having a first outer panel and a second outer panel, the outer case enclosing the polymer battery, an electrode tap in electrical communication with the polymer battery and positioned outside the outer case, and a protecting circuit board in electrical communication with the electrode tap and positioned outside the outer case, for enhanced operation and durability.
US07879473B2
A fuel cell unit according to the present invention is connectable to an external apparatus and includes a fuel cell generating an electric power, an auxiliary device feeding a fuel and air to the fuel cell, and a controller controlling power generation performed using the fuel cell. After receiving an electric power supplied from the external apparatus, the controller supplies an electric power supplied from the external apparatus to the auxiliary device.
US07879464B2
The present invention provides an anthracene derivative represented by the following general formula (1). In the general formula (1), R1 and R2 individually represent hydrogen or an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and at least one of R1 and R2 is hydrogen. Further, R3 represents an aryl group having 6 to 15 carbon atoms. R4 represents hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or an aryl group having 6 to 15 carbon atoms. R5 represents hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or an aryl group having 6 to 15 carbon atoms. R6 represents an aryl group having 6 to 15 carbon atoms. X1 represents an arylene group having 6 to 15 carbon atoms. General formula (1) is inserted.
US07879462B2
An aminostyryl compound represented by Formula 1: The organic light emitting device using the aminostyryl compound exhibits low driving voltage and improved brightness, efficiency, and color purity.
US07879460B2
Disclosed is a welding wire for joining cast iron and stainless steel, having a composition of 0.03 wt % or less of C, 2.0˜3.0 wt % of Si, 12.0˜14.0 wt % of Mn, 7.0˜9.0 wt % of Cr, 45.0˜47.0 wt % of Ni, 0.5˜0.8 wt % of Nb, and 2.0˜3.0 wt % of Mo, with a balance of Fe. Using the welding wire, a weld zone which has no hot cracks and is sound and good can be obtained.
US07879453B2
The invention relates to an alloy, in particular for an anti-friction coating, comprising elements which form a matrix (2) and at least a soft phase (3) and/or a hard phase (5), which soft phase elements and/or hard phase elements form a solid solution or a bond with the matrix element. The soft phase (3) and/or hard phase (5) is dispersed in the matrix (2) and the solid solution or bond is formed only in the region of the phase boundary (4) of the matrix (2) with the soft phase (3) and/or with the hard phase (5).
US07879452B2
A nonblocking multilayer elastomeric-film comprises a first brittle polymer film layer bonded to a second elastomeric polymer film layer. The multilayer film is activatable to fracture the first brittle polymer layer and to render the multilayer film elastomeric.
US07879448B2
A coated article is provided that may be heat treated in certain example embodiments. A coating of the coated article includes a zinc oxide inclusive layer located over and contacting a contact layer that is in contact with an infrared (IR) reflecting layer of a material such as silver. It has been found that the use of such a zinc oxide inclusive layer results in improved thermal stability upon heat treatment, increased visible transmission, and/or lower sheet resistance (Rs).
US07879440B2
A polylactic acid resin film or sheet which can be satisfactorily and stably formed and has excellent matte properties. It is a single-layer matte film or sheet which comprises a polylactic acid resin composition containing a particulate substance and at least one side of which has a surface gloss as measured in accordance with ASTM-D2457-70 (45° gloss) of 60% or lower.
US07879437B2
A non-particulate substrate having adhered thereto a coating composition comprising the reaction product of a transition metal compound such as niobium and a transition metal having electrons in the f orbital, and a silicon-containing material such as an organosilane or an organo(poly)siloxane. Reaction of the silicon-containing material with the transition metal compound results in a better adhering coating to the substrate than a comparable coating prepared from the silicon-containing material itself.
US07879424B2
A method of forming a panel is disclosed. The method includes forming a flexible skin (22); coupling a compressible material (24) to the skin (22); positioning the skin (22) and compressible material (24) in a mold; and forming a rigid substrate (20) around the skin (22) and compressible material (24) providing a first soft region (12) wherein the compressible material (24) is disposed between the skin (22) and the substrate (20) so that a first soft region (12) is defined by the compressible material (24).
US07879421B2
A fiber-reinforced component is formed of a first composite member including a thermoplastic matrix with reinforcing fibers having a diameter and a length distributed therein in a selected orientation and a second composite member including a thermoplastic matrix with reinforcing fibers having a diameter and a length distributed therein in a selected orientation. The first composite member is bonded to the second composite member by a solid state bond along a predetermined joint path, such that an average volume fraction of the reinforcing fibers of the first composite member and the second composite member within the joint path is substantially the same as an average volume fraction of the reinforcing fibers of the first composite member and the second composite member within the remainder of the fiber-reinforced component.
US07879419B2
A method of forming a three-dimensional microstructure on a flat surface of a support, comprising the application of a first flat and uniform layer of silicone on said surface of support and the application on the first layer of silicone of a second three dimensionally microstructured layer of silicone, said first layer and second layer of silicone become integrally connected to thus form a common three-dimensional microstructure ensuring anti-adhesive properties distributed regularly on the surface of the support, so that any flexible surface of substrate, in particular a surface of adhesive deposited on said layers of silicone will be microstructured by inverse replication of the three-dimensional microstructure formed by the two layers of silicone, where said layers of silicone are fixed by hardening by heating or by exposure to an ultraviolet or electronic radiation, or a combination thereof, applications thereof and films, notably self-adhesive films, such as those microstructured by said method.
US07879417B2
A cushion comprised of at least one chamber comprised of a barrier material, said barrier material comprised of an elastomer, said elastomer being at least semi-permeable to at least a first reactant compound, a second reactant compound disposed within said at least one chamber, wherein said first reactant compound and said second reactant compound react to form a resultant compound, and wherein a rate of diffusion of said resultant compound through said barrier material is less than a rate of diffusion of said first reactant compound through said barrier material. An article of footwear including a cushion, said cushion comprised of at least one chamber comprised of a barrier material, at least a first and a second solid or liquid reactant compounds disposed within said at least one chamber, wherein said first reactant compound and said second reactant compound react to form a resultant gaseous compound.
US07879414B2
A liquid crystal composition having a nematic phase that includes two components, wherein the first component is at least one compound selected from the group of compounds represented by formulas (1-1) to (1-3), and the second component is at least one compound selected from the group of compounds represented by formula (2): wherein R1 is alkyl having 1 to 12 carbons, alkoxy having 1 to 12 carbons or alkenyl having 2 to 12 carbons; R2 and R3 are each independently alkyl having 1 to 12 carbons, alkoxy having 1 to 12 carbons, alkenyl having 2 to 12 carbons or alkenyl having 2 to 12 carbons in which arbitrary hydrogen is replaced by fluorine; ring A, ring B and ring C are each independently 1,4-cyclohexylene, 1,4-phenylene or 2-fluoro-1,4-phenylene, 2,5-difluoro-1,4-phenylene; Z1 and Z2 are each independently a single bond, ethylene, carbonyloxy or difluoromethyleneoxy, provided that at least one of Z1 and Z2 is difluoromethyleneoxy; Z3 and Z4 are each independently a single bond, ethylene or carbonyloxy; X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, X6, X7 and X8 are each independently hydrogen or fluorine; Y1 is fluorine, chlorine or trifluoromethoxy; and m is 0, 1 or 2.
US07879412B2
A diamond thin film coating method is provided that enables, with no need for an intermediate layer, the formation of a diamond thin film, which has conventionally been considered difficult because cobalt contained in a binding phase of a cemented carbide provides a catalysis for the formation of graphite.Cobalt in a binding phase (11) present in a surface of a cemented carbide substrate member comprised of a hard phase of a carbide (2) and a binding phase (1) containing cobalt, is silicidated into silicide (3), and thereafter the diamond thin film is formed.
US07879387B2
A process for electrostatically coating a stent on a catheter. A conductor which is permanently affixed to the catheter contacts a stent mounted on the catheter. Conductive ink applied to the catheter may be used as the conductor. An electrical charge is applied to the conductor. The stent is then coated using an electrostatic coating process.
US07879376B2
The present invention relates to compositions and edible orally delivered products, such as confectioneries and chewing gum, which include taste potentiators to enhance the perception of active substances contained therein. More specifically, some embodiments provide potentiator compositions, which include at least one active substance and at least one taste potentiator. The active substance and/or taste potentiator may be encapsulated in some embodiments to modify the release rate of the composition upon consumption.
US07879374B2
A composition including superoxide dismutase (SOD) and prickly pear cactus (OFI) protects against, minimizes the effects of, and hastens recovery from the typical symptoms associated with an alcohol induced hangover. In addition, sesamin and alpha-lipoic acid work with the SOD and OFI for enhanced antioxidant and therapeutic effects. Thiamine, niacin, vitamin B6, folate, vitamin B12, pantothenic acid, milk thistle seed extract, flower pollen extract, eleuthero root extract, guggulsterones EZ, white willow bark extract, sclareolide, ginkgo biloba extract, caffeine, and boswellia serrata extract can be added to the composition for additional treatment of symptoms.
US07879373B2
A composition having a curcuminoid and an essential oil of turmeric. A composition having a curcuminoid and an essential oil of turmeric, wherein the essential oil is present in an amount sufficient to cause an enhancement of bioavailability of curcumin when the composition is administered to a human as compared to bioavailability of curcumin obtained upon administration of a composition prepared without adding essential oil to the curcuminoid. A method to prepare a composition having a curcuminoid and an essential oil of turmeric.
US07879372B2
A method of treating diseases and conditions associated with dry ear comprising topically applying to the ear canal of a subject that is suffering therefrom a liquid composition comprising an anti-irritant agent, a wound healing agent; and an anti-inflammatory agent dissolved in a polyhydroxy liquid solvent.
US07879371B2
The present invention relates to a thermolabile caffeine fraction useful for an efficient Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation in plant systems to develop desired traits in plant, and a method of preparing said fraction from tea leaves and also, an efficient and cost-effective method of introducing said Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation into plant systems using said caffeine fraction of tea leaves.
US07879370B2
An object is to establish a method of preparation of novel polysaccharides from a cassis polysaccharide (CAPS), wherein the novel polysaccharides exhibit a higher immunoregulatory effect per unit amount, have a low viscosity, and can be handled readily during the method of preparation a final product. Another object is to provide health foods and drinks having high safety and an excellent immunoregulatory effect at a low cost by utilizing a juice, processed juice or a purified product. The present invention relates to a composition of which chief ingredient is novel polysaccharides, having an average molecular weight falling within a range of 10,000 to 40,000; which is obtained by partially digestion of CAPS with enzyme, and an immunoregulatory foods and drinks utilizing the composition.
US07879361B2
The invention discloses the nanoparticles composed of chitosan, poly-glutamic acid, and at least one bioactive agent of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors or erythropoietin. The nanoparticles are characterized with a positive surface charge and their enhanced permeability for paracellular drug delivery.
US07879358B2
In one aspect, the invention is related to a method of treating a patient with Parkinson's disease, the method including administering to the respiratory tract of the patient particles that include more than about 90 weight percent (wt %) of levodopa. The particles are delivered to the patient's pulmonary system, preferably to the alveoli or the deep lung.
US07879355B2
The invention comprises a gastric device having a pouch formed from a degradable film. Preferably, the pouch contains a gas producing material. The gastric device hydrates within a patient's stomach and the gas producing material expands the device to a greater volume. Accordingly, the volume of the hydrated, expanded gastric devices occupy space in the stomach cavity and reduce the amount of food the patient will ingest before reaching the feeling of fullness. Preferably, the gastric device is made from food grade materials. The gastric device is configured to expand to a desired volume and then degrade after a residence time, allowing the device to be passed by the patient's normal digestive process.
US07879343B2
A composition for burn treatment containing, in % by weight: Almond oil (sweet): 9-10 Almond oil (bitter):7-8 Lavender oil:4-5 Beeswax:8-9 Bee Pollen:3-4 Purified honey:50-60 Propolis:0.2-1 Water: 8-12.
US07879342B2
The present invention relates to a novel adjuvant and/or immunomodulator isolated from peanut skin extract, which may be useful in the preparation of immunogenic compositions and vaccines. The present invention also provides for a method of stimulating acquisition of protective immunity by administering peanut skin extract prior to vaccination.
US07879336B2
The present invention relates to providing new vaccines and treatments for the diseases related to canine influenza virus. It discloses influenza viral antigens, and methods of presenting these antigens to canines, especially dogs. It relates to attenuated and killed vaccines. The present invention relates to experimentally generated canine and equine influenza viruses. invention also includes influenza A, including H3, N8, H3N8, H7N7 and viruses which contain at least one genome segment from an canine or equine influenza virus. The present invention also relates to the use of these viruses in therapeutic compositions to protect canines, dogs in particular, from diseases caused by influenza viruses.
US07879332B2
An efficacious large-scale alcohol-free plasma fractionation production process which produces a high-yielding, non-denatured, double viral-inactivated intravenous human immune gamma globulin (IgG) product. The process employs one or more salts from a group of salts comprising sodium citrate, sodium acetate, sodium gluconate, ammonium sulfate, sodium chloride, sodium sulfate and ammonium chloride in two initial fractionation steps, followed by diafiltration to remove those salts employed. A process which employs alcohol via the process of the disclosed inventive method is also disclosed.
US07879324B2
The invention concerns bifunctional fusion molecules, and novel, safer and more efficacious methods for the treatment of immune disorders resulting from excessive or unwanted immune responses. The invention provides methods for the suppression of type I hypersensitive (i.e., IgE-mediated) allergic conditions, methods for the prevention of anaphylactic responses that occur as a result of traditional peptide immunotherapies for allergic and autoimmune disorders, and provides novel methods for the treatment of autoimmune conditions, where the methods have reduced risk of triggering an anaphylactic response. The invention provides novel therapeutic approaches for the treatment of allergic responses, including the prevention of anaphylactic response that can occur from environmental allergen exposure. The invention also provides methods for the treatment of autoimmune disorders such as multiple sclerosis, autoimmune type I diabetes mellitus, and rheumatoid arthritis. The invention also provides methods for preventing anaphylactic response during traditional antigen therapies.
US07879323B2
The present invention provides novel Fibroblast Growth Factor-like (FGF-like) polypeptides and nucleic acid molecules encoding the same. The invention also provides vectors, host cells, antibodies and methods for producing FGF-like polypeptides. Also provided for are methods for the diagnosis and treatment of diseases associated with FGF-like polypeptides.
US07879320B2
The present invention is related to pharmaceutical Poloxamer hydrogel formulations containing an interferon. In particular, the invention relates to sustained release hydrogel formulations of interferon-beta, method of preparation and use thereof.
US07879316B2
The invention relates to a physiologically acceptable composition, especially a cosmetic composition, comprising at least one polyorganosiloxane containing polymer comprising at least one moiety which comprises: at least one polyorganosiloxane group consisting of 1 to about 1000 organosiloxane units in the chain of the moiety or in the form of graft, and at least two groups capable of establishing hydrogen interactions.
US07879315B2
An agent for dissolving dental calculus and/or dental caries, which comprises one or more kinds of substances selected from the group consisting of inositol phosphoric acid esters (e.g., phytic acid), polyphenols (e.g., Perilla frutescen var. crispa polyphenols), phosphoric acids, edetic acid salts, tartaric acid, malic acid, citric acid, and glycolic acid as an active ingredient. Dental calculus and/or dental caries can be conveniently dissolved in a short period of time.
US07879298B2
A microreactor (1) comprises a vacuum casing (2), a microreactor proper (4) located in a vacuum-tight cavity (3) in the vacuum casing (2), and a getter heat-generation substrate (6) positioned on at least one surface of the microreactor proper (4). The microreactor proper (4) has a feed inlet (19a) connected to outside the vacuum casing (2) by way of a feed supply pipe (5A) and a gas outlet (19b) connected to outside the vacuum casing (2) by way of a gas discharge pipe (5B). The getter heat-generation substrate (6) comprises a substrate (7), and a heat generator (9) and a getter material layer (10) that are located on the substrate (7) alternately in mutual non-contact fashion.
US07879296B2
A reactor system for gas phase reacting of at least two fluid feed streams, where the reactor system has an injectively-mixed backmixing reaction chamber in fluid communication with a tubular-flow reactor. The injectively-mixed backmixing reaction chamber has a bulkhead that slides during real-time operation to either diminish or expand the internal volume of the backmixing reaction chamber. In one embodiment, the effective passageway space through the bulkhead is also variably adjustable. In another embodiment, the tubular-flow reactor shares the bulkhead so that axial bulkhead movement commensurately expands one reaction space while diminishing the other reaction space. Input gas streams enter the backmixing reaction chamber with sufficient velocity to turbulently agitate the contents of the injectively-mixed backmixing reaction chamber by injective intermixing of the alkane-containing gas feed stream and the oxygen-containing gas feed stream. A focal application is for direct (partial) oxidative conversion of natural gas to alkyl oxygenates.
US07879289B2
An endoscope reprocessor having a water supply disinfection filter and a method for self-disinfection of the filter employ a pair of connectors to switch from a normal operating mode into a self-disinfection mode in which circulating germicidal fluid within the reprocessor flows through the filter, while the water supply remains connected to the system and isolated from the circulating fluid.
US07879285B2
Cermet comprising ceramic and metal components and a molten metal infiltration method and process for fabrication thereof. The light weight cermets having improved porosity, strength, durability, toughness, elasticity fabricated from presintered ceramic powder infiltrated with a molten metal or metal alloy. Alumina titanium cermets biocompatible with the human body suitable for bone and joint replacements.
US07879283B2
A sizer assembly for providing a shaped polymeric article in an extrusion process includes a sizer body having a product profile channel corresponding to the shaped polymeric article formed therethrough. The sizer body includes a plurality of cooling liquid inlet slots forming an opening substantially around the product profile channel and a plurality of vacuum slots forming an opening substantially around the product profile channel for removing cooling liquid expelled from said cooling liquid inlet slots.
US07879280B2
The invention provides a mold insert system that includes an insert for insertion into an injection mold apparatus and an actuator. The insert includes a movable imprint plate with a predetermined pattern of protrusions configured to form grooves in an article molded by the mold apparatus. The insert also includes a stationary piece with a pattern of slots configured to correspond to the predetermined pattern of protrusions in the imprint plate. The actuator moves the imprint plate from a first position in which the protrusions on the imprint plate do not extend beyond the slots in the stationary piece to a second position in which the protrusions on the imprint plate extend temporarily beyond the slots in the stationary piece. An injection mold apparatus including the mold insert system, as well as a method of making a molded article including the mold insert system are also provided.
US07879279B2
The invention relates to a nucleating agent for polyethylene terephthalate and injection molding method thereof. The nucleating agent comprises a SiO2 core grafted with bis(2-hydroxyethyl) terephthalate, which accelerates the crystallization of polyethylene terephthalate for injection molding.
US07879277B2
The method employs a stationary mold having depositing recesses equipped in its inside with a deposition element such as a target electrode, and movable molds made slidable. A primary molding is performed to form a body portion and a cover member to have joint portions around their opening. The body portion left in the vertically sliding mold is deposited after it was densely covered with the depositing recesses. Next, the deposited body portion and the cover member, as left in the molds, are registered and mold clamped, and the molten metal is injected to integrated the joint portions.
US07879275B2
An orthopaedic bearing includes a ceramic component having a polymer composite secured thereto. A method of making an orthopaedic bearing is also disclosed.
US07879273B2
The fifth wheel hitch lube plate of the present invention comprises a perforated support member having a plurality of perforations and a lubricious material molded around the perforated support member such that the lubricious material covers both the top and bottom surfaces of the perforated support member and extends through the perforations formed in the perforated support member. Preferably, the support member is a perforated metal plate and the lubricious material is nylon, graphite, or an ultra-high molecular weight (UHMW) polyethylene material. The problems associated with utilizing nylon (or similar materials) and bonding it to a support plate are overcome by forming the plurality of apertures in the support plate so that a mechanical cohesive bond is formed between the upper and lower surfaces of the support plate, thereby substantially increasing the lube plate strength, and shear strength, while decreasing the likelihood that the lube plate may buckle.
US07879256B2
The invention relates to compounds of Formula (I): The invention further relates to liquid crystal compositions comprising compounds of Formula (I); compositions further comprising one or more chiral compounds; and polymer networks derived from the polymerization of the liquid crystal compositions. Another embodiment relates to processes for providing compounds of Formula (I).
US07879248B2
A filter system includes a distribution valve operable to direct a received fluid stream to first and second outlets during respective first and second cycles. A filtering system filters at least some fluid output from the first outlet of the distribution valve during the first cycle with a first filter while back-flushing a second filter and filters at least some fluid output from the second outlet of the distribution valve during the second cycle with the second filter while back-flushing the first filter.
US07879241B2
A method of treating a bodily fluid withdrawn and then returned to a living body. The method involves withdrawing the bodily fluid from the living body and causing the bodily fluid to flow through a treatment system, altering at least the density of the bodily fluid through the action of a second fluid as the bodily fluid flows through the treatment system, sensing at least the density and flow rate of the bodily fluid before the density thereof is altered by the second fluid, sensing at least the density and flow rate of the bodily fluid after the density thereof is altered by the second fluid, sensing at least the density and flow rate of the second fluid, controlling the density and/or flow rate of the second fluid based on the sensed densities and flow rates, and returning the bodily fluid to the living body.
US07879239B2
To provide an inexpensive wastewater treatment method which facilitates downsizing of tanks and requires less withdrawal of an excessive sludge, the use is made of an aeration tank 1 in which wastewater is contacted with a particulate carrier under an aerobic condition, and a total oxidization tank 3 in which the volume of a sludge generated in the aeration tank 1 is reduced under an aerobic condition, a coefficient of self-oxidization of the sludge flowing into the total oxidization tank 3 is set to 0.05 (per day), and the method includes a step of adding a coagulant to the total oxidization tank 3 for the purpose of improving the solid-liquid separating characteristic of the sludge within the total oxidization tank.
US07879234B2
A device for dissolving solid chemical substances in water is provided with: a container, which has a bottom portion designed to contain an aqueous solution; a perforated loading chamber, which is set at the top of the bottom portion and is designed to contain a solid chemical substance; and a spraying device set within the loading chamber for directing at least one jet of water onto the solid chemical substance. In use, the solid chemical substance is set around the spraying device, and the jet of water is directed downwards and/or laterally so as not to wet the solid chemical substance set above the spraying device. In this way, there is obtained a relatively gradual dissolution of the solid chemical substance and a lower development of gaseous substances having an unpleasant smell.
US07879229B2
A liquid treatment plant has sets of membrane trains and processing trains with flow between them through channels. Flow configurations for withdrawing permeate and sludge from the trains are described. Cyclic aeration is provided to the membrane trains. Methods of foam control, backwashing and chemical cleaning are described. Single membrane trains or process trains may be isolated for various functions. An isolated membrane train may be used to thicken sludge.
US07879228B2
A system for collecting and disposing of liquid medical waste includes a fluid collection cart and a draining and cleaning station. The fluid collection cart includes a pair of containers, each of which includes a draining port and a cap. Each cap includes an outer portion having a flushing port and a bore formed therein and an inner portion having vacuum and patient ports formed therein. The inner cap portion is disposable and removably positioned within the bore of the outer cap portion. Liquid level detectors also communicate with each container. The cart also includes a regulator so a low vacuum level may be pulled on one of the containers while a full vacuum level is pulled on the other container. Fluids are collected in the containers via suction tubes connected to the patient ports. The flushing and drain ports of the containers are connected to corresponding flushing and drain connectors on the station when the containers are full so that they may be drained and flushed. The cart liquid level detectors communicate with the station microprocessor so that the draining and flushing cycles may be properly sequenced. The station may also clean suction canisters.
US07879224B2
The present invention concerns doped catalysts on an alumino-silicate support with an adapted macropore content and hydrocracking/hydroconversion and hydrotreatment processes employing them. The catalyst comprises at least one hydrodehydrogenating element selected from the group formed by elements from group VIB and group VIII of the periodic table, a controlled quantity of phosphorus (optionally in combination with boron and/or silicon) as a doping element, and a non-zeolitic support based on alumina-silica containing a quantity of more than 5% by weight and 95% by weight or less of silica (SiO2).
US07879221B2
The present invention relates to a process for preparing a porous metal organic framework comprising at least two organic compounds coordinated to at least one metal ion, which comprises the steps (a) oxidation of at least one anode comprising the metal corresponding to at least one metal ion in a reaction medium in the presence of at least one first organic compound which is an optionally substituted monocyclic, bicyclic or polycyclic saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon in which at least two ring carbons have been replaced by heteroatoms selected from the group consisting of N, O and S to form a reaction intermediate comprising the at least one metal ion and the first organic compound; and (b) reaction of the reaction intermediate at a prescribed temperature with at least one second organic compound which coordinates to the at least one metal ion, with the second organic compound being derived from a dicarboxylic, tricarboxylic or tetracarboxylic acid.
US07879220B2
The present invention relates to a method of improving the current efficiency (CE) in an electrolytic aluminum production cell with an electrolytic bath, at least one anode and at least one cathode, and passing current between said anode and said cathode through said bath and feeding an aluminum containing feedstock to the cell. The CE is improved in that the aluminum containing feedstock is prepared in a manner where it contains substantially no humidity or water before it is fed to the cell, where the electrolytic process is carried out at conditions with reduced amount of hydrogen present.
US07879219B2
The subject invention pertains to methods for processing a solid material (M1X) comprising a solid solution of a non-metal species (X) in a metal or semi-metal (M1) or a compound between the non-metal species and the metal or semi-metal is immersed in a molten salt (M2Y). A cathodic potential is applied to the material to remove a portion of the non-metal species by electro-deoxidation. To remove the non-metal species at lower concentrations, a source of a reactive metal (M3) is immersed in the molten salt and is electronically connected to the material. Reactions occur at the material, where the non-metal species dissolves in the salt, and at the reactive metal, which reacts with the non-metal species dissolved in the salt to form a reaction product more stable than a compound between the non-metal species and the metal or semi-metal (M1). The non-metal species is thus removed from the solid material.
US07879204B2
An anode configured for the cathodic protection of reinforced concrete structures and underground metallic structures against corrosion comprises a hollow, mixed-metal-oxide (MMO) coated form, the form having a wall with intentional gaps therethrough. A humectant is disposed in the hollow form, and a conduit between the hollow form and an ambient environment enables gasses produced by the form to escape to the environment while allowing the humectant to be periodically moistened with water or a high pH buffer solution. The form may be composed of titanium, tantalum, zirconium, niobium or alloys thereof, and the MMO coatings may be composed of titanium, tantalum, iridium, ruthenium, palladium, cobalt or mixtures thereof. The form may be a coiled wire or strip, a perforated tube, or other structure having gaps between the interior of the form and the surrounding concrete or soil.
US07879203B2
A method and apparatus for depositing a coating material on a surface of a substrate by an ion plasma deposition process using a hollow cathode is disclosed. The cathode may be a substantially cylindrical hollow cathode. A plasma arc is formed on the outer circumference of the cathode to remove coating material from the cathode, which is then deposited on a surface of a substrate. An internal arc drive magnet is contained within the hollow bore of the cathode and cooling is provided to the magnet during operation.
US07879202B2
A scratch resistant coated article is provided which is also resistant to attacks by at least some fluoride-based etchant(s) for at least a period of time. In certain example embodiments, an anti-etch layer(s) is provided on a glass substrate in order to protect the glass substrate from attacks by fluoride-based etchant(s). In certain example embodiments, the anti-etch layer(s) is substantially transparent to visible light. In certain embodiments, a DLC layer(s) may be provided over the anti-etch layer. An underlayer may be provided under the anti-etch layer(s) in certain example embodiments. In certain example embodiments, the anti-etch layer(s) may be of or include a carbide and/or oxycarbide of Zr, Sn or the like.
US07879184B2
An apparatus used for rapid removal of polymer films from plasma confinement rings while minimizing erosion of other plasma etch chamber components is disclosed. The apparatus includes a center assembly, an electrode plate, a confinement ring stack, a first plasma source, and a second plasma source. The electrode plate is affixed to a surface of the center assembly with a channel defined along the external circumference therein. A first plasma source is disposed within the channel and along the external circumference of the center assembly, wherein the first plasma source is configured to direct a plasma to the inner circumferential surface of the confinement ring stack. A second plasma source located away from the first plasma source is configured to perform processing operations on a substrate within the etch chamber.
US07879180B2
Disclosed are a polishing device and polishing method for forming a wafer with high flatness using a CMP process. For the polishing of the wafer, a polishing device including a chuck section and a polishing member having a needle member is used. In the polishing, the wafer is fixed on the chuck section and then, a working fluid containing no abrasive grains is supplied to a wafer surface as well as the needle member is pressed against the wafer surface and is caused to rapidly vibrate. By doing so, the needle member tip is caused to vibrate to rub the wafer surface, thereby performing the polishing. As a result, dishings due to asperities on the wafer surface or scratches extending over a wide range are prevented from occurring, so that the wafer with high flatness can be obtained.
US07879176B2
Methods of forming a hermetic seal between fuel system components are provided. One of the methods can be achieved by passing a light beam through a wall of a polymeric member to an inner surface of the wall that surrounds an outer surface of a polymeric body and defines an internal passage for a flow of fuel; and welding the inner surface of the polymeric member to the outer surface of the polymeric body to provide a hermetic seal at the respective inner and outer surfaces against the flow of fuel. Another method can be achieved by disposing an adhesive on an inner surface of polymeric member that surrounds an outer surface of a polymeric body and defines an internal passage for a flow of fuel; and activating the adhesive to bond the polymeric member to the polymeric body.
US07879175B2
Wettability of a PBN material surface with respect to a metal is improved to expand use applications. Hydrogen ions are implanted into a surface of a silicon substrate 10 to form an ion implanted region 11 at a predetermined depth near a surface of the silicon substrate 10, and a plasma treatment or an ozone treatment is performed with respect to a main surface of the silicon substrate 10 for the purpose of surface cleaning or surface activation. The main surfaces of the silicon substrate 10 and a PBN substrate 20 subjected to the surface treatment are appressed against each other to be bonded at a room temperature, and an external impact shock is given to the bonded substrate to mechanically delaminate a silicon film 12 from a bulk 13 of the silicon substrate to be transferred. An obtained PBN composite substrate 30 is diced to form a chip having a desired size, and a refractory metal is metallized on the silicon film 12 side to be connected with a wiring material.
US07879174B2
A process for producing lightweight thermoplastic composite products in a continuous manner is disclosed. An oven is provided for heating a dry unconsolidated fabric sheet of commingled fibers of thermoplastic and re-enforcing fibers or carbon fibers to a temperature sufficient to ensure melting and flow of the resin in the voids of the commingled fibers. The unconsolidated composite sheet is conveyed through the oven and then through a first pair of heated rollers at an outlet of the oven whereby to maintain the fabric sheet heated to prevent abrupt cooling at the surfaces while compressing it under pressure. A further pair of rollers at a further reduced temperature is provided whereby the heated sheet is gradually lowered in temperature and the pressure is maintained thereon during consolidation of the commingled fibers to ensure complete flow of the resin in the voids between the reinforcing fibers. The continuous composite consolidated sheet can then be processed to sheet form, or laminated in a sandwich, or profiled whereby to form a desired product.
US07879171B2
A method for mounting a film, used to fabricate a mask for use in screening an electronic device, to a common carrier frame. The common carrier frame has an outer edge along an outer periphery and an opening in a central portion of the frame. The method includes applying external pressure to the frame outer edge to compress the frame inward and reduce the opening, securing a film to the frame, the film covering the frame opening, and releasing the pressure on the frame to expand the opening and place the film in tension.
US07879168B2
This invention relates to methods for manufacturing plates bonded to resilient layers, wherein the plate is made of a polypropylene and the resilient layer is made of a polyethylene. Ultrasonic welding used to bond the resilient layer to the plate. In some embodiments, a thin film is applied to a layer of the resilient layer before ultrasonic welding. While the film layer may be located adjacent the plate when welding, the film layer may also be advantageously located on the opposite of the resilient layer from the plate when welding. The film may also be applied to both sides of the resilient layer.
US07879163B2
A method for manufacturing a high carbon hot-rolled steel sheet. The method including the steps of hot-rolling, primary cooling, secondary cooling, coiling, acid-washing and annealing. The primary cooling step is to cool the hot-rolled steel sheet down to a cooling termination temperature of 450° C. to 600° C. at a cooling rate of higher than 120° C./sec. The secondary cooling step is to apply a secondary cooling to hold the primarily cooled hot-rolled steel sheet at a temperature of 450° C. to 650° C. until coiling.
US07879162B2
High strength aluminum magnesium alloys that can be used at temperatures from about −420° F. (−251° C.) up to about 650° F. (343° C.) are described. The alloys are strengthened by dispersion of particles based on the L12 intermetallic compound Al3X. These alloys comprise aluminum, magnesium, at least one of scandium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, and lutetium; and at least one of gadolinium, yttrium, zirconium, titanium, hafnium, and niobium. These alloys may also optionally contain zinc, copper, lithium and silicon.
US07879141B2
A gas flow absorber comprises an absorption vessel, having a vessel wall defining a cylinder including an absorption material, the cylinder having a cylinder wall bearing, at the bottom thereof, in a circumferential slot formed on a support plate including a channel therethrough a gas mixture flow is conveyed, the channel having a channel hole passing through an enlarged portion of the support plate, the enlarged portion being coupled to a flat chamber substantially extending through the overall extension of the vessel bottom, the chamber being covered by a disc-like body made of a sintered material.
US07879139B2
The present invention discloses a method and an apparatus for reactivating lime-based sorbents and increasing the carbon dioxide-capture capacity of the sorbent in the combustion of carbon-containing fuels. The method of the present invention seeks to increase the carbon dioxide capture capacity of lime-based sorbents by applying concentrated or 100% carbon dioxide directly to a lime-based sorbent. Optionally, the lime-based sorbent may be pretreated using a hydration process after each process of carbon dioxide separation. The regenerated sorbent is carbonated in a presence of concentrated carbon dioxide and elevated temperatures. The invention is useful in reducing the need to add additional sorbent to maintain the carbonation/calcination cycle. The regenerative potential of the sorbent as manifested by the present invention leads to increased carbon dioxide-capture capacity of the sorbent.
US07879135B2
Contemplated plants include an acid gas enrichment unit in which acid gas unsuitable for feeding into a Claus plant from an upstream acid gas removal unit is separated into a concentrated hydrogen sulfide stream that is fed to the Claus plant and a carbon dioxide stream that is compressed in a compressor before sequestration, further purification, and/or recycling to a gasification unit.
US07879129B2
A wear part is formed of a diamond-containing composite material with 40 to 90% by volume of diamond grains, 0.001 to 12% by volume of carbidic phase, formed from one or more elements from the group Si, Ti, Zr, Hf, V, Nb, Ta, Cr, Mo, W, B, Sc, Y and lanthanides and 7 to 49% by volume of a metallic or intermetallic alloy with a liquidus temperature<1400° C., the metallic or intermetallic alloy containing the carbide-forming element or elements in dissolved or precipitated form and having a hardness at room temperature>250 HV.
US07879128B2
A method of making palladium-containing nanoscale catalyst particles comprising subjecting a starting material to laser energy so as to form a vapor and condensing the vapor so as to form the catalyst particles. The catalyst comprises nanoscale particles of palladium and/or palladium oxide incorporated in and/or on nanoscale particles of a metal or metal oxide. The nanoscale catalyst, which can be incorporated in the tobacco cut filler, cigarette wrapper and/or cigarette filter of a cigarette, is useful for low-temperature and near-ambient temperature catalysis. The nanoscale catalyst can convert carbon monoxide and nitric oxide that are found in mainstream smoke to carbon dioxide and nitrogen, respectively. The nanoscale catalyst may also be incorporated into a hydrocarbon conversion reactor, into a vehicle exhaust emissions system, into a laser, into a fuel cell or used in an air filter or for emissions reduction in the cold starting of an automobile engine.
US07879125B2
A filter is provided by pleated filter media having a plurality of pleats defined by wall segments extending axially along an axial direction along an axis and extending transversely along a transverse direction between first and second sets of pleat tips at first and second sets of axially extending bend lines. The pleated filter media spans laterally along a lateral span along a lateral direction, with the wall segments being spaced from each other by lateral gaps. The pleats have a pleat depth along the transverse direction along the wall segments between the first and second sets of pleat tips. The pleat depth varies as the pleated filter media spans laterally along the lateral direction.
US07879121B2
A cyclone dust-collecting apparatus is provided. The dust-collecting apparatus is detachably mounted in a main cleaner body of a vacuum cleaner and disposed on a suction flow path extending from a suction port body to a suction source. The dust-collecting apparatus includes a body having an opened lower portion; at least one cyclone unit disposed to one side in the body to separate dust from air flowing into the body and discharge air from which the dust has been separated; and a bottom cover to open or close the lower portion of the body. The body has an inflow pipe penetrating the body from a rear portion of the body and connected to the cyclone unit and the inflow pipe has an inclined top surface.
US07879117B2
Process for treating coal to enhance its rank, wherein the temperature of the material is gradually increased in a controlled set of atmospheres, to allow for the reduction of surface and inherent moisture and the controlled reduction of volatile matter while maintaining the coal's natural structural integrity. The process reduces the time, capitalization, and production costs required to produce coal of enhanced rank, thus substantially increasing the cost effectiveness and production rate over prior processes.
US07879114B2
A method for permanently modifying a color of keratinous fibres which comprises the steps of: first providing a mixture of three compositions A, B and C, wherein said composition A comprises at least a reducing agent and optionally a coloring compound, said composition B comprises at least an alkalizing compound and said composition C comprises at least an oxidizing compound; applying said mixture to keratinous fibres for a suitable period of time for modifying the color of said keratinous fibres; and removing said mixture from said keratinous fibres.
US07879112B2
The present invention relates generally to stain-resist compositions, and particularly, but not by way of limitation, to fibers and textiles treated with stain-resist compositions.
US07879099B2
A method and apparatus are provided to manipulate and revitalize a spinal column disc while minimizing or preventing the removal of material comprising the disc. The method allows a device to be inserted in the disc either through a pre-existing rupture or through an opening formed in the front, back, or sides of the disc. Increasing the space between the vertebra bounding the disc or removing disc material often is not necessary to insert the device in the disc. The device generates internal traction or other forces acting on the disc to alter the shape of the disc. The shape of the disc is altered to relieve pressure on nerves adjacent the disc. The shape of the disc is also altered to draw nuclear hernias back into the interior of the disc and to produce a disc shape that improves functioning of the disc.
US07879096B2
An expandable medical implant for supporting skeletal structures. The medical implant having a length along its expandable dimension. The implant having a first tubular member with a connection end, an opposite skeletal interface end, and a central expansion instrument opening. Also, the implant has a second tubular member with a connection end configured to engage with the connection end of the first tubular member. The second tubular member having an opposite skeletal interface end. Additionally, an expansion instrument is insertable through the central expansion instrument opening and expandable against the first tubular member and the connection end of the second tubular member to expand the medical implant. The combined first and second tubular members are of a greater dimension along the length of the implant than the combined first and second tubular members are in any dimension perpendicular to their length.
US07879092B2
The present invention relates to a dental implant having recombinant bone morphogenic protein coated on the processed surface thereof, which, when implanted into the jawbone, enables undifferentiated adult cells around the implant site to be rapidly differentiated into osteoblasts so as to induce osteoconductive healing to thereby reduce a healing period, as well as a coating method thereof. According to the invention, recombinant bone morphogenic protein BMP-2 penetrates between ceramic balls formed on the dental implant surface, sheet structures of calcium triphosphate or fine pores formed by anodic oxidation, so as to form a coating film. Thus, the recombinant bone morphogenic protein BMP-2 is not detached from the dental implant surface even during the surgical implantation of the implant. Also, because the recombinant bone morphogenic protein coated on the surface of the dental implant is primarily coated mainly on the deep valley of the implant surface, it can be prevented from being peeled due to mechanical friction during the surgical implantation of the implant. Also, because a minimum amount of the protein coated on the implant surface locally acts on tissue around the implant site, the protein has little or no side effects. In addition, the protein shows pharmacological effects to enable undifferentiated adult cells around the implant to be differentiated into osteoblasts so as to induce enhanced osteoconductive healing to thereby significantly reduce the osseointegration period of the implant.
US07879086B2
This invention is directed to a coating for a medical device, such as an intravascular stent, in which the coating, which comprises a first coating region comprising an adhesion promoter and a therapeutic agent. The coating can also include a second coating region which is substantially free of the adhesion promoter or any adhesion promoter. The invention is also directed to a method for manufacturing such a coated medical device.
US07879080B2
A stent placement device capable of forward/backward operation for adjusting a placement position of a stent in a living tissue and forward/backward operation of an ultrasonic endoscope in a treatment instrument insertion channel is realized by providing a guide tube holding a stent to be placed in an opening formed in a tissue of a body cavity capable of moving forward/backward in the axial direction, a fixing portion provided at a tip end of the guide tube and including a claw portion and a reduced-diameter portion which is changeable between a locked position and a nonlocked position of the stent when the stent is held by the guide tube, and an operation portion for operating a pusher tube or the like operating movement of the stent of the fixing portion between the locked position and the nonlocked position.
US07879068B2
An apparatus comprises an implantable mechanically adjustable band configured to form a restriction in a patient. The band defines an inner diameter. The mechanical adjustability of the band is configured to permit the inner diameter defined by the band to be selectively varied. The apparatus further comprises an adjustment mechanism in communication with the band. The adjustment mechanism is operable to provide the mechanical adjustability of the band. The apparatus further comprises a sensor in communication with one or both of the mechanically adjustable band or the adjustment mechanism. The sensor is configured to sense a physical parameter associated with operation of the band. The physical parameter sensed by the sensor varies with the inner diameter defined by the band. The band may be used as a gastric band, among other potential uses.
US07879067B2
Improved embolism protection devices comprises fibers that can have one configuration for delivery of the device and a second configuration in which the device is deployed for filtering of flow within a vessel. In some embodiments, the fibers can be connected to a fiber support, which is connected to an actuating element. The actuating element controls the transition from the delivery configuration to the deployed configuration. The embolism protection device can comprise a guidewire. The fibers can be attached at one end to a fiber support structure and at another end to the guidewire. A hypotube can be attached to the proximal end of the fibers while the guidewire is attached at the distal end of the fibers with the guidewire extending within a central channel of the hypotube. The hypotube can be used to guide the delivery of treatment structures, such as a balloon and/or a stent.
US07879064B2
The invention relates to a medical implant (1′) in the form of an elongated helix wherein at least one part of the helix is preformed in such a manner that it has a secondary structure of identically sized loops which it assumes during implantation at the placement site, with said structure in turn forming at the placement site during implantation a polyhedral tertiary structure, and the polyhedron being provided with at least one additional loop.
US07879056B2
An abrading device for use in irritating and blotting a surgical area, preferably the area between the chest wall and lung of a patient, to allow the user to more easily insert and remove the surgical device reducing contact with surrounding tissue and wound edges. The device is primarily comprised of a cannula, a plurality of radial springs, an abrasive tip, an actuator and an adjuster. The actuator is configured to selectively move the abrasive tip and plurality of radial springs into and out of the cannula. The adjuster allows the user to selectively expand or collapse the abrasive tip.
US07879046B2
A suturing apparatus comprises a pair of jaws. A bendable needle housed in one of the jaws is adapted to carry a suture. An optional suture receiver may be disposed adjacent to the opposite jaw. A transition block curves the needle and directs it in a direction generally unparallel to an axis of the carrying jaw. The needle may also be configured to retrieve a suture. A retaining mechanism holds a suture in place to be engaged by the needle. The jaw housing the needle may include a lateral opening through which the suture may be inserted. The needle may also include a lateral notch which may be aligned with lateral opening to receive the suture. An actuator coupled to the needle enables the user to move the needle proximally to align the notch with the lateral slot.
US07879042B2
An instrument for use in removal of a prosthetic implant for use performing arthroplasty is provided. The instrument includes a body and a first member. The first member is operably associated with the body. The first member has a contact portion for engagement with the implant at a first position. The instrument also includes a second member operably associated with the body. The second member is moveable with respect to the first member and the second member has a contact portion for engagement with the implant at a second position, spaced from the first position.
US07879041B2
Internal bone fixation devices and methods for using the devices for repairing a weakened or fractured bone are disclosed herein. According to aspects illustrated herein, there is provided a device for repairing a fractured bone that includes a delivery catheter having an elongated shaft with a proximal end, a distal end, and a longitudinal axis therebetween, the delivery catheter having an inner void for passing at least one reinforcing material, and an inner lumen for accepting a light pipe, wherein a distal end of the inner lumen terminates in an optical lens; a conformable member releasably engaging the distal end of the delivery catheter, the conformable member moving from a deflated state to an inflated state when the at least one reinforcing material is delivered to the conformable member; and an adapter releasably engaging the proximal end of the delivery catheter for receiving the light pipe and the at least one reinforcing material.
US07879039B2
An interspinous process spacer insertion device that positions an interspinous process spacer between the spinous process of adjacent vertebrae in a minimally invasive percutaneous surgical procedure. The device includes a trocar rod that extends through a cannulated sleeve. The spacer is attached to the end of the cannulated sleeve, where a trocar tip of the trocar rod extends through the spacer. The trocar rod is moved through the cannulated sleeve and an incision in the patient, and is positioned between the spinous process of the vertebra to align the device. The cannulated sleeve is then moved down the trocar rod so that the spacer slides between the spinous process, and the trocar rod is then withdrawn from the patient. The spacer is then rotated so that it locks behind the spinous process, and the cannulated sleeve is detached from the spacer and removed from the patient.
US07879038B2
Systems and method create a cavity in cancellous bone by use of a system or kit that includes a cannula having an axis that establishes a percutaneous path leading into bone and a shaft having a distal end portion carrying an elongated loop structure or bristles capable of extension from the shaft to create a cavity forming structure. The shaft is movable relative to the axis of the cannula to move the cavity forming structure when extended within cancellous bone to form a cavity in the cancellous bone. A tool is sized for passage through the cannula. The tool is capable of dispensing a filling material into the cavity.
US07879031B2
An ablation system includes an ablation electrode assembly operatively connectable to sources of electrosurgical energy and cooling fluid. The electrode assembly includes a hub defining a chamber therein; at least one electrically conductive ablation needle extending from the hub, the ablation needle including a distal end portion configured to penetrate tissue, said distal end portion being electrically and thermally conductive for establishing electric and thermal communication with the tissue; a heat sink operatively connected to the ablation needle, the heat sink being connected to the ablation needle to draw energy away from at least the distal end portion thereof, the heat sink including a proximal end extending into the chamber of the hub; and a conduit fluidly connected to the hub for delivering fluid into the chamber thereof from the source of fluid, wherein the fluid withdraws energy from the proximal end of the heat sink.
US07879028B2
An osmotic delivery system is disclosed for delivering an active agent formulation to a fluid environment. The osmotic delivery system typically comprises a reservoir having a lumen that contains the active agent formulation and an osmotic agent formulation and a piston assembly positioned in the lumen to isolate the active agent formulation from the osmotic agent formulation. The piston assembly typically comprises a body constructed and arranged for positioning in the lumen. The body is typically made of a polymeric material that is, for example, resistant to leaching in an organic solvent. In one embodiment, the body is a columnar body having a rim at a distal end thereof for engaging and sealing against a wall of the reservoir and the piston assembly further comprises a spring retained at the distal end of the columnar body for biasing the rim of the columnar body against the wall of the reservoir.
US07879023B2
A system for perfusion management that monitors, maintains, diagnoses, or treats perfusion deficiencies.
US07879015B2
A drainable ostomy pouch is disclosed which comprises a first or proximal and a second or distal side wall of flexible sheet material sealed to each other for defining a cavity therebetween for receiving human stomal discharge through an aperture in the proximal side wall. It includes an elongate drainage portion extending downwardly in a longitudinal direction and ending in a drainage opening extending transversely to the longitudinal direction, and a first or proximal and a second or distal flexible stiffening strip of relatively stiff material extending immediately adjacent to and along the drainage opening and being attached to the outer surface of the first and second side walls, respectively, of the drainage portion. The pouch further comprises a securing strip having interlocking elements on the wall and corresponding interlocking elements on a flap for securing a coil comprising the first and second stiffening strips rotated upwards at least two times.
US07879012B2
A medical valve transitions between an open mode that permits fluid flow, and a closed mode that prevents fluid flow. To that end, the valve has a housing with an inlet and an outlet, and a movable member with a member channel therethrough. The movable member is movable to cause the valve to transition from the closed mode to the open mode after insertion of a medical implement into the inlet. The member channel fluidly communicates the inlet and the outlet when in the open mode. The valve also has a resilient member with a member flow path in fluid communication with the outlet. The movable member slides along the resilient member when transitioning between the open mode and the closed mode. The resilient member normally has a flange (about the member flow path) that is compressed by the movable member. The flange fluidly disconnects the member flow path from the member channel when in the closed mode.
US07879005B2
A device for collapsing a balloon in the vasculature of a patient after an angioplasty procedure includes a balloon and at least one elastomeric member that is attached to the inner surface of the balloon at a plurality of attachment points. Preferably, the elastomeric member is an annular band that will stretch during balloon inflation. Consequently, when the balloon is deflated, the elastomeric member pulls on the balloon at its attachment points to return the balloon to a predetermined configuration, wherein the balloon collapses inwardly onto itself for subsequent removal of the balloon from the vessel.
US07878996B2
A lumbar support device and a selective stabilization support device for use in treating mechanical back pain. The lumbar support device includes a torso belt for positioning around the user's mid-section. At least two and typically three straps are also provided connectable at first and second end regions to a surface of the torso belt. Straps are provided to encircle the user's torso to maintain the lumbar support device in position and to engage and maintain in position a pressure appliance arm having a pressure pad thereon. The pressure pad is may thus be configured and precisely positioned to relieve symptoms of back pain.
US07878994B2
A flexible cast that constructed out of a group of cells. Each cell is filled with a filler that contains a substance that can be heated or cooled. The cast is held onto the user's body by a set of straps and fasteners. The cast is intended to immobilize the body part and either heat or cool it as desired.
US07878992B2
Tow forces can be measured only by providing one force sensor in a device structure, and a drive system is driven so as to assist an external force by detecting it. A value at a force sensor (114) at the moment when a foot switch (121) is set as the original point (detection reference) of a force to be assisted. Variations of the force after the original point setting is measured by the force sensor (114) the difference between the measured value and the assist original point is obtained, and a force to be assisted is detected. Depending on the magnitude of the force to be assisted, assist operation is performed by causing a drive force to act on a foot such that the force to be assisted is reduced. When the force is assisted reaches zero, the assist operation is completed. Then, two forces, or “a force acting on a patient's foot” and “a force applied to the foot” from the outside, are detected by the one force sensor (114).
US07878986B2
An apparatus for deploying a needle within a lumen is provided. The apparatus includes a housing having a threaded bushing radially disposed therein. The bushing rigidly couples with a nose cone having a guide tip disposed at an end opposite the bushing for penetrating an arterial wall of a lumen. During operation, a user incrementally advances the bushing within the housing, thereby incrementally advancing the guide tip into the lumen. The nose cone also includes a flex guide having a slot configuration which couples with the guide tip which deploys into the lumen along with the guide tip.
US07878966B2
A ventricular assist device to provide cardiac assistance to a damaged ventricle chamber. The ventricular assist device is formed of an ventricle body which is anchorable to spaced ventricle wall portions to provide cardiac assistance. Operation of the ventricular assist device is timed or synchronized with the operating phases of the ventricle chamber. The ventricular assist device can be intravascularly deployed to provide a less invasive treatment procedure and can be adapted to provide static support if active assistance is no longer required.
US07878961B2
A device and method for stretching, toning and strengthening the chest, shoulder, neck and upper back muscles of a patient thereby relieving pain and improving posture. Typically the patient is suffering from tension related muscle problems. The device and method are used to facilitate therapeutic treatment of the muscle problems by progressively stretching the muscles and thereby relieving the muscle problems.
US07878960B1
A waistline slimming exercise machine having an upper center connecting member, two swing arms of a swing mechanism attached to a through aperture of a base with a combining aperture on an upper center connecting member, a securing end of a shock absorber and a first assembly end of a first linkage member are screwed to a respective locking aperture on a side of the base adjacent an internal assembly space of the base, a pivoting end of each swing arm is assembled onto a first aperture of a balancing base, a first pivoting end of the first linkage member is assembled onto a connecting aperture of the balancing base, the swing mechanism further including a pair of second linkage members, each connected to a driving element having a first connecting end that is attached to a pedal such that movement of the first linkage member and the driving element of the second linkage member causes the pedal to rotate about a vertical axis when the pedals are moved up and down.
US07878959B2
A rehabilitation and exercise bed includes: a bed having a driving motor provided under the bed; a rotary traction device having a right and a left pedal respectively secured to a pair of crank arms rotatably mounted on opposite ends of an axial shaft of the driving motor for rehabilitating or exercising a patient's feet in a rotary movement like pedaling a bicycle; a lower-limb traction device connected to a front portion of the rotary traction device for reciprocatively rehabilitating or exercising the patient's lower limbs; and an upper-limb traction device connected to a rear portion of the rotary traction device for reciprocatively exercising the patient's upper limbs.
US07878956B2
An exercise apparatus comprising a base that can be oriented at any angle and that defines a plurality of connection interfaces, each of which can be designed to support one end of a resilient member in a cantilevered disposition. The connection interfaces can be positioned at or adjusted to a widely varying range of locations and angular orientations with respect to the base. Each resilient members can be configured to support one or more removable stiffening members that provide a resistance force when a force is exerted thereon so as to bend the resilient member.
US07878955B1
An integrated resistance spring force assembly machine which is incorporated into an exercise machine and having a plurality of internal transverse sections with each section having respective constant force springs to output a respective magnitude of a spring resistance force, which serves as the respective force loads when in use, and a force selection mechanism which can be used to selectively activate the respective springs so that the respective force loads can be output to a combined level of resistance for an exercise routine.
US07878953B2
A leg press machine has a floor engaging main frame, a user support pivotally mounted relative to the main frame and having primary and secondary support portions which support spaced locations on a user's body throughout an exercise, and a leg press exercise arm rotatably mounted relative to the main frame. The exercise arm has a first pivot connection which pivotally links the exercise arm to the user support and a second pivot connection which is associated with the main frame to link movement of the exercise arm to movement of the user support. A load resists movement of at least one of the moving parts.
US07878949B2
A stepper includes a base, two axle units, two pedals and a coordinating unit. The base includes a post formed thereon. Each of the axle units includes an axle extended downwards from the post. Each of the pedals includes a pedal pivotally connected to the axle of a related one of the axle units. The coordinating unit includes a lever pivotally connected to the post and formed with two ends each in contact with a related one of the pedals so that one of the pedals is moved upwards and outwards while the other pedal is moved downwards and inwards.
US07878948B2
A stepper includes a base, two axle units, two pedal units and a coordinating unit. The base includes a post formed thereon. Each of the axle units includes an axle extended downwards from the post. Each of the pedal units includes a pedal pivotally connected to the axle of a related one of the axle units. The coordinating unit is used to connect the pedals to each other so that one of the pedals is moved upwards and outwards while the other pedal is moved downwards and inwards.
US07878945B2
A mobile unit configured to train an athlete is disclosed. The mobile unit includes multiple sensors, communication devices and a mobility system. The mobile unit executes one or more training paths to simulate chasing associated with various sports. The mobile unit is capable of determining its own location and the location of the athlete throughout a training session, as well as other information. The mobile unit is configured to adapt the training path to stress weaknesses of the athlete with respect to various types of athletic skills.
US07878939B2
A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices include clutches and a brake.
US07878936B2
A drive train for a motor vehicle, which has a front axle and a rear axle, of which one is driven constantly and the other is driven as required, with a drive unit which is installed in the motor vehicle transversely at the front and provides drive torque via an output member, the output member being connected to the constantly driven axle, with an angular gear which is arranged in the region of the front axle and is connected to a cardan shaft which serves for transferring drive torque to the rear axle, and with a friction clutch arrangement for cutting in the axle driven as required, wherein the friction clutch arrangement is integrated with the angular gear in the region of the front axle.
US07878929B2
A device for use in launching and catching flying discs includes a frame having a handle section and an open forked section. The opened forked section includes a pair of opposing forks wherein each fork has a distal end and a proximal end with the distal end being free and the proximal end adjoining the proximal end of the opposing fork. Flexible material such as nylon netting is strung between the opposing forks in a manner which enables the formation of a relatively deep elongated channel having an open end so that a forceful swing of the device will cause a flying disc placed in the channel to roll in the channel and out through the open end of the channel at a high rate of speed. A method of using the device to launch a flying disc as well as a novel flying disc are also disclosed.
US07878927B2
The present invention provides high moment of inertia golf balls comprising a low specific gravity core layer formed from a moisture resistant composition. The moisture resistant composition has a moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR) of 12.5 g·mil/100 in2/day or less and comprises a highly neutralized acid polymer. Golf balls of the invention have a moment of inertia of 85 g·cm2 or greater.
US07878918B2
A portable swing trainer has a wedge body of a triangular shape, and a stick sensor having a vertical adjustment and a horizontal adjustment. The stick sensor has a deployed position and a collapsed position. The stick sensor is mounted behind the wedge body. A restoring mechanism can be for restoring the stick sensor from the collapsed position to the deployed position. The restoring mechanism is mounted behind the wedge body. The stick sensor is pivotally mounted to the restoring mechanism. A catch mechanism is for catching the stick sensor in collapsed position. The catch mechanism is mounted behind the wedge body. A pair of electronic beam sensors can be mounted in a pair of depressions formed on a face of the wedge body.
US07878915B2
A child entertainment apparatus is convertible between a swing mode and a jumper mode. The apparatus includes a frame, and a support convertible between a swinging configuration and a bouncing configuration. In the jumper mode, the support suspends the seat from the frame by a substantially flexible section, and in the swing mode, the support suspends the seat from the frame by a substantially rigid section. A bypass section is movable between an engaged position wherein the bypass section provides a substantially rigid connection between the frame and the seat, and a disengaged position wherein the substantially flexible section of the first support provides a flexible connection between the frame and the seat. The seat may be convertible between a feet forward position for the swing mode and a feet down position for the jumper mode.
US07878910B2
The present invention provides systems and methods that cast an image into a person's eye from a retinal image system included with a gaming machine. The gaming machine includes a retinal image system located within or about the external cabinet and configured to cast an image toward an eye of a person near the gaming machine. The gaming machine also includes an eye detection system configured to locate the eye relative to a position of a projection component of the retinal image system.
US07878901B2
In accordance with embodiments of the present invention an offer is presented to a player (e.g., at a gaming device or a table game in a casino). The offer defines a benefit to be provided in exchange for the player's commitment to an obligation defined by the offer. The offer may be provided once it is determined that a condition of a gaming device satisfies a predetermined criterion. The benefit defined by the offer may be provided to the player and/or to one or more associated persons designated by the player.
US07878897B2
A gaming machine includes: a CPU 106 which determines whether or not a game state is to be switched to a special game state; mechanical reels 30A through 30C formed of a translucent material and operative to display multiple kinds of indicating information variably and statically; a motor driving circuit 120 which controls the display operation of the mechanical reels 30A through 30C; a water tank 500 formed of a translucent material to retain liquid, and provided behind a display screen 10; a gaming effects medium insertion device 600 which inserts units of a gaming effects medium 650 into the water tank 500; and a drive control circuit 300 which controls the gaming effects medium insertion device 600 to insert units of the gaming effects medium 650 into the water tank 500 according to a special determination made by the CPU 106.
US07878883B2
A system and method for slicing an ingot into wafers using the wire saw process. A slurry collection system collects and supplies slurry to a slurry handling system for controlling temperatures and/or flow rates of the slurry thereby providing slurry output at a controlled temperature and/or a controlled flow rate to slicing system for cutting the ingot, which may be preheated.
