US07907483B2
An information recording medium 1 at least comprises a substrate 13 having a microscopic pattern 20, which is constituted by a shape of continuous substance of approximately parallel grooves formed with a groove section G and a land section L alternately, a recording layer 12 formed on the microscopic pattern 20 and a light transmission layer 11 formed on the recording layer. The microscopic pattern 20 is formed so as to satisfy a relation of P<λ
US07907480B2
An optical disk device for recording or reproducing an optical disk has: an objective lens for irradiating a laser beam to the optical disk; an actuator for moving the objective lens in the radial direction of the optical disk; and a spindle motor for rotating the optical disk. After the laser beam irradiated to the optical disk passed through a PID portion of the optical disk, the actuator moves the objective lens in the radial direction of the optical disk at a timing corresponding to a rotational speed. Between signals to drive the actuator, an output time of a deceleration signal is set to a predetermined ratio of a time during which an acceleration signal is outputted. While the deceleration signal is outputted, a light spot passes through the PID portion.
US07907478B2
A drive apparatus of the present invention includes: a recording/reproduction section, a drive control section and a memory circuit. The drive control section performs a process including: receiving a recording instruction specifying at least data to be recorded; storing the data to be recorded in the memory circuit; defining data from a start location of the data stored in the memory circuit to a location corresponding to a next writable address as a first data portion; defining data from the location corresponding to the next writable address to an end location of the data stored in the memory circuit as a second data portion; and controlling the recording/reproduction section to record the second data portion before recording the first data portion.
US07907476B2
An electronic device, such as a mobile terminal, includes a touchscreen display and a control unit for operating responsive to user contact with the display. The control unit is configured to display an analog clock, detect user contact with the display, and adjust displayed position of a selected clock hand of the analog clock responsive to relative locations on the display that the detected user contact occurs.
US07907465B2
One-time programmable (OTP) nonvolatile fuse memory cells are disclosed that do not require decoding or addressing for reading their data content. Each fuse memory cell has its content latched at its output and available at all times and can be used, for example, for code storage memories, serial configuration memories, and as individual fuse bits for ID (identification), trimming, and other post-fabrication System-on-Chip (SoC) customization needs. Means are also provided for temporary data storage for design testing, etc. In alternative embodiments, using two differentially programmed fuses in a single memory cell, the selection and programming circuitry are merged.
US07907448B2
A NAND flash memory cell string having scaled down select gates. The NAND flash memory cell string includes a first select gate that has a width of 140 nm or less and a plurality of wordlines that are coupled to the first select gate. Gates associated with the plurality of wordlines are formed of p+ polysilicon. A second select gate that has a width of 140 nm or less is coupled to the plurality of wordlines.
US07907442B2
In a readout circuit (RC) which detects a difference between a change that appears on a first signal line (CBL) and a change that appears on a second signal line (CBLdm) according to stored information of each selected memory cell, the first signal line and the second signal line are separated selectively from input nodes of a data latch circuit (DL) through second MOS transistors (MN3 and MN4) and capacitively coupled to the input nodes of the data latch circuit via gates of first MOS transistors (MP1 and MP2) respectively. In this separated state, the first and second signal lines and the input nodes of the data latch circuit are precharged to different voltages, so that the gate-to-source and drain-to-source voltages of the first MOS transistors are controlled by the voltages of the first and second signal lines respectively. Therefore, when the first and second signal lines are varied and the separated state is released upon a read operation, the first MOS transistors start to operate in a saturated region, thereby realizing a high-speed read operation.
US07907441B2
A data management method of a non-volatile memory device includes writing data and representing a state of the data. The state includes one of multiple possible states. A state of the multiple possible states corresponding to a final operation is determined as a valid state of the data.
US07907440B2
A method is provided for writing data to an MRAM device having a plurality of magnetic memory cells configured in an array between a plurality of word lines and bit lines. At least one of the magnetic memory cells includes at least one fixed magnetic layer and a plurality of free magnetic layers, separated from the fixed magnetic layer by at least one barrier layer. The free magnetic layers include a first free magnetic layer adjacent to the barrier layer, a second free magnetic layer separated from the first free magnetic layer by at least one first parallel coupling layer, and a third free magnetic layer separated from the second free magnetic layer by at least one second parallel coupling layer. A magnetic moment of the second free magnetic layer is greater than both a magnetic moment of the first free magnetic layer and the third free magnetic layer.
US07907436B2
A nonvolatile semiconductor storage device includes: a first wire and a second wire intersecting each other; a memory cell which is disposed at each intersection of the first wire and the second wire and electrically rewritable and in which a variable resistor for memorizing a resistance value as data in a nonvolatile manner and a rectifying device are connected in series; and a control circuit which applies a voltage necessary for writing of data to the first and second wires. The control circuit precharges a non-selected second wire up to a standby voltage larger than a reference voltage prior to a set operation for programming only a variable resistor connected to selected first and second wires by supplying the reference voltage to a non-selected first wire and the selected second wire, applying a program voltage necessary for programming of the selected variable resistor based on the reference voltage to the selected first wire and applying a control voltage which prevents the rectifying device from turning ON based on the program voltage to the non-selected second wire.
US07907434B2
In a semiconductor apparatus of the present invention, a plurality of circuit components are provided. A first bus interconnects the circuit components. A second bus interconnects the circuit components. A switching unit outputs a select signal that causes each circuit component to select one of the first bus and the second bus when transmitting a signal from one of the circuit components to another. The second bus has a size larger than a size of the first bus.
US07907433B2
A semiconductor device includes a plurality of package terminals included in a package, a plurality of chips provided on the package, each of the chips including a memory cell array and a plurality of data input/output terminals, and a plurality of data line control switch disposed between the plurality of package terminals and the plurality of data input/output terminals. The plurality of data line control switches of each of the chips connects the data input/output terminals of each of the chips to corresponding ones of the plurality of package terminals in a normal mode. The plurality of data line control switches connects different groups of the data input/output terminals in different ones of the chips to respective groups of the package terminals in a test mode. The respective groups of the data input/output terminals belong to the plurality of data input/output terminals. The respective groups of the package terminals are different between different ones of the chips.
US07907432B2
A CAM device includes a CAM array coupled to a programmable priority encoding (PPE) logic circuit. The CAM array concurrently compares multiple input data with stored data to generate corresponding match results that are provided to the PPE logic circuit. The PPE logic circuit selectively favors the match results of a selected flow over the match results of the other flows in response to a flow select signal, which can be toggled to alternately select the match results of various flows. In this manner, the match results of the selected flow are generated and output even if the HPM index of the selected flow is of a lower priority than those of the non-selected flows, thereby ensuring an even distribution of match results reporting between different flows.
US07907430B2
A linear voltage regulator which includes on its input side an array of switched super capacitors coupled between the power source and the load. This apparatus is capable of delivering currents typically from milliamperes to greater than several amperes at very low switching frequencies. In addition by using capacitors rather than resistors or transistor devices to drop voltage on the input side, power consumption is reduced. The array of capacitors is switched by simple analog circuitry or a switching logic with or without a processor subsystem and the capacitors themselves are of the super capacitor type, thus providing very high capacitance, and are effectively series connected during certain phases of operation with the input terminal of the conventional linear voltage regulator portion of the apparatus. Energy stored in the super capacitors during the various phases of operation is reused.
US07907426B2
A flyback circuit providing synchronized control includes a pulse width modulation (PWM) unit, a synchronized control unit and an ON period limiting unit. The PWM unit generates a driving signal to control a switch ON period of a primary winding and provides a synchronized signal prior to the generation of the driving signal that has output time series ahead the driving signal. The synchronized control unit receives the synchronized signal through an induction winding to set off a synchronized commutation switch. The ON period limiting unit starts a period limiting time series after the synchronized commutation switch has been set on. After the synchronized commutation switch is set off by the synchronized signal the ON period limiting unit is reset to an initial condition. The synchronized commutation switch maintains an ON condition until the period limiting time series end, then the ON period limiting unit generates a forced ending signal to set off the synchronized commutation switch so that the flyback circuit maintains operation at a minimum duty frequency.
US07907418B2
A circuit board may include first and second sides, a plurality of circuit board layers between the sides, and a plurality of signal traces located in respective circuit board layers. The circuit board layers and the signal traces may extend from a first component connection region at the first side of the circuit board to a second component connection region at the first side of the circuit board. The signal traces may thus form stubless signal paths through the circuit board between the component connection regions. Of course, many alternatives, variations, and modifications are possible without departing from this embodiment.
US07907412B2
An electronic device with improved heat dissipation properties comprises metallic housing. A base circuit board may be positioned within the housing in a plane parallel to the backside. Multiple connectors for coupling cassettes to the base circuit board may be positioned about the periphery of the base circuit board such that multiple cassettes may be positioned adjacent to each side of the housing. Each cassette includes a printed circuit board with a plurality of heat generating components coupled to the printed circuit board and having a thickness extending towards the side of the housing. The cassette includes a metallic housing with a heat dissipation structure contacting: i) the side of the housing; and ii) each heat generating component. Each of at least two heat generating components have different thicknesses and the heat dissipation structure had different thicknesses between the side of the housing and each heat generating component.
US07907389B2
A sealed electrical enclosure used in hazardous locations for enclosing circuit breakers having a bottom housing and a top housing with a labyrinth seal or joint formed therebetween, the bottom housing adapted to receive one or more circuit breakers, a first metal bus extending from a point internal to the bottom housing through a first end wall to a point external thereto, and a second metal bus extending from a point internal to the bottom housing through a second end wall to a point external to thereto, where the first and second metal buses are adapted to contact first and second electrical terminals of a circuit breaker when placed within the bottom housing, and a first vent positioned on the top housing for dissipating pressure buildup, wherein the top housing is removably secured to the bottom housing to allow for removal and replacement of a circuit breakers within the housing.
US07907385B2
Systems and apparatus are provided for capacitor segments for use in a vehicle. A capacitor segment comprises an inner conductor configured to receive a first potential and having a generally L-shaped longitudinal cross-section. An outer conductor is configured to receive a second potential, and is electrically insulated from the inner conductor. The outer conductor comprises a first section having a generally L-shaped longitudinal cross-section aligned with the inner conductor, and a second section coupled to the first section and having a generally L-shaped lateral cross-section. The second section and the inner conductor define an inner region. A capacitor is located in the inner region and coupled to the inner conductor and the second section. The capacitor segment is configured such that current flows through the capacitor in a first direction, and current flows through the second section in a second direction that generally opposes the first direction.
US07907378B2
A monitoring and protection circuit associated with a voltage regulator supplying power to a CMOS device can sense over current levels precisely enough for determining if a fault has occurred in a circuit of the CMOS device, e.g., latch-up, failed or shorted transistor, etc., then this monitoring and protection circuit may automatically generate a fault alert signal and/or cycle power to the CMOS device when an unexpected over current may occur, e.g., CMOS circuit latch-up. The monitoring and protection circuit may be integrated with a voltage regulator, e.g., low drop-out (LDO) voltage regulator on a single integrated circuit substrate. The monitoring and protection circuit and voltage regulator may be fabricated with a CMOS device, e.g., digital processor on a single integrated circuit substrate.
US07907375B2
A sensing and switching device, such as an overload relay, is provided which includes a processor configured to make measurements and control operation (e.g., tripping) of the device. The processor regulates measurement of voltage and/or current, and the supply of power to power supplies. The power supplies store charge to provide operational power for the processor and that can be used for tripping and resetting contacts within the device. The processor opens a burden resistor measurement circuit when charge is being stored in the power supplies, and opens switches in the power supplies while closing the burden resistor switch to permit measurements. By alternatively switching for charging of the power supplies and making of measurements, the processor is able to reliably make measurements, control the device, and store sufficient power for operation of the device despite a demanding power budget.
US07907373B2
An electrostatic discharge circuit, connected between at least three terminals, the electrostatic discharge circuit including at least one electrostatic discharge circuit element further including at least one circuit element including a body in a floating state. The body in a floating state may provide a path to discharge an electrostatic current. The electrostatic discharge circuit may be a pull-up circuit, a plurality of pull-up circuits, a pull-down circuit, a plurality of pull-down circuits, a power clamp, a plurality of power clamps, or other similar circuit or circuits. The at least three terminals may include one or more power terminals, one or more ground terminals, and/or one or more I/O terminals.
US07907370B2
A tunneling magnetic sensing element including an Mg—O insulating barrier which can maintain favorable soft-magnetic properties of a free magnetic layer and can have a high resistance change ratio (ΔR/R) compared to known tunnel magnetic sensing elements is disclosed, and a method of manufacturing such a tunneling magnetic sensing element is also disclosed. An enhance layer (second magnetic layer) composed of Co100-XFeX having a Fe composition ratio X of about 30 to 100 at % is disposed on the Mg—O insulating barrier. With this, the magnetostriction λ of the free magnetic layer can be reduced and the resistance change ratio (ΔR/R) can be increased.
US07907362B2
Among other disclosed subject matter, a magnetic disk controller can include an index detecting unit to detect an index of the magnetic disk, an error check code generating unit to, after the index detecting unit detects the index, generate a first error check code for first write data based on the first write data and a first physical address of a first sector subsequent to the detected index, and a writing control unit to cause the first error check code generated by the error check code generating unit, the first write data and the first physical address to be written into a second sector subsequent to the first sector.
US07907355B2
A zoom lens system includes, in order from the object side to the image side, four lens units having positive, negative, negative and positive refractive powers. A first lens unit includes, in order from the object side to the image side: a front subunit having a negative refractive power; a middle subunit that has a positive refractive power and moves during focusing; and a rear subunit having a positive refractive power. The zoom lens system further includes a variable apex angle prism disposed on the image side of the front subunit. An average Abbe number of materials of a negative lens element and a positive lens element included in the front subunit is set appropriately so as to suppress occurrence of decentering aberration accompanying a variation of a prism apex angle.
US07907354B2
A zoom lens comprises the following lens groups in the order from an object side: a first lens group having a positive refracting power; a second lens group having a negative refracting power; a third lens group having a positive refracting power; and a fourth lens group having a positive refracting power; wherein, upon zooming, at least the first lens group and the fourth lens group move to the object side; and wherein the third lens group comprises a negative meniscus lens with a convex surface on an image side and with both side faces thereof being exposed to air, which is located nearest to the image side.
US07907350B2
Providing a high optical performance zoom lens system with realizing a high zoom ratio and compactness suitable for a highly integrated electronic imaging device. The system includes, in order from an object along an optical axis: a first group G1 having positive refractive power; a second group G2 having negative refractive power; a third group G3 having positive refractive power; a fourth group G4 having positive refractive power; and a fifth group G5 having negative refractive power. Upon zooming from a wide-angle end state W to a telephoto end state T, the second group G2 and the fourth group G4 are moved along the optical axis. The first group G1 includes, in order from the object along the optical axis, a front group G1f having negative refractive power, an optical-path-bending element P for bending an optical path, and a rear group G1r having positive refractive power. Given expression is satisfied.
US07907344B2
In order to perform dispersion compensation for an optical signal of light introduced from an input light collimator, a variable dispersion compensator includes: a group delay characteristic control unit which controls group delay characteristics at a group delay characteristic assignment unit; a positioning unit which positions a relative positional relationship between an optical axis position and an output light collimator in the case where the light from the input light collimator is output to an output light collimator through reflection on each of incident side planes of a plurality of reflective etalons; and a positioning control unit which controls the positioning unit so that the relative positional relationship becomes a positional relationship set in association with the group delay characteristics controlled by the group delay characteristic control unit, and minimizes loss deterioration in the case of changing the amount of dispersion compensation.
US07907343B2
A composite optical dividing device can receive a light beam, which is mixed with at least multiple wavelength ranges of light. The optical dividing device includes a first optical film plate and a second optical film plate. The first optical film plate has multiple micro-structure lenses in same shape, for deflecting and the incident light with a condense level. The second optical film plate has multiple periodic polygon structures, for receiving the deflected light and dividing constitutions of the light beam, according to the wavelength ranges. Each of the multiple ranges of light respectively travels toward a predetermined region on a plane.
US07907341B2
The present invention relates to a laser processing method and laser processing apparatus for enabling improvement and maintenance of homogenization of a beam intensity distribution in an irradiated region. The laser processing apparatus comprises, at least, an ASE light generation section for emitting ASE light, and a homogenizer for splitting the ASE light into multiple beams. The ASE generation section for emitting the ASE light as processing laser light is provided, and whereby the deterioration of homogenization due to inter-beam interference is suppressed. The homogenization of beam intensity distribution is improved by locating a condenser lens relative to an object such that the object is shifted from a focus position of the condenser lens in the homogenizer, by intentionally deteriorating a beam quality M2 of the ASE light itself emitted from the ASE light generation section to about 2 to 10, or by a combination of these, in laser processing.
US07907333B2
An optical amplifier is configured to amplify an injected seed optical pulse. The optical amplifier may include two or more gain sections coupled to form a continuous solid waveguide along a primary optical path. Each gain section may include: (i) an optical isolator forming an input to that gain section; (ii) a doped optical fiber having a first end coupled to the optical isolator and having a second end; (iii) a plurality of pump laser diodes; (iv) a controller providing drive signals to each of the plurality, the controller being configured to provide at least pulsed drive signals; and (v) an optical coupler having a first input port coupled to the second end, and a second input port coupled to the plurality and an output port.
US07907329B2
An electrophoretic display (EPD) device adapted to prevent a dispensed fluid sealant from moving toward a non-active area is disclosed. The EPD device includes: a first substrate configured to include a flexible plate divided into an active area and a non-active area; a thin film transistor array formed on the active area of the plate; a second substrate opposite to the first substrate; an electrophoretic film, between the first and second substrates, configured to contain charged particles driven depending on electrophoresis; a sealant, between the first and second substrates, hardened from fluid state; a sealant block formed on a sealant formation region to prevent the fluid sealant from flowing into the non-active area before hardening of the fluid sealant, wherein the sealant block is configured to include a first dam, a second dam, and a furrow between the first and second dams.
US07907328B2
A circuit board includes a substrate; a plurality of scan lines disposed on the substrate, the scan lines extending in a first direction; a plurality of signal lines disposed on the substrate, the signal lines extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction; a plurality of transistors, each of which is electrically connected to corresponding one of the plurality of scan lines and corresponding one of the plurality of signal lines; an insulating layer that covers the plurality of scan lines, the plurality of signal lines, and the plurality of transistors; and a plurality of electrodes, each of which is electrically connected to corresponding one of the plurality of transistors. One opening is formed in the insulating layer for every electrode group, the electrode group being constituted by at least two adjacent electrodes among the plurality of electrodes, and each of the plurality of electrodes is electrically connected to the corresponding one of the transistors through the opening.
US07907324B2
The optical modulator branches an input light into (2×N) lights in an optical branching section, and then phase modulates each of the branched lights in (2×N) phase modulating sections, and couples the phase modulated lights in an optical coupling section and generates a quadrature amplitude modulated (QAM) signal light having a 4N value. At this time, a relative difference of optical phases of the phase modulated lights is variably adjusted by an optical phase adjusting section. Moreover, a power ratio of the phase modulated lights is variably adjusted with an optical power adjusting section. As a result, it is possible to output 4N QAM signal light, with good signal quality.
US07907322B2
An electrochromic device includes a first substrate spaced from a second substrate. A first conductive member is formed over at least a portion of the first substrate. A first electrochromic material is formed over at least a portion of the first conductive member. The first electrochromic material includes an organic material. A second conductive member is formed over at least a portion of the second substrate. A second electrochromic material is formed over at least a portion of the second conductive member. The second electrochromic material includes an inorganic material. An ionic liquid is positioned between the first electrochromic material and the second electrochromic material.
US07907321B2
A light-amount adjusting apparatus includes a plurality of light-amount adjusting blades that causes a size of a light-passing aperture to change by rotation thereof. Each of the light-amount adjusting blades includes a base portion on which a rotation center portion and a driven portion are formed, and a blade portion that overlaps another light-amount adjusting blade in a light-passing direction so as to form the light-passing aperture. A thickness of the blade portion is thinner than that of the base portion. When the plurality of light-amount adjusting blades is rotated to set the light-passing aperture to be smaller than a full-opened aperture, a thickness of a portion that overlaps an adjacent stop blade is thinner than that of a portion that does not overlap the adjacent stop blade in each of the light-amount adjusting blades. The blades have high dimension accuracy, and deterioration of the optical performance of the apparatus is reduced.
US07907319B2
An interferometric modulator (Imod) cavity has a reflector and an induced absorber. A direct view reflective flat panel display may include an array of the modulators. Adjacent spacers of different thicknesses are fabricated on a substrate by a lift-off technique used to pattern the spacers which are deposited separately, each deposition providing a different thickness of spacer. Or a patterned photoresist may be used to allow for an etching process to selectively etch back the thickness of a spacer which was deposited in a single deposition. A full-color static graphical image may be formed of combined patterns of interferometric modulator cavities. Each cavity includes a reflector, and an induced absorber, the induced absorber including a spacer having a thickness that defines a color associated with the cavity.
US07907310B2
An opening method for a double-sided scanner is provided. A light source of one particular color inside a first group of light sources and a light source of a different color (or the same color) inside a second group of light source are lit to scan the front and back surface of a scan document. Optical signals from the front and back surface of the scan document are received and converted into analogue electrical signals. Thereafter, the analogue electrical signals are converted into digital electrical signal. Finally, the digital electrical signals are output to a host computer. This invention utilizes two groups of light sources (for example, light-emitting diodes) to serve as light sources for the double-sided scanner. Because light-emitting diodes require no warm-up period and is quick to switch, double-sided scanning is simplified.
US07907307B2
An image processing method of converting multiple-value image data into including the steps of: preparing dot pattern tables respectively for the graduated tone numbers, each of the dot pattern tables being demarcated into blocks of the dot patterns correlated with positions of pixels so that a block row constituted of two of the blocks of the dot patterns mutually adjacent is defined by a boundary in a recording-head-recording-medium relative movement direction that does not coincide with a straight line parallel to the direction, the dot patterns in each of the dot pattern tables being determined so that banding caused by characteristics of the recording elements is corrected in accordance with a correlation between each of the recording elements and surrounding elements thereof; and then selecting the dot patterns respectively for the pixels from the tables in accordance with the positions and the graduated tone values of the pixels.
US07907306B2
An image processing apparatus which converts multiple-value image data of an image into a plurality of dot patterns to form the image on a recording medium includes: a corrected recording element signal table storage device which stores a plurality of corrected recording element signal tables respectively for the graduated tone numbers, each of the corrected recording element signals being one of corrected recording element signal numbers and determined so that banding caused by recording characteristics of the recording elements is corrected in accordance with a correlation between each of the recording elements and surrounding recording elements of said each of the recording elements; and a one-dimensional dot pattern table storage device which stores a one-dimensional dot pattern table which specifies a one-dimensional dot pattern for each of the corrected recording element signal numbers.
US07907294B2
An apparatus and method of efficiently forming an image of print data even if the residual amount of toner or ink of a specified color is insufficient. The method includes calculating an amount of ink or toner of each color that is required to form the image of the print data, comparing the calculated required amount of the ink or toner of each color with a stored residual amount of the ink or toner of each color, and forming the image of the print data using the ink or toner of the color of which the residual amount of the ink or toner is sufficient if there is any color of which the stored residual amount of the ink or toner is less than the required amount of the ink or toner as a result of the comparison.
US07907291B2
An image supply device and control method for supplying image data to a printing device by directly communicating with the printing device. The device and method include obtaining functional information of the printing device, obtaining printable range information indicating a printable range by the printing device, converting image data of a file to be printed in accordance with the printable range information and received printing specification information, and transmitting the converted image data to the printing device upon a data request from the printing device.
US07907290B2
A printer and method for operating a printer are provided that prints using a receiver medium having a rolled portion with an outermost layer from which an unrolled portion extends to a print engine. The method comprises: sensing a condition indicating the receiver medium may have been contacted by other than a component of the printer or by a donor material applied by the print engine; measuring an aspect of the receiver medium indicative of the circumferential length of the outermost layer; determining a circumferential length of the receiver medium based upon the measured aspect of the rolled portion of the receiver medium; determining an exclusion length of the receiver medium based upon the determined circumferential length and a travel distance that is a representation of a length of the unrolled portion between the rolled portion and the print engine; and automatically advancing the receiver medium by the exclusion length.
US07907282B2
An integrated spectral sensing engine featuring energy sources and detectors within a single package includes sample interfacing optics and acquisition and processing electronics. The miniaturized sensor is optimized for specific laboratory and field-based measurements by integration into a handheld format. Design and fabrication components support high volume manufacturing. Spectral selectivity is provided by either continuous variable optical filters or filter matrix devices. The sensor's response covers the range from 200 nm to 25 μm based on various solid-state detectors. The wavelength range can be extended by the use of filter-matrix devices. Measurement modes include transmittance/absorbance, turbidity (light scattering) and fluorescence (emission). On board data processing includes raw data acquisition, data massaging and the output of computed results. Sensor applications include water and environmental, food and beverage, chemical and petroleum, and medical analyses. These can be expanded into various field and consumer-based applications.
US07907281B2
A miniaturized spectrometer/spectrophotometer system and methods are disclosed. A probe tip including one or more light sources and a plurality of light receivers is provided. A first spectrometer system receives light from a first set of the plurality of light receivers. A second spectrometer system receives light from a second set of the plurality of light receivers. A processor, wherein the processor receives data generated by the first spectrometer system and the second spectrometer system, wherein an optical measurement of a sample under test is produced based on the data generated by the first and second spectrometer systems.
US07907273B2
A system for measuring starch gelatinization in a feed production system. The system includes a feed production system configured to generate an extruded feed from a feed mixture using a combination of steam and pressure to cook the feed in an extruder, a near infrared spectrometer configured to measure a degree of starch gelatinization for the extruded feed, and a starch gelatinization measurement engine configured to generate a measurement of the degree of starch gelatinization in the extruded feed.
US07907269B2
An apparatus for detecting top scattered light from a substrate. A source directs a light onto a position on the substrate. The light thereby reflects off in a specular beam, scatters off the top surface, and scatters off a bottom surface of the substrate. An objective receives the top and bottom scattered light. The objective has a first focal point focused on the position on the top surface of the substrate, and a second focal point focused on a pinhole field stop. The pinhole field stop passes the top scattered light that is focused on the pinhole field stop, and blocks the bottom scattered light. A sensor receives and quantifies the top scattered light.
US07907249B2
A film exposer has a modulator which modulates light from a light source and projects it onto a light-sensitive film guided continuously past the modulator. The modulator comprises a two-dimensional arrangement of elements which each project a specific quantity of light onto the film. A pixel entering the projection area of the modulator of the film on one side integrates the light which is projected onto the pixel by elements arranged in a row in the transport direction of the film. The quantity of light integrated by the pixel depends on how many elements are switched on, that is to say project light onto the film, while the film passes through the projection area of the modulator. The total quantity of the light to be integrated can be adjusted for each pixel by appropriate control of the elements respectively lying in a row in the transport direction of the film. In one embodiment of the film exposer, the quantity of light projected by individual elements or groups thereof can be adjusted individually or differs by area.
US07907246B2
A liquid crystal display panel includes an active matrix substrate, a counter substrate, a liquid crystal layer, and a sealant. The counter electrode is opposed to the active matrix substrate. The liquid crystal layer is provided between the active matrix substrate and the counter substrate. The sealant, which surrounds the liquid crystal layer between the active matrix substrate and the counter substrate, joins the active matrix substrate and the counter substrate and seals the liquid crystal layer. A portion of the surface on the liquid crystal layer side of the active matrix substrate which is located at the periphery of the liquid crystal display panel is flat.
US07907244B2
A transflective pixel structure including a scan line, a data line, a thin film transistor, a pixel electrode and an organic material layer is provided. The scan line and the data line are disposed over a substrate. The thin film transistor is disposed over the substrate and electrically connected to the scan line and the data line. The pixel electrode is disposed over a substrate and is electrically connected to the thin film transistor. The pixel electrode has a reflective region and a transmissive region. The organic material layer covers both the thin film transistor and the pixel electrode. The organic material layer disposed correspondently above the transmissive region of the pixel electrode has a plurality of refracting patterns on its upper surface.
US07907241B2
To provide a liquid crystal display device capable of improving display characteristics. The liquid crystal display device of the present invention is a liquid crystal display device including a structure in which the first substrate including a reflective layer, a liquid crystal layer, the second substrate, and a polarizer are stacked in this order from a back face to a display face, wherein the liquid crystal display device includes a retardation layer, in a region on a liquid crystal layer side of the reflective layer of the first substrate, or in a region where the reflective layer is not arranged of the first substrate, or in the second substrate, and the retardation layer provides two or more regions having different retardations in a display surface plane.
US07907230B2
In a first area, a projection section provided in a second rib is inserted into a hollow section provided in a first rib, and the first rib and the second rib are overlapped with each other such that the second rib is located inside the first rib. In a second area, the first rib and the second rib are overlapped with each other such that the first rib is located inside the second rib. Therefore, a front rib and a back rib prevent each other from moving in an overlapping direction. Accordingly, it is possible to fix the front rib and the back rib without using a rib which is another component, thereby making it possible to reduce the size and weight of an apparatus while increasing the size of a display screen.
US07907224B2
One embodiment of the present invention is an image display device including a substantially transparent substrate, a color filter layer formed on the substantially transparent substrate and a substantially transparent semiconductor circuit formed on the color filter layer. The circuit includes a substantially transparent thin film transistor including a source electrode, a drain electrode, a gate insulating film, a gate electrode and a semiconductor active layer comprised of a metal oxide. The semiconductor active layer has a thickness of 10 nm-35 nm. The circuit also includes a wiring made of a substantially transparent conductive material, the wiring having a electric contact point with the substantially transparent thin film transistor.
US07907223B2
An electrooptical device which simultaneously displays a first and second image in different directions. The electrooptical device includes a display panel including a plurality of pixel rows. Each pixel row includes first pixels for displaying the first image, first light-shielding portions, second pixels for displaying the second image, and second light-shielding portions which are wider than the first light-shielding portions. The electrooptical device also includes a light-transmissive substrate provided parallel to the display panel, and a light-shielding barrier layer provided on the substrate which includes apertures that align with the second light-shielding portions when viewed from a direction that is normal to the display panel.
US07907222B2
A system and method for enabling set up of a controlling device capable of controlling a plurality of appliances, via an interactive instruction set and associated programming. The programming is accessible by a STB or other controllable appliance and is configured to appropriately display interactive instructions and prompts to a user during a user initiated set up procedure for configuration of another controllable device (e.g., DVD, VCR, DVR, etc) available to the user. Appropriate set up data, generally in the form of command library codes, is displayed to the user by the interactive instruction set and associated programming for entry and trial by the user in set up of the desired appliance(s).
US07907221B2
A television device includes a reception device, a first decision unit, and a second decision unit. The reception device receives, from a broadcast signal of a system set, a channel which is tuned. The second decision unit, when it has been decided by the first decision unit that this channel for which tuning has been received is not registered in the channel map of the set broadcast signal, decides whether or not this channel is registered in the channel map of the broadcast signal of some other system. And, when it has been decided by the second decision unit that this channel for which tuning has been received is registered in the channel map of the broadcast signal of some other system, the reception device receives the channel for which tuning has been received from the broadcast signal of some other system.
US07907218B2
A receiver apparatus 3 has a digital circuit portion 13 that converts a compressed digital signal outputted from a digital demodulating portion 12 into digital video and audio signals, a video/audio output circuit 14 that converts the digital video and audio signals outputted from the digital circuit portion 13 into analog video and audio signals, and an intermediate-frequency processing circuit portion 15 that converts an intermediate-frequency signal into an audio intermediate-frequency signal. With this configuration, a video/audio processing IC for digital signal processing no longer needs to be mounted on the circuit board of a video display apparatus 4, and thus a receiver system can be realized with a video display apparatus having a simple configuration.
US07907217B2
A system and method for calculating a pixel-shift vector that predicts the motion in dynamic image data and can be used to shift reference image data in order to generate a subtracted image with reduced motion artifacts. The pixel-shift vector is calculated based on displacement vectors that have been calculated based on past motion in the dynamic image data. One embodiment determines a virtual pixel-shift vector as a function of stored pixel-shift vectors that were previously determined as a function of a previously captured live frame. The virtual pixel-shift vector is a prediction of the location of the current live frame before the current live frame is captured. The mask frame is adjusted as a function of this virtual pixel-shift vector. The current live frame is then subtracted from the mask frame adjusted as a function of the virtual pixel-shift vector. The adjusted mask frame and the live frame will then overlap and the subtracted image will have reduced artifacts.
US07907215B2
In accordance with the teachings described herein, systems and methods are provided for enhancing the image quality of video. One or more filters may be used to filter a received video signal to generate a vertical filtered output, a horizontal filtered output and a diagonal filtered output. One or more amplification components may be used to apply separate gains to each of the vertical, horizontal and diagonal filtered outputs to generate a vertical enhancement signal, a horizontal enhancement signal and a diagonal enhancement signal. One or more summation components may be used to combine the vertical, horizontal and diagonal enhancement signals with the video signal to generate an enhanced video signal.
US07907214B2
A control method of a display apparatus including processing a broadcasting signal of a currently tuned channel and displaying the broadcasting signal on a main picture; extracting broadcasting program information of other currently broadcasting channels if a caption indicating function of the broadcasting program information is selected; and creating the extracted broadcasting program information in a caption, displaying the caption on a portion of the main picture, and scrolling the caption along a predetermined direction. Thus, the present invention provides a display apparatus, which can create and scroll broadcasting information for the other currently broadcasting channel in a caption while the viewer is observing a main image, thus allowing the viewer to see the broadcasting information for the other channel conveniently and allowing the main image to be conveniently switched to a different desired channel, and a control method of the display apparatus.
US07907208B2
According to an aspect of the invention, an information processing apparatus configured to be connected to a conversion adaptor having a video input connector and a video output connector, the apparatus including: a video output port complying with the first standard for connection of the video input connector; an image processing module configured to output a first signal when the video input connector is not connected to the video output port, the image processing module being configured to output a second signal when the video input connector is connected to the video output port; and a bias module connected to the video output port and the image processing module and configured to output a third signal to the video output port, the bias module being configured to change physical layer information of the first signal or the second signal.
US07907200B2
An image display system according to the present invention includes a camera that shoots a background, a monitor that displays a shot background image, and an optical lens arranged on a display surface of the monitor. An imaginary image, obtained due to presence of the optical lens, of the monitor image is made to substantially match with a background surface, so that observers viewing the background through the monitor can recognize that the monitor image and the background look continuous. As a result, the image display system and the image display method that can cause the observers viewing the background through the monitor to recognize that the monitor image and the background look continuous are provided.
US07907193B2
According to this invention, even when an image capturing apparatus has a plurality of read modes, the frame rate can be prevented from decreasing in a high-resolution video photographing mode. The image capturing apparatus includes an image sensor and drive unit. The image sensor includes an effective image sensing area having a plurality of pixels at the center portion of the image sensor, and a light-shielded pixel area having a plurality of light-shielded pixels at the peripheral portion of the image sensor. The drive unit can drive the image sensor in a plurality of modes, and drives the image sensor such that the plurality of read modes are almost equal to the light-shielded pixel read time BL-MIN for reading pixel signals in the light-shielded pixel area.
US07907184B2
A picture processing apparatus is disclosed which includes: an acquiring device which, apart from a first picture sequence picked up for reproduction purposes, acquires a second picture sequence picked up in synchronism with the first picture sequence, the second picture sequence being made up of pictures wider in angle than those constituting the first picture sequence; a calculating device operable to calculate degrees of similarity between scenes each made up of a predetermined number of consecutive pictures included in the second picture sequence; and a linking device which, after appropriating the degrees of similarity calculated by the calculating device for the degrees of similarity between the corresponding scenes in the first picture sequence, links together those of the corresponding scenes which have high degrees of similarity in the first picture sequence.
US07907177B2
An error in a camera having angular velocity sensors is eliminated. A camera is placed on a rotating table and rotated, angular velocities are detected by angular velocity sensors, and a CZP chart is photographed. The motion of the camera is computed as a locus of motion of a point light source on an imaging plane from the outputs from the angular velocity sensors. The inclination of the locus motion is compared with the inclination of a zero-crossing line which has been obtained by subjecting the photographed image to Fourier transformation, to thus compute angles of relative inclination of the angular velocity sensors with respect to the image sensor. Further, when no coincidence exists between the zero-crossing line of the data into which a PSF has been Fourier-transformed and a zero-crossing line of the data into which a photographed image has been Fourier-transformed, a computer computes a correction coefficient from a proportion of an interval between the zero-crossing lines, on condition that an error is included in the angular velocity sensors or the focal length of a photographing lens, and the error is eliminated.
US07907175B2
A tracking image pickup device which makes it possible to perform high-speed and high-accuracy drive and tilting drive without sacrificing the rigidity of the device. An image pickup section has a predetermined optical system and acquires an image pickup signal through the optical system. A tracking target-detecting section detects a tracking target from the image pickup signal acquired by the image pickup section. A drive section has a fine movement part formed by a part of the optical system, and a rough movement part, so as to turn the tracking image pickup device in a panning or tilting direction. A control command value-computing section drivingly controls the drive section such that an amount of deviation between the tracking target and an image pickup direction of the tracking image pickup device is reduced. An image pickup direction-computing section determines the image pickup direction of the tracking image pickup device.
US07907170B2
An electronic endoscope has a light source that radiates illuminating light, a movie-image processor, a still-image processor, an image-change processor, and provisional image displayer. The still-image processor that alternately reads odd-line image-pixel signals and even-line image-pixel signals over two field interval to generate a still image on the basis of one frame worth of image-pixel signals generated by a one-time still image exposure. The illuminating light being blocked for a latter filed interval in the two field interval. The image change processor switches between a performance of the movie-image processor for displaying the movie-image and a performance of the still-image processor for displaying the still-image. While the still-image processor reads the odd-line and even-line image-pixel signals over the two field intervals, the provisional image displayer displays a provisional image on the basis of at least one of odd-field image-pixel signals and even-field image-pixel signals, which are obtained by an exposure before the still image exposure.
US07907168B2
An endoscope system is provided with an endoscope and an image display section that displays the image of a subject captured by an image pick-up element provided in this endoscope. The endoscope is provided with a connector whereby a serial communication cable is detachably connected and a signal processing circuit that converts the image captured by the image pick-up element to a signal capable of being transmitted through the serial communication cable. The image display section is a screen displayed on a display device of a terminal device connected to the serial communication cable; and the screen is provided with an image display region used for display of an image captured by the image pick-up element and a display region for control purposes whereby control of the endoscope is performed.
US07907167B2
The present invention discloses a horizontal perspective workstation comprising at least two display surfaces, one being substantially horizontal for displaying 3D horizontal perspective images, and one being substantially vertical for text or conventional images such as 2D images, or central perspective images. The horizontal display surface is typically positioned directly in front of the user, and at a height of about a desktop surface so that the user can have about a 45° angle looking. The vertical display surface is also positioned in front of the user and preferably behind and above the horizontal display surface.
US07907159B2
A thermal printhead includes a substrate, a heating resistor formed on the substrate, a drive IC for controlling power application to the heating resistor, and a thermistor mounted on the substrate and including first and second terminals. The drive IC includes a print execution signal terminal for activation of the heating resistor upon application of a voltage higher than a threshold value. The first terminal of the thermistor is connected with the print execution signal terminal.
US07907158B2
A thermal head includes a glass layer having a protruding section formed on one surface and a concave groove section formed on the other surface facing the protruding section, a heat generation resistor provided on the protruding section, and a pair of electrodes provided to both sides of the heat generation resistor, and a part of the heat generation resistor exposed between the pair of electrodes is defined as a heat generation section, the protruding section has a smaller curvature radius in both sides than a curvature radius in a central portion, and a width of the groove section is one of equal to and larger than a length of the heat generation section.
US07907156B2
A display device for an active matrix drive includes a plurality of pixels each having display retainability and including a first sub-pixel through an nth sub-pixel (n is a natural number greater than 1), a selection switching element provided correspondingly to each of the sub-pixels, connected to a data line, and for selecting the corresponding sub-pixel, and an external input switch provided correspondingly to each of the sub-pixels, connected to a selection line, and for supplying a signal from the selection line to the corresponding sub-pixel in response to an input operation from the outside. The selection line includes n kinds of selection lines, from a first selection line connected to the first sub-pixel to an nth selection line connected to the nth sub-pixel, and the n kinds of selection lines are connected to selection switches for one of selecting the selection lines individually and selecting two or more of the selection lines in a lump.
US07907154B2
The present disclosure provides methods and apparatuses for on-site calibration of a visual display sign. In one exemplary implementation of the invention, an imaging device captures image data from a visual display sign. The imaging device can include a CCD digital camera and optics for long-range imaging. The captured image data is sent to an interface that compiles the data. The interface then calculates correction factors for the image data that may be used to achieve target color and brightness values for the image data. The interface then uploads the adjusted image data back to the visual display sign.
US07907150B2
A method of presenting multiple image sources of approximately registered images so that the mind can easily fuse the multiple images into one image. Improvement to fusing can be achieved by alternating views between sources at 85 hertz or more. The insertion of a black frame between the succession of frames optimizes the neurological functions of the human optical system (produces retinal decay) such that the perception of a useful fused image is greatly enhanced. Stereographic fusion can also be achieved to allow for fusion of loosely registered datasets.
US07907149B1
The present invention relates to a method for a cell phone based dating service. The method uses telecommunication in the form of phones, cell phones or email. The invention proposes a method or way to exchange the information of two people in a fast way by the Internet or telephone or cell phones, making it possible divide peoples personal information in small portions and to give out these portions step by step. In the invention proposes a system-administrator, the system, will coordinate the exchange of information between the meeting people. The invention uses a computer based partner service system in which a participant can order the system to give out its personalized information in defined modifications.
US07907146B2
Graphical user interface material map objects are specified by a collection of attribute-value pairs, the collection of which comprises a complete description of the material map and may be used by a rendering engine to create a visual representation of the material map at any resolution. That is, material map representations in accordance with the invention are resolution independent. Another benefit of representing material maps in accordance with the invention is that they may be encrypted to prevent unauthorized inspection or use.
US07907145B1
Multiple output buffers are supported in a graphics processor. Each output buffer has a unique identifier and may include data represented in a variety of fixed and floating-point formats (8-bit, 16-bit, 32-bit, 64-bit and higher). A fragment program executed by the graphics processor can access (read or write any of the output buffers. Each of the output buffers may be read from and used to process graphics data by an execution pipeline within the graphics processor. Likewise, each output buffer may be written to by the graphics processor, storing graphics data such as lighting parameters, indices, color, and depth.
US07907142B2
A system and method for creating video tile arrays is disclosed. A first plurality of video streams produced by a first plurality of Analog to Digital Converters (ADCs) are received in a first Digital Signal Processor (DSP). The first DSP processes the first plurality of video streams to produce a partial video tile array stream. The partial video tile array stream is transferred to a second DSP. The second DSP receives a second plurality of video streams produced by a second plurality of video ADCs. The second DSP processes the partial video tile array stream and the second plurality of video streams to generate a tiled video stream. The tiled video stream comprises an array of a plurality of video tiles that each correspond to a one of the first and second plurality of video streams.
US07907135B2
A projector 1 detects a luminance distribution in an effective video period of an inputted video luminance signal, and a coefficient calculating circuit 302 calculates a correction coefficient Ci to correct a gradation (FIG. 6A). Then, surrounding brightness is detected, and the correction coefficient Ci is adjusted based on the surrounding brightness to obtain an adjusted correction coefficient Ci′ (FIG. 6B). As shown in FIG. 6C, a luminance can be raised to Q according to a brightness signal even for a pixel of a lowest input luminance by adjusting the correction coefficient. Other correction coefficients in a range of 0 to 255 before adjustment are proportionally distributed to a range of 0 to 255-Q, and added with a correction coefficient Q. A luminance of each pixel which belongs to the effective video period of the video luminance signal is adjusted using the adjusted correction coefficient.
US07907132B1
An egocentric display that corresponds to a multidimensional frame of reference. The multidimensional frame of reference may include an ego center, a nadir below the ego center, and a zenith above the ego center. The egocentric display includes a center point, an inner concentric circle and an outer concentric circle. The center point represents the nadir. The inner concentric circle is centered about the center point and represents a horizon plane that is perpendicular to a zenith-nadir line that passes through the zenith, the ego center, and the nadir. The outer concentric circle that represents the zenith should have a radius larger that the inner concentric circle and should also be centered about the center point.
US07907119B2
A theme changeable mouse for automatically matching network communities is provided and can automatically match and link users of individually customized theme website communities by built-in IDs (identifications). The mouse includes a theme cover and a mouse base. The theme cover can be optionally matched and changed, while each of the theme cover has the IDs therein. A recognition processing unit of a control circuit firmware on a printed circuit board in the mouse base is used to execute a recognition process, so that the user can automatically log into a specific website for providing advanced information service if the user is matched.
US07907117B2
Virtual controllers for visual displays are described. In one implementation, a camera captures an image of hands against a background. The image is segmented into hand areas and background areas. Various hand and finger gestures isolate parts of the background into independent areas, which are then assigned control parameters for manipulating the visual display. Multiple control parameters can be associated with attributes of multiple independent areas formed by two hands, for advanced control including simultaneous functions of clicking, selecting, executing, horizontal movement, vertical movement, scrolling, dragging, rotational movement, zooming, maximizing, minimizing, executing file functions, and executing menu choices.
US07907114B2
An indicating lamp control program adapted for a computer to perform processing for controlling an illuminating operation of indicating lamps disposed around a display surface of a display apparatus, includes as functions for the computer: window information acquiring means for acquiring information representing a back-to-forth position and a size of a window generated, with running of an application program; program determining means for determining whether or not the application program is a content display program adapted for the display apparatus to display the contents; and control means for providing control based on both of the information acquired by the window information acquiring means and a determination result obtained by the program determining means so as to turn down the indicating lamps less than a predetermined level when the window corresponding to the content display program is in a topmost position and has a predetermined size or more.
US07907107B2
In one embodiment of the invention, a display device includes a plurality of gate lines transferring gate signals, a plurality of data lines transmitting data voltages, a plurality of storage electrode lines transferring storage signals, and a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix, each pixel comprising a switching element connected to a gate line and a data line, a liquid crystal capacitor connected to the switching element and a common voltage, and a storage capacitor connected to the switching element and a storage electrode line. The display device may further include a plurality of signal generating circuits generating the storage signals, wherein the signal generating circuit is connected to a k-th storage electrode line, where k is a natural number.
US07907103B2
A plasma display apparatus and a driving method of a plasma display panel are provided. This may include a plasma display panel having a plurality of scan electrodes and sustain electrodes, and a plurality of address electrodes formed to intersect with the plurality of scan electrodes and sustain electrodes. A driving unit/circuit may drive the scan electrodes, the sustain electrodes, and the address electrodes to allow a voltage difference between the scan electrode and the sustain electrode or a voltage difference between the scan electrode and the address electrode during an address period at one or more subfields of a frame to be larger than a voltage difference between the scan electrode and the sustain electrode or a voltage difference between the scan electrode and the address electrode during the address period at other subfields.
US07907100B2
A phased array for controlling a radiation pattern of an array of antennas includes a plurality of antenna ports, a first tunable element connected in series between each respective pair of adjacent antenna ports, and a second tunable element connected in parallel with each respective antenna port. The phased array provides progressive phase differences between successive antenna ports Equal amplitude of the signal can be maintained at each antenna. An equal amount of successive phase change can be provided in a signal at each antenna. A direct current source connectible to at least one input port can include an alternating power source through a matching circuit, such as a quarter-wave transformer The first and second tunable elements can be either an inductor or a capacitor, and/or can be in combination with transmission lines separating each respective antenna from a successive antenna by desired fraction of a wavelength.
US07907094B2
The present invention has an object to provide a portable terminal apparatus capable of reducing that antenna characteristics of respective antenna elements are deteriorated due to antenna coupling phenomena even when a plurality of wireless communication functions are carried out at the same time by utilizing a plurality of antennas.The portable terminal apparatus 1 of the present invention is comprised of: a first wireless unit 12 for performing a wireless communication by utilizing electromagnetic waves of a first frequency range; a second wireless unit 22 for performing a wireless communication by utilizing electromagnetic waves of a second frequency range which is different from the first frequency range; a first antenna element 11 connected to the first wireless unit 12; and a second antenna element 21 connected to the second wireless unit 22; and in the portable terminal apparatus 1, an impedance characteristic of the first antenna element 11 has a first frequency characteristic in which at least a characteristic in the first frequency range is superior than a characteristic in the second frequency range; and an impedance characteristic of the second antenna element 21 has a second frequency characteristic in which at least a characteristic in the second frequency range is superior than a characteristic in the first frequency range.
US07907089B2
Method of locating one or more transmitters on the basis of an array of sensors moving with respect to the transmitters comprising at least the following steps: determining the direction vectors âk corresponding to the response of the array of sensors to a source with incidence (θ, Δ) as a function of the incidence parameters θ, Δ, and of the parameter ρ related to the distortion of the phases on the sensors, transforming this vector âk so as to eliminate the unknown parameter ρ, into a vector ĉkm, ĉ′km, using the transformed vector to obtain the position of the transmitter using a maximized locating criterion.
US07907087B2
At least one set of values of parameters is determined, each set of values defining a respective troposphere model. The at least one determined set of parameter values is then assembled for transmission via a wireless communication network to a wireless terminal as assistance data for an assisted satellite based positioning of the wireless terminal.
US07907084B2
This radar device includes: a transmitter to transmit a transmitting signal whose frequency is periodically increased/decreased at a predetermined rate of change; a mixer to generate a beat signal by multiplying a received signal being transmitted by the transmitter and reflected back from an object to be detected and the transmitting signal; a frequency detector to detect a frequency of the beat signal; and a controller to control the rate of change of the frequency of the transmitting signal so that the frequency of the beat signal detected by the frequency detector becomes equal to or larger than a cut-off frequency of a flicker noise caused by the mixer.
US07907082B2
A method and system for presence detection within a detection volume delimited by an inner radius and an outer radius using microwave radiation. The outer radius of the detection volume is controlled by selecting the length of a first pulse controlling the transmit interval of a microwave transmitter and by selecting the length of a third pulse controlling the receive interval of a microwave receiver. The inner radius of the detection volume is controlled through selecting the length of a second pulse defining a predetermined time period between the first pulse and the third pulse.
US07907075B2
A semiconductor device includes a first switching device including a first electrode coupled with a first node, a second electrode coupled with a second node, and a first control electrode controlling connection between the first and second electrodes; a second switching device including a third electrode coupled with the second node, a fourth electrode coupled with the second node, and a second control electrode controlling the connection between the third electrode and the fourth electrode; and a first control circuit controlling a substrate voltage of the second switching device.
US07907072B1
A DAC unit, connected to a current supply transistor, includes first control transistors connected in parallel to each other, with each being connected in series to the current supply transistor. The first control transistors drive currents at different current values in response to a bias voltage. The DAC unit also includes second control transistors connected in parallel to each other, with each being connected in series to the current supply transistor. Each second control transistor drives the current having the same current value as one of the first control transistors in response to the single bias voltage. The first and second control transistors driving the currents having the same current value operate in a complementary manner based on part of a digital code. The DAC unit generates an output current by selectively combining at least one of the currents driven by the first control transistors.
US07907068B2
A method for decoding includes receiving a message at a decoding device, where the message includes a code corresponding to a sequence of data symbols. Based on the code, a first data symbol of the sequence of data symbols is determined. The first data symbol is determined based at least in part on a first radix used to generate the code. Based on the code, a second data symbol of the sequence of data symbols is also determined. The second data symbol is determined based at least in part on a second radix and at least in part on the first data symbol.
US07907061B2
In an embodiment, a proximity sensor includes a driver, a photo-diode (PD) and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The proximity sensor can also include a controller to control the driver. The driver selectively drives a light source, e.g., an infrared (IR) light emitting diode (LED). The PD, which produces a current signal indicative of the intensity of light detected by the PD, is capable of detecting both ambient light and light produced by the light source that is reflected off an object. The ADC receives one or more portion of the current signal produced by the PD. The ADC produces one or more digital output that can be used to estimate the proximity of an object to the PD in a manner that compensates for ambient light detected by the PD and transient changes to the detected ambient light.
US07907051B2
Techniques are provided for specifying a presence setting selection and for displaying a presence indicator status of a user with respect to a device associated with the user. The presence setting selection includes providing an input selection component on a surface of a first component of the device. A presence setting is received at the device in accordance with a manual presence selection made using the input selection component. In connection with the presence indicator status, one or more indicators are provided on a surface portion of a first component of the device. The presence indicator status indicating the presence of the user with respect to the device is received. One or more indicators at the device are set in accordance with the presence indicator status.
US07907038B2
Actuation for control of surfaces is provided through use of a conducting material comprising electrolyte particles electrically charged with electromagnetic fields in boundary layers. Interactions of the electrically charged particles with electromagnetic fields in boundary layers are coordinated for generation of control forces for various applications.
US07907031B2
A transit structure of a standard waveguide and a dielectric waveguide is related to connecting the dielectric dielectric waveguide to the standard waveguide. The transit structure includes: a cavity to match the dielectric waveguide and the standard waveguide, wherein the dielectric waveguide and the standard waveguide are orthogonal to each other to connect. The transit structure drastically reduces a design time by simply implementing a transit structure by using only a dielectric waveguide, a cavity and a standard waveguide on a dielectric substrate and remarkably reduces a size thereof in comparison with a conventional transit structure since all designs are finished in the size of a metal waveguide.
US07907027B2
Example embodiments of the present invention are directed to a compensated microelectromechanical oscillator, having a microelectromechanical resonator that generates an output signal and frequency adjustment circuitry, coupled to the microelectromechanical resonator to receive the output signal of the microelectromechanical resonator and, in response to a set of values, to generate an output signal having second frequency. The values may be determined using the frequency of the output signal of the microelectromechanical resonator, which depends on the operating temperature of the microelectromechanical resonator and/or manufacturing variations of the microelectromechanical resonator. The frequency adjustment circuitry may include frequency multiplier circuitry, for example, PLLs, DLLs, digital/frequency synthesizers and/or FLLs, as well as any combinations and permutations thereof. The frequency adjustment circuitry, in addition or in lieu thereof, may include frequency divider circuitry, for example, DLLs, digital/frequency synthesizers (for example, DDS) and/or FLLs, as well as any combinations and permutations thereof.
US07907023B2
A phase lock loop utilizes a multiphase oscillator having a plurality of digital inputs. A plurality of DQ flip-flops, offset in time from each other generate a plurality of control signals to remove control phase information from the oscillator in digital form. A DQ flip-flop connected between any two digital inputs on the oscillator determines direction of the traveling wave. The direction and phase information address a look-up table to determine the current fractional phase of the oscillator. A divide by N circuit is used to reduce the oscillator frequency. A total phase indicator signal for the oscillator is determined using the current fractional phase. The total phase is compared to a reference phase to produce a control signal for making adjustments to the oscillator. In a feed-forward path, frequency dividers divide a high frequency signal from the oscillator to a lower desired frequency, thereby increasing phase resolution.
US07907021B2
The present invention discloses a two-step VCO calibration method. The two-step VCO calibration method, comprising power-on calibration, used to provide a coarse VCO tuning; real-time calibration, used to provide a fine VCO tuning according to the loaded result of said power-on calibration. The two-step VCO calibration method according to the present invention can cover all the variation of process and temperature and gain the advantages of shorter calibration time, smaller gain of VCO, pretty smaller size of passive loop filter and less operating power consumption.
US07907011B2
A folded cascode operational amplifier having an improved phase margin due to pole-zero cancellation by using a plurality of cascode-connected bias circuits and frequency compensation capacitors.
US07907007B2
A commutating auto zero amplifier system, comprises a first amplifier (A1), a second amplifier (A2) and a switching arrangement which defines a two phase operation, with one amplifier in an output mode providing the output and the other amplifier in a zeroing mode during each phase. A capacitor arrangement (Cof1. Cot1) stores offset voltages, a buffer amplifier (B) couples the output from the amplifier in the output mode to an input of the amplifier in the zeroing mode. This eliminates voltage swings at the output of an amplifier as it switches between modes of operation.
US07907002B2
A circuit adapting pin output levels to a reference level in which a digital comparator compares an output voltage from an output pin of a device to a reference voltage level. The comparator, relying on the polarity of the comparator output as well as the registered polarity of the comparator output on the previous clock cycle, signals a state machine, which sends a clocked signal to a sense circuit and voltage regulator. The sense circuit may modify a resistance in a switched resistor network, such that the output level is incrementally stepped at clocked intervals towards the reference voltage until the polarity of the error signal reverses. When the output voltage crosses the reference voltage threshold, the comparator flips states and continues to regulate output pin voltage to the reference voltage level.
US07906997B2
Power switching systems often benefit from controlling the instant at which the power devices change state so as to minimize dissipation in these devices. Such systems often require fairly tight tolerances on reactive components and a relatively narrow frequency operating range to be certain these switching times occur as intended. This invention defines a system that can adapt the required switching instant over very wide changes in the reactive components.
US07906978B2
A device for measuring or inspecting substrates of the semiconductor industry, including a base frame and a module detachably mounted thereon via a module frame, wherein the module frame is detachably connected to the base frame via at least two self-aligning coupling elements and at least one alignment element, wherein the base frame and the module frame are in exactly defined spatial alignment with each other, when the module frame is detachably connected to the base frame.
US07906975B2
Non-invasive THz spectroscopic apparatus and methods are provided for detecting and/or identifying constituents such as variations in a structural entity where chemical or biological entities can reside. Position dependent scattering of THz radiation is employed to image voids and defects in the internal structure of samples, enabling the determination of contamination, spoilage or readiness of products such as wine in sealed containers.
US07906971B2
A system for measuring gas density in a vacuum includes a gauge, a housing for containing the gauge, and a magnet secured to an exterior surface of the housing. The magnet is a flexible magnetic strips, and positioned around the exterior surface of the housing. The gauge includes grid insulator posts extending longitudinally along a tubular section of the housing, and the magnet is secured to the exterior surface of the housing adjacent to the grid insulator posts, and oriented transversely to the grid insulator posts. The magnet is a flexible magnetic strip, and a clamp secures the magnet to the exterior surface of the housing.
US07906958B2
The invention provides a highly accurate and inexpensive electromagnetic induction type encoder capable of acquiring strong signal intensity with the offset reduced by a short scale coil, and is durable against fluctuations in the yaw direction, which includes a number of scale coils 14 arrayed on a scale 10 along the measurement direction, and transmitting coils 24 and receiving coils 20 that are disposed on a grid 12 relatively movably in the measurement direction with respect to the scale, and which detects a relative movement amount of the scale and the grid from changes in magnetic fluxes detected by the receiving coils via the scale coil when the transmitting coils are magnetized, wherein a plurality of sets of the transmitting coils (24A, 24B), the receiving coils (20A, 20B) and the scale coils (14A, 14B) are disposed symmetrically with respect to the center of the scale, and scale coils of one set located at a symmetrical position around the center of the scale is disposed with ½ phase of the scale pitch shifted with respect to scale coils of the other set.
US07906956B2
A polarity tester is engagable with an electronic communication port to test the polarity thereof. A connector is supported on a housing and features a plurality of electrical contacts for placement into electrical connection with a respective plurality of electrical contacts in the communication port when the connector is selectively engaged therewith. The plurality of electrical contacts include a power supply contact and a ground contact and a conductive path is defined within the housing to extend between the power supply and ground contacts. An indicator is connected within the conductive path to provide to a user of the polarity tester, when the connector is engaged with the communication port, an indication of whether electricity flows into the conductive path from the respective plurality of electrical contacts in the communication port through the power supply contact.
US07906955B2
A switch regulator module includes a switch and a current sensing module. The switch has an input port and an output port. The current sensing module senses a first voltage at the input port of the switch and a second voltage at the output port of the switch. The current sensing module generates a sense signal that is proportional to a current that flows through the switch based on the first and second voltages.
US07906952B2
A voltage regulator includes a comparator, a first voltage output unit, a second voltage output unit, a third voltage output unit, a first switch and a second switch. The voltage regulator receives an operating voltage and a reference voltage generated by a reference voltage generator, and then outputs a corresponding output voltage. The voltage regulator of the present invention can provide an operation mode, a suspend mode and a standby mode and can be switched among these modes to provide corresponding current driving capacity for respective operation states. When in the operation mode, the voltage regulator can supply a great current. When in the suspend mode, the voltage regulator consumes less power. When in the standby mode, the voltage regulator consumes even less power.
US07906946B2
A semiconductor integrated circuit device for controlling an external output transistor is provided. The semiconductor integrated circuit device comprises: a first power supply circuit including an output circuit and providing a first series regulator in cooperation with the output external transistor; and a plurality of terminals. The plurality of terminals includes a control signal output terminal and high and low electric potential side power supply terminals for supplying electric power to the first power supply circuit. At least one of the high and low electric potential side power supply terminals is arranged adjacent to the control signal output terminal and defined as a first terminal. Short-circuiting between the control signal output terminal and the first terminal causes the external output transistor to switch into an off state.
US07906941B2
A controller for a power processing circuit and a related method of operating the same. In one embodiment, the controller includes a multiplier configured to produce a product of an input current and an input voltage of the power processing circuit. The controller also includes a low-pass filter configured to produce an input power estimate of an input power to the power processing circuit as a function of the product of the input current and the input voltage. In another embodiment, the controller is a power-factor controller and includes a voltage loop compensator configured to produce a voltage compensation signal as a function of an output voltage of the power processing circuit. The controller also includes an input power estimator configured to produce an input power estimate of an input power to the power processing circuit as a function of the voltage compensation signal.
US07906938B2
A timing device utilizes hybrid power to drive a movement of the timing device, the hybrid power supply functioning as an auxiliary unit to deliver power to an electro-magnetically driving unit through an automatic control unit manipulated by a mechanical energy storage status detection unit to produce mechanical energy in time to prevent the movement from stopping; a main spring barrel or a potential difference weight of the kinetic energy storage unit being driven to further drive a wheel chain of the timing device and automatically suspend driving upon the completion of winding the wheel train.
US07906928B2
A feed motor lock detection device detects a back-electromotive voltage in a feed motor M and checks whether the feed motor M is in a driven state or in a non-driven state based on the level of the back-electromotive voltage.
US07906927B2
It is intended to realize a signal input method which makes it possible to add another method to an existing method later in a simple manner as well as an opening/closing controller which employs two methods and can be constructed by adding another method to an existing method in a simple manner.A signal processing circuit (5) is inserted in an auto signal path of a control circuit (1) which performs opening/closing control with a pinch preventing function on the basis of an auto signal (AUTO), a close signal (UP), and an open signal (DOWN) which are input via respective signal paths. The auto signal and a detection signal of an additional pinch sensor are input to the control circuit via the signal processing circuit in the form of serial signals.
US07906924B2
Methods and systems are provided for controlling a discretely commutated, multi-phase DC electric motor or actuator is used. The methods and systems may be used for motor or actuator applications where accurate, high resolution torques may be need over a relatively wide range. The methods and systems provide alternative means of selecting the magnitudes of currents to be driven into the motor windings.
US07906923B2
A control apparatus for a reluctance type synchronous motor wherein slit-shaped gaps or a nonmagnetic material are included within a rotor to provide level differences of the magnetic reluctance in a rotating direction, and a permanent magnet is included at a portion of the slit-shaped gaps or the nonmagnetic material to provide magnetic polarities at a rotor surface. The control apparatus includes a q-axis current calculation unit, a d-axis current calculation unit, a speed coefficient calculation unit, a q-axis current compensation value calculation unit, and an output unit which outputs a compensated q-axis current command value in which the calculated q-axis current compensation value is added to the q-axis current command value.
US07906913B2
A device used with a direct current power source for energizing a lamp. The device includes a plurality of input channels selectively connected to the power source for providing current to the lamp. For each input channel, the device includes a corresponding current sensing component connected to the input channel, and a corresponding bypass switch connected in parallel with the current sensing component. Each current sensing component produces a measurable signal as a function of current that is provided by the corresponding input channel. The device includes a controller connected to the current sensing components and the bypass switches. The controller identifies the input channel that is providing current to the lamp as a function of the measurable signals and controls the bypass switches based on the identified input channel. Particularly, the controller operates each bypass switch in a closed mode when the corresponding input channel is the identified channel so that current provided by the corresponding identified input channel bypasses the current sensing component.
US07906899B2
A top emission-type organic EL device includes a first electrode formed on a substrate, an organic function layer formed on the first electrode, and a second electrode formed on the organic function layer, wherein light generated from the organic function layer is extracted from the second electrode side, and wherein a light shielding layer covering a part of the second electrode is formed on the second electrode.
US07906889B2
Provided are a piezoelectric material without using lead or an alkali metal, the piezoelectric material having a stable crystal structure in a wide temperature range, high insulation property, and high piezoelectric property, and a piezoelectric element using the piezoelectric material, in which the piezoelectric material is made of a metal oxide having a tetragonal crystal structure and expressed by Ba(SixGeyTiz)O3 (here, 0≦x≦1, 0≦y≦1, and 0≦z≦0.5), the piezoelectric element includes the piezoelectric material and a pair of electrodes sandwiching the piezoelectric material, and at least one of the pair of electrodes is made of SrRuO3 or Ni.
US07906876B2
A first pair of connected portions of one end magnetic pole portion, a first pair of connected portions of an end bracket, a first pair of connected portions of the other end magnetic pole portion, and a first pair of connected portions of each of five magnetic pole portions are connected by a pair of magnetic cylindrical members. A second pair of one connected portions of one end magnetic pole portion, a second pair of the other end magnetic pole portion, and a second pair of connected portions of each of five magnetic pole portions are connected by a pair of magnetic conductive parts. One pair of guide shafts are slidably fitted into the one pair of magnetic cylindrical members through linear bearings. A yoke is constituted from the one pair of magnetic cylindrical members and one pair of magnetic conductive parts. The five magnetic pole portions are each formed by laminating a plurality of magnetic steel plates in the axial direction.
US07906872B2
A dynamic harmonic filter for an AC power system comprising at least one voltage source and at least one load is provided. The harmonic filter comprises a current sensing or voltage injection transformer connected in series with the voltage source and the load. One end of the primary of the transformer is connected to the voltage source, and the other end is connected to the load. The harmonic filter further comprises a parallel resonant LC circuit tuned to the fundamental frequency of the power system. One end of the secondary (S2) of the current injection of the voltage sensing transformer is connected to one junction of the parallel resonant LC circuit and the other end of the secondary of the current injection or voltage sensing transformer is connected to the other junction of the parallel resonant LC circuit through the secondary (S1) of the current sensing or voltage injection transformer.
US07906869B2
An outlet apparatus with power classification management which receives a control signal from a far end remote controller, and comprises at least one socket, a communication module, and a microprocessor. Wherein the sockets may be classified into a plurality of socket groups, which include at least one uncontrollable socket group and at least one controllable socket group. The communication module receives the control signal, and the microprocessor is coupled with the communication module and the socket groups for respectively controlling the controllable socket groups with respect to providing power or not according to the control signal.
US07906867B2
A power steering lock apparatus provides high reliability and can be actuated using minimal control parts. In a power steering lock apparatus including a lock bolt, an actuator, an actuator driving part, position detecting part, and a slave control part, and being structured such that the slave control part executes a control in accordance with a control signal output by a host control part, the host control part outputs an integrity confirmation code signal to the slave control part, the slave control part executes a computing process by using the input integrity confirmation code signal as a parameter, and outputs a result of computation as an integrity confirmation information to the host control part, and the host control part outputs an engine start signal when the host control part determines that the slave control part is normally activated, and the lock bolt indicates an unlock position state.
US07906865B2
Installation for harnessing wave energy, comprising a floating structure (1) that comprises at least one gyroscopic device (5) with a flywheel (6) that can turn by the action of a motor (7) and a generator (10) configured so that when the gyroscopic device (5) is in use, said flywheel (6) is subjected to a pitching torque caused by the motion of the waves that feeds the generator (10), wherein the installation also comprises: means (23, 44) for controlling the motor (7); means (24, 45) for controlling the generator (10); a floating device (25) for capturing data on the waves; means for transmitting the data captured by the data-capturing floating device (25) and for receiving said data in the floating structure (1); a control unit (16) that calculates at least one parameter applicable by the means (23, 44) for controlling the motor (7) and at least one parameter applicable by the means (24, 45) for controlling the generator (10).
US07906862B2
A control strategy for operating a plurality of prime power sources during propulsion, idling and braking and is applicable to large systems such as trucks, ships, cranes and locomotives utilizing diesel engines, gas turbine engines, other types of internal combustion engines, fuel cells or combinations of these that require substantial power and low emissions utilizing multiple power plant combinations. It is directed at a general control strategy for multi-engine systems where the power systems need not be of the same type or power rating and may even use different fuels. It is based on a common DC bus electrical architecture so that prime power sources need not be synchronized.
US07906859B2
A semiconductor device includes a molding resin layer and a semiconductor element encapsulated with the molding resin layer. The molding resin layer has an opening. A surface of the semiconductor element is partially exposed outside the molding resin layer through the opening. A groove is located in the surface of the semiconductor element around the opening of the molding resin layer. The groove is filled with the molding resin layer to produce anchor effect that enhances adhesive force of the molding resin layer to the surface of the semiconductor element around the opening.
US07906857B1
A molded integrated circuit package is described. The molded integrated circuit package comprises a substrate having a plurality of contacts on a first surface; a die having a plurality of solder bumps on a first surface, the plurality of solder bumps being coupled to the plurality of contacts on the first surface of the substrate; an adhesive material positioned on a second surface of the die; a lid attached to the adhesive material; and an encapsulant positioned between the lid and the substrate. Methods of forming molded integrated circuit packages are also disclosed.
US07906852B2
A semiconductor device, includes a wiring board; a first semiconductor element mounted on the wiring board; a second semiconductor element mounted on the first semiconductor element so that a position of the second semiconductor element is shifted relative to a position of the first semiconductor element; wherein a part of a main surface of the second semiconductor element faces the first semiconductor element; and an electrode pad provided on the main surface of the second semiconductor element is connected to a second semiconductor element connection pad of the wiring board by a connection part.
US07906850B2
A circuit board structure and a method for fabricating the same are proposed. The structure includes an insulating protective layer having a plurality of openings in which conductive vias are formed, a patterned circuit layer formed on the surface of the insulating protective layer and electrically connected to the conductive vias in the openings of the insulating protective layer, and a dielectric layer formed on the insulating protective layer and on the surface of the patterned circuit layer, wherein a plurality of openings are formed in the dielectric layer to thereby expose parts of the patterned circuit layer. Accordingly, the present invention reduces the thickness of a circuit board, which reduces package size, improves product performance, and conforms to the developmental trend toward smaller electronic devices.
US07906840B2
A semiconductor integrated circuit package, a printed circuit board, a semiconductor apparatus, and a power supply wiring structure that allow attainment of stable power source and ground wiring without causing resonance even in a high-frequency bandwidth are provided. In an interior portion of the package, a power source wiring and a ground wiring constitute a pair wiring structure in which the power source wiring and the ground wiring are juxtaposed at a predetermined interval so as to establish electromagnetic coupling therebetween. A plurality of pair wiring structures are combined in such a manner that, when viewed in a section perpendicular to a wiring extending direction, the pair wiring assembly assumes a staggered (checkered) configuration. It is preferable that, each of the silicon chip and the printed circuit board, like the package, has pair wiring structures disposed inside.
US07906828B2
A high-voltage integrated circuit includes a low-voltage circuit region having a plurality of semiconductor devices, which operate with respect to a ground voltage, a high-voltage circuit region having a plurality of semiconductor devices, which operate with respect to a voltage that varies from the ground voltage to a high voltage, a junction termination and a first isolation region electrically isolating the low-voltage circuit region from the high-voltage circuit region, a high-voltage resistant diode formed between the low-voltage circuit region and the high-voltage circuit region, and a second isolation region surrounding the high-voltage resistant diode and electrically isolating the high-voltage resistant diode from the low-voltage circuit region and the high-voltage circuit region.
US07906819B2
The semiconductor device includes the concentration of the impurity of the first conductivity type in a doped channel layer of a first conductivity type in the pass transistor is set at a relatively low value, and pocket regions of the first conductivity type in a pass transistor are formed so as to be relatively shallow with a relatively high impurity concentration.
US07906818B2
Memory arrays and methods of forming memory arrays are disclosed. One such memory array has a first string of serially-coupled first memory cells and a second string of serially-coupled second memory cells sharing a single conductive pillar which forms a channel for both strings of serially-coupled memory cells. For example, a first memory cell can have a first control gate on the first side of the conductive pillar and a first charge trap interposed between the first side of the conductive pillar and the first control gate. A second memory cell can have a second control gate on the second side of the conductive pillar and a second charge trap interposed between the second side of the conductive pillar and the second control gate. The first and second charge traps are electrically isolated from each other and the first and second control gates can be electrically isolated from each other.
US07906806B2
The disclosed systems and methods relate to floating gate non-volatile memory cells, with a floating gate comprising at least two layers constructed in different conductive or semiconductive materials. At least two of the layers of the floating gate are separated by an intermediate dielectric layer having a predetermined thickness enabling direct tunneling current between the layers.
US07906793B2
A mounting substrate for a semiconductor light emitting device includes a solid metal block having first and second opposing metal faces. The first metal face includes an insulating layer and a conductive layer on the insulating layer. The conductive layer is patterned to provide first and second conductive traces that connect to a semiconductor light emitting device. The second metal face may include heat sink fins therein. A flexible film including an optical element, such as a lens, also may be provided, overlying the semiconductor light emitting device.
US07906782B2
A liquid crystal display device includes a first substrate and a second substrate facing each other having a pixel region; a color filter layer on the first substrate corresponding to the pixel region; a planarization layer on the color filter layer having a groove; a common electrode on the planarization layer; a pixel electrode on the second substrate; and a liquid crystal layer between the common electrode and the pixel electrode.
US07906780B2
Provided is a field effect transistor, provided with a gate electrode 15, a source electrode 13, and a drain electrode 14 formed on a substrate, including a channel layer 11 formed of an oxide containing In, Zn, or Sn as the main component, and a gate insulating layer 12 provided between the channel layer 11 and the gate electrode 15, in which the gate insulating layer 12 is formed of an amorphous oxide containing Ga as the main component.
US07906779B2
A thin film transistor includes a polysilicon layer formed over a substrate having a channel region, a source region and a drain region, a conductive layer formed in an upper layer of the polysilicon layer for covering at least a part of the source region and the drain region, an interlayer insulating film formed in a region to cover at least a region including the polysilicon layer, a contact hole formed to penetrate the interlayer insulating film with a depth to expose the conductive layer and a wiring layer formed along a sidewall of the contact hole.
US07906778B2
Methods of making nanometer-scale semiconductor structures with controlled size are disclosed. Semiconductor structures that include one or more nanowires are also disclosed. The nanowires can include a passivation layer or have a hollow tube structure.
US07906772B2
A memory or switching device includes a mesa and a first electrode conforming to said mesa. The device also includes a second electrode and a phase-change or switching material disposed between said first and second electrodes. The phase-change or switching material is in electrical communication with the first and second electrodes at a first contact region and a second contact region respectively. Also described is a method for making a memory or switching device. The method includes providing a first insulator and configuring the first insulator to provide a mesa. A first conductive layer is provided conforming to the mesa. A phase-change or switching material is provided over a portion of the first conductive layer, and a second conductive layer is provided over the phase-change or switching material.
US07906770B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for planning and delivering radiation treatments by modalities which involve moving a radiation source along a trajectory relative to a subject while delivering radiation to the subject. In some embodiments the radiation source is moved continuously along the trajectory while in some embodiments the radiation source is moved intermittently. Some embodiments involve the optimization of the radiation delivery plan to meet various optimization goals while meeting a number of constraints. For each of a number of control points along a trajectory, a radiation delivery plan may comprise: a set of motion axes parameters, a set of beam shape parameters and a beam intensity.
US07906765B2
One aspect of this disclosure relates to converting an energy or power contained in a signal received by an at least one mote device into an energy or power form that can be utilized to at least partially operate the at least one mote device. Another aspect of this disclosure relates to extracting an energy or power contained in a signal received by an at least one mote device to be utilized to at least partially operate the at least one mote device. Yet another aspect of this disclosure relates to directing from an at least one directing device an energy or power contained in a signal at an at least one mote device that can be utilized to operate the at least one mote device.
US07906763B2
A multiband infrared imaging intensifier device which includes an infrared radiation transmitting lens, for transmitting infrared radiation from an object scene onto a quantum ferroelectric copolymer detector with a chopper between them, with the detector responsive to the infrared detection to generate signal electrons which are pulled off and accelerated by an electric field onto a phosphor surface which produces photons to provide an image.
US07906761B2
A charged particle beam apparatus that can achieve both high defect-detection sensitivity and high inspection speed for a sample with various properties in a multi-beam type semiconductor inspection apparatus. The allocation of the primary beam on the sample is made changeable, and furthermore, the beam allocation for performing the inspection at the optimum inspection specifications and at high speed is selected based on the property of the sample. In addition, many optical parameters and apparatus parameters are optimized. Furthermore, the properties of the selected primary beam are measured and adjusted.
US07906757B2
An optical motion tracking device (10) includes a photo detector array (18) comprised of highly sensitive photo sensors coupled to a computational circuit (19) inside a casing (11). The photo detector array (18) detects optical features of a surface (25) using ambient light reflected from or propagated through the surface (25) and transmitted into the casing through an aperture (15). Protrusions (14) on the bottom (10) lifts the device (10) from the surface (25) and allow the ambient light to illuminate the surface (25). A nontransparent sidewall (17) encloses a light path from the aperture (15) to the photo detector array (18) to reduce light interference. A reflective band (32) near the aperture (15) to increases the illumination of the surface (25). The computational circuit (19) calculates the correlation between the images from the photo detector array (18) to track the motion of the device (10).
US07906751B2
The invention pertains to a solar sensor that includes a first modulator that is transparent to electromagnetic waves within a spectrum, and an additional modulator that is at best slightly transparent to the electromagnetic waves within the spectrum. The additional modulator features a belt-shaped region of varying widths that is arranged on the outside of the first modulator and partially covers the first modulator, and a photodetector that receives the electromagnetic waves and is covered by the first modulator.
US07906742B2
The invention relates to a contact arrangement for a vacuum interrupter chamber (1), which comprises a pair of inner contact pieces (11, 12), configured as RMF contact pieces, and a pair of outer contact pieces (21, 22) which are connected in parallel and are mounted closely adjacent to the inner contact pieces (11, 12). At least one of the inner contact pieces (11, 12) is movably mounted. The outer contact pieces (21, 22) are also configured as RMF contact pieces. During interruption, the resulting electric arc can commutate completely or partially to the pair of outer contact pieces (21, 22). The inner contact pieces are substantially discoid. Advantageously, the contact pieces (11, 12, 21, 22) are coaxially positioned in relation to each other. The outer contact pieces (21, 22) are advantageously pot-shaped or tubular.
US07906738B1
A MEMS switch fabrication process and apparatus inclusive of a bulbous rounded surface movable contact assembly that is integral with the switch movable element and achieving of long contact wear life with low contact electrical resistance. The disclosed process is compatible with semiconductor integrated circuit fabrication materials and procedures and includes an unusual photoresist reflow step in which the bulbous contact shape is quickly defined in three dimensions from more easily achieved integrated circuit mask and etching-defined precursor shapes. A plurality of differing photoresist materials are used in the process. A large part of the contact and contact spring formation used in the invention is accomplished with low temperature processing including electroplating. Alternate processing steps achieving an alloy metal contact structure are included. Use of a subroutine of processing steps to achieve differing but related portions of the electrical contact structure is also included.
US07906733B2
Provided is an electronic circuit device in which the bonding state of electrodes can be detected easily with high precision. The electronic circuit device has a stack structure in which a plurality of electronic circuit boards (1a, 1b, 100a, 100b, 100c) are stacked in three or more layers through ball electrodes (10a, 10b, 20a, 20b) bonded to electrode pads (30a, 30b, 40b, 50a, 60a), wherein the electrode pads are disposed such that transmission shaded images of a pair of the electrode pads provided between adjacent layers partially overlap each other and have a non-overlapping region in which the transmission shaded images of the pair of electrode pads are free from overlapping and such that the transmission shaded image of the non-overlapping region is at least partially free from overlapping with transmission shaded images of all the other electrode pads.
US07906732B2
Provided is a process for producing a glass plate with a conductive printed wire, which does not require a screen plate for each model, facilitates adjustments for desired heat generation performance or antenna performance, has an excellent adhesion to a glass plate surface, and minimizes surface roughness.The process for producing a glass plate with a conductive printed wire is characterized in that a laminate comprising a layer obtained by electro printing a first conductive toner having a number standard average particle size (D50) of 10 μm
US07906731B2
A lighting device includes a heatsink 70, a socket 10 and an LED module 60. The LED module 60 has a light emitting unit 62 in a central part of a top side of a metal base substrate 63 composed of an insulating plate and a metal plate. The LED module 60 is warped such that the central part protrudes on a heatsink 70 side, which is the side opposite to the light emitting unit 62 side. The LED module 60 is mounted on the heatsink 70 in a state of the surrounds of the light emitting unit 62 being pressed according to pressing units 14T, 14L, and 14D of the socket 10. Pressing the surrounds of the light emitting unit 62 against the heatsink 70 ensures that a central part of the warping of the LED module 60 contacts the heatsink 70.
US07906726B1
A locking conduit lid and method of use that can lock or secure wires inside a conduit such that is would be almost impossible for a would be thief to pull the wires out of the conduit. The locking conduit lid contains a conduit sleeve that is designed to be fixedly attached to the inside of a polyvinylchloride (PVC) pipe, rigid metal pipe, or any other existing pipe or conduit that contains electrical wires. The electrical wires are secured to the conduit sleeve such that they cannot be pulled out of the conduit sleeve. A locking conduit lid prevents access to the wires inside the conduit sleeve thereby preventing theft of the wires.
US07906718B1
A drum and drum stand coupler comprises a first coupler and a second coupler that respectively surround the circumference of a drum shell at an upper side and a lower side. The first and second couplers have respectively an adjustment slot on the left and right sides run through by a transverse fastener to couple to a longitudinal fastener of a drum. The coupler also includes a distance adjustment means to couple longitudinally the first and second couplers. The distance adjustment means includes a first guiding member and a second guiding member that are coupled in an up and down manner and staggered on the outer side and inner side, and run through by at least one fastening element to be fastened together. Thus multiple drums with varying heights can mate drum shells with different specifications. The distance adjustment means also has a fixture to couple with a drum stand.
US07906716B1
A three-position mute for use with a musical stringed instrument, such mute having an elongated body with two pairs of legs extending therefrom, a slot defined between each pair of legs, a pair of notches defined in the bottom of the elongated body, such notches for engagement with selected strings of the musical instrument in selected modes of use and the slots for engagement on the musical instrument's bridge in a selected mode of use, such modes of use including a bridge engagement position in a first mode of use, a bridge-contacting position in a second mode of use, and a resting position with the mute installed on the strings between the bridge and the tailpiece.
US07906710B2
Disclosed are constructs comprising sequences encoding 3-hydroxy-3methylglutaryl-Coenzyme A reductase and at least one other sterol synthesis pathway enzyme. Also disclosed are methods for using such constructs to alter sterol production and content in cells, plants, seeds and storage organs of plants. Also provided are oils and compositions containing altered sterol levels produced by use of the disclosed constructs. Novel nucleotide sequences useful in the alteration of sterol production are also provided. Also provided are cells, plants, seeds and storage organs of plants comprising sequences encoding 3-hydroxy-3methylglutaryl-Coenzyme A reductase, at least one other sterol synthesis pathway enzyme and at least one tocopherol synthesis enzyme.
US07906708B2
A determinate pea plant, where peas of the pea plant have a wrinkled-seed phenotype, and where the pea plant is slow-maturing.
US07906692B2
Process for preparing a chlorohydrin, comprising the following steps: (a) a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, an ester of a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or a mixture thereof whose alkali metal and/or alkaline earth metal content is less than or equal to 5 g/kg, a chlorinating agent and an organic acid are reacted so as to give a mixture containing at least chlorohydrin and by-products (b) at least part of the mixture obtained in step (a) is subjected to one or more treatments in steps subsequent to step (a) (c) at least one of the steps subsequent to step (a) consists in oxidation at a temperature greater than or equal to 800° C.
US07906691B2
Process for preparing a chlorohydrin, comprising a step in which a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon, an ester of a polyhydroxylated aliphatic hydrocarbon or a mixture thereof is subjected to reaction with a chlorinating agent containing hydrogen chloride and at least one other step, carried out in apparatus made from or covered with materials which are resistant to the chlorinating agent under the conditions in which this step is realized.
US07906689B2
A catalyst composition for use in manufacturing methacrolein by reacting with one of isobutene and t-butanol, the catalyst composition being represented by the formula of: x (Mo12BiaFebCocAdBeOf)/y Z. Mo12BiaFebCocAdBeOf is an oxide compound. Z is a catalyst carrier is one of graphite, boron, silicon, germanium powder, and a mixture thereof. Mo, Bi, Fe, Co, and O are chemical symbols of molybdenum, bismuth, iron, cobalt, and oxygen respectively. A is one of W, V, Ti, Zr, Nb, Ni, and Re. B is one of K, Rb, Cs, Sr, and Ba. The catalyst is adapted to not only enhance the production of methacrolein with high activeness and high selectivity but also effectively control the heat point of the catalyst during the methacrolein manufacturing process to prolong the catalyst life.
US07906684B2
The present invention relates to the use of compounds of the formula (I) where R stands for [lacuna] with radicals defined in the description, as antioxidants, to corresponding novel compounds and compositions, and to corresponding processes for the preparation of compounds and compositions.
US07906667B2
A method for producing an optically active alcohol compound comprising reacting a cyclic ether compound with a phenol compound in the presence of an asymmetric complex obtained by reacting an optically active metal complex represented by the formula (1): wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7 and R8 are the same or different and each independently represent a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or the like; one of R9 and R10 is a hydrogen group and the other is a substituted or unsubstituted phenyl group or the like; Q represents a single bond, a C1-C4 alkylene group or the like; M represents a metal ion; and when an ionic valency of the metal ion is same as a coordination number of a ligand, A is nonexistent, and when the above-mentioned ionic valency is different from the coordination number, and A represents a counter ion or a ligand, with a metal sulfonate.
US07906662B2
The compounds trans-(1R,2R)-2-(3,4-difluorophenyl)cyclopropanecarbonyl azide and trans-(1R,2S)-2-(3,4-difluorophenyl)cyclopropanaminium (2R)-2-hydroxy-2-phenylethanoate.
US07906658B2
The present invention is directed to a method of treatment of a malcondition that can be regulated or normalized via inhibition of DPP-IV. The method involves administration of an effective amount of a pyrrolidine compound of the invention, such as would be present in a pharmaceutical composition of the invention, to mammals, especially humans, to affect a malcondition that can be regulated or normalized via inhibition of DPP-IV.
US07906656B2
This invention relates to novel intermediates used in the preparation of iodopyrazolylcarboxanilides of the formula (I) in which R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6 and Z are as defined in the disclosure, and to the preparation of such intermediates.
US07906643B2
A methylene blue-curcumin hybrid useful in treating Alzheimer's Disease.
US07906631B2
There is provided a method of producing a rare earth salt of a dialkyl phosphate or a rare earth salt of dioleyl phosphate of a high purity useful as a polymerization catalyst of a conjugated diene compound by directly reacting a rare earth oxide or a rare earth hydroxide with a dialkyl phosphate or dioleyl phosphate of a high purity. In the invention, the rare earth oxide or rare earth hydroxide is reacted with the dialkyl phosphate or dioleyl phosphate of a high purity in a non-polar solvent in the presence of at least one compound selected from a halogenated hydroacid, phosphorous acid and a rare earth halide made from the same element as in an objective product as a catalyst.
US07906621B2
An active polypeptide includes the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:3, or having at least 50%, preferably 70%, more preferably 90% identity with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO:3, or fragments thereof having at least 20 contiguous amino acids, or peptides having at least 50%, preferably 70%, more preferably 90% identity with the amino acid sequence of the fragments, provided that the polypeptide is not SEQ ID NO:2.
US07906619B2
The invention provides 4-amino-4-oxobutanoyl peptide compounds of Formula I and the pharmaceutically salts and hydrates thereof. The variables R1-R9, R16, R18, R19, n, M, n, M, and Z are defined herein. Certain compounds of Formula I are useful as antiviral agents. Certain 4-amino-4-oxobutanoyl peptide compounds disclosed herein are potent and/or selective inhibitors of viral replication, particularly Hepatitis C virus replication. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions containing one or more 4-amino-4-oxobutanoyl peptide compounds and one or more pharmaceutically acceptable carriers. Such pharmaceutical compositions may contain 4-amino-4-oxobutanoyl peptide compound as the only active agent or may contain a combination of 4-amino-4-oxobutanoyl peptide containing peptides compound and one or more other pharmaceutically active agents. The invention also provides methods for treating viral infections, including Hepatitis C infections, in mammals.
US07906613B2
The present invention relates to processes for hydrolyzing polyphosphoric acid in a fiber and the removal of hydrolyzed polyphosphoric acid from the fiber.
US07906609B2
Process for preparing polyoxymethylene copolymers (POMs) by a) polymerizing a reaction mixture comprising suitable main monomers and comonomers and also a polymerization initiator and, if appropriate, a regulator, b) adding a deactivator and c) removing the residual monomers, wherein the amount of compounds whose melting point at 1013 hPa is below 60° C. present in the reaction mixture at any point in time during the process is not more than 0.1% by weight, with the POM, the monomers, comonomers, polymerization initiators, deactivators and regulators not being included in the calculation.
US07906607B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide an isocyanate group-terminated urethane prepolymer which has a low viscosity at melting and a process for producing the same, and an adhesive which comprises the urethane prepolymer. The invention relates to a process for producing an isocyanate group-terminated urethane prepolymer which comprises reacting polyols with a polyisocyanate compound, wherein the polyols comprise 10 to 50% by mass of a polyester polyol and 90 to 50% by mass of a polycarbonate polyol and wherein a sebacic acid-derived polyester polyol which is a polycondensate of sebacic acid with a diol compound accounts for 50 to 100% by mass of the polyester polyol and wherein the polyisocyanate compound and the polyols are reacted in such amounts that the ratio (by mol) of the isocyanate group/hydroxyl group is 1.2 to 3.2.
US07906601B2
Golf ball components, such as cores, intermediate layers, and covers, formed with compositions including precursors with acrylate functionality crosslinked with a curing agent.
US07906596B2
Processes for enzymatic synthesis comprising: (a) providing an aliphatic poly(oxyalkylene)amine; and (b) reacting the aliphatic poly(oxyalkylene)amine with a reactant selected from the group consisting of acrylic acid compounds and alkyl esters thereof, in the presence of a hydrolase in bulk or in a liquid reaction medium comprising an organic solvent to for a poly(oxyalkylene)acrylamide.
US07906595B2
A hydrophilic graft polymer having the reducing amount of the residual unsaturated monocarboxylic acid, and having very excellent temporal stability is provided.The present invention relates to the hydrophilic graft polymer obtained by graft polymerization of monomer component containing unsaturated monocarboxylic acid onto polyalkylene oxide, wherein mole ratio of side chain moiety derived from the unsaturated monocarboxylic acid is more than 90% by mole relative to total side chain, and residual amount of unsaturated monocarboxylic acid is less than 200 ppm by mass relative to the total mass of said hydrophilic graft polymer.
US07906594B2
The invention relates to a process for preparation of polymer blends comprising at least one polyoxymethylene and at least one thermoplastic elastomer, where the thermoplastic elastomer is micropelletized by a pelletizing process and the pellets obtained in a) are dispersed in the polyoxymethylene matrix via melting of the components and mixing of these at low shear forces, and also to the use of micropelletized thermoplastic elastomers for preparation of polyoxymethylenes with low formaldehyde emission.
US07906593B2
This invention relates to a precipitated silica reinforced conjugated diene-based elastomer composition containing an alkoxysilane coupled, in-chain functionalized, conjugated diene-based elastomer and to a tire having at least one component thereof. Said in-chain functionalized conjugated diene-based elastomer is a conjugated diene-based elastomer which contains a plurality of at least one of in-chain p- and m-(2-pyrrolidinoethyl) styrene (PES) and m-(2-pyrrolidino-1-methylethyl) alpha-methylstyrene (PAMS) groups.
US07906591B2
A method for preparing acid-containing polymers by reacting them in the presence of end-capped polyols or amines in the presence of phosphorous-containing compounds.
US07906581B2
Methods, apparatuses, and systems for manufacturing a hot melt adhesive containing an adhesion promoter in a continuous mode include supplying a melted, hot melt adhesive to a mixing device at a first predetermined rate while simultaneously supplying an adhesion promoter to the same mixing device at a second predetermined rate to form a homogeneous admixture containing the hot melt adhesive and adhesion promoter. The hot melt adhesive/adhesion promoter mixture is subsequently reacted in at least one tubular reactor at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined residence time to allow the adhesion promoter to chemically bond with the hot melt adhesive and form an adhesive-promoter-treated hot melt adhesive. The adhesion-promoter-treated hot melt adhesive is collected in a product receiver and may be further processed.
US07906568B2
A composition includes a coupling agent composition and a polymer precursor. The coupling agent composition includes an aromatic amine and a first cycloolefin substituted with at least one epoxy group. The polymer precursor includes a second cycloolefin and an epoxy compound. The coupling agent composition is capable of bonding to a filler having a corresponding binding site and the coupling agent composition is compatible with a metathesis catalyst capable of catalyzing a ring-opening metathesis polymerization reaction when contacted to the first cycloolefin or the second cycloolefin. An associated method is also provided.
US07906563B2
A polysiloxane-based prepolymer of a three-dimensional network structure produced by hydrolysis-condensation of a first mixture having a tetra-alkoxysilane compound, an ethylenically unsaturated organosiloxane monomer, and a hydrophilic silicon-containing polyfunctional monomer. A hydrogel is prepared by polymerizing a second mixture having the aforesaid polysiloxane-based prepolymer, an acrylated silicon-containing monomer, and an ethylenically unsaturated hydrophilic monomer.
US07906558B2
The invention provides the use of novel, binary guanosine gels for simple, rapid and nondestructive solubilization of individual single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) at high concentrations. The gels exhibit selectivity between metallic and semiconducting SWNTs and, further, among SWNTs with different chiralities.
US07906556B2
The invention relates to novel compounds and methods of treating diseases, disorders, and conditions associated with amyloidosis. Amyloidosis refers to a collection of diseases, disorders, and conditions associated with abnormal deposition of A-beta protein.
US07906549B2
The present invention relates to a compound represented by the formula (I), a salt thereof, an N-oxide form thereof, a solvate thereof, or a prodrug thereof, and a medicament containing the same. The compound represented by the formula (I) has an ability to bind to an S1P receptor (particularly, EDG-1, EDG-6, and/or EDG-8) and is useful for preventing and/or treating for rejection to transplantation, graft-versus-host disease, autoimmune diseases, allergic diseases, neurodegenerating diseases, and the like. wherein all symbols are described in the specification.
US07906541B2
The invention relates to a new process leading to new substituted 1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2(3H)-ones of formula III and III′, to pharmaceutical compositions comprising them and to their use as therapeutic agents, particularly as BACE 1 inhibitors in the treatment of Alzheimer disease.
US07906533B2
The invention relates to novel nicotinamide pyridinureas as VEGF receptor kinase inhibitors, their production and use as pharmaceutical agents for preventing or treating diseases that are triggered by persistent angiogenesis.
US07906532B2
This invention relates to compounds of the formula (I): or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein: R1, R2, R3, A and m are each as described herein and compositions containing such compounds and the use of such compounds in the treatment of a condition mediated by 5-HT4 agonistic activity such as, but not limited to, gastroesophageal reflux disease, gastrointestinal disease, gastric motility disorder, non-ulcer dyspepsia, functional dyspepsia, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), constipation, dyspepsia, esophagitis, gastroesophageral disease, nausea, central nervous system disease, Alzheimer's disease, cognitive disorder, emesis, migraine, neurological disease, pain, cardiovascular disorders, cardiac failure, heart arrhythmia, diabetes and apnea syndrome.
US07906529B2
Disclosed are compounds and pharmaceutically acceptable salts of Formula I wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, n, Q1, Q2, Q3, Y, and X1-X4 are as defined herein. Compounds of Formula I are useful in the treatment of diseases and/or conditions related to cell proliferation, such as cancer, inflammation, arthritis, angiogenesis, or the like. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions comprising compounds of the invention and methods of treating the aforementioned conditions using such compounds.
US07906524B2
Pharmaceutical formulations and methods including an immune response modifier (IRM) compound and an oleic acid component are provided where stability is improved by using oleic acid have low polar impurities such as peroxides.
US07906514B1
An animal model for chronic pain, and in particular lower back pain, is provided. Methods of identifying agents and reducing chronic pain with identified agents such as methotrexate are also provided.
US07906512B2
Methods for treating an allergic or inflammatory disease or other Syk-mediated disease or Syk-mediated condition characterized by administering a composition which contains a therapeutically effective amount of a 3,6-substituted imidazol[1,2-b]pyridazine compound.
US07906508B2
A 3,4-dihydrobenzoxazine compound of the present invention is represented by the following formula [1] (wherein X is a nitrogen atom or CR3; R1 is a hydrogen atom or a halogen atom; R2 is a C1-6 alkoxy group which may be substituted with the same or different 1 to 5 substituents selected from a halogen atom and a hydroxyl group; and R3 is a halogen atom. However, R1 is a halogen atom when X is CR3). This compound is effective in treating diseases to which the vanilloid receptor subtype 1 (VR1) activity is involved, such as pain, etc.
US07906496B2
The present invention is concerned with novel arylalkyl carboxylic acid derivatives, more specifically, with acylates of arylalkyl carboxylic acids with naturally occurring, non-toxic hydroxy, sulfhydryl, amino or imino compounds, and to compositions containing them. The compositions are preferably cosmetic preparations.
US07906489B2
The present invention relates generally to the 18-membered macrocyclic antimicrobial agents called Tiacumicins, specifically, OPT-80 (which is composed almost entirely of the R-Tiacumicin B), pharmaceutical compositions comprising OPT-80, and methods using OPT-80. In particular, this compound is a potent drug for the treatment of bacterial infections, specifically C. difficile infections.
US07906486B2
An immunomodulatory compound is utilized to treat mucosa disease.
US07906480B2
The invention features methods for the treatment of vaginal atrophy by administering a parathyroid hormone peptide or peptide analog and formulations thereof.
US07906478B2
A personal-care article, for receiving body exudates, having a self-assembling peptide is provided.
US07906471B2
Use of a film forming material comprising an ethoxylated poly(vinylalcohol) for the manufacturing of water-soluble packaging for a detergent composition or related material.
US07906464B2
A method of servicing a wellbore comprising providing a composition comprising a mutual solvent precursor, an acid precursor, and an aqueous fluid, and contacting the composition with oil wet solids in the wellbore. A method of servicing a wellbore comprising introducing an oil-based fluid into a wellbore, wherein the oil-based fluid forms oil wet solids in the wellbore, contacting the oil wet solids in the wellbore with a composition comprising a mutual solvent precursor; an acid precursor and an aqueous fluid, and allowing the oil wet solids to become water wet. A method of servicing a well bore comprising contacting a composition comprising a formate ester with oil wet solids in the well bore under conditions wherein the formate ester hydrolyzes to release formic acid, wherein the formic acid catalyzes the hydrolysis of additional formate ester, and wherein all or a portion of the formate ester converts at least a portion of the oil-wet solids to water-wet solids.
US07906458B2
To provide a heat-sensitive recording material, including: a substrate; a heat-sensitive color developing layer on the substrate, the heat-sensitive color developing layer containing at least a leuco dye and a developer; and a protective layer on the heat-sensitive color developing layer, the protective layer containing at least a binder resin, wherein the binder resin in the protective layer contains diacetone-modified polyvinyl alcohol resin, the degree of polymerization of the binder resin in the protective layer is 1,000 to 1,800 and the degree of saponification of the binder resin is 90% or greater and less than 98%.
US07906448B2
A combination of moving bed regeneration technology and CO oxidation technology is used in a novel moving bed regeneration apparatus containing an integral CO oxidation zone to solve the problem of regenerating a coke-containing catalyst that does not contain a CO oxidation promoter without generating an effluent flue gas stream containing hazardous and undesired amounts of CO. The CO oxidation zone is located in the flue gas collection zone within the moving bed regeneration apparatus and functions autogenously to eliminate the CO hazard by oxidizing CO to CO2 with a portion of the unreacted oxygen withdrawn from the coke combustion zone of the moving bed regeneration apparatus.
US07906447B2
Methods for rejuvenation of supported metallic catalysts comprised of a Group VIII metal, a Group VIB metal, making use of these metals, an organic complexing agent, and optionally an organic additive, are provided. The rejuvenation includes stripping and regeneration of a spent or partially spent catalyst, followed by impregnation with metals and at least one organic compound. The impregnated, regenerated catalysts are dried, calcined, and sulfided. The catalysts are used for hydroprocessing, particularly hydrodesulfurization and hydrodenitrogenation, of hydrocarbon feedstocks.
US07906445B2
An optical glass includes P2O5, B2O3, Li2O, Na2O, K2O, CaO, TiO2, Bi2O3, Nb2O5 and WO3 each of which is in an amount in a predetermined range.
US07906444B2
The invention relates to a glass ceramic armour material consisting (in % by weight in relation to oxide base) of 5-33 SiO2, 20-50 Al2O3, 5-40 MgO, 0-15 B2O3, 0.1-30 Y2O3, Ln2O3, As2O3, Nb2O3 and/or Sc2O3 and 0-10 P2O5. The inventive armour material can also be reinforced with inorganic reinforcing fibres in a quantity of 5-65% by weight, preferably consisting of C, SiC, Si3N4, Al2O3, ZrO2 or Sialon. Said armour material is characterised in that it exhibits a high elasticity modulus and is producible from green glass without to fear a premature crystallisation.
US07906432B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device in which a source contact plug and a drain contact plug are formed. The method includes the steps of etching part of the semiconductor substrate to form a step, thus forming an overlay vernier, and forming a hard mask on the step so that the step is maintained.
US07906429B2
A semiconductor device having good TFT characteristics is realized. By using a high purity target as a target, using a single gas, argon (Ar), as a sputtering gas, setting the substrate temperature equal to or less than 300° C., and setting the sputtering gas pressure from 1.0 Pa to 3.0 Pa, the film stress of a film is made from −1×1010 dyn/cm2 to 1×1010 dyn/cm2. By thus using a conducting film in which the amount of sodium contained within the film is equal to or less than 0.3 ppm, preferably equal to or less than 0.1 ppm, and having a low electrical resistivity (equal to or less than 40 μΩ·cm), as a gate wiring material and a material for other wirings of a TFT, the operating performance and the reliability of a semiconductor device provided with the TFT can be increased.
US07906424B2
Various semiconductor die conductor structures and methods of fabricating the same are provided. In one aspect, a method of manufacturing is provided that includes forming a conductor structure on a conductor pad of a semiconductor die. The conductor layer has a surface. A polymeric layer is formed on the surface of the conductor layer while a portion of the surface is left exposed. A solder structure is formed on the exposed portion of the surface and a portion of the polymeric layer.
US07906411B2
Deposited layers are advantageously obtained by utilizing a specific hydride vapor phase epitaxy deposition procedure. In this procedure, a vertical growth cell structure with extended diffusion layer, a homogenising diaphragm, sidewall purging gases, anal independent gas and substrate heaters is used for the deposition of III-V and VI compound semiconductors. This gas flow is uniformly mixed through the extended diffusion layer and directed so that it contacts the full surface of the substrate to produce high quality and uniform films. Exemplary of such gas flow configurations are the positioning of a substrate at a distance from the gas outlets to allow the extended diffusion and a diaphragm placed in a short distance above the substrate to minimize the impact of the convection effect and to improve the uniformity. This symmetrical configuration allows easy scale up from a single wafer to multi-wafer system. This vertical configuration allows the quick switching between different reactive gas precursors so that time modulated growth and etch processes can be employed to further minimize the defects density of the deposited materials.
US07906403B2
Consistent with an example embodiment, there is a bipolar transistor with a reduced collector series resistance integrated in a trench of a standard CMOS shallow trench isolation region. The bipolar transistor includes a collector region manufactured in one fabrication step, therefore having a shorter conductive path with a reduced collector series resistance, improving the high frequency performance of the bipolar transistor. The bipolar transistor further includes a base region with a first part on a selected portion of the collector region (6, 34), which is on the bottom of the trench, and an emitter region on a selected portion of the first part of the base region. A base contact electrically contacts the base region on a second part of the base region, which is on an insulating region. The collector region is electrically contacted on top of a protrusion with a collector contact.
US07906396B1
In a method of fabricating a flash memory, a substrate with isolation structures formed therein and a dielectric layer and a floating gate formed thereon between isolation structures is provided. A mask layer is formed on the substrate, covering the isolation structures in a periphery region and the isolation structure in a cell region adjacent to the periphery region. The isolation structures in the cell region not covered by the mask layer are partially removed. Therefore, a first height difference is between surfaces of the isolation structures in the periphery region and a surface of the dielectric layer, and between a surface of the isolation structure in the cell region adjacent to the periphery region and the surface of the dielectric layer. A second height difference smaller than the first height difference is between surfaces of other isolation structures in the cell region and the surface of the dielectric layer.
US07906395B2
A method for fabricating a memory device with a self-aligned trap layer which is optimized for scaling is disclosed. In the present invention, a non-conformal oxide is deposited over the charge trapping layer to form a thick oxide on top of the core source/drain region and a pinch off and a void at the top of the STI trench. An etch is performed on the pinch-off oxide and the thin oxide on the trapping layer on the STI oxide. The trapping layer is then partially etched between the core cells. A dip-off of the oxide on the trapping layer is performed. And a top oxide is formed. The top oxide converts the remaining trap layer to oxide and thus isolate the trap layer.
US07906393B2
The present disclosure provides small scale capacitors (e.g., DRAM capacitors) and methods of forming such capacitors. One exemplary implementation provides a method of fabricating a capacitor that includes sequentially forming a first electrode, a dielectric layer, and a second electrode. At least one of the electrodes may be formed by a) reacting two precursors to deposit a first conductive layer at a first deposition rate, and b) depositing a second conductive layer at a second, lower deposition rate by depositing a precursor layer of one precursor at least one monolayer thick and exposing that precursor layer to another precursor to form a nanolayer reaction product. The second conductive layer may be in contact with the dielectric layer and have a thickness of no greater than about 50 Å.
US07906380B2
An electric device having a plurality of nanowires, in which at least one of the nanowires is cut or changed in its electric characteristics so as to have a desired characteristic value of the electric device.
US07906378B2
An epoxy resin composition for encapsulating a semiconductor element and a semiconductor device manufactured using the epoxy resin composition are provided. The epoxy resin composition includes epoxy resin, a curing agent, at least one kind of an inorganic filler selected from the group consisting of silicates such as talc and calcined clay, oxides such as silica and fused silica, and hydroxides such as aluminum hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide, and a pH buffer agent having a pH buffer area of pH 4 to 8. Further, the semiconductor device is manufactured by encapsulating at least one semiconductor element with a cured product of the above epoxy resin composition. Such a semiconductor device can have excellent moisture resistance.
US07906370B2
There is disclosed a fixing method of an electronic component or the like in which when the electronic component and a resin layer are fixed, warp and bend of the electronic component can be inhibited. During manufacturing of a semiconductor-embedded substrate 200 in which a semiconductor device 220 is embedded, after the semiconductor device 220 is disposed on an unhardened resin layer 212, this device is stored in a container 31 of a pressurizing and heating unit 3, and the semiconductor device 220 is isotropically pressurized using an internal gas in the container 31 as a pressure medium, whereby the semiconductor device 220 is pressed to the unhardened resin layer 212, and the resin layer 212 is heated to harden. In consequence, the semiconductor device 220 is fixed and mounted on the resin layer 212 without being warped or bent.
US07906367B2
A method of forming a fine particle pattern, includes: forming a layer containing a silane coupling agent having a thiol group, an amino group, a hydroxyl group, a carboxyl group, or a sulfo group, each of which is protected by a photolytic protective group on a top-most surface of a substrate; exposing the substrate to light in a pattern; immersing the substrate into a colloidal solution in which metal atom-containing fine particles are dispersed; and allowing the metal atom-containing fine particles to selectively adhere onto an exposed area.
US07906356B2
A method of manufacturing an array substrate of horizontal electric field type transreflective LCD is provided in the invention. An array substrate of liquid crystal display is obtained by using one full tone mask and two dual tone masks according to the method. Specifically, the gate line, the gate electrode and the display region are formed by using a full tone mask, the thin film transistor, the transmissive region and the reflective region on the electrode are formed by using a first dual tone mask, and the via hole and the electrode with slits are formed by using a second dual tone mask.
US07906355B2
An optical waveguide device production method which ensures that a receptacle structure can be easily and highly accurately produced in a single step, an optical waveguide device produced by the method, and an optical waveguide connection structure to be used for the optical waveguide device. The optical waveguide device includes a light emitting element (21) mounted on an upper surface of a board (20), and a core layer (29) which seals the light emitting element (21). The core layer (29) has an optical waveguide insertion recess (25) and an optical coupling lens (27) unitarily formed in a portion thereof opposed to a light emitting surface of the light emitting element (21). One end of an optical waveguide (30) is inserted in the recess (25) and fixed by a sealing resin (31). Thus, the optical waveguide (30) is optically coupled with a light emitting/receiving point of the light emitting element (21) in the core layer (29).
US07906347B2
In an MRAM, a curved region (206) is formed in a bit line (202), and this curved region (206) is in bent shape, with a TMR element (203) serving as a center, in this case, in rough U shape (in the illustrated example, in roughly inverted U shape). The bit line (202) in which the curved region (206) is formed includes the TMR element (203) in a space formed by the curved region (206). Thanks to such relatively simple construction, this construction realizes a highly reliable MRAM which ensures that power is substantially saved during data writing into a memory cell while meeting requirements for further miniaturization of the device.
US07906337B2
Kits and methods for qualifying automated biological screening system. At least one biological specimen having a plurality of marked target zones (MTZs) exhibiting an attribute is provided. The biological specimen(s) is processed through the automated biological screening system to determine locations of biological objects suspected of exhibiting the attribute. The locations of the MTZs can be compared to the locations of the suspicious biological objects in order to determine a number of matches. The automated biological screening system can then be qualified based on the number of matches, and optionally based on statistical information related to the biological specimen. The statistical information can be acquired by processing the biological specimen through a qualified automated biological screening system over a number of runs.
US07906327B2
The present invention provides a dual expression vector, and methods for its use, for the expression and secretion of a full-length polypeptide of interest in eukaryotic cells, and a soluble domain or fragment of the polypeptide in bacteria. When expressed in bacteria, transcription from a bacterial promoter within a first intron and termination at the stop codon in a second intron results in expression of a fragment of the polypeptide, e.g., a Fab fragment, whereas in mammalian cells, splicing removes the bacterial regulatory sequences located in the two introns and generates the mammalian signal sequence, allowing expression of the full-length polypeptide, e.g., IgG heavy or light chain polypeptide. The dual expression vector system of the invention can be used to select and screen for new monoclonal antibodies, as well as to optimize monoclonal antibodies for binding to antigenic molecules of interest.
US07906326B2
The present invention relates to a first group of novel oligonucleotides, here identified as genomic address messenger or GAM oligonucleotides, and a second group of novel operon-like polynucleotides, here identified as genomic record or GR polynucleotides. GAM oligonucleotides selectively inhibit translation of known target genes, many of which are known to be involved in various diseases. Nucleic acid molecules are provided respectively encoding 1708 GAM oligonucleotides, and 246 GR polynucleotides as are vectors and probes both comprising the nucleic acid molecules, and methods and systems for detecting GAM oligonucleotides and GR polynucleotide and specific functions and utilities thereof, for detecting expression of GAM oligonucleotides and GR polynucleotides and for selectively enhancing and selectively inhibiting translation of the respective target genes thereof.
US07906322B2
A method and a device (10) for reorganizing the fibers of a matrix in a living tissue sheet (S) by inducing controlled mechanical constraints in the living tissue (S) sheet thus causing the fibers of the matrix to be aligned parallel to the strain orientation. The sheet (S) is held in a stretched state until the fibers set in place.
US07906320B2
A novel biosensor comprises at least one fluorophore and at least two quenchers, and is capable of selectively and specifically detecting the presence of an ion in the presence of other ions.
US07906318B2
A micro-reactor for analyzing a sample, comprises (1) a plate-shaped chip; (2) a plurality of regent storage sections each having a chamber to store respective agents; (3) a regent mixing section to mix plural regents fed from the plurality of regent storage sections so as to produce a mixed reagent; (4) a sample receiving section having an injection port through which a sample is injected from outside; and (5) a reacting section to mix and react the mixed regent fed from the reagent mixing section and the sample fed from the sample receiving section. The plurality of regent storage sections, the regent mixing section, the sample receiving section and the reacting section are incorporated in the chip and are connected through flow paths, and the regent mixing section includes a feed-out preventing mechanism to prevent an initially-mixed regent from being fed out to the reacting section.
US07906309B2
The invention pertains to novel proteins corresponding to Chrysosporium glycosyl hydrolases of families 7 and 10, exhibiting a minimum aminoacid identity of 70 and 75%, respectively, with the amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No's 2 and 4, and to a protein corresponding to a Chrysosporium glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase, exhibiting at least 86% amino acid identity with the partial amino acid sequence of SEQ ID No. 6. The invention further relates to nucleic acid sequences encoding these proteins, and especially to promoter sequences regulating the expression of the corresponding genes. The preferred host for expressing these genes is a fungus, especially a Chrysosporium strain.
US07906305B2
Provided is a process for preparing an immobilized enzyme, which comprises the steps of immobilizing an enzyme used for decomposing oil & fat on a carrier, by adsorption, without drying, bringing the immobilized enzyme into contact with a fatty acid triglyceride or fatty acid partial glyceride, or mixtures thereof, and adjusting the moisture content of the enzyme to 5% to 50% by weight based on the weight of the carrier, wherein the enzyme is used for esterification.
US07906304B2
A method of producing fuel from biodegradable carbonaceous material using a stacked particle bioreactor is provided. A stacked particle bioreactor is formed from particles including biodegradable carbonaceous material. The biodegradable carbonaceous material in the stacked particle bioreactor is aerobically and/or anaerobically bioconverted into one or more synfuels, which are collected from the reactor. The synfuels produced by the method may include synthetic petroleum, alcohol, and/or a gaseous fuel containing methane. Preferably the method includes an aerobic biotreatment phase followed by an anaerobic bioconversion phase. A stacked particle bioreactor for carrying out the anaerobic, and preferably aerobic, degradation is also described.
US07906298B1
A protein having luciferase activity and at least 60% similarity to luciferase from Photinus pyralis, Luciola mingrelica, Luciola cruciata or Luciola lateralis. Hotaria paroula, Pyrophorus plagiophtalamus, Lampyris noctiluca, Pyrocoelia nayako or Photinus pennsylanvanica wherein in the sequence of the enzyme, at least one of (a) the amino acid residue corresponding to residue 214 in Photinus pyralis luciferase; (b) the amino acid residue corresponding to residue 232 in Photinus pyralis luciferase; (c) the amino acid residue corresponding to residue 295 in Photinus pyralis luciferase; (d) the amino acid residue corresponding to acid 14 of Photinus pyralis luciferase; (e) the amino acid residue corresponding to amino acid 35 of Photinus pyralis luciferase; (f) the amino acid residue corresponding to amino acid residue 105 of Photinus pyralis luciferase; (g) the amino acid residue corresponding to amino acid residue 234 of Photinus pyralis luciferase; (h) the amino acid residue corresponding to amino acid residue 420 of Photinus pyralis luciferase; (i) the amino acid residue corresponding to amino acid residue 310 of Photinus pyralis luciferase; is different to the amino acid which appears in the corresponding wild type sequence and wherein the luciferase enzyme has increased thermostability as compared to an enzyme having the amino acid of the corresponding wild-type luciferase at this position.
US07906297B2
The invention discloses two novel phosphorylation sites in human ATR kinase, serine 428 (Ser428) and serine 2317 (Ser2317) respectively, and provides reagents, including antibodies and AQUA peptides, that selectively bind to and/or detect ATR only when phosphorylated at one or more of these respective sites, but do not bind to ATR when not phosphorylated at these respective sites. Also provided are methods for determining the phosphorylation of ATR kinase in a biological sample, by using a detectable reagent that binds to ATR only when phosphorylated at Ser428 and/or Ser2317. Kits comprising the ATR (Ser428, Ser2317)-specific reagents of the invention are also provided.
US07906296B2
The invention provides compositions and methods for the detection of Anaplasma platys polynucleotides and polypeptides.
US07906295B2
A rapid method for the quantitation of various live cell types is described. This new cell fluorescence method correlates with other methods of enumerating cells such as the standard plate count, the methylene blue method and the slide viability technique. The method is particularly useful in several applications such as: a) quantitating bacteria in milk, yogurt, cheese, meat and other foods, b) quantitating yeast cells in brewing, fermentation and bread making, c) quantitating mammalian cells in research, food and clinical settings. The method is especially useful when both total and viable cell counts are required such as in the brewing industry. The method can also be employed to determine the metabolic activity of cells in a sample. The apparatus, device, and/or system used for cell quantitation is also disclosed.
US07906292B2
Disclosed herein is a method for identifying flavivirus cross-reactive epitopes. Also provided are flavivirus E-glyco-protein cross-reactive epitopes and flavivirus E-glycoprotein crossreactive epitopes having reduced or ablated cross-reactivity (and polypeptides comprising such epitopes), as well as methods of using these molecules to elicit an immune response against a flavivirus and to detect a flaviviral infection.
US07906289B2
Using the BICD1 gene as a method for diagnosing myopia and/or myopia related complications is provided. The method includes obtaining a biological sample from a subject, and determining at least one SNP genotype in the BICD1 gene in the biological sample, wherein the presence of the SNP genotype indicates that the subject is susceptible to myopia. The SNP genotype is selected from the group consisting of SNPs rs7966276, rs1151029, rs2650122, and rs10771923. In addition, the present invention also provides a method of screening a material for preventing, treating myopia, and a method of assessing a subject for probability of response to a myopia therapeutic agent.
US07906288B2
The present invention provides methods and kits useful for enriching, identifying and quantifying methylated DNA3 particularly hypermethylated CpG islands by digesting a sample with a methylation-sensitive restriction endonuclease and capturing methylated restriction fragments with a methyl-binding capture reagent. The methods of the invention may be used in the detection of cancer, particularly detection of prostate cancer.
US07906286B2
It is intended to provide a method for identifying a causative fungus of skin disease. The method includes: simultaneously performing amplification treatments under the same conditions using primers common to plural fungal species; then simultaneously performing hybridization procedures under the same conditions using probes respectively specific to fungi; and determining the presence or absence of each fungus from the hybridization intensity of each probe.
US07906279B2
A method for replicating and amplifying a target nucleic acid sequence is described. A method of the invention involves the formation of a recombination intermediate without the prior denaturing of a nucleic acid duplex through the use of a recombination factor. The recombination intermediate is treated with a high fidelity polymerase to permit the replication and amplification of the target nucleic acid sequence. In preferred embodiments, the polymerase comprises a polymerase holoenzyme. In further preferred embodiments, the recombination factor is bacteriophage T4 UvsX protein or homologs from other species, and the polymerase holoenzyme comprises a polymerase enzyme, a clamp protein and a clamp loader protein, derived from viral, bacteriophage, prokaryotic, archaebacterial, or eukaryotic systems.
US07906278B2
The invention relates to the identification and selection of sequences which demonstrate particular advantage in identifying individuals having osteoarthritis (OA). The invention also provides a selection of sequences particularly useful in diagnosing the degree of advancement of osteoarthritis of an individual and in the identification of novel therapeutic targets for OA. The invention further provides for the use of these sequences as a tool to diagnose disease progression and to monitor the efficacy of therapeutic regimens.
US07906275B2
In accordance with the invention, there are methods for self-aligned spatial frequency doubling in one dimension and also in two dimension. The method for self-aligned spatial frequency doubling in one dimension can include forming a film stack over a substrate, wherein the film stack comprises a photoresist layer and forming a one-dimensional periodic first pattern having a first pitch p on the photoresist layer using an optical exposure, wherein the first pitch p is at least smaller than twice the bandpass limit for optical exposures. The method can also include forming a second pattern using the first pattern by nonlinear processing steps, wherein the second pattern has a second pitch p2=p/2.
US07906272B2
In a method of forming patterns of a semiconductor device, a to-be-etched layer is formed on a semiconductor substrate. First etch mask patterns are formed over the to-be-etched layer. An auxiliary layer is formed on the first etch mask patterns and the to-be-etched layer. The auxiliary layer is thicker on upper sidewalls of the first etch mask patterns than on lower sidewalls thereof. Second etch mask patterns are formed in concave portions of the auxiliary layer. The auxiliary layer between the first and second etch mask patterns is removed. The to-be-etched layer is patterned using the first and second etch mask patterns as an etch mask.
US07906263B2
The color toner for developing electrostatic latent images comprising a colored resin particle containing at least a binder resin, a colorant, a charge control agent and a parting agent, wherein an extracted liquid with water by means of a hot water extraction method from said colorant has a pH value in the range from 6.0 to 8.0, said colored resin particle has a volume average particle diameter (Dv) in the range from 4 to 10 μm and an average circularity in the range from 0.93 to 0.995, an amount of extracted components with methanol is 7% by weight or less, and an amount of residual volatile compounds is 500 ppm or less. The color toner for developing electrostatic latent images has excellent image-reproducibility and environmental durability and can form an image with a stable image density under a high temperature and high humidity condition.
US07906258B2
In a photomask in which a device pattern, an alignment mark and a superimposition inspection mark are formed on a light transmitting base, each of the alignment mark and the superimposition inspection mark includes a main mark portion, and first and second auxiliary pattern portions. The main mark portion is constituted of one of a space pattern and a line pattern, the pattern having a linear width to be resolved on a photosensitive film formed on a semiconductor wafer, and each of the first and second auxiliary pattern portions includes an auxiliary pattern constituted of one of a repeated pattern of a space pattern and a repeated pattern of a line pattern, the repeated pattern having a linear width not to be resolved on the photosensitive film. The pitch of the repeated pattern is equal to the minimum pitch of the device pattern.
US07906256B2
A used large-size photomask substrate having a patterned light-shielding film is recycled by (i) removing the light-shielding film from the used substrate to provide a photomask-forming glass substrate stock, (ii) resurfacing the glass substrate stock by sand blasting, (iii) repolishing the resurfaced glass substrate stock to yield a regenerated glass substrate stock, (iv) applying a light-shielding film onto the regenerated glass substrate stock to yield a regenerated photomask-forming blank, and (v) processing the light-shielding film of the blank into a pattern corresponding to a desired exposure of a mother glass, yielding a regenerated photomask substrate.
US07906254B2
The invention provides a method and process for designing an integrated circuit based on using the results from both 1) a specific set of silicon test structure characterizations and 2) the decomposition of logic into combinations of simple logic primitives, from which a set of logic bricks are derived that can be assembled for a manufacturable-by-construction design. This implementation of logic is compatible with the lithography settings that are used for implementation of the memory blocks and other components on the integrated circuit, particularly by implementing geometrically consistent component features. The invention provides the ability to recompile a design comprised of logic and memory blocks onto a new geometry fabric to implement a set of technology-specific design changes, without requiring a complete redesign of the entire integrated circuit.
US07906252B2
A PSM blank and method for forming a PSM using the PSM blank, the PSM blank including a light transmitting portion; an uppermost anti-reflection portion; a photosensitive layer stack on the anti-reflection portion comprising at least two photosensitive layers; wherein each photosensitive layer has a lower radiant energy exposure sensitivity compared to an underlying layer.
US07906246B2
A powdered fuel cell includes current collectors, fuel chambers, porous membranes, electrolyte chambers and gas diffusion electrodes. The porous membranes pass oxide the formed from the reacted fuel through the holes thereof and block the unreacted powdered fuel; the electrolyte chambers provide the storage space for electrolyte so as to conduct ions and provide the collection space for the reacted oxide; and the gas diffusion electrodes, each has one side surface thereof for an oxidizing agent incoming and outgoing and catalyzed to acquire electron and ion conduction, wherein one of the current collectors and one of the gas diffusion electrodes are connected by posts, saving outer wires and being connected directly to the anode and the cathode as a loop. Thus, a power supply being capable of electricity conversion and storage and movable is realized.
US07906236B2
Provided are an anode active material for a lithium secondary battery having high reversible capacity and excellent charge/discharge efficiency, comprising a complex composed of ultra-fine Si phase particles and an oxide surrounding the ultra-fine Si phase particles, and a carbon material; and a method for preparing the same. The present invention also provides a method for preparing an anode active material for a lithium secondary battery comprising producing a complex composed of ultra-fine Si particles and an oxide surrounding the ultra-fine Si particles by mixing a silicon oxide and a material having an absolute value of oxide formation enthalpy (ΔHfor) greater than that of the silicon oxide and negative oxide formation enthalpy by a mechanochemical process or subjecting them to a thermochemical reaction to reduce the silicon oxide; and mixing the Si phase-containing oxide complex and carbon material.
US07906235B2
The invention relates to ionic compounds in which the anionic load has been delocalized. A compound disclosed by the invention includes an anionic portion combined with at least one cationic portion Mm+ in sufficient numbers to ensure overall electronic neutrality; the compound is further comprised of M as a hydroxonium, a nitrosonium NO+, an ammonium —NH4+, a metallic cation with the valence m, an organic cation with the valence m, or an organometallic cation with the valence m. The anionic load is carried by a pentacyclical nucleus of tetrazapentalene derivative bearing electroattractive substituents. The compounds can be used notably for ionic conducting materials, electronic conducting materials, colorant, and the catalysis of various chemical reactions.
US07906233B2
A type of lithium ion secondary battery is disclosed; therein, the positive electrode 1 is formed by smearing an active material on the surface of an aluminum foil body, where said active material is compound oxide(s) comprising transition metals and lithium capable of absorbing and releasing lithium ions; the negative electrode 2 is formed by smearing an active material on the surface of a copper foil body, where said active material includes carbon material capable of absorbing and releasing lithium ions. Both the positive and negative electrodes have conducting strips acting as current conductors 6, 7. The positive and negative electrodes 1, 2 are in plate form and are alternately stacked on both sides of the belt-shaped separator 3 to form the electrode core 4. The separator 3 wraps around said electrode plates and separates the positive and negative electrodes 1, 2. This type of lithium ion secondary battery can effectively use the internal space of a battery shell, increase the battery's energy density, improve the large current discharge characteristic of the lithium ion secondary battery, the self-discharge ability, the battery's cycling capability and the battery's capacity.
US07906229B2
Novel articles and methods to fabricate the same resulting in flexible, large-area, triaxially textured, single-crystal or single-crystal-like, semiconductor-based, electronic devices are disclosed. Potential applications of resulting articles are in areas of photovoltaic devices, flat-panel displays, thermophotovoltaic devices, ferroelectric devices, light emitting diode devices, computer hard disc drive devices, magnetoresistance based devices, photoluminescence based devices, non-volatile memory devices, dielectric devices, thermoelectric devices and quantum dot laser devices.
US07906225B2
A substituted fluoranthene, a light emitting layer including the substituted fluoranthene, a diode including the substituted fluoranthene, and a visual display unit including the substituted fluoranthene.
US07906222B2
A sliding material has a sintered layer formed atop a backing plate. The sintered layer contains 5-15 mass % of Bi nonuniformly distributed in a Cu—Sn alloy matrix consisting essentially of 8-12 mass % of Sn and a remainder of Cu. The sliding material can be manufactured by nonuniformly mixing Cu—Sn alloy powder and Bi powder, dispersing the mixed powder on a backing plate, and sintering the mixed powder to form a sintered layer on the backing plate. The sliding material does not undergo seizing and does not have separation of the sintered layer from the backing plate even when used in severe conditions such as in hydraulic equipment or construction equipment.
US07906217B2
A vapor deposited film is formed on a base material surface by a plasma CVD method where an organic metal compound and an oxidizing gas are used as a reactive gas. The vapor deposited film has three sections of a base material side adhesive layer having 5% or more carbon, a barrier intermediate layer having less than 5% carbon, and a surface protection film having 5% or more carbon, by element concentration with respect to the total amount of three elements of a metal element (M), oxygen (O) and carbon (C) derived from the organic metal compound. The vapor deposited film has excellent adhesiveness to the base material, and has excellent resistance to water, especially to alkaline aqueous solutions, as well.
US07906215B2
A method and composition for corrosion protection of a structure is provided. In one disclosed embodiment, a polysiloxane ureide which inhibits corrosion formation on a surface of a physical object is provided. The polysiloxane ureide has a backbone including, (i) at least one diamine-terminated polysiloxane as disclosed; (ii) at least one aromatic diamine; and, (iii) at least one diisocyanate. In another disclosed embodiment, there is provided a polyureide which inhibits corrosion formation on a surface of a physical object. The polyureide comprises: (i) at least one aliphatic diamine; (ii) at least one aromatic diamine; and, (iii) at least one diisocyanate.
US07906211B2
This invention relates to thermoplastic article having one or more decorative materials embedded therein which is obtained by applying heat and pressure to one or more laminates wherein at least one of said laminates comprises, in order, (1) an upper sheet material; (2) one or more decorative materials; and (3) a lower sheet material; wherein the upper and lower sheet materials are formed from a polyester/aromatic polycarbonate blend wherein the thermoplastic article comprises at least one polyester composition comprising at least one polyester which comprises terephthalic acid and 2,2,4,4-tetramethyl-1,3-cyclobutanediol.
US07906209B2
An artificial hair which is composed of synthetic fibers such as acrylic fibers or vinyl chloride fibers and which is characterized in that the cross section of each fiber has a shape consisting of one major axis and at least two minor axes nearly perpendicular to the major axis and that the single-fiber fineness is 25 to 70 dtex. This artificial hair is soft to the touch and bulky (voluminous) to impart a good feel to hair accessories and exhibits excellent combing properties and braidability, thus giving hair accessories (such as wigs, hairpieces, braids, extension hair and doll hair) which have excellent feel and settability.
US07906205B2
A sound-absorbing structure is provided which comprises a plurality of sound-absorbing tiles or other elements fitted in position, filler cast between the elements so as to provide a substantially flat surface with the elements, and a monolithic rendering which is porous but extends over the substantially flat surface and provides a very smooth surface without significantly reducing the sound-absorbing properties of the elements.
US07906201B2
The invention relates to a value document, in particular a bank note, having a value document substrate and different feature substances for checking the value document. According to the invention, a first feature substance is incorporated into the volume of the substrate of the value document, and second and third feature substances are applied to the value document substrate in a printing ink jointly and in the form of a coding. The second feature substance is formed by a luminescent substance, and the third feature substance by a material absorbent in a special spectral range. The two substances are used for the value recognition of different user groups.
US07906196B2
A die storage method and apparatus comprising a cover tape and a strip coupled to the cover tape wherein the strip comprises a material that is: flexible or compressible, or combinations thereof.
US07906195B2
A super-resolution material for recording and reproducing optical information, comprises a semiconductor material which has a transmittance that increases with an increasing intensity of the incident radiation, and one or more elements selected from the group consisting of nitrogen (N), oxygen (O), carbon (C) and boron (B).
US07906190B2
The present invention relates generally to packaging materials for packaging articles. The packaging materials may include a substratum with a printed pattern disposed thereon that provides a grass-like appearance, and/or the packaging materials may include a plurality of individual strips, strands, or units of material bondably connected thereto.
US07906188B2
A method of treating silica in an aqueous environment includes dispersing silica particulates in an aqueous environment to form an aqueous dispersion, reversing a net charge of a surface of the silica particulates from negative to positive using an inorganic treating agent to form surface-activated silica particulates, and contacting the surface-activated silica particulates with monoaminoorganosilane reagents to form reagent-modified and surface-activated silica particulates.
US07906182B1
A method of forming a smooth thin film on a substrate within a short deposition time, the method comprising introducing ionic substances (salts, acids, bases) to a polymeric solution to be sprayed. These ions attach to the polymer strands in solution, increasing their charge to mass ratio. This results in mutual repulsion of the strands during the spray process and produces a smooth film, even at relatively high polymeric solution concentrations. A side effect of this process is the introduction of impurities (the added ions) to the polymer thin film. The proper choice of ionic compound allows a dissolution step to be used to “clean” the polymer film after deposition, using the solubility characteristics of the thin film versus the ionic compound.
US07906173B2
A resist coating method supplies a resist solution to substantially the center of a target substrate to be processed while rotating the target substrate at a first rotational speed, then reduces a rotational speed of the target substrate to a second rotational speed lower than the first rotational speed, reduces the rotational speed of the target substrate to a third rotational speed lower than the second rotational speed or until rotational halt to adjust the film thickness of the resist solution, and accelerates the rotation of the target substrate to a fourth rotational speed higher than the third rotational speed to spin off a residue of the resist solution.
US07906169B2
An organic light emitting device and a method of manufacturing the same, the organic light emitting device includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and an organic layer that has at least a multi-coated emissive layer and which is interposed between the first and second electrodes. The multi-coated emissive layer is a single layer composed of a neutral emissive material and an no−ne parameter of the emissive layer is greater than an no−ne parameter of a single-coated layer. The organic light emitting device has a longer lifetime and high efficiency.
US07906168B2
An oxide film is formed on a target substrate by CVD, in a process field to be selectively supplied with a first process gas including a silicon source gas and a second process gas including an oxidizing gas. The oxide film is formed by performing cycles each alternately including first and second steps. The first step performs supply of the first process gas, thereby forming an adsorption layer containing silicon on a surface of the target substrate. The second performs supply of the second process gas, thereby oxidizing the adsorption layer on the surface of the target substrate. The silicon source gas is a univalent or bivalent aminosilane gas, and each of the cycles is arranged to use a process temperature lower than that used for a trivalent aminosilane gas.
US07906163B2
A belt less applicator of particulate materials for food products includes a differential impulse linear conveyor having a horizontal pan carrying a bed of particulate materials and food products spaced there along. Particulate materials are supplied from above to coat the food products as the pan conveys the products to a subsequent treatment station. Hammer like tamping contact of the products insures good adhesion of the coatings to the products. The excess particulate materials are recycled and the entrained dough balls removed as the products are discharged.
US07906160B2
An improved protein beverage/drink composition, is disclosed and provides a relatively high protein content, ranging from about 0.01% by weight to about 15% by weight, while optionally employing a carbonation concentration between about 0.1 volumes of carbonation (per volume of liquid drink solution or liquid drink suspension) to about 6 volumes of carbonation which is used to provide taste and mouth feel for the drink and which is also used to inactivate pathogenic microbes. Preferably the protein is a protein, such preferably as whey protein, or others. The protein beverage may contain an additive which provides energy generation enhancement. High pressure processing may also be used to inactivate microbes. The high pressure processing may be carried out prior to or after carbonation, and prior to or after packaging.
US07906144B1
The invention relates to excipients in powder form for use in solid pharmaceutical presentations, comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable polymer and a liquid or semisolid solubilizing surface-active substance.
US07906143B1
The present invention relates to a controlled release pharmaceutical delivery device which provides sustained or pulsatile delivery of a selected pharmaceutically active substance for a predetermined period of time. The device comprises about 1 to 80% by weight covalently crosslinked water insoluble, water-swellable polymers and about 1 to 75% by weight uncrosslinked, linear water soluble polymers.The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions and methods for making such compositions in which a pharmaceutically active agent is incorporated into the delivery device.
US07906133B2
The inventors have found that both the drug dose and drug release profiles are significant factors for the safety and efficacy of drug coated stents. The inventors have identified optimum dosing and release kinetics for drug coated stents. In particular, the inventors have determined dosing and release kinetics that permit the delivery of the lowest effective drug dosage, thus enhancing patient safety and minimizing any side effects from the drug.
US07906131B2
The present invention provides formulations and methods for controlling or suppressing bacterial or fungal plant pathogens, including Erwina amylovora the bacteria that causes fire blight. A formulation for controlling of suppressing a plant pathogen may include at least one beneficial species of bacteria, at least one beneficial species of fungi, a nutrient, at least one compound that extends the length of time that the formulation remains effective. Typically the formulation is applied to the above ground structures of the plant including its leaves, flowers, stems, trunk, blossoms and fruit.
US07906128B2
The present invention provides an effective method and composition for the prevention, amelioration or control of external parasites on a human or animal via the administration of a prophylactically, therapeutically or pharmaceutically effective amount of a neuronal sodium channel antagonist to a human or animal in need thereof.
US07906117B2
The present invention is directed to therapeutic methods using antibodies and fragments thereof having binding specificity for IL-6 to prevent or treat cachexia, fever, weakness and/or fatigue in a patient in need thereof. In preferred embodiments these patients will comprise those exhibiting (or at risk of developing) an elevated serum C-reactive protein level. In another preferred embodiment, the patient's survivability or quality of life will preferably be improved.
US07906106B2
Provided herein are methods of monitoring inflammatory cell migration in a mammal. The methods include the steps of: providing a donor mammalian subject; introducing an inflammatory agent into the donor mammal to create a granuloma; isolating granuloma-derived nucleated cells from the granuloma of the donor mammalian subject; labeling the granuloma-derived nucleated cells with an optical agent; providing a recipient mammalian subject with inflamed tissue; introducing the granuloma-derived nucleated cells into a recipient mammalian subject at a site remote from site where the inflammatory agent was introduced; and imaging the recipient mammalian subject using an optical system. The methods may also include analysing the distribution of the labeled granuloma-derived cells in the recipient mammal.
US07906105B1
The present invention relates to contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). In particular, the present invention relates to MRI contrast agents that are activated in the presence of zinc(II) (e.g., resulting in a brighter image).
US07906103B2
Disclosed are Drug Delivery Molecules (DDMs) which both facilitate functional imaging, as by PET, MRI or SPECT, and create a biological effect and methods of their use. These DDMs which are variously designed to target specific receptors, internalized and then function biologically, as for purposes of cell destruction or therapy.
US07906101B2
The present invention is directed to a new crystalline molecular sieve designated SSZ-79 synthesized using 1,8-dimethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane or 1,4,8,11-tetramethyl-1,4,8,11-tetraazacyclotetradecane as a structure directing agent.
US07906097B2
There is provided a process for preparing aluminium chloride comprising leaching aluminium dross residues with H2SO4 so as to obtain a leachate; and hydrochlorinating the leachate so as to obtain aluminium chloride. If desired, aluminium chloride can then be converted into alumina.
US07906095B2
When growing carbon nanotubes, a substrate is delivered into a thermal CVD chamber whose internal temperature is a room temperature, and a mixed gas of an inert gas and a raw gas is introduced in the inside thereof. After a pressure inside of the chamber is stabilized at 1 kPa, the temperature in the chamber is raised to 510° C. in 1 minute. As a result, the carbon nanotubes start to grow linearly from the respective catalytic particles without any fusion of each of the catalytic particles.Subsequently, the temperature and an atmosphere are maintained for about 30 minutes. Once the carbon nanotubes start to grow, surfaces of the catalytic particles are covered by carbon, so that any fusion of each of the catalytic particles can be avoided even during the maintenance for about 30 minutes.
US07906093B2
Zirconium phosphate particles are synthesized by providing a solution of zirconium oxychloride in an aqueous solvent, adding at least one oxygen-containing additive to the solution, the oxygen-containing additive being selected to form a complex with zirconium ions in the solution of zirconium oxychloride and thereby reduce hydration of the zirconium ions, and combining this solution with phosphoric acid or a phosphoric acid salt to obtain zirconium phosphate particles by sol gel precipitation.
US07906087B2
Apparatus comprising an absorber device provided with a plurality of sequentially adjacent sections for flowing a gas stream therethrough. A solvent reactable with components of the gas stream is ingressed into and egressed from each section of the absorber device by a conduit infrastructure. The conduit infrastructure has a plurality of heat exchange and cooling equipment, and communicates with solvent recovery and regeneration equipment. A process wherein a liquid solvent selected for reacting with gaseous components, is counter-flowed against the gas stream. The liquid solvent temperature is controllably manipulated between each section of the absorber device to provide: (a) thermodynamic-driven mass transfer at the front end of the absorber device, and (b) kinetic-driven mass transfer at the back end of the absorber device. Heat generated during recovery of gaseous components from the liquid solvent is recovered for use in regenerating the solvent system.
US07906081B2
A milled plate is presented that is provided for use in a radial flow reactor. The milled plate has narrow slots milled in the plate on the solid particle side and slots of slightly greater width milled on the fluid side of the plate. The plates provide strength to support the pressure from solid particles that currently is not present in wire screen meshes.
US07906078B2
The present invention provides a latent-heat storage type adsorbent composition for canisters that can effectively prevent changing in temperature due to the heat of absorption/desorption and has a high butane working capacity; a process for producing the adsorbent; and a canister employing the latent-heat storage type adsorbent composition for canisters. The present invention relates to a latent-heat storage type adsorbent composition for canisters which compromises an adsorbent adsorbing a fuel vapor and a heat-storage material comprising microencapsulated phase-changing material which absorbs or releases latent heat in response to temperature change, and a method for producing such an adsorbent.
US07906077B2
Disclosed is an FCC apparatus and process in which spent catalyst is recycled to the base of the riser to contact fresh feed through a passage disposed within the riser.
US07906066B2
A catheter having an elongated shaft with a tubular member which forms at least a portion of the shaft and which is formed of a biaxially oriented thermoplastic polymeric material, and a method of forming the catheter shaft by radially and longitudinally expanding the tubular member to biaxially orient the polymeric material. A catheter of the invention has an improved combination of low bending stiffness, high rupture pressure, and high tensile strength, for improved catheter performance.
US07906064B2
The present invention relates to methods for making oxidation resistant medical devices that comprise polymeric materials, for example, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE). The invention also provides methods of making antioxidant-doped medical implants, for example, doping of medical devices containing cross-linked UHMWPE with vitamin E by diffusion and materials used therein.
US07906060B2
The present invention provides a composition and a method of using the same to form a pattern on a substrate using imprint lithography employing dark-field polymerization. To that end, the composition includes a bis vinyl ether component, and an initiator component that produces an acid in response to radiation. The bis vinyl ether component is reactive to the acid and polymerizes in response thereto.
US07906058B2
A method for spreading a conformable material between a substrate and a template having a mold. The method comprises positioning the mold to be in superimposition with the substrate defining a volume therebetween. A first sub-portion of the volume is charged with the conformable material through capillary action between the conformable material and one of the mold and the substrate. A second sub-portion of the volume is filled with the conformable material by creating a deformation in the mold.
US07906051B2
Selected surfaces of a cellular polymeric foam surface finishing pad are heated to cause the surface cells to partially collapse or to fully collapse and glaze over. The selected surfaces may be the planar pad faces or may be formed in one or more depressions formed in the planar faces. The areas of partially collapsed cell structures in the operating face of the pad provide a slow down in the rate of polish or compound absorption, increasing the effectiveness of the finishing process. The fully collapsed cell glazed surface on the rear attachment face of the pad prevents the migration of moisture through the pad to the pad attachment mechanism.
US07906031B2
A Method. The method includes forming a substructure, on a substrate, including a feature having a sidewall of a first material and a bottom surface of a second material. Applying a solution including two immiscible polymers and third material to the substructure. The immiscible polymers include a first and second polymer. A selective chemical affinity of the first polymer for the material is greater than a selective chemical affinity of the second polymer for the material. The first polymer is segregated from the second polymer. The first polymer selectively migrates to the at least one sidewall, resulting in the first polymer being disposed between the at least one sidewall and the second polymer. The first polymer is selectively removed. The second polymer remains, resulting in forming structures including the substructure, the third material, and the second polymer. The substructure has a pattern. The pattern is transferred to the substrate.
US07906011B2
Methods and systems for efficiently manufacturing modified asphalt materials include agitating a base asphalt at a high shear rate using an in-line mixer equipped with a rotor-stator mixing tool while simultaneously exposing the asphalt to oxygen by blowing an oxygen-containing gas at a high gas flow rate through openings in the rotor-stator mixing tool and heating the asphalt at an elevated temperature.
US07906008B2
The present invention deals with a device for quick estimation of biochemical oxygen demand of beverage waste water. This device consists of an immobilized microbial membrane attached to an electrode, multimeter and a laptop workstation installed with a developed software. BOD measurement of beverage waste water using this device is rapid, reproducible and effective as compared to conventional titration based methods. This device also excludes COD estimation as required for BOD estimation of waste water. This bio-electrochemical device may find wide commercial application in beverage industries emanating waste waters.
US07906006B2
The present invention relates to a method of producing hydrogen comprising: contacting steam (20) with a proton conducting membrane (7) supported on a porous redox stable substrate (8), through said substrate (8). The membrane (7) is non-permeable to molecular gas and to oxide ions. A DC voltage is applied across an anode (15) coupled to the substrate side of the membrane and a cathode (9, 11) coupled to its other side so as to dissociate at least part of the steam (20), into protonic hydrogen and oxygen at said anode (15). The protonic hydrogen passes through the membrane and forms molecular hydrogen (23) at the cathode (9, 11).
US07906002B2
This invention relates to a method for forming on a metal substrate a surface treating film excelling in corrosion resistance and stability of film-forming agent, by applying a film-forming agent thereto by a multistage electrification system comprising at least two stages.
US07905989B2
An apparatus for producing a fibrous web includes: a circulating permeable structured belt defining a sheet forming zone in which the fibrous web is formed; a circulating unstructured permeable supporting belt; a pressing section through which the fibrous web is led lying between the circulating permeable structured belt and the circulating unstructured permeable supporting belt; a Yankee cylinder having a surface and defining a press nip and a press nip region, wherein the fibrous web is led together with the structured belt through said press nip, the fibrous web in the region of the press nip being transferred from the structured belt to the surface of the Yankee cylinder; at least one doctor which doctors off the surface of the Yankee cylinder continuously; and a coating device which recoats the surface of the Yankee cylinder so that a renewed coating material is always present in the press nip.
US07905988B2
Machine, in particular a tissue machine, for production of a web of tissue material. The web of tissue material is produced by supplying at least two stock grades to a multilayer flow box, winding up the tissue web on a reel of a reel-up, and maintaining a winding nip having a line pressure of less than or equal to 0.8 kN/m to influence the hardness of the reel produced, in a machine that includes a multilayer flow box structured and arranged to supply at least two stock grades, an endless supporting belt, a drying cylinder and an opposing unit arranged to form a press nip, wherein endless supporting belt guides the web through the press nip, a reel-up for reeling up the tissue web, and a device to influence, in a predefined way, a hardness of a reel produced as the tissue web is reeled. The instant abstract is neither intended to define the invention disclosed in this specification nor intended to limit the scope of the invention in any way.