US07916776B2
A system and process for customizing the performance of an xDSL communication system in which a transmitting modem and/or a receiving modem will negotiate a performance parameter for adjustment.
US07916772B2
A method for synchronizing a CDMA receiver to a transmitter when an adaptive antenna is utilized to receive transmitted data, wherein a receiving antenna system is adapted between a 360° reception angle pattern (i.e., an omni-directional pattern) and a fixed reception angle (i.e., a directional pattern) by permitting the receiver to identify a pilot signal having the largest magnitude. The receiver minimizes interference from other pilot signals by steering antenna pattern nulls toward other transmitters. As a result, the time required for the receiver to acquire a valid pilot signal is significantly reduced.
US07916762B2
Architectures for coherently combining an array of fiber-based lasers are provided. By matching their lengths to within a few integer multiples of a wavelength, the spatial and temporal properties of a single large laser are replicated, while extending the average or peak pulsed power limit.
US07916761B2
A method for adding latency and jitter to a number of selected packets transmitted between end systems within a network of end systems is described. The method includes receiving a packet identifier, the packet identifier indicating a selected packet to which latency and jitter is to be added, receiving a selected latency and jitter for the selected packet, receiving a packet, determining if the received packet is the selected packet, and forwarding the received packet to its destination if the received packet is not the selected packet. If the received packet is the selected packet, the method continues by reading a real time clock, computing a transmit time for the received packet based on the selected latency and jitter for the selected packet, and forwarding the received packet to its destination when the real time clock reaches the computed transmit time.
US07916757B2
A stack of network routers is composed of at least one (elected) master unit and one or more slave units each capable of running a routing protocol. Only the master unit runs the entire routing protocol at a given time. It forwards direct update messages via a transmission control protocol to each of the slave units. These direct update messages may include specific packet formats for the protocol state machinery where such machinery is required by the routing protocol, e.g., the interface state machine and the neighbor state machine for the OSPF protocol, and for the net databases, e.g. the link state databases for the OSPF protocol, in each of the slave units. Each slave unit may run its protocol state machinery (where provided) based purely on the direct update messages received from the master. The synchronisation of the net databases may be based on snooping net update packets and a comparison of the information received thereby with verification data messages sent from the master unit. The synchronization allows the running of the routing protocol on multiple physical routers in a stack without requiring the overhead of a back-up unit that would not perform routing unless a master router unit became unavailable.
US07916755B2
Methods and apparatus for selecting digital coding and/or decoding technology for programming and data delivery over, e.g., a content-based network. In one embodiment, the network comprises an HFC cable or satellite network that includes a server process interfacing with a plurality of customer premises equipment (CPE), and/or associated client devices, each having different capabilities profiles. The server determines the one or more capabilities possessed by the CPE, and evaluates one or more program or content choices for possible delivery to that CPE based on its profile. The server generates a list of programs or content based on this evaluation, and transmits this list to the CPE, which displays the list for viewing by a user. The user is therefore offered a list of available content that is compatible with their specific configuration. A business and operational rules engine is also optionally employed to control the operation of the foregoing processes to accomplish particular business or operational goals.
US07916744B2
A predetermined current frequency is selected for a cable modem or embedded media terminal adapter to evaluate for presence of a CMTS signal. A determination is made whether the current frequency carries signal energy as opposed to just noise. If no signal energy is detected, the current frequency is changed by ½ of a channel width to a new frequency, which becomes the current frequency, and the determination is re-performed. If the determination of the current frequency indicates that signal energy is present, but not CMTS energy, then a new frequency indicates that selected that differs from the current frequency by 1 MHz. If the determination at the current frequency indicates that CMTS signal energy is present, but QAM lock cannot be achieved, then a new frequency is selected by changing from the current frequency by a full channel width.
US07916743B2
The present invention provides an improved architecture and method for the processing and transmission of multicast packets within a switching device. Briefly, as multicast packets arrive, a copy of the packet, or preferably a pointer for it, is placed in a multicast FIFO. As each pointer reaches the head of the FIFO, the destination output ports via which the packet is to be transmitted are determined, based on the packet's multicast group identifier (MGID). In the preferred embodiment, there is a dedicated multicast output queue associated with each output port. Copies of the packet, or preferably pointers to the packet, are then stored in those output queues associated with the specified destination output ports. In this way, a congested output port only affects the transmission of multicast packets via that congested port.
US07916739B2
Cryptographically Protected Prefixes (“CPPs”) are used to create IP addresses, preventing any correlation between a CPP IP address and a host's geographic location. An IP address is subdivided into address prefixes of multiple segments. Each segment is encrypted with a cryptographic key known only to a subset of routers in the access network domain (or Privacy Domain). Therefore, each router obtains the information it needs to forward a packet of information, but not any additional information.
US07916736B2
A network bridge (160) is provided, comprising: a local interface (320) configured to transmit and receive local signals in a local network (305); a bridging interface (325) configured to transmit and receive bridging signals in a bridging network (310); a control circuit (330) configured to pass outgoing local data packets from the local network to the bridging network and to pass incoming bridging payloads from the bridging network to the local network; and an address translation circuit (340) configured to provide the control circuit with address translation data identifying a correspondence between local packet addresses and global packet addresses. The control circuit translates outgoing local addresses to outgoing global addresses (460), and the control circuit translates incoming global addresses to incoming local addresses (560), based on the address translation data.
US07916733B2
An information processing apparatus functioning as a data communication apparatus determines whether data communication with another information processing apparatus in the same local network is carried out using a global network address. If it is determined that the data communication is carried out using a global network address, the information processing device carries out control so that the data communication is carried out using a local network address.
US07916731B2
An apparatus, method, and computer program for efficient rapid loss detection in a channel bonding system. A received packet having a packet sequence number (PSN) not equal to a next expected PSN is queued. A channel counter for a first channel on which the received packet was received is incremented. If all channel counters are non-zero, increment the next expected PSN to equal a lowest queued packet PSN. Forward the queued packet with the lowest queued packet PSN. Decrement a channel counter for a second channel from which the lowest PSN packet is forwarded.
US07916723B2
An automatic network topology identification technique is described herein. Each node in the network periodically or constantly transmits its unique address to its neighboring node. Once a node receives a different message from its neighbor, the node identifies a topology change in the network. In one embodiment, a current topology is associated with a session number. When a change in the topology is detected, the detecting node increments the session number and broadcasts the change in topology. The other nodes, detecting the changed session number, now know that there has been a change in the network. In response, the nodes in the network modify routing tables and other information stored at the node related to the topology. In one embodiment, the technique is used to reassign shortened addresses to each device on the network to support a dual-addressing mode of the network. The dual addressing mode substitutes reduced-length addresses (referred to as short addresses) for standard addresses (referred to as long addresses) for traffic whose source or destination is internal to a given virtual network topology. The required length of short addresses used for a given virtual topology is dependent on the number of devices reachable within the topology.
US07916721B1
Systems and methods are provided for a home address subnet assignment for IPv6 bootstrapping. When a mobile-IPv6 router bootstraps, it receives a home address subnet prefix address (HoAp). The mobile-IPv6 router includes the HoAp and the mobile-IPv6 router's care-of address in a binding update, and sends the binding update to a home agent. The home agent associates the HoAp with the mobile-IPv6 router's care-of address. Thus, whenever the home agent receives a packet sent to an address with the same prefix as the HoAp, the home agent will forward the packet to the care-of address of the mobile-IPv6 router.
US07916719B2
A method and HARQ memory apparatus in a BWA communication system are provided where the HARQ memory apparatus includes a memory configured to partition the entire memory area in units of slots corresponding to the size of a concatenation block, to input/output a plurality of channel data to the slot in units of the concatenation block, to store a new concatenation block in an empty slot, and to combine a retransmitted concatenation block with a prestored concatenation block and store the combined concatenation block at a prestored location. Accordingly, the required amount of memory can be reduced by using a buffer efficiently. In particular, when a memory is embedded in an integrated circuit, the size and power consumption of the integrated circuit can be reduced.
US07916712B2
A new technique is disclosed, by which a mobile terminal executing handover between subnets can quickly transmit packet to outside immediately after the handover. According to this technique, MN (mobile node) 10 executing the handover requests an external transmission address relating to a subnet connected after the handover (a link local address of an access router or of a default router belonging to the subnet after the handover) when transmitting an FNA message to NAR31 connected immediately after the handover. In response to the request, NAR acquires the external transmission address and transmits the external transmission address to MN by sending an RA message to MN. MN sets up the external transmission address acquired before the handover to the packet to be transmitted after the handover.
US07916705B2
A method, an apparatus, and a software program to implement a method to detect a rogue access point of a wireless network. The method includes maintaining an AP database that includes information about managed access point (APs) and friendly APs, including the MAC address of each managed AP. The method further includes sending a scan request to one or more managed APs, including one or more of a request for the receiving managed AP to scan for beacons and probe responses and a request for the receiving managed AP to request its clients to scan for beacons and probe responses. The method further includes receiving reports from at least one of the receiving managed APs, a report including information on any beacon or probe response received that was sent by an AP. For each beacon or probe response on which information is received, the method analyzes the information received in the report about the AP that sent the beacon or probe response, the analyzing including ascertaining if the MAC address of the AP that sent the beacon or probe response matches a MAC address of an AP in the AP database to ascertain whether or not the AP is a potential rogue AP or a managed or friendly AP.
US07916702B2
A technology is disclosed for certainly performing dynamic routing and error checking processes in the mobile network. According to this technology, the home agent sets up a Binding Acknowledgement message with a smaller Lifetime value when receiving a Binding Update message from a mobile router. During this smaller Lifetime, the mobile router can send a Routing Update message to the home agent. Thus, the home agent, for example, can check consistency of prefix information specified in the Biding Update with route installed by the Routing Update message. The present invention can be applied to both two distinct modes (explicit mode and implicit mode) that prefix information is specified in the Binding Update or not.
US07916694B2
A method and system of transmitting a plurality of Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple (OFDM) symbols in a block transmission system of a communication network is provided. The block transmission system is a frequency reuse system. The method includes encoding the plurality of OFDM symbols. The method further includes, modulating at least one of a phase and a magnitude of the plurality of OFDM symbols. Thereafter, a plurality of modulated OFDM symbols is converted from a digital form to an analog form. The plurality of modulated OFDM symbols corresponds to the plurality of OFDM symbols.
US07916692B2
The present invention aims to provide continuous communication, between mobile terminal, based on edge mobility technology, during hand over a mobile terminal, even if addresses of edge routers before/after movement of the mobile terminal may not be acquired from the mobile terminal. It is configured so that when the mobile terminal moves, it becomes connected to the edge router and a CN information request command is transmitted to a home agent. The home agent manages a care-of address corresponding to a home address of the mobile terminal and transmits the CN information request command to this care-of address, which corresponds to the edge router before the mobile terminal moves, and the edge router manages a care-of address of a communication partner of the mobile terminal. Therefore, the care-of address of the communication partner of the mobile terminal can be acquired.
US07916684B2
A wireless communication network is provided that includes a plurality of access points. A plurality of the access points are configured as local access points that are each configured to operate at one of a set of frequencies and within a communication range. The local access points may communicate with a mobile device within the corresponding local access point communication range. The wireless network further includes an access point configured as a master access point to communicate with each of the plurality of local access points at a frequency that is outside the set of frequencies of the local access points.
US07916682B2
Techniques and technologies are provided in which wireless switches, each supporting their own subnet, are configured as part of a mobility domain. Each wireless switch in the mobility domain can discover other wireless switches in the mobility domain upon joining the network, and establish a peering session with each of the other switches within the mobility domain. This can involve establishing a data tunnel, which operates according to GRE-over-IP, and a control connection between each pair of the wireless switches in the mobility domain. Each data tunnel carries complete Layer-2 (L2) packets between the first wireless switch and the second wireless switch. Each L2 packet comprises L2 header information (e.g., a VLAN identifier), and is made available at the destination wireless switch of the data tunnel. Each control connection comprises a peering session over Internet Protocol (IP) which operates according to the transmission control protocol (TCP). Each control connection is configured to transfer wireless client device mobility related control plane information between the first wireless switch and the second wireless switch. This architecture can allow a wireless client device to retain its layer 3 (L3) address when the wireless client device roams between wireless switches (e.g., the first wireless switch and the second wireless switch) which are part of the first mobility domain. As such, the wireless client device can maintains network layer connectivity when it roams within the first mobility domain.
US07916673B2
A sender communication device includes a communication unit for sending a communication signal to a receiver communication device, and a communication controller for controlling setting of communication channels used for the communication unit as well as for setting, when sending the communication signal, a sending period of the communication signal substantially not shorter than a receive confirmation period of all communication channels in the receiver communication device. A receiver communication device includes a communication unit for receiving the communication signal sent from the sender communication device while switching over plural communication channels, and a communication controller for controlling switching of the communication channels and for setting a communication signal receive-waiting opportunity, in which a first communication channel is used, substantially higher than a receive-waiting opportunity, in which a second communication channel is used. It is thus possible to avoid radiowave interference while saving electric power and lowering delay.
US07916671B1
In a Frequency Duplex Division (FDD) radio, the transmit and receive signals are separated by frequency. In a wireless application, the power of the transmitted signal is typically much larger than the power of the received signal. A duplexer is used to separate the transmit and receive signals. Despite the operation of the duplexer, a residual transmit signal, or echo, can be present at the receiver input as a result of finite attenuation in the duplexer and other sources of transmit to receive crosstalk. With a relatively linear low-noise amplifier (LNA) and output limited mixer linearity, the echo can be cancelled in analog baseband directly at the mixer output using an out-of-channel signal indicator as the error signal for an echo control loop.
US07916660B2
A pilot signal is estimated by using the sampling theorem to estimate noise power in a stable manner without depending on the signal to noise ratio. A pilot signal estimation section obtains an estimated pilot signal by using the sampling theorem according to a plurality of received pilot signals sampled in the frequency domain by a sampling processor. A noise power estimation section estimates noise power by applying statistical averaging to the difference between the received pilot signal received from the sampling processor and the estimated pilot signal received from the pilot signal estimation section.
US07916659B2
A method for controlling congestion for real-time video transmission in a wireless network includes receiving a packet loss rate of a video camera in a wireless network, receiving an estimated maximum throughput of the video camera from the camera to a server, decrementing a bit transmission rate when the packet loss rate is greater than a first predetermined threshold, incrementing the bit transmission rate when the packet loss rate is less than a second predetermined threshold for a predetermined time period, and transmitting the bit transmission rate to a video encoder that is part of an application layer of a network communication protocol for the wireless network.
US07916656B2
A method and system for identifying sessions in a computer network is disclosed. The session is between a first computer system and a second computer system. The session consists of an exchange of a plurality of packets between the computer systems. Each of the packets includes source information and destination information relating to the first computer system and the second computer system. The method and system include providing a symmetric key and identifying the session using the symmetric key. The symmetric key is provided utilizing a manipulation of the source information and the destination information. The symmetric key is associated with the plurality of packets traveling between the first computer system and the second computer system.
US07916649B2
In the method for monitoring communication in a wireless communication network, a network explorer may be passively attached to the wireless communication network. The network explorer may store data associated with received communication over the wireless communication network and performs an analysis on the stored data. In the apparatus of the network explorer may passively monitor communication over a wireless communication network, store data associated with the communication, and perform an analysis on the stored data.
US07916648B2
A method of radio communications and routing and connection in a mobile radio system consisting of the steps of providing nodes for transmitting and receiving signals wherein the nodes are positioned in a free form fashion within a defined area, and the routing of a communication is determined based on selecting the most desirable and normally the shortest path between the communication source and the destination drop.
US07916647B2
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that facilitates automatic adjustment of logical channels in a Fiber Channel (FC) network. During operation, the system receives FC data frames. A respective data frame is associated with a logical channel. The bandwidth on an FC link can be allocated into a plurality of logical channels, and a respective logical channel is associated with a dedicated buffer and can transport a plurality of data flows with data frames of variable length. The system then identifies a slow data flow in a first logical channel. Next, the system assigns the slow data flow to a second logical channel, thereby preventing the slow data flow from slowing down other data flows in the first logical channel. The system subsequently forwards the data frames in the slow data flow on the second logical channel onto an outgoing link.
US07916646B2
A method and apparatus for handling an overload condition in a communication network are disclosed. For example, the method calculates a call target rate by at least one core signaling network element. The method then uses the call target rate by the at least one core signaling network element to start throttling signaling traffic if a total queueing delay of the at least one core signaling network element exceeds a predefined high threshold in a measurement interval.
US07916645B2
A communication system includes a call agent that coordinates and supervises communications between endpoints. The call agent allocates a QoS agent for each endpoint involved in a call. The QoS agents generate reservations for the call in order to provide the call with a guaranteed amount of bandwidth and an established QoS. Each endpoint or location associated with an endpoint has a reservation policy that determines how calls are to be handled when a reservation is or is not obtained and when a reservation is lost or obtained during a call. The communication system is able to handle reservations, or the lack thereof, during various situations like on hold, call transfer, call forwarding, conference call, and shared line services.
US07916637B2
An actuator is disclosed which is required to implement, without errors, a generic rate-based packet sending algorithm over a packet switching network such as the Internet. Typical applications are audio/video streaming over UDP or TCP, audio/video conference over IP, Voice over IP, real-time data delivery, IP Television, Digital Video Broadcast over IP, client-server or peer-to-peer content distribution, Content Delivery Networks, Hybrid peer-to-peer/CDNs. Rate-based packet sending is of key importance for providing Quality of Service/Experience (QoS/QoE) over the Internet because it provides reduced queuing delays and jitters, and reduced buffer sizes both at application and network layers.
US07916633B2
A method for sending a variable length response message in a master-slave communication system begins by issuing a command from a master device to a slave device. A response message is generated by the slave device. The length of the response message is determined by the slave device and is communicated from the slave device to the master device. The master device requests the rest of the response message from the slave device, and the slave device then sends the rest of the response message to the master device.
US07916630B2
In a system having distributed components arranged in a logical ring structure, each component monitors only their respective neighboring component in the structure and the condition of the neighboring component is determined. If a component determines a condition of its neighboring component that corresponds to a predefinable condition, the component informs the other components of the system of the predefined condition of the neighboring component.
US07916627B2
A power distribution protection system and method uses communications to coordinate operation of fault protection devices. Communications may be prioritized wherein messages of a lower priority are held or discarded in favor of messages of a higher priority, for example, messages indicating a fault condition. The devices may use multiple channel access schemes in accordance with a priority of a message to be communicated.
US07916623B2
A method of allocating wireless resources in a wireless communication system is disclosed. More specifically, the method includes allocating distributed chunks to at least one user equipment (UE) on a frequency domain, wherein the distributed chunks are localized chunks which are allocated to the wireless resources according to a distributed allocation scheme, constructing a map for allocating localized chunks in consideration of the allocated distributed chunks, wherein the localized chunks are the localized chunks allocated to the wireless resources according to a localized allocation scheme, and allocating the localized chunks to the at least one UE after all of the distributed chunks are allocated. Here, the distributed chunks and the localized chunks are mutually exclusive.
US07916618B2
An optical pickup for irradiating an information recording medium, such as a DVD, with a laser beam when an information signal is recorded or reproduced, and information equipment provided with the optical pickup.
US07916616B2
An optical disk with an embedded security device, or wafer, is presented. The security device includes security features that enable the identification of genuine optical disks versus counterfeit optical disks. Methods for creating optical disks embedded with security devices are also presented. A security device is placed on the center pin of an open mold before the optical disk is formed. Alternatively, an optical disk having a cavity formed on a surface to receive a security device is created. A special mold with a raised platform creates the cavity on the optical disk. As a further alternative, two optical platters, each having a complementary cavity to accommodate a security device are created using a special mold having a raised platform. The security device is inserted into the complementary cavities and the optical platters and security device are bonded together.
US07916615B2
Embodiments of methods and systems for controlling access to information stored on memory or data storage devices are disclosed. In various embodiments, fluid-mediated modification of information or access to information is utilized. According to various embodiments, data storage devices designed for rotating access are described which include rotation-activated fluid control mechanisms.
US07916602B2
An optical recording and reproducing apparatus includes a recording-pulse-shift setting unit that shifts a front edge and a rear edge of a recording pulse and sets a write strategy of the recording pulse, an mark-edge-position evaluating unit that detects a front edge and a rear edge of a mark formed and detects a front mark edge position error and a rear mark edge position error, an assuming unit that assumes that the front mark edge position error is represented by a first linear function and assumes that the rear mark edge position error is represented by a second linear function, a sensitivity calculating unit that executes test recording and calculates sensitivities, and a write-strategy calculating unit that calculates a write strategy of the recording pulse on the basis of the sensitivities.
US07916589B2
The present invention provides a control method of an optical disc drive, including the steps of: (a) entering a writing state; (b) checking if a reading command for requesting recorded data is received, wherein when the reading command is not received, then continuing a writing process, and when the reading command is received, then going to step (c); (c) interrupting the writing process; (d) switching to a reading state; (e) reading the recorded data according to the reading command; and (f) switching to the writing state.
US07916586B2
A near field optical recording/reproducing apparatus includes a light source, an objective lens to form a spot by focusing light emitted from the light source, a solid immersion lens to generate an evanescent wave by using the spot formed by the objective lens, a photodetector to measure an amplitude of a gap error signal that is totally reflected by the solid immersion lens, and an operating unit to generate a normalized gap error signal by using an amplitude of a driving signal applied to the light source and the amplitude of the gap error signal measured by the photodetector.
US07916579B1
An alarm clock radio is provided that handles downloaded audio files and streaming digital audio files. The alarm clock radio may have buttons and displays that allow the user to adjust various alarm clock radio settings. The user may also adjust settings remotely over the Internet or over an in-home network. The user may customize the audio content that is provided with the alarm clock radio. Advertisements may be provided to the user. The user may be provided with an opportunity to subscribe to a content service. Content such as Internet radio station content, e-mail, news and other audio content may be provided to the user from the service. The user may set reminders for particular times and dates using the alarm clock radio. The alarm clock radio may also have a telephone handset. The alarm clock radio may have buttons and knobs and may provide on-screen options that allow the user to tune to AM and FM and Internet radio stations and to control the operation of the alarm clock radio.
US07916578B2
A vibration source (10) includes an armature bar (12) having a major length dimension, and a driver (20A) positioned about the armature bar. The driver (20A) is movably coupled to the armature bar (12), and includes an electromagnet (40). During operation the electromagnet (40) is activated such that the driver (20A) moves with respect to the armature bar (12) and a vibratory signal is generated in the armature bar. A described method for generating a vibratory signal in an object includes positioning the vibration source (10) in an opening of the object, coupling the armature bar (12) to a surface of the object within the opening, and activating the electromagnet (40) of the driver (20A) such that the driver moves with respect to the armature bar (12) and a vibratory signal is generated in the armature bar and the object.
US07916577B2
Provided is a method for recognizing a location to control the location of a moving object, the method including: generating a synchronizing signal for a plurality of ultrasonic satellites; the plurality of the ultrasonic satellites simultaneously transmitting ultrasonic signals respectively comprising different frequencies from each other, the plurality of the ultrasonic satellites fixed on predetermined static positions; a receiver, attached to the moving object, receiving the ultrasonic signal and measuring distances between the receiver of the moving object and each of the plurality of the ultrasonic satellites by classifying the frequencies of the ultrasonic signals; and calculating a current location of the moving object by using the measured distances.
US07916569B2
A dynamic random access memory device includes a plurality of memory subblocks. Each subblock has a plurality of wordlines whereto a plurality of data store cells are connected. Partial array self-refresh (PASR) configuration settings are independently made. In accordance with the PASR settings, the memory subblocks are addressed for refreshing. The PASR settings are made by a memory controller. Any kind of combinations of subblock addresses may be selected. Thus, the memory subblocks are fully independently refreshed. User selectable memory arrays for data retention provide effective memory control programming especially for low power mobile application.
US07916567B2
A twin cell architecture for dynamic random access memory (DRAM) devices and those devices incorporating embedded DRAM utilizing an open bitline configuration is disclosed. The twin cell architecture disclosed has significant advantages over conventional designs in terms of power, radiation hardness and speed and does not require intermediate supply voltage bitline precharge while allowing for 6F2 memory cell layouts.
US07916564B2
A semiconductor device including a plurality of semiconductor chips is provided. A semiconductor device includes a storing unit in which redundancy information portions are stored, and a comparing unit comparing a current address to the redundancy information portions and enabling or disabling operation of a semiconductor device based on the comparison result.
US07916559B2
There is provided a semiconductor memory device including: a source strobe signal generating unit configured to generate a source strobe signal having a first or a second activation width corresponding to a normal mode and a bank grouping mode; a final strobe signal generating unit configured to, in the normal mode, expand the first activation width and generate a final strobe signal having the expanded first activation width, and in the bank grouping mode, maintain the second activation width and generate the final strobe signal having the second activation width; and a sense amplifying unit configured to sense, amplify and output data applied through a data line in response to the final strobe signal.
US07916555B2
In a semiconductor integrated circuit, an internal circuit is capable of executing a first operation and a second operation concurrently, and an output circuit outputs to the outside of the semiconductor integrated circuit information indicating whether or not the first operation is being executed and information indicating whether or not the second operation is executable.
US07916549B2
In a semiconductor device, a self-test circuit includes a write part for writing data in a given address of a special region of a nonvolatile memory; a read part for reading the written data from the given address; a verify part for determining whether or not the written data accords with the read data; and a decision part for determining soundness of the nonvolatile memory on the basis of a result of determination made by the verify part. In the case where the written data accords with the read data, the decision part determines that the nonvolatile memory is sound, and in the case where the data do not accord with each other, it determines that the nonvolatile memory is unsound.
US07916538B2
A memory device includes a memory cell array including a NAND flash cell portion including a plurality of first columns of serially-connected flash memory cells and a non-volatile random access memory (NVRAM) cell portion including a plurality of second columns of NVRAM cells. The flash memory cells and the NVRAM cells are arranged such that respective word lines are connected to flash memory cells and NVRAM cells in each of respective rows, which may correspond to page units including flash memory cells and NVRAM cells.
US07916531B2
In a first aspect, a first apparatus is provided. The first apparatus is a memory element that includes (1) one or more MOSFETs each including a dielectric material having a dielectric constant of about 3.9 to about 25; and (2) control logic coupled to at least one of the one or more MOSFETs. The control logic is adapted to (a) cause the memory element to operate in a first mode to store data; and (b) cause the memory element to operate in a second mode to change a threshold voltage of at least one of the one or more MOSFETs from an original threshold voltage to a changed threshold voltage such that the changed threshold voltage affects data stored by the memory element when operated in the first mode. Numerous other aspects are provided.
US07916523B2
In a first method of erasing a resistive memory device, an electrical potential is applied to the gate of a transistor in series with the resistive memory device, and successive increasing currents are provided through the resistive memory device by means of providing successive increasing electrical potentials across the resistive memory device. In a second method of erasing a resistive memory device, an electrical potential is applied across the resistive memory device, and successive increasing currents are provided through the resistive memory device by means of providing successive increasing electrical potentials to the gate of a transistor in series with the resistive memory device.
US07916522B2
A semiconductor memory device includes n resistance change elements which are arranged in one cell, have a low-resistance state and a high resistance state, are connected in series or parallel, have different resistance values in the same resistance state, and change between the low-resistance state and the high-resistance state under different conditions, and a write circuit which is connected to one end of the n resistance change elements, and applies a pulse current m (1≦m≦n) times to the n resistance change elements during a write operation. Letting Im be a current value of an mth pulse current, condition I1>I2> . . . >Im holds.
US07916518B2
A memory device including current-limiting circuitry coupled to a first inverter inside a data register is provided. The current-limiting circuitry controls a voltage supplied to the first inverter and a reference voltage may be adjusted so that the voltage supplied to the first inverter is prevented from dropping below a voltage supplied to a second inverter inside the data register. The memory device may include a switch to allow coupling to the current-limiting circuitry for programming of the memory device.
US07916515B2
An apparatus and associated method for writing data to a non-volatile memory cell, such as a resistive random access memory (RRAM) cell. In some embodiments, a control circuitry is configured to write a logic state to a resistive sense element while simultaneously verifying the logic state of the resistive sense element.
US07916514B2
By using a resistive film as a shunt, the snapback exhibited when transitioning from the reset state or amorphous phase of a phase change material, may be reduced or avoided. The resistive film may be sufficiently resistive that it heats the phase change material and causes the appropriate phase transitions without requiring a dielectric breakdown of the phase change material.
US07916512B2
A memory module having a high data processing rate and high capacity is provided. The memory module may include a memory chip, a controller controlling an operation of the memory chip, an optical detector converting an external input signal into an internal input signal to transmit the converted signal to the controller, and an optical generator converting an internal output signal received from the controller into an external output signal. The optical detector converts an external input optical signal into an internal input signal to transmit the converted signal to the controller. The optical generator converts an internal output signal received from the controller into an external output optical signal.
US07916509B2
A power source device includes an input terminal, a first switching element connected to the input terminal, a second switching element connected to the first switching element, a transformer having a primary coil connected to a connecting node between the first and second switching elements, a low-pass filter including a series body of a coil and a capacitor connected to a secondary coil of the transformer, an output terminal connected to a connecting node between the coil and the capacitor, a comparator having a first input terminal connected to the output terminal, and an alternating signal generator connected to a second terminal of the comparator. An output terminal of the comparator is connected to each control terminal of the first switching element and the second switching element via the temporary amplitude generation permissible section.
US07916502B2
A cable tray is provided comprising a housing defining an interior portion, the housing having at least one positioned opening formed therein and also having plural, open ends in communication with the interior portion and the at least one positioned opening for passage of at least one cable therethrough. The housing is adapted to be coupled to at least one external surface, such that at least one of the plural, open ends substantially aligns with at least one open end of a housing of at least one further cable tray.
US07916500B2
A shield for electronic elements of a circuit board includes a frame and a cover, the frame including a peripheral wall comprising a plurality of fixed portions thereon, wherein the fixed portion includes a protrusion and a gap, the protrusion formed on the inner side of the peripheral wall, and the cover has a plurality of folding pieces corresponding to the fixed portions, the folding pieces defines an aperture, and the cover is mounted on the frame, the folding pieces match with the fixed portions correspondingly, the protrusion passes the aperture and locks with the aperture. When the cover is detached, the folding pieces are resisted via the gap to make the protrusion to break away from the aperture of the folding piece, enabling the cover to be opened.
US07916484B2
A heat sink includes a metallic heat conducting layer, a non-metallic heatsink layer combined with the metallic heat conducting layer and having a porous structure, and a hollow receiving space defined between the metallic heat conducting layer and the non-metallic heatsink layer. Thus, the heat produced by a heat source is conducted quickly and distributed evenly on the metallic heat conducting layer to form an evenly heat conducting effect, while the hollow receiving space has a heat convection effect to quickly transfer the heat on the metallic heat conducting layer to the non-metallic heatsink layer which produces a heatsink effect to dissipate the heat so that the heat is dissipated quickly by provision of the metallic heat conducting layer, the hollow receiving space and the non-metallic heatsink layer.
US07916472B1
A data processing unit includes a chassis configured to contain a line card. The chassis defines, at least in part, a portion of a first flow pathway and a portion of a second flow pathway. The chassis is configured such that a first portion of a gas can flow within the first flow pathway between an intake region and the first end portion of the line card such that the first portion of the gas flows across a first end portion of the line card in a first direction. The chassis is configured such that a second portion of the gas can flow within the second flow pathway between the intake region and a second end portion of the line card such that the second portion of the gas flows across the second end portion of the line card in a second direction opposite the first direction.
US07916471B2
In a storage device accommodating a plurality of memory devices in a general-purpose chassis provided from both surface sides thereof, a cooling device is provided on the front of the memory devices. This cooling device is allowed to freely move to leave available the area in front of the memory devices, thereby enabling maintenance and replacement of the memory devices from the both surface sides of the chassis. With such a storage device of a type using a general-purpose chassis, and inserting therein a plurality of memory devices from the both surface sides thereof, even if a cooling device is located on the front of the chassis, the memory devices can be subjected to maintenance and replacement.
US07916456B2
A carbon layer is formed on a solid electrolyte layer of the solid electrolytic capacitor, and a conductor layer connected to a cathode terminal is further disposed thereon. The carbon layer contains carbon particles, and a first additive or a second additive. The first additive is formed from at least one of those selected from the group consisting of hydrated silica and silicate. The second additive is formed from at least one of those selected from the group consisting of a condensation product of an aromatic sulfonic acid with formaldehyde, a condensation product of an aromatic sulfonate with formaldehyde, polystyrene sulfonic acid, and polystyrene sulfonate.
US07916453B2
An energy storage cell pack cradle assembly for holding multiple rows of energy storage cells oriented along a dominant axis of vibration includes a first cradle member including a plurality of energy storage cell body supporting structures including respective holes; a second cradle member including a plurality of energy storage cell body supporting structures including respective holes; and one or more fasteners connecting the first cradle member and the second cradle member together. The energy storage cell body supporting structures are configured to structurally support the energy storage cells, with the energy storage cells oriented along a dominant axis of vibration, by energy storage cell bodies of the energy storage cells with respective electrically conductive terminals extending through the respective holes without structural support of the electrically conductive terminals by the cradle members.
US07916442B2
In breaker devices an early short-circuit recognition is required and also a tripping of the contacts. The recognition of a short-circuit occurs so early that with consideration of the response time of the measuring probes and the unlocking mechanism by a suitable analysis algorithm the release of the movable contact occurs before or at least at the time that the current-breaking forces correspond to the contact force. The contact force is hence compensated for and a rapid opening of the contacts can be achieved.
US07916437B2
A fault interrupter and a method of operating a fault interrupter to reduce arcing time during fault interruption. Fault interrupter operation is delayed following detecting a peak current such that its operation occurs at a point of the current wave resulting in reduced arcing during fault isolation.
US07916433B2
A method and system for providing a magnetic element are described. The method and system include providing a pinned layer, a barrier layer, and a free layer. The free layer includes a first ferromagnetic layer, a second ferromagnetic layer, and an intermediate layer between the first ferromagnetic layer and the second ferromagnetic layer. The barrier layer resides between the pinned layer and the free layer and includes MgO. The first ferromagnetic layer resides between the barrier layer and the intermediate layer. The first ferromagnetic layer includes at least one of CoFeX and CoNiFeX, with X being selected from the group of B, P, Si, Nb, Zr, Hf, Ta, Ti, and being greater than zero atomic percent and not more than thirty atomic percent. The first ferromagnetic layer is ferromagnetically coupled with the second ferromagnetic layer. The intermediate layer is configured such that the first ferromagnetic layer has a first crystalline orientation and the second ferromagnetic layer has a second crystalline orientation different from the first ferromagnetic layer.
US07916429B2
A magnetic field detecting element comprising: a stack including an upper and magnetic layer, a lower magnetic layer, and a non-magnetic intermediate layer sandwiched therebetween, an upper and lower shield electrode layer provided in a manner that they sandwich said stack therebetween in a direction of stacking of the stack, wherein the upper and lower shield electrode layer supply sense current in the direction of stacking and magnetically shield the stack; a bias magnetic layer provided on a surface of the stack, the surface being opposite to an air bearing surface of said stack, and insulating films provided on both sides of the stack with regard to a track width direction thereof. The bias magnetic layer has a larger thickness than the stack, and the upper shield electrode layer and/or said lower shield electrode layer includes an auxiliary shield layer which fills a stepped portion formed by the stack and bias magnetic layer.
US07916427B1
Devices for reading or writing electromagnetic information include a wafer substrate piece disposed between an electromagnetic transducer and an electrostrictive or piezoelectric actuator. The substrate piece is shaped as a rigid body adjoining the transducer and as a flexible element connecting the body and the actuator. To fabricate, at least one electrostrictive layer and many transducers are formed on opposite sides of a wafer that is then cut into rows containing plural transducers. The rows are processed from directions generally normal to the wafer surface upon which the transducers were formed, by removing material to form a head, flexures and a media-facing surface on the head. Conductive leads are formed on a back surface of flexures connecting the transducer with drive electronics. The flexures are aligned with forces arising from interaction with the media surface and from seeking various tracks, reducing torque and dynamic instabilities and increasing actuator access time.
US07916422B1
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk comprising a plurality of servo tracks defined by a plurality of servo sectors, wherein each servo sector comprises a plurality of servo bursts, and each servo burst comprises a predetermined phase. After positioning the head over one of the servo tracks, a servo burst in one of the servo sectors is read to generate a read signal, and a sine and cosine component are extracted from the read signal. At least one of the sine and cosine components is rotated by an angle based on a radial location of the head. A position error signal for the head is generated in response to the rotated component.
US07916420B1
A disk drive is disclosed comprising a head actuated over a disk comprising a plurality of tracks. The disk drive further comprises a fly height actuator operable to adjust a fly height of the head. A fly height measurement (FHM) is generated for the head, and a fly height error (FHE) is generated as a difference between the FHM and a target fly height. A comb filter is used to generate fly height compensation values in response to the FHE, and a fly height control signal is generated in response to the FHE and the fly height compensation values, wherein the fly height control signal is applied to the fly height actuator.
US07916409B2
A lens barrel includes a plurality of lens groups each having at least one lens; a plurality of lens retaining frames which retain a corresponding one of the plurality of lens groups; a telescopic cylinder containing therein the plurality of lens groups and the plurality of lens retaining frames; a lens retaining frame driving device configured to drive at least one of the lens retaining frames; a moving member which moves in a direction along the photographing optical axis; and a position detector configured to detect a change in a position of the moving member, wherein the plurality of lens retaining frames including a retractable lens retaining frame configured to retract the at least another one of the plurality of lens groups from the photographing optical axis to a retracted position out of the telescopic cylinder in the collapsed state.
US07916408B2
An optical element mount has an inner member suspended within an outer member by a plurality of flexures. A first and a second translational adjustment apparatus are disposed to translate the inner member within a translation plane that is orthogonal to an optical axis, wherein each translational adjustment apparatus has an actuator movable within the outer member along a linear travel path that is parallel to the translation plane and a shaft extending between the outer and inner members, the shaft coupled to the actuator with a first ball-and-socket joint and coupled to the inner member with a second ball-and-socket joint. The linear travel path of the actuator for the first translational adjustment apparatus is substantially orthogonal to the linear travel path of the actuator for the second translational adjustment apparatus.
US07916405B2
An imaging lens unit which achieves a lower profile without adversely affecting the optical performance. The imaging lens unit includes a first lens, an aperture stop, a second lens, and a third lens arranged sequentially along the optical axis from the object side to the image side. The first lens includes a first surface located on the object side and being convex toward the object side and a second surface located on the image side and being concave toward the image side near the optical axis and convex toward the image side as the rim of the first lens becomes closer.
US07916400B2
A zoom lens includes a substrate, an imaging unit, a stationary lens barrel, a cam lens barrel and a guide lens barrel. The substrate defines a plurality of openings thereon. The imaging unit is attached on the substrate. The stationary lens barrel is mounted on the substrate and surrounding the imaging unit. The cam lens barrel is rotatably received in the stationary lens barrel and movable along the optical axis of the zoom lens as the rotation thereof along the inner circumference of the stationary lens barrel. The guide lens barrel is received in the cam lens barrel and movable axially following the motion of the cam lens barrel, and comprises a plurality of key numbers protruding outwards from the outer circumference corresponding to and received in the openings of the substrate when the zoom lens is positioned in the minimum focal length position.
US07916396B2
A method and apparatus providing a lens master device and use of the same to form a lens template and/or a lens structure. The method includes obtaining a plurality of individual lens masters, each of which has a shaped portion defining at least a portion of a lens structure to be formed. The lens masters are affixed onto a supporting structure to form a lens master device.
US07916395B2
A cavity ring-down spectroscopy (CRDS) mirror is constructed to resist migration of a maximum reflectance peak during use where the CRDS mirror may become accreted with contamination that would otherwise cause the maximum reflectance peak to migrate. The mirror includes a mirror stack disposed on a mirror substrate and a plurality of alternating laminates including a first film with a first index of refraction and a second film with a second index of refraction. Each film is a one-quarter wavelength thickness of a given light energy that is to illuminate the mirror. A subsequent laminate is disposed on the plurality of alternating laminates. The subsequent laminate includes a quarter wavelength thickness first film and a second film with a wavelength thickness in a range from greater than 1.5 quarter wavelength and less than 2 quarter wavelength.
US07916394B2
A diffractive optical element includes stacked first and second diffraction gratings made of different materials. The materials of the first and second diffraction gratings are glass. The first and second diffraction gratings have grating surfaces contacted to each other. The materials satisfy a predetermined condition when Tg2 and At2 are a transformation point temperature and a yield point temperature of the material of the first diffraction grating, and Tg3 and At3 are a transformation point temperature and a yield point temperature of the material of the second diffraction grating.
US07916387B2
In one embodiment of the invention, a semiconductor optical amplifier (SOA) in a laser ring is chosen to provide low polarization-dependent gain (PDG) and a booster semiconductor optical amplifier, outside of the ring, is chosen to provide high polarization-dependent gain. The use of a semiconductor optical amplifier with low polarization-dependent gain nearly eliminates variations in the polarization state of the light at the output of the laser, but does not eliminate the intra-sweep variations in the polarization state at the output of the laser, which can degrade the performance of the SS-OCT system.
US07916373B2
According to one embodiment, a reinforcing strut of the invention is a polyhedron attached to a plate and having at least two slanted facets, with each of the slanted facets oriented with respect to the plane of the plate at an angle different from about 90 degrees. Two slanted facets intersect to form an edge that causes the strut to have a tapered profile along the longitudinal axis of the strut.
US07916369B2
A holographic recording and reproducing apparatus includes a spatial light modulator, a Fourier transform lens, a reverse Fourier transform lens, a Charge Coupled Device (CCD) image sensor, and a pinhole disposed at a confocal point of the Fourier transform lens and the reverse Fourier transform lens, the holographic recording medium being disposed between the Fourier transform lens and the reverse Fourier transform lens, and the focal length of the Fourier transform lens and focal length of the reverse Fourier transform lens being different from each other, and the pinhole being disposed between the holographic recording medium and the Fourier transform lens or between the holographic recording medium and the reverse Fourier transform lens.
US07916367B2
An image reader includes a first read unit, a second read unit independent of the first read unit, a determination unit, a storage unit, and a correction unit. The first read unit reads a first face of a fed document to create image data. The second read unit reads a second face of the fed document to create the image data. The determination unit determines the read unit that has read a recording face of a test chart when a test chart document, with a test chart recorded on one face, is read. The storage unit stores the read unit that has read the recording face of the test chart and sampling data extracted from image data created by the read unit that has read the recording face of the test chart in association with each other. The correction unit corrects read characteristics of the read unit associated with the sampling data, based on the sampling data.
US07916360B2
An image scanning apparatus includes an endless belt; a pair of rotating bodies being adapted to wind the belt therearound with tension and rotating for rotating the belt; an image scanning unit which moves in association with the rotation of the belt in a state of being fixed to the belt for scanning an image from a document; a pair of frame members connected to each other; a supporting shaft integrated with one of the frame members for rotatably supporting one of the rotating bodies; and a restraining member provided on the other frame member for restraining inclination of the supporting shaft caused by a shaft load applied to the supporting shaft by the belt being wounded around the pair of rotating members with tension.
US07916348B2
A matched ideal waveform is extracted from a plurality of ideal waveforms based on degree of coincidence with a light sensitive waveform obtained by a light receiving portion. The plurality of ideal waveforms differ from one another in phase. The displacement amount of an image to be formed of an adjustive color from an image to be formed of a reference color is determined based on the extracted matched ideal waveform.
US07916341B2
Generation of an Interim Connection Space for spectral data in a full spectral space is provided. A set of linear maps is accessed, each linear map characterizing a linear transformation from the full spectral space to a colorimetric space, and spectral measurement data is accessed. The linear maps can for example be determined by a set of illuminants. The full spectral space is decomposed into a first subspace that minimizes a loss of a spectral component in the spectral measurement data under a projection along a second subspace onto the first subspace. The second subspace is a null subspace of the set of linear maps. The Interim Connection Space is generated based on the first subspace. The Interim Connection Space can include, for example, a linear map characterizing a linear transformation from the Interim Connection Space to the full spectral space, and a linear map characterizing a linear transformation from the full spectral space to the Interim Connection Space.
US07916336B2
A printer for use in an apparatus for storing and cooling produce is provided. The printer has a printer module, collector and page binder. The printer module is provided in a compartment door of the apparatus and has a media store storing pages of media in a vertically disposed manner and a pagewidth printhead arranged vertically beneath the media store for printing on the vertically disposed pages of media as they pass the printhead from the media store. The collector is provided in another compartment door of the apparatus at an interface of the compartment doors to receive the vertically disposed printed pages and hold the printed pages in the vertically disposed manner. The page binder is positioned between the printer module and collector for binding multiple printed pages by applying adhesive to each printed page as it passes from the printhead without interrupting their movement past the printhead.
US07916335B2
A system including a sensing device and a printer is disclosed. The sensing device and the printer are in communication with each other. The sensing device is for sensing first coded data included in a first interface disposed on a first surface. The printer is configured to receive, from the sensing device, data representative of the sensed first coded data, to send data based on the received data to a computer system, to receive response data from the computer system, the response data being derived by the computer system from the data sent to the computer system and identifying a unique identity of a second interface, to generate the second interface based at least partially on the response data, the second interface comprising second coded data encoding the unique identity of the second interface, and to print the second interface onto a second surface.
US07916333B2
A read-image transfer apparatus is connected to an image reader and to a weblog server via a network. The read-image transfer apparatus stores therein user setting information including at least destination address information for the weblog server, a transfer protocol for the weblog server, and user identification information for causing the weblog server to identify a user. The read-image transfer apparatus controls the image reader so as to read image information from a document, stores the read image information in a memory, and transfers the stored image information to the weblog server based on the stored user setting information.
US07916330B2
An information processing apparatus which has a first drawing conversion unit which converts first drawing information generated by an application of a first type into first print information which can be processed by a printer driver of a first type, and a second drawing conversion unit which converts second drawing information generated by an application of a second type into second print information which can be processed by a printer driver of a second type, includes a determination unit which determines the type of application as an output source with respect to the printer driver as an output destination, a detection unit which detects printer drivers which match the type of application from installed printer drivers, and a display control unit which displays printer drivers on a display for selecting a printer driver as the output destination of the application.
US07916322B2
Techniques are disclosed for uploading content (such as a digital photograph) from a content upload device to a content server over a communications network, and for automatically forwarding the content from the content server to one or more remote destinations. A user of the content upload device may cause the content upload device to upload the content to the content server by initiating a single action, such as pressing a single button on the content upload device, and without providing information identifying the user to the content upload device. Upon receiving the content, the content server may add the content to a queue, referred to as a content outbox, associated with the user. The content server may automatically forward the content in the user's content outbox to one or more remote destinations specified by preferences associated with the user's content outbox.
US07916317B2
An image forming device is disclosed which includes an interrupt job display unit, an interrupt job selection unit, and an interrupt control unit. The interrupt job display unit will display details of an image forming job (an interrupt job) in an interrupt job window that is requested while another image forming job is being performed. The interrupt job selection unit allows an operator to permit or reject the execution of the interrupt job that is displayed on the interrupt job window. The interrupt control unit will execute the interrupt job if the operator permits the execution of the interrupt job. The interrupt job display unit displays interrupt job windows corresponding to a plurality of interrupt jobs that are requested while another image forming job is being performed. The interrupt job windows are displayed so as to overlap and be individually identifiable by an operator.
US07916312B2
A measurement arrangement has a rotation axis around a first end of an extended member having a first joint thereat, and a second joint at the opposing end. An equipment for recording measured points is connected to the second joint. The joints are connected through a cord or wire. The equipment is arranged to rotate through a pre-determined angle when the member is turned around its rotation axis. An angle sensor records the rotation of the equipment relative to the member. The cord or wire rotates the equipment through an angle corresponding to the angle that the member has rotated around its rotation axis. The equipment and the member rotate in opposite directions, and the angles of rotation are recorded when the equipment detects the limiting surface of the object on both sides of the diameter to be measured. A processor calculates the diameter based on the angles of rotation.
US07916309B2
A device and method for three-dimensional (3-D) imaging using a defocusing technique is disclosed. The device comprises a lens having a substantially oblong aperture, a sensor operable for capturing light transmitted from an object through the lens and the substantially oblong aperture, and a processor communicatively connected with the sensor for processing the sensor information and producing a 3-D image of the object. The aperture may have an asymmetrical shape for distinguishing objects in front of versus in back of the focal plane. The aperture may also be rotatable, where the orientation of the observed pattern relative to the oblong aperture is varied with time thereby removing the ambiguity generated by image overlap. The disclosed device further comprises a light projection system configured to project a predetermined pattern onto a surface of the desired object thereby allowing for mapping of unmarked surfaces in three dimensions.
US07916300B2
A spectroscopy device that separates input light into a plurality of wavelength ranges. A metal body has a hole or aperture which is open on the upper side. The hole or aperture is formed in a polygonal shape having at least a pair of opposite faces not parallel to each other in horizontal cross-section. Inner side faces of the hole or aperture are finished as mirror like reflection surfaces. Polarized input light inputted from the opening to the hole or aperture is reflected by the reflection surfaces and a standing wave is generated inside of the hole or aperture by self interference, whereby the input light is separated into a plurality of wavelength ranges.
US07916293B2
Described herein is a particle detection system capable of spatially resolving the interaction of particles with a beam of electromagnetic radiation. Using a specific electromagnetic beam cross sectional shape and orientation, the detection sensitivity of a particle detection system can be improved. Also provided are methods for detecting and sizing particles in a manner that has low background signal and allows for spatially resolving the scattering or emission of electromagnetic radiation from particles.
US07916290B2
The invention is directed to a coaxially arranged, off-axis optical system for a sighting device or aiming device. It is the object of the invention to provide a possibility for constructing an optical system in such a way that the typical disadvantage with respect to the tightness of a sighting device in an open-type construction is overcome and a good flattening of the image field is achieved in addition to the high optical imaging quality of the aiming mark. According to the invention, by means of a coaxially arranged, off-axis optical system for a sighting device or aiming device comprising a lens group, wherein the lens facing the target object is constructed as a converging meniscus and the lens facing the eye is constructed as a diverging meniscus, with a dichroic reflector and an embodiment for the aiming mark, the above-stated object is met in that a correction lens with positive refractive power is arranged at a distance of less than 0.2-times the focal length relative to the aiming mark and acts exclusively in the beam path of the aiming mark, and in that the correction lens is inserted into the housing by positive locking and is sealed so that the housing with the aiming mark, with the associated mechanism and with the electronics in the interior is sealed relative to the environment.
US07916288B2
A method for inspecting a defect of a surface of a sample, includes irradiating a laser beam on the sample surface a plurality of times so that at least part of an illumination field of the laser beam on the sample surface illuminates a first area of the sample surface each of the plurality of times, detecting a plurality of scattered light rays from the first area caused by the plurality of times of irradiation, correcting errors of detection timings for the plurality of scattered light rays detected in the detection step, and determining a defect on the sample surface based on the plurality of scattered light rays in accordance with the correcting errors of detection timings.
US07916262B2
A signal transmission assembly includes first and second substrates respectively having first and second electrodes, and a conductive layer disposed between the electrodes. The second electrode has a trench. The conductive layer includes an adhesive and conductive particles distributed therein. The second electrode is electrically connected to the first electrode through the conductive layer, and a portion of the adhesive is filled into the trench. When the assembly is applied to a display device, the first electrode electrically connects a non-display area to a display area of a display panel. When the second electrode and a third electrode at two ends of the second substrate are electrically connected to the first electrode and a third substrate (e.g., a PCB), respectively, a signal may be transmitted from the third substrate to the display area through the second substrate, the second electrode and the first electrode to control the display.
US07916261B2
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display device which can obviate cutting off of a peripheral region of the liquid crystal display device which is provided with an inspection circuit and can surely perform the inspection of an image display even when the peripheral region is narrowed. On a substrate of the liquid crystal display device, a pixel region which is comprised of a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of drain lines and a peripheral region which surrounds the pixel region are formed. A turn-on inspection terminal of the liquid crystal display device are formed on the peripheral region and a semiconductor chip for driving liquid crystal is formed on the inspection terminal. The semiconductor chip is electrically insulated from the inspection terminal.
US07916259B2
A display device according to the present invention contains a transparent display unit (18) and a reflective display unit (19) in one pixel. The reflective display unit (19) is provided with an insulating layer (8) constituting a multi-gap layer, and a pixel electrode (16) and a common electrode (17) set closer to a display surface than a reflective film (7) at least through the insulating layer. The reflective film (7) is provided on the same plane as the insulating layer (8) in the lower substrate (10) and covered with the insulating layer (8), or provided in a lower layer than the insulating layer (8) in the lower substrate (10) and overlapped with the insulating layer (8).
US07916246B2
A color filtering member for improving the brightness of a display device is presented. The color filtering member includes colored regions (e.g., regions with RBG color filters) and black-and-white regions for transmitting white light. The black-and-white regions may be colorless gaps between adjacent colored regions. Multiple planarizing layers may be deposited on the colored regions and the black-and-white regions to form a surface that is sufficiently even. The color filtering member may include an intercepting region that extends between neighboring colored regions. The position of the intercepting region is not centered between the two colored regions that it separates. Rather, the intercepting region is shifted in the direction of rubbing (in the direction of liquid crystal alignment) to more effectively cover the regions where light leakage occurs. This color filtering member may be combined with an array member and a liquid crystal layer to form a display device.
US07916244B2
A liquid crystal display (LCD) having high luminance and color renditions is provided. The liquid crystal display includes a first insulating substrate, a gate line and a data line crossing each other on the first insulating substrate to define a pixel. First and second sub-pixel electrodes divide the pixel into two parts. A first switching element drives the first sub-pixel electrode and a second switching element drives the second sub-pixel electrode. A second insulating substrate faces the first insulating substrate. A color pattern is arranged on the second insulating substrate and overlaps the first sub-pixel electrode. A contrast pattern overlaps the second sub-pixel electrode.
US07916242B2
A prism sheet includes a transparent base film with first and second surfaces and an optical refracting part with a plurality of prism units on the second surface, wherein the prism units are integral with the transparent base film, each prism unit having a predetermined height and extending along a first direction on the second surface of the transparent base film, wherein each prism unit includes a ridge extending along the first direction, a distance along a normal between the second surface of the transparent base film and the ridge defining the predetermined height of the prism unit, and wherein at least two prism units include ridges inclined at a predetermined angle other than zero with respect to the second surface of the transparent base film, the inclined ridges being unevenly distributed on the second surface of the transparent base film.
US07916241B2
An optical element manufacturing method according to the present invention includes: disposing a mask on a transparent photosensitive resin; patterning said transparent resin by applying an exposure light to said transparent photosensitive resin through said mask to form a transparent layer; forming a light absorbing layer by filling a gap in the transparent layer with a black curable resin; and illuminating a mask surface of the mask with the exposure light at an angle.
US07916237B2
A liquid crystal display device has a reinforced rigidity against external impacts. The liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel and a backlight assembly; and a bottom chassis disposed to receive the liquid crystal display panel and the backlight assembly, the bottom chassis having a projection projected from an inner surface of the bottom chassis towards the liquid crystal display panel and the backlight assembly.
US07916232B2
A novel structure of an active electro-optical device is disclosed. The device is provided with complementary thin film insulated gate field affect transistors (TFTs) therein which comprise a P-TFT and an N-TFT. P-TFT and N-TFT are connected to a common signal line by the gate electrodes thereof, while the source (or drain) electrodes thereof are connected to a common signal line as well as to one of the picture element electrodes. In case of driving the active electro-optical device, a gradation display can be carried out in a driving method having a display timing determined in relation to a time F for writing one screen and a time (t) for writing in one picture element, by applying a reference signal in a cycle of the time (t), to the signal line used for a certain picture element driving selection, and by applying the select signal to the other signal line at a certain timing within the time (t), and whereby setting the value of the voltage to be applied to a liquid crystal.
US07916221B2
A surface light source includes a light guide unit which allows two linear polarized lights having polarized planes perpendicular to each other to alternately exit from an exit surface in a direction substantially parallel with a normal line of the exit surface. A retardation element is arranged to face the exit surface. The retardation element has λ/2 retardation portions which give a phase difference of a ½ wavelength between ordinary light and abnormal light, and a plurality of non-retardation portions having substantially no phase difference alternately formed in a direction along the exit surface. A lens array is provided to face the light guide unit. The lens array allows light which has been transmitted through a λ/2 retardation portion to exit in a first inclined exiting direction, and allows light which has been transmitted through a non-retardation portion to exit in a second inclined exiting direction.
US07916213B2
The present invention is arranged such that interlace image data, which has been supplied, is converted to progressive image data in an I/P conversion section, and the image data converted to progressive style in the I/P conversion section is subjected to image processing including data comparison in spatial or time series manner, in an image processing section.
US07916199B2
A pixel includes a photodiode, an overflow circuit, a first sensing circuit, and a second sensing circuit. The first sensing circuit charges and discharges a cathode capacitance by a photocurrent flowing through a photodiode, and amplifies an obtained voltage by a source follower amplifier so as to be outputted to a data line. The second sensing circuit charges and discharged the cathode capacitance by the photocurrent flowing through the photodiode, and outputs electric charge stored in the cathode capacitance via the data line. A pixel circuit is configured so that a first mode in which the first sensing circuit becomes active and a second mode in which the second sensing circuit becomes active can be switched. The first mode and the second mode are switched according to an amount of light received by the photodiode included in each pixel circuit. Gain is controlled according to the amount of light received, in the first mode, and the storage time is controlled in the second mode.
US07916185B2
A memory control block performs in parallel a process of writing a current frame of image data captured by an image capturing device into a system shared memory, a process of reading out a previous frame of image data stored in the system shared memory, and a process of writing combined image data generated in an image combining block into the system shared memory.
US07916182B2
An apparatus and method for capturing images using a delay timer and face detection. After a command is given to begin a photographing process, a face detector determines the location of a face of a person being photographed. A timer counts down a predetermined delay time, for example, corresponding to a self-timer time period. A controller can set the auto focus or auto exposure parameters based on the detected face.
US07916180B2
Digital camera systems and methods are described that provide digital cameras configured to simultaneously acquire image data via multiple channels having different fields of view. The digital cameras include multiple channels coupled to a processing component. Each channel includes an optics component and an array of sensors or photo-detectors integrated on a semiconductor substrate. The channels include a first channel having a first field of view (FOV) and a second channel having a second FOV, and the second FOV is different than the first FOV. The processing component is configured to independently control simultaneous data acquisition with each of the channels, and to combine data from at least one channel during a frame to provide a high resolution image.
US07916179B2
A digital camera procures from an external device related to image-capturing upon image-capturing data on the external device and records the procured data and digital image data of the procured image in relation to each other.
US07916176B2
A method of offset compensation for solid-state imaging devices is provided. In the method a first and second detection signal are obtained. The two signals are compared to obtain a difference value. A variable voltage is output according to the difference value to drive a magnetic element. The solid-state imaging device is moved by the magnetic element to compensate the offset of the solid-state imaging device. A system of offset compensation of the solid-state imaging device is also disclosed.
US07916174B2
A system and method for remotely controlling a camera may include a telephony device communicatively coupled to a data network. The telephony device comprises at least one module adapted to generate a control signal in response to receiving a user command associated with dialing of an emergency telephone number. A camera may be adapted to start capturing images in response of receiving the control signal.
US07916171B2
The present invention intends to provide a classification apparatus for broadcasted sport videos for classifying various scenes constituting a sport video, depending on the importance level without being limited to any particular sport video by using visual and audio features. A sport video classification processing portion determines and classifies a play scene, a close-up shot and the like using an audio and a color feature extracted from motion picture data. Because the determination of the most frequent color can be changed adaptively for each inputted sport video, it is not necessary to determine any particular color to the most frequent color previously.
US07916166B1
A method, system, and computer-readable media are provided for managing a handoff of a video session including a plurality of devices. The method can include monitoring a signal strength in a first access technology of a mobile device within a first video session. The method can additionally include detecting a change in the signal strength of the at least one mobile device and determining a second access technology for the mobile device. Moreover, the method can include establishing a second video session using the second access technology for the mobile device and the other devices within the first video session.
US07916162B2
A light output device includes: an output unit including a light source; a control voltage generation unit that detects output power of the light source, and generates a control voltage for controlling a drive current of the light source; a control unit that sets a target value of the output power; a voltage-current conversion unit that converts the control voltage into the drive current; a setting unit that sets an inclination of a characteristic line of control voltage-drive current conversion in the voltage-current conversion unit; and an adjustment unit that adjusts the voltage-current conversion unit such that the drive current becomes a target current value for setting the output power to the target value in a predetermined control voltage value on the characteristic line, wherein the setting unit sets the inclination of the characteristic line to a first inclination where the drive current does not reach a maximum current value.
US07916160B2
The invention discloses an image processing apparatus for adjusting gray levels of an image signal inputted to a flat display panel (FDP). The image processing apparatus comprises a memory unit and a processing unit. The memory unit stores a panel characteristic LUT. When receiving the image signal, the processing unit will adjust the gray levels of the image signal according to the panel characteristic LUT, so as to output an adjusted image signal complying with the panel characteristic of the FDP.
US07916155B1
Systems and methods for producing anti-aliased images use a sub-pixel sample pattern set that includes two or more unique sub-pixel sample patterns that are complementary. The sub-pixel sample patterns are offset from each pixel center and used to produce images that are combined to produce the anti-aliased image. In addition to providing sub-pixel coverage information, the sub-pixel sample pattern sets may be used to produce sub-pixel shading information. Furthermore, the sub-pixel sample pattern sets may be used in single processor systems or in multiprocessor systems to produce anti-aliased images.
US07916148B2
A system and method for processing graphics data which requires less read and write bandwidth. The graphics processing system includes an embedded memory array having at least three separate banks of single-ported memory in which graphics data are stored. A memory controller coupled to the banks of memory writes post-processed data to a first bank of memory while reading data from a second bank of memory. A synchronous graphics processing pipeline processes the data read from the second bank of memory and provides the post-processed graphics data to the memory controller to be written back to a bank of memory. The processing pipeline concurrently processes an amount of graphics data at least equal to that included in a page of memory. A third bank of memory is precharged concurrently with writing data to the first bank and reading data from the second bank in preparation for access when reading data from the second bank of memory is completed.
US07916146B1
In a processing pipeline having a plurality of units, an interface unit is provided between a first, upstream pipeline unit that needs to be drained prior to a context switch and a second, downstream pipeline unit that might halt prior to a context switch. The interface unit redirects data that are drained from the first pipeline unit and to be received by the second pipeline unit, to a buffer memory provided in the front end of the processing pipeline. The contents of the buffer memory are subsequently dumped into memory reserved for the context that is being stored. When the processing pipeline is restored with this context, the data that were dumped into memory are retrieved back into the buffer memory and provided to the interface unit. The interface unit receives these commands and directs them to the second pipeline unit.
US07916144B2
A method for reconstructing an image generated from radial trajectory data in frequency or k-space using a GPU. The method includes using a vertex shader of the GPU to transform coordinates of a window aligned with the radial trajectory data and using a pixel shader of the GPU to combine data along the radial trajectory with the coordinate transformed widow to distribute the data along the radial trajectory fed to the pixel shader into cells of a Cartesian coordinate system.
US07916141B2
An image processing system using vector pixel is disclosed. The system includes a vector pixel with 1 byte, a data unit structure, a data portion, a file generation unit, and a data processing unit. The vector pixel with 1 byte is configured such that, in the low 4 bits, a vector information portion is positioned, and information of one of 8 vectors, up, down, left, right, up-left, up-right, bottom-left, and bottom-right vectors, with respect to X- and Y-axis, is stored. The data unit structure forms a partial image by combining the vector pixel, and has a boundary indicator for indicating the boundary of the partial image at the end of the data unit structure. The data portion forms a complete image by combining the data unit, and has a terminator for indicating the termination of the complete image at the end of the data portion. The file generation unit forms the data portion according to a specific command, and generates/stores a computer image file based on the data portion. The data processing unit processes direction indication according to vector information of the image file generated by the file generation unit and forms an image based on the direction indication process. The system can reduce the size of image data to be stored in a computer's storage memory, such as the main memory and a storage disk, image processing speed can be enhanced and data communication time can be shortened.
US07916140B2
Controlling a multi-variable process involves multi-dimensional representation of the values (Qa-Qh) of the process-variables (a-h) according to individual coordinate axes (Xa-Xh), and response based on historical values for the process-variables accumulated from multiple, earlier processes. An envelope (UL-LL) showing the best operating zone (‘BOZ’) for each process variable based on current values of the other variables is calculated from the accumulated historical values, and alarm conditions in which the current value of a variable lies outside the BOZ is rectified by changing the values (Qa-Qc) of manipulatable variables (a-c). Variable targets are achieved, alarms rectified and value optimisation realised using an inner envelope (UI-LI) derived from a subset of the BOZ-defining set of historical values. Where the alarm rate is low, operation is improved by narrowing the BOZ set to tighten the BOZ envelope (UL-LL) reducing an inner envelope where alarm rate remains acceptable, as a new BOZ.
US07916138B2
An image processing system for delivering real scene information to a data processor. The system includes the data processor, an image-delivery mechanism, an information delivery mechanism, and a graphic processor.
US07916121B2
A hybrid haptic feedback system in which a host computer and haptic feedback device share processing loads to various degrees in the output of haptic sensations, and features for efficient output of haptic sensations in such a system. A haptic feedback interface device in communication with a host computer includes a device microcontroller outputting force values to the actuator to control output forces. In various embodiments, the microcontroller can determine force values for one type of force effect while receiving force values computed by the host computer for a different type of force effect. For example, the microcontroller can determine closed loop effect values and receive computed open loop effect values from the host; or the microcontroller can determine high frequency open loop effect values and receive low frequency open loop effect values from the host. Various features allow the host to efficiently stream computed force values to the device.
US07916116B2
A liquid crystal display comprising the feature that a backlight comprises a cold cathode ray tube disposed on a surface facing a liquid crystal display panel and a chassis for supporting the cold cathode ray tube, and the cold cathode ray tube is set so that a distance from the chassis at an end to which a high voltage is applied becomes larger than a distance from the chassis at an end to which a low voltage is applied.
US07916113B2
A liquid crystal display is disclosed, which includes a panel having an array of pixels, a timing controller outputting image data and source control signals, a series of source drivers and a gate driver. One of the source drivers is selected to generate gate control signals by reference to at least one of the source control signals and transmitted to the gate driver. Thus, the gate driver along with the source drivers can drive the panel pixels.
US07916105B2
A liquid crystal display device including a liquid crystal panel, a data driver configured to supply a pixel driving signal to pixels on the liquid crystal panel in one line unit, an input unit configured to input video data to be supplied to the data driver, a low gray scale compensator configured to compensate a low gray scale value video data in the video data received from the input unit to generate a high gray scale value video data, and a selection controller configured to detect a brightness of the video data received from the input unit, and to selectively supply the high gray scale value video data received from the low gray scale compensator or the video data received from the input unit.
US07916103B2
Systems and methods of displaying an end-of-life image on an electronic display are disclosed. An end-of-life image is displayed on a MEMS display device in the presence of sufficient water vapor and without continued activation of the display. The image can he displayed in response to user input, in response to detection of a predefined level of water vapor within the display package, according to a prestored lifetime of the device, or according to the natural expiration of the lifetime of the display device and packaging.
US07916102B2
A pixel includes: an organic light emitting diode coupled between a first power supply and a second power supply; a first transistor coupled between the organic light emitting diode and the second power supply; a second transistor coupled to a first node to which a gate electrode of the first transistor is coupled; a first capacitor coupled between the first node and a second node; a third transistor coupled between the second node and a data line; a fourth transistor coupled between the first node and the second node; a fifth transistor coupled between the first transistor and the second power supply; and a second capacitor coupled between the second node and a third node between the first transistor and the fifth transistor.
US07916101B2
A light emitting diode (LED) driving apparatus includes a drive section for driving an LED to emit light, and a control section that controls a driving current supplied from the drive section to the LED. The control section implements luminous power control by controlling an ON/OFF ratio of the driving current if a target value of luminous power of the LED is smaller than a predetermined value. The control section implements luminous power control by controlling a level of the driving current if the target value is equal to or larger than the predetermined value.
US07916098B2
A plasma display apparatus and a method of driving the same are disclosed. The plasma display apparatus includes a plasma display panel including a scan electrode, and a scan driver that supplies a setup pulse to the scan electrode. The setup pulse gradually rises to a first voltage level with a first slope, rises from the first voltage level to a second voltage level with a second slope smaller than the first slope, and rises from the second voltage level to a third voltage level with a third slope different from the second slope.
US07916085B2
At least two receiver sets are provided. A data processor is in communication with the receiver sets, wherein the data processor tags position data and radio frequency emission data from the receiver sets. A data storage unit is in communication with the data processor and is at least capable of storing tagged data. A processing unit is capable of processing the tagged data. The processing unit defines a search grid within which to search for the source of the radio frequency emission. The processing unit motion compensates the tagged data separately for each point on the grid. The processing unit assigns a value to each grid point based on a phase coherence of the motion compensated data. The processing unit determines a location within the grid having a highest assigned value, thereby determining the source of the radio frequency emission.
US07916082B1
A method may include cycling a first beam steering control antenna element of an electronically scanned antenna (ESA) array through a first portion of beam steering control states for the first beam steering control antenna element. The first beam steering control antenna element is probed while cycling the first beam steering control antenna element through the first portion of beam steering control states. A first amplitude and a first phase for energy coupled from the ESA array to a probe are recorded for each one of the first portion of beam steering control states. The recorded first amplitude and the recorded first phase are separated into a first component and a second component. The phase of the first beam steering control antenna element is determined utilizing the first component and the second component.
US07916072B2
Satellites of a satellite positioning system broadcast within the navigation signals ephemeris data having a certain period of validity. At a mobile station, ephemeris data are required for position-fixing. In assisted satellite positioning systems, acquisition of navigation signals emitted by the satellites is facilitated as assistance data are provided to the mobile station. At a server station, a request for assistance data issued by the mobile station is received, and the server station transmits ephemeris data as part of the assistance data to the mobile station in response to its request. Upon receiving the request for assistance data issued by the mobile station, the server station decides whether the mobile station could achieve a specified position fix accuracy if the mobile station was provided with the broadcast ephemeris data. In the positive, the server station transmits the broadcast ephemeris data to the mobile station. In the negative, the server station transmits, instead of broadcast ephemeris data, long-term ephemeris data to the mobile station as part of the assistance data requested. The long-term ephemeris data are derived from satellite orbit predictions and have a period of validity substantially increased with respect to the ephemeris data broadcast by the satellites.
US07916066B1
A radar fall detector system. The radar fall detector system includes transmitter and receiver antennae and a signal processor that processes a reflected signal. Doppler analysis of the reflected signal determines a subject's activity and condition, and its distance to a floor.
US07916063B1
In one embodiment, an analog to digital converter includes a comparator having a first input, a second input and an output, the first input being coupled to an analog signal, a successive approximation register having a serial input coupled to the output of the comparator, and being configured to generate a plurality of control signals and an N-bit digital value corresponding to the analog signal, and a digital to analog converter having an input coupled to the plurality of control signals, the digital to analog converter further comprising a first, a second, and a third capacitor and a plurality of switches controlled by the plurality of control signals and being configured to couple the first capacitor to the second capacitor and the third capacitor to the second capacitor mutually exclusively to share charge on the first capacitor and charge on the third capacitor with charge on the second capacitor and to generate an analog signal on the second capacitor, the second capacitor being coupled to the second input of the comparator.
US07916056B2
A sigma-delta modulator is provided. The sigma-delta modulator includes a differential amplifier which outputs a difference signal indicating a difference between an input analog signal and a feedback input analog signal, an integrator which integrates the difference signal, a band pass filter unit connected to the integrator in parallel which performs band pass filtering with respect to the difference signal, an adder which adds the band-pass filtered signal to the integrated signal, a comparator which compares a signal output from the adder with a predetermined reference value, converts the comparison result into a digital signal, and outputs the digital signal; and a digital-to-analog (D/A) which converts the digital signal output from the comparator into an analog signal and feeds the analog signal back to the differential amplifier.
US07916048B2
A method an apparatus is provided to generate a gray code sequence from a sequence of binary values having a length “L”. Accordingly, one aspect of the present invention provides a circuit comprising a cycle flag toggle circuit configured to toggle a cycle flag between a first value and a second value, an intermediate value generator coupled to an output of the cycle flag toggle circuit configured to receive the binary value, and configured to generate an intermediate value from the cycle flag and the binary value, and a binary to gray converter coupled to an output of the intermediate value generator, configured to convert the intermediate value to a gray code.
US07916040B2
A remote control system is provided that includes a master controller for storing a plurality of remote control codes for a plurality of remotely controlled equipment, receiving a remote control code request message, retrieving a requested remote control code and transmitting the requested remote control code, and a remote control unit for transmitting the remote control code request message, receiving the requested remote control code from the master controller, storing the requested remote control code, converting the remote control code into a plurality of remote control commands and transmitting at least one of the plurality of remote control commands to at least one of the plurality of remotely controlled equipment, wherein each remote control code contains the plurality of remote control commands for controlling at least one of the plurality of remotely controlled equipment.
US07916037B2
The recognition of seat occupancy of a seat is achieved by recording at least one measured signal by way of a seat occupancy sensor. The measured signal is allocated a weight signal by way of an allocation rule, which is representative of a weight with which the seat is occupied. The allocation rule is altered when the weight signal over the course of time is first greater than a given upper threshold and when further, during a given first duration the weight signal lies in a first weight range at a weight zero value. The allocation rule is altered such that the then current measured signal is allocated the weight signal reduced by a given percentage from the weight signal. The allocation rule is further altered when the weight signal lies around the weight zero value in a given second weight range during a given second duration, which is much longer than the first duration. The allocation rule is altered such that the then current measured signal is allocated a weight signal reduced by a given correction value.
US07916033B2
An RFID tag includes a substrate made of a material with a high dielectric constant of greater than approximately 4 and having a first side and a second side. A patch antenna is mounted to the first side of the substrate. A metallic ground plane is mounted to the second side of the substrate, and includes a feed through hole. A metallic backplane is coupled with the ground plane, on a side of the ground plane opposite the substrate. The backplane and/or the ground plane includes a recess. An RFID circuit is positioned within the recess. A shorting wall includes a plurality of through holes extending through the substrate and interconnecting the antenna with the ground plane. The plurality of through holes are generally linearly arranged relative to each other along an edge of the ground plane. An electrically conductive via extends through the substrate and the feed through hole of the ground plane. The via has a diameter which is slightly less than the feed through hole. The via interconnects the antenna with the RFID circuit. The via is at a distance from the shorting wall whereby an impedance of the RFID circuit approximately matches an impedance of the antenna.
US07916026B2
A system tracks vehicles within a terminal and includes at least one tag interrogator mounted on a vehicle to be identified and tracked within the terminal. The tag interrogator is operative for emitting a signal containing data identifying the vehicle to which the tag interrogator is mounted. At least one tag transmitter is fixed at a known location within the terminal where vehicles are to be identified and receptive to a tag interrogator on the vehicle when the vehicle passes within proximity to the fixed tag transmitter for transmitting a wireless RF signal having data identifying the tag transmitter and identifying the tag interrogator as an identifier for the vehicle to which the tag interrogator is mounted. At least one access point is positioned at the terminal for receiving the RF signal from the tag transmitter for subsequent processing to verify vehicle identity at the known location.
US07916021B2
A smart entry system and method includes at least one actuating device for operation of at least two vehicle functions, an on-board transmitter for sending request signals to a portable device, and an on-board receiver for receiving an identification signal from the portable device. The on-board transmitter sends a first request signal within a first search field when the at least one actuating device is subjected to a first actuating operation for initiating a first vehicle function. A second request signal is sent within a second search field when the at least one actuating device is subjected to a second actuating operation for initiating a second vehicle function. The first search field varies relative to the second search field.
US07916020B2
An audible anti-theft tag that has a multiple ways to activate an audible alarm under predetermined conditions. When the pin assembly is forcibly detached from an EAS tag, a high decibel alarm is automatically activated. The audible alarm in the anti-theft tag uses a thyristor control circuit which does not use power while the anti-theft tag alarm is inactive. Once activated, the alarm cannot be turned off. An optional multi-wire lanyard is available which is not susceptible to defeat by a shunt, and also activates the audible alarm when severed.
US07916019B2
The main object of the present invention is a device for detecting a relative position of a first element (12, 14) having a main mechanical function and a second element, including an electric circuit (4) the opening and closing of which respectively correspond to a first and a second position of the first and second elements with respect to each other, wherein at least the first element is part of the electric circuit (4).An object of the present invention is also a monitoring installation comprising such detecting devices.
US07916007B2
A vehicular pedestrian collision detection sensor detects a collision with a pedestrian which allows high-accuracy recognition of a collision with a pedestrian. A large number of load detection cells are arranged in a lateral direction (width direction) of the front side of a vehicle. The total collision load is calculated with respect to a cell group composed of some of the load detection cells which are adjacent to each other, wherein the cell group has a width generally equal to a pedestrian width. Based on the total collision load, an amount correlated to the mass of a pedestrian is calculated. When the amount correlated to the pedestrian mass is within a preset range, a collision with a pedestrian is recognized or determined.
US07916006B2
A vehicle has a safety system including at least one object sensor to detect a distance from an object in a path of the vehicle and the speed and acceleration of the object. The sensor data is input into a control to determine a desired braking judgment line and a steering judgment line between the vehicle and the object. The safety system then compares the vehicle and object acceleration. Following, the safety system calculates a judgment line between the object and the vehicle based upon equations for the determined scenario. The judgment line is then used to determine a warning distance and warn a vehicle operator.
US07916001B2
Systems and methods for efficiently querying and identifying multiple items on a communication channel are disclosed. The invention is well suited to use with radio frequency identification with interrogation devices and systems that identify radio frequency identification transponders. A depth-first tree traversal protocol algorithm, including commands and symbols, is used to more efficiently interrogate a plurality of transponders in a short amount of time.
US07915998B2
A main control portion of a vehicle has an LF transmission antenna for transmitting a search signal. The LF transmission antenna has five antennas respectively provided on door knobs of the vehicle. A smart key receives the search signals transmitted from respective antennas constituting the LF transmission antenna, and then measures a filed strength of the received search signal. The smart key transmits field strength information representing the measured field strength to the main control portion. The main control portion calculates relative position information of the vehicle to the smart key, based on the field strength information. On the basis of the relative position information, the main control portion controls the door of the vehicle to be locked or unlocked.
US07915992B2
A transformer includes a flex or printed circuit board consisting of a substrate material having a desired permittivity, and at least one primary winding and at least one secondary winding. Each winding is integrated with the flex or printed circuit board such that one or more respective transformer parasitic elements and the substrate permittivity between the primary and secondary windings together are tuned to a desired parallel resonant frequency.
US07915985B2
A switching device for direct-current applications includes a housing having a first wall and a second wall, a plurality of receiving areas for respective mutually substantially parallel current paths disposed in the housing. Each of the current paths has a respective stationary switching contact element and a respective movable switching contact element, the movable switching element being actuatable into a closed position and into an open position so as to form a respective air break, the respective movable switching contact elements being actuatable simultaneously. The switching device includes a plurality of arc-quenching devices associated with the current paths and disposed next to each other, and at least one magnet. The at least one magnet is configured to generate a magnetic field so as to generate a deflection force on the arcs so as to deflect the respective arcs toward at least one of the respective arc-quenching devices.
US07915981B2
Coaxial-to-microstrip transitions may include a microstrip line and coaxial-line assembly. The microstrip line includes a first dielectric having an aperture, a conductive strip disposed on one primary face of the first dielectric, and a ground plane disposed on the opposite primary face of the first dielectric. The coaxial-line assembly includes an outer conductor and an inner conductor. In some examples, the ground plane extends between the outer conductor and the inner conductor on a first side of the coaxial-line assembly proximate the conductive strip and an aperture cross section extends beyond the outer conductor on a second side of the coaxial-line assembly distal the conductive strip. In some examples, the ground plane has a non-circular aperture. In some examples, the outer conductor encloses an area that is less than an area of the aperture. In some examples, the enclosed area has a width that is less than a corresponding width of the first aperture.
US07915977B2
A tuneable bandpass filter includes a plurality of coupled resonators. A common structure of the filter includes at least one common coupling or one common resonator. An upper loop includes first and second end resonators coupled together by a signal path and further includes at least one further signal path extending between end resonators. The further signal path includes at least one further resonator with the end resonators being coupled to the common structure. A lower loop includes first and second end resonators coupled together by a signal path and further includes at least one further signal path extending between end resonators. The further signal path includes at least one further resonator with the end resonators being coupled to the common structure.
US07915971B2
A nonreciprocal circuit device includes a ferrite-magnet element having ferrite provided with first and second central electrodes intersecting each other in an insulated manner and two permanent magnets arranged to sandwich the ferrite to apply a DC magnetic field thereto, a substrate on which the ferrite-magnet element and matching circuit elements are mounted, and a flat plate yoke. A first resin layer made of a cured liquid resin is provided at bonding portions of the ferrite-magnet element to the substrate, and a second resin layer made of a cured soft sheet-shaped resin adhered to a rear surface of the flat plate yoke is provided around the ferrite-magnet element and the matching circuit elements.
US07915968B2
A digitally controlled oscillator (DCO) includes a current generator which generates an electric current having a magnitude corresponding to an input signal, and a digitally controlled oscillating unit which generates an oscillating frequency based on an inductance which varies according to the magnitude of the electric current generated by the current generator.
US07915966B2
The present invention relates to a resonance type voltage control oscillator. The voltage control oscillator includes an inductor unit including two inductances serially coupled to each other, a variable capacitance unit coupled to the inductor unit in parallel, a negative resistance unit coupled to the inductor unit in parallel, a first variable resistor having a resistance value corresponding to an input first control signal, a second variable resistor having a resistance value corresponding to an input second control signal, and a variable resistor control circuit unit generating the first and second control signals and controlling respective resistance values of the first and second variable resistors. The variable resistor control circuit unit controls the respective resistance values of the first and second variable resistors to set current flowing in the inductor unit, the variable capacitance unit and the negative resistance unit to a desired current value.
US07915965B2
This invention relates to an oscillator having reduced sensitivity to acceleration. The oscillator includes a plurality of asymmetrically mounted resonator portions each having an active resonance region. The asymmetric mounting of the resonator portions means that each resonator portion has an axis passing through its active resonance region along which the acceleration sensitivity vector is dominant, i.e. the sensitivity to acceleration along the direction defined by one axis is much greater than the sensitivity to acceleration in other directions. The resonators are mounted in an oscillator such that their dominant axes are directed in different directions, e.g. an anti-parallel arrangement, which means that the dominant acceleration sensitivity vectors can cancel each other out.
US07915959B2
An embodiment of a multi-path, multi-oxide-thickness amplifier circuit includes a first amplifier having at least one thin-oxide output transistor, and a second amplifier having at least one thick-oxide output transistor. The first and second amplifiers are connected in parallel with each other between an input terminal and an output terminal of the amplifier circuit. The thin-oxide output transistor has a gate-oxide layer thickness that is less than a gate-oxide layer thickness of the thick-oxide output transistor.
US07915956B2
Variable attenuation systems having continuous input steering may be used to implement vector or quadrature modulators and vector multipliers. Discrete implementations of attenuators with continuous input steering may have two outputs which may be cross-connected to provide four-quadrant operation. A symmetrically driven center tap may provide improved zero-point accuracy.
US07915952B2
In a semiconductor integrated circuit, a switching circuit controls the capacity of a capacitor unit based on a control signal from a control circuit and separates a resonant frequency determined by first inductance, second inductance, and the capacity of the capacitor unit from the band area of the signal handled by an A/D converter.
US07915949B2
A method and an eFuse programming circuit for implementing resistance determination of an eFuse before initiating eFuse blow, and a design structure on which the subject circuit resides are provided. An eFuse on a chip is used to set current flow through a known resistor and measure the eFuse resistance. An applied voltage to program selected eFuses on the chip is selected responsive to an identified eFuse voltage value.
US07915940B2
A differential latch comprising a data holding transistor, the differential latch comprising: a resetting transistor that is connected to a gate electrode of the data holding transistor and is controlled by a reset signal; and a switching transistor that is connected to the gate electrode of the data holding transistor and is controlled by a switch signal, being an inverted version of the reset signal.
US07915935B1
A low-cost and power-efficient communication system using digital frequency centering techniques suitable for millimeter-wave wide-bandwidth bands with mostly digital components. Significant circuitry in the frequency source can be switched-off, thus conserving power. With the use of non-coherent detection, power consumption can be further reduced as higher phase noise and lower frequency accuracy can be tolerated. In the first embodiment frequency centering is achieved with a multiple-state system which compares a frequency dependent unique state to a programmed or hardwired desired state. In an alternative embodiment this multiple-state system is implemented by means of a microcontroller through either software or hardware.
US07915927B2
An offset cancellation circuit includes a sense amplifier configured to receive an input signal and offset voltages and to generate an output signal. A compensation voltage generation section is configured to be inputted with the output signal, and the compensation voltage generation section increases or decreases compensation voltages until the voltage level of the output signal reaches a target voltage level. The voltage level of the compensation voltages is maintained and a control signal is enabled when the voltage level of the output signal reaches the target voltage level. A control loading section is configured to provide the compensation voltages as the offset voltages or maintains the current level of the offset voltages, according to the control signal.
US07915925B2
The present invention relates to scannable D flip-flops, which are improved to solve the problem of the conventional designs and provides a small and fast scannable D flip-flop without compensating its testability. The embodiment of the present invention provides a scannable D flip-flop, comprising a source coupled logic, comprising a trigger circuit for reading a clock input; a scannable input circuit coupled to the trigger circuit having four NMOS transistors; a first feedback circuit for a first output; and a second feedback circuit for a second output; a latch circuit coupled to the source coupled logic; and an output buffer coupled to the latch circuit. Another embodiment of the present invention provides a scannable D flip-flop, comprising: a cascade dynamic logic, comprising: a first stage circuit; a second stage circuit coupled to the first stage circuit; a third stage circuit coupled to the second stage circuit; and a scannable input circuit coupled to the first stage circuit having four NMOS transistors for reading a data input and scannable inputs; a latch circuit coupled to the second stage circuit; and an output buffer coupled to the latch circuit.
US07915924B2
A system and method to operate an electronic device, such as a memory chip, with an output driver circuit that is configured to include an ODT (On-Die Termination) mode detector detects whether there is sufficient internal clocking available to operate the ODT portion in the output driver in the synchronous mode of operation or to switch the operation to the asynchronous mode. The clock-sufficiency based determination of internal ODT mode of operation (synchronous vs. asynchronous) avoids utilization of complex and inflexible clock processing logic in an ODT control unit in the output driver. This enables the actual clocking to the ODT circuitry to be changed during various device operational modes (e.g., active, power down, etc.) without re-designing the ODT control logic for each of those modes. The simplicity and flexibility of the ODT mode detector design allows for efficient use of chip real estate without affecting the signal transfer speed of the output driver in the electronic device. Because of the rules governing abstracts, this abstract should not be used to construe the claims.
US07915916B2
An antifuse circuit includes a terminal, an antifuse, and a select transistor. The antifuse is coupled to the terminal and has an associated program voltage. The select transistor is coupled to the antifuse and has a gate terminal coupled to receive a first select signal. The select transistor operates in a snapback mode of operation in response to an assertion of the first select signal and the program voltage at the terminal.
US07915915B1
A differential stage circuit is disclosed, which includes a differential circuit, a current source coupled to supply, when activated, an operating current to the differential circuit, and a control circuit coupled to control activation and deactivation of the current source. The differential stage circuit further includes a compensation circuit configured to supply a compensation pulse to the current source when the current source is activated.
US07915908B2
An integrated circuit integrated on a semiconductor material die and adapted to be at least partly tested wirelessly, wherein circuitry for setting a selected radio communication frequencies to be used for the wireless test of the integrated circuit are integrated on the semiconductor material die.
US07915905B2
In an apparatus and method for monitoring defects in wafers, a monitoring circuit is fabricated on an area of each one of the wafers. The monitoring circuit includes representative devices that replicate similar devices located in a die area of the wafers. Defects if present in the representative devices contribute to a generation of a noise, thereby causing an imbalance in a differential signal measurable across selected ones of the representative devices. A digitizing circuit that uses a common mode voltage as a reference to measure the imbalance digitizes the differential signal to a digital signal, the digital signal being indicative of the noise generated by the defects. The digital signal is stored over a configurable time interval to form a digital bit stream. The digital bit stream is compared to a reference to determine whether the defeats are within an allowable range.
US07915900B2
A measuring system measuring an impedance of an object to be measured, including an impedance measuring instrument; a casing formed of a grounded conductor and capable of locating the object to be measured therein; and a radially-shaped electrode connected to the impedance measuring instrument and capable of being connected to the object to be measured.
US07915894B2
A service tee marker fixture comprises a disk marker and a cylindrical attachment sleeve fastened concentrically to the disk marker and constructed of a flexible material which provides a releasable friction fit with a service tee cap. For certain sleeve materials a stiffener plate is used to secure an end portion of sleeve adjacent to the disk marker. Detents are formed inside the attachment sleeve to grip matching ribs on the cap. An integrally formed inwardly-extending annular flange at an open end of the sleeve helps retain the sleeve on the cap. When installed the wire coil is horizontal and the marker shields the tee, and is further centered over a centerline of the main pipe. A novel method is also disclosed for using the service tee marker fixtures to survey and locate service line end points.
US07915892B2
A magnetic resonance imaging apparatus that applies a gradient magnetic field and a radio-frequency magnetic field to a subject in a static magnetic field to image the subject based on magnetic resonance signals emitted from the subject, includes a unit which generates K transmission radio-frequency pulse signals required to produce the radio-frequency magnetic field, an allocation unit which allocates the K transmission radio-frequency pulse signals to K in M transmission signal paths, a connection unit to which at most M radio-frequency coils are attachable and which selectively connects the M transmission signal paths and M reception signal paths to the radio-frequency coils, a selection unit which selects N in magnetic resonance signals which are respectively received by the at most M radio-frequency coils and transmitted through the at most M reception signal paths, and a unit which performs reception processing for each of the selected N magnetic resonance signals.
US07915878B2
A switching regulator includes an inverter circuit and a size adjustment circuit. The inverter circuit converts an input voltage into an output voltage by a switching operation of a switch circuit. The size adjustment circuit controls an ON resistance of the switch circuit, depending on a power efficiency that is calculated from an input power dependent on the input voltage and an output power dependent on the output voltage.
US07915868B1
An embodiment of the present invention may seek to match the generator and grid voltages before the powerplant machine reaches the grid matching speed during the start-up process. An embodiment of the present invention may provide a predictive algorithm, or the like, to control the acceleration rate of the powerplant machine to target a particular phase angle differential between the powerplant machine and the grid when the powerplant machine reaches the grid matching speed. Here, the phase angle difference may be targeted such that a generator breaker may be closed immediately after the powerplant machine accelerates beyond the grid matching speed. This may avoid the generator experiencing a phase angle differential, which may add to the power transient associated with the generator breaker closure.
US07915866B2
A system for providing backup power supply to a device is provided. The system includes a supercapacitor and a single circuit for charging and discharging of a supercapacitor. The single circuit operates with an inductor to provide for charging and discharging of the supercapacitor.
US07915865B1
The present invention is a method for transmitting a RFID signal while conserving battery power of a circuit. The method comprises charging a capacitor using a battery. The battery is in electrical communication with a resistor and the resistor is in electrical communication with a capacitor and a load switch. The load switch is in electrical communication with an enabler and a microprocessor. The microprocessor is in electrical communication with a radiofrequency component. The load switch is closed, allowing power drawn from the capacitor to flow to the radiofrequency component.
US07915863B2
A charge protection circuit with a timing function is disclosed. The circuit includes a charge protection module constituting of a second switch, a second capacitor and a control integrated circuit (IC). The second switch Q2 is switched to turn on or turn off to charge or discharge the lithium-ion battery. The second capacitor configured for setting a delay time of a Ct terminal of the control IC, thus to prevent the battery from being overcharged. The circuit further includes a charge timing circuit configured for predetermining a time threshold value. When the charge time reaches the time threshold value, the charge timing circuit outputs a second high level signal to charge the second capacitor. The second capacitor triggers the control IC to turn off the second switch, thereby terminating the charge of the battery body.
US07915862B2
Disclosed is a method for measuring a battery charge level of a portable terminal having a removable back-up battery. The method includes determining that the back-up battery is connected in parallel to an main battery of the portable terminal, disconnecting the main battery from the back-up battery for a period of time in a cycle, and checking voltage levels of the main battery and the back-up battery to measure a charge level of each battery while the batteries are disconnected.
US07915844B2
This invention provides a motor driving apparatus that made it possible to reduce torque ripples including those attributed to load variation of the motor and an associated method for control of motor revolution. An output stage to a multiphase DC motor is comprised of power elements to supply output voltages to multiphase coils and a predriver to supply drive voltages to the power elements. A resistor means detects a current flowing through the power elements. A supply current detector detects a voltage signal produced across the resistor means as a supply current, using a high-speed ADC and a moving average filter. An output controller generates a PWM signal with a frequency lower than the frequency of the high-speed ADC so that the current detected by the supply current detector conforms to a current signal indicating a motor revolving speed and transfers the PWM signal to the output stage.
US07915833B2
An inverter comprising a low-side switching element in series with a first primary winding; a high-side switching element in series with a second primary winding, where the combination of the low-side switching element and first primary winding is connected in parallel with the combination of the high-side switching element and the second primary winding; and a clamping capacitor having one terminal connected to the first primary winding and having a second terminal connected to the second primary winding. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US07915831B2
A gaming machine artwork assembly includes a carrier on which images to be illuminated are carried. An electroluminescent illuminating arrangement is mounted on an operatively rear surface of the carrier. The electroluminescent illuminating arrangement comprises a plurality of electroluminescent elements, at least one element being associated with each image to be illuminated. A driver circuit is connected to the illuminating arrangement for driving the electroluminescent illuminating arrangement to illuminate selected electroluminescent elements of the arrangement on command from a controller of the gaming machine. The driver circuit includes individual drivers for each electroluminescent element for independently driving the electroluminescent elements and variably controlling the intensity of the illumination of the images with which said electroluminescent elements are associated.
US07915822B2
A display device includes a first substrate, a second substrate and a blocking member. The first substrate has a light emitting element. The second substrate faces the first substrate. The blocking member is arranged between the first and second substrates. The blocking member includes a first blocking layer and a second blocking layer.
US07915821B2
Embodiments of an organic electroluminescence display device and methods of fabricating such devices are disclosed. One embodiment of an organic electroluminescence display device comprises a thin film transistor and wirings disposed on a substrate, wherein the substrate has an emitting region and non-emitting region. The display device further comprises a first insulating layer disposed on the substrate in the emitting region and the non-emitting region, a pixel electrode disposed on the first insulating layer, a second insulating layer disposed on the emitting region to partially expose the pixel electrode, a light-emitting layer disposed on the pixel electrode, and an encapsulation member disposed on the second insulating layer on the non-emitting region.
US07915820B2
An exemplary embodiment of a display device includes a substrate, a transistor disposed on the substrate, a passivation layer which substantially covers the transistor, an organic layer disposed on the passivation layer which generates light to an outside, and a light efficiency improving layer including a first inorganic layer and a second inorganic layer which are sequentially disposed between the organic layer and the outside.
US07915817B2
A double-sided light emitting device including lower and upper substrates, an emission element formed between an inner surface of the upper substrate and an inner surface of the lower substrate and emitting predetermined light, an upper layer of polarizing material disposed on at least one of inner and outer surfaces of the upper substrate, and a lower layer of polarizing material disposed on at least one of inner and outer surfaces of the lower substrate.
US07915815B2
The invention relates to a transparent light-emitting component, in particular organic light-emitting diode, having a transparent layer arrangement in which are formed, on a substrate in a stack, planar electrodes and an organic region arranged between the planar electrodes, which organic region comprises a light-emitting layer, made from one or a plurality of organic materials. For at least one direction of incidence, a transmittance of the transparent layer arrangement for at least one wavelength subrange in the visible spectral range is greater than 50%. One of the planar electrodes has a metal layer having a thickness of less than 40 nm, and another of the planar electrodes, which is arranged opposite to the electrode in the layer arrangement, has an oxide layer made from an electrically conductive oxide material having a thickness of at least 10 nm, an intensity ratio of at least 2:1 being formed for a light emission emerging on one side of the transparent layer arrangement and a light emission emerging on an opposite side of the transparent layer arrangement.
US07915811B2
An organic electro luminescent display with auxiliary layers on a cathode contact and an encapsulating junction region to easily remove polymer organic layers of the junction. The organic electro luminescent display has the first electrode formed on a lower insulating substrate, a pixel defining layer formed to make some portions of the first electrode opened over the entire surface of the lower insulating substrate, an organic emission layer formed on an opening of the first electrode, the second electrode formed on the organic emission layer, an upper substrate for encapsulating the first electrode, the organic emission layer and the second electrode, and auxiliary layers formed on the cathode contact and the encapsulating junction region of the lower insulating substrate.
US07915801B2
A method of manufacturing an optical element, comprising the steps of: preparing a mold having concave portions for molding a first resin into an optical member having a predetermined shape as well as a plate-like member having through-holes in at least a part thereof and being made of a second resin, and then disposing the plate-like member on the top surface of the mold so that at least one through-hole can face the concave portion of the mold; injecting a liquid precursor of the first resin into the space formed by the concave portion of the mold and the through-hole of the plate-like member so as to come into contact with at least a part of the plate-like member; polymerizing the liquid precursor while maintaining the contacting state of the liquid precursor with the plate-like member; and integratedly removing, from the mold, the plate-like member and the optical member made of the first resin which is the polymer of the liquid precursor, thereby to obtain an optical element.
US07915797B2
A thermionic electron source includes a substrate, two electrodes, and a thermionic emitter. The thermionic emitter is electrically connected to the two electrodes. The substrate has a recess formed on a surface thereof, and the thermionic emitter is located on the surface of the substrate corresponding to the recess.
US07915795B2
A spark plug for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, having a substantially cylindrical general form, includes an essentially capacitive lower part and an essentially inductive upper part. The lower part includes two coaxial electrodes, including a central electrode with an axis and a shell electrode that surrounds the central electrode, and an insulator inserted between the central electrode and the shell electrode. The upper part includes a central mandrel surrounded by a coil, a bottom end part of which overlaps a top end part of the central electrode in a radial direction, an external casing, and an insulator inserted radially between the casing and the coil. The top end part of the central electrode has a coating of material which is more electrically conductive than the material of the central electrode and has no ferromagnetic properties.
US07915792B2
An actuator includes a spirally rolled cylindrical sheet body. The sheet body is formed by attaching an electrode on each side of a dielectric elastomer layer. When a voltage is applied to the electrodes, the sheet body is contracted along the direction of its thickness, and expanded in directions perpendicular to its thickness. The actuator is actuated by applying a voltage to the electrodes and stopping the voltage application, so that the cylindrical sheet body is extended and contracted along the direction of the axis. The material forming the dielectric elastomer layer has a low strain region, where the value of a strain based on a stress acting on the dielectric elastomer layer varies from zero to a value that is greater than and close to zero, and a high strain region, where the value of the strain is greater than that in the low strain region. The Young's modulus in the low strain region is less than the Young's modulus in the high strain region.
US07915780B2
Laminated spiral core, dynamo-electric-machine rotor provided therewith, and dynamo-electric machine
A laminated spiral core includes core units and a plurality of swage portions. The core units form a rotor core. The core units have permanent-magnet attachment portions in which permanent magnets are to be disposed. Each of the core units has an arc shape. The plurality of swage portions connect the core units by swage-joining when the core units are spirally stacked in a predetermined number of layers. The plurality of swage portions are provided in the core units in a wave-shape to face the permanent-magnet attachment portions and provided at positions where an influence of magnetic flux paths in a rotor is minimal.
US07915775B2
A submersible motor is provided for the drive of a submersible pump, with a rotor (6, 10) which is mounted in the motor housing (2) via a thrust bearing (16). The thrust bearing (16) includes a stationary bearing ring (34) on whose first axial side a thrust bearing surface is situated and whose opposite second axial side (40) has a spherical curvature. The second axial side of the bearing ring (34) bears on a correspondingly spherically curved, annular abutment surface (42) of a bearing carrier (44).
US07915768B2
A linear guide with an integrated linear motor, the linear guide having a stationary support extending in a guide direction, a table movable in the guide direction and a linear motor. The linear motor includes 1) a movable element connected with the table, 2) a stationary element connected with the stationary support and contactless bearings between the stationary support and the table and 3) an electromagnetic positioner based on electromagnetic interaction for positioning the table transversely in relation to the guide direction. The linear guide includes an integrated position-measuring system having a scale and scanning heads which detect a position of the table in the guide direction and a deviation direction, which lies transversely in relation to the guide direction and parallel in relation to a plane of an air gap of the linear motor. The electromagnetic positioner acts in such a way so that the table is positioned in the deviation direction.
US07915760B2
An electric power conservation system to be used between an AC utility power source and a load circuit in a home or business. The electric power conservation system comprises an energy charger component, a DC rechargeable energy source, an inverter unit, a bypass isolation circuit, a monitor and control unit, coil contactors and contacts, and necessary circuitry for supplying a load circuit with the power it requires. The invention reduces consumption of electric power from public utility companies, thereby decreasing the load on the national electrical grid. Where utility companies offer lower off-peak rates to consumers of electrical power, it becomes exceedingly desirable to have such a system in place, to save consumers money. During normal operations wherein normal utility power is available, the load circuit derives part of its power from the AC utility power source, and the remaining power that it requires from the electric power conservation system.
US07915753B2
A battery is arranged outside a compartment. A service plug is arranged in the compartment. The service plug is a shutoff device that can shut off an output path of the battery by a manual operation. When a vehicle is hard hit at the front and a circuit of PCU is damaged, an excessive current may flow to the PCU, possibly generating heat or smoke from the PCU. When the vehicle goes wrong, a person on board the vehicle may pull out the service plug, whereby the power supply path from battery to PCU can be shut off.
US07915746B2
A semiconductor wafer has a substrate, and a plurality of active areas formed on the substrate. Integrated circuits are formed in the active areas. The semiconductor wafer also has dicing areas formed between the adjacent active areas. A seal ring is formed along the edge (periphery) of each active area. The semiconductor wafer also has interconnects formed closely to the inside of the seal ring. A protective layer covers the active areas. A protective film is formed on the protective layer at the locations of the active areas. The semiconductor wafer also has another interconnects formed on the protective film for electrical connection to the integrated circuits. Preferably, when the aspect ratio of a groove formed in the protective layer between the seal ring and the interconnect is 0.5 or more, this groove is covered with the protective film.
US07915743B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide: an adhesive for electronic parts that makes it possible to accurately maintain a distance between electronic parts upon joining electronic parts such as two or more semiconductor chips and also to obtain reliable electronic parts such as a semiconductor device; a method for producing a semiconductor chip laminated body using the adhesive for electronic parts; and a semiconductor device using the adhesive for electronic parts.The present invention is an adhesive for electronic parts configured to join the electronic parts, which contains: an adhesive composition comprising a curing compound and a curing agent; and spacer particles having a CV value of 10% or less, a viscosity at 1 rpm being 200 Pa·s or less and a viscosity at 10 rpm being 100 Pa·s or less, upon being measured at 25° C. by using an E type viscometer, and a viscosity at 0.5 rpm being 1.4 to 3 times as large as the viscosity at 1 rpm, and the viscosity at 1 rpm being 2 to 5 times as large as the viscosity at 10 rpm.
US07915722B2
An information sensing device includes a substrate, one information sensing chip, one electroconductive structure and a molded body. An electrical output portion including output connections is formed on the substrate. The information sensing chip is electrically connected to the electrical output portion and has one bottom chip surface mounted on the substrate, and one top chip surface to be close to or in contact with an object to sense specific information of the object. The electroconductive structure is electrically connected to the electrical output portion. The molded body is in contact with the information sensing chip and the at least one electroconductive structure to expose the top chip surface and a first surface of the electroconductive structure. The top chip surface is disposed opposite the bottom chip surface. The top chip surface and the first surface are exposed outside and disposed on substantially the same plane.
US07915715B2
A semiconductor package has a substrate. An opening is formed through the substrate. A first RF shield is formed around a perimeter of the opening. A first die is attached to the first surface of the substrate and positioned over the opening.
US07915712B2
A method of passivating germanium that comprises providing a germanium material and carburizing the germanium material to form a germanium carbide material. The germanium carbide material may be formed by microwave plasma-enhanced chemical vapor deposition by exposing the germanium material to a microwave-generated plasma that is formed from a carbon-containing source gas and hydrogen. The source gas may be a carbon-containing gas selected from the group consisting of ethylene, acetylene, ethanol, a hydrocarbon gas having from one to ten carbon atoms per molecule, and mixtures thereof. The resulting germanium carbide material may be amorphous and hydrogenated. The germanium material may be carburized without forming a distinct boundary at an interface between the germanium material and the germanium carbide material. An intermediate semiconductor device structure and a semiconductor device structure, each of which comprises the germanium carbide material, are also disclosed.
US07915707B2
An integrated-circuit device includes a rigid substrate island having a main substrate surface with a circuit region circuit elements and at least one fold structure. The fold structure is attached to the substrate island and is unfoldable from a relaxed, folded state to a strained unfolded state. The fold structure contains at least one passive electrical component. The fold structure further has in its folded state at least one surface with an area vector that includes a non-vanishing area-vector component in a direction parallel to the main substrate surface, which area-vector component is diminished or vanishes when deforming the fold structure from the folded into the unfolded state.
US07915700B2
Provided is a monolithic integrated composite device including: a silicon substrate which is partitioned into a silicon integrated circuit forming region and a silicon optical device forming region; a buried oxide layer which is formed locally in the silicon substrate of the silicon optical device forming region and isolates unit devices of the silicon optical device forming region; an overlay layer formed locally on the buried oxide layer; a silicon optical device formed in the silicon optical device forming region using the silicon overlay layer; a silicon integrated circuit formed in the silicon integrated circuit forming region of the silicon substrate; and wiring connecting the silicon integrated circuit and the silicon optical device or connecting the silicon optical devices or connecting the silicon integrated circuits.
US07915696B2
An electrical through-connection, or via, that passes through a substrate to a bus on a first surface of the substrate. The via may be configured with an interlock such that the electrically conductive core of the via is constrained to thermally expand towards the second surface, away from the bus, thus preventing damage to the bus. The interlock may be a local constriction or enlargement of the via near the first surface of the substrate. The via may be greater in length along the bus than a unit spacing of beams in a parallel microswitch array actuated in unison along the bus. The via may be narrower in width than in length, and may form a trapezoidal geometry that is larger at the second surface of the substrate than at the first surface.
US07915693B2
A semiconductor device according to an embodiment includes: a semiconductor substrate; a fin formed on the semiconductor substrate; a gate electrode formed so as to sandwich both side faces of the fin between its opposite portions via a gate insulating film; an extension layer formed on a region of a side face of the fin, the region being on the both sides of the gate electrode, the extension layer having a plane faced to a surface of the semiconductor substrate at an acute angle; and a silicide layer formed on a surface of the plane faced to the surface of the semiconductor substrate at an acute angle.
US07915691B2
Hybrid SRAM circuit, hybrid SRAM structures and method of fabricating hybrid SRAMs. The SRAM structures include first and second cross-coupled inverters coupled to first and second pass gate devices. The pull-down devices of the inverters are FinFETs while the pull-up devices of the inverters and the pass gate devices are planar FETs or pull-down and pull-up devices of the inverters are FinFETs while the pass gate devices are planar FETs.
US07915677B2
A semiconductor device with high breakdown voltage and low on-resistance is provided. An embodiment comprises a substrate having a buried layer in a portion of the top region of the substrate in order to extend the drift region. A layer is formed over the buried layer and the substrate, and high-voltage N-well and P-well regions are formed adjacent to each other. Field dielectrics are located over portions of the high-voltage N-wells and P-wells, and a gate dielectric and a gate conductor are formed over the channel region between the high-voltage P-well and the high-voltage N-well. Source and drain regions for the transistor are located in the high-voltage P-well and high-voltage N-well. Optionally, a P field ring is formed in the N-well region under the field dielectric. In another embodiment, a lateral power superjunction MOSFET with partition regions located in the high-voltage N-well is manufactured with an extended drift region.
US07915668B2
A memory device includes an insulating layer formed over a substrate, a gate formed over the insulating layer, and charge storage elements disposed over the insulating layer. The charge storage elements are separated from each other and are electrically insulated, and each of the charge storage elements is capable of storing at least one charge. The charge storage elements can include fullerenes.
US07915666B2
An erase method where a corner portion on which an electric field concentrates locally is provided on the memory gate electrode, and charges in the memory gate electrode are injected into a charge trap film in a gate dielectric with Fowler-Nordheim tunneling operation is used. Since current consumption at the time of erase can be reduced by the Fowler-Nordheim tunneling, a power supply circuit area of a memory module can be reduced. Since write disturb resistance can be improved, a memory array area can be reduced by adopting a simpler memory array configuration. Owing to both the effects, an area of the memory module can be largely reduced, so that manufacturing cost can be reduced. Further, since charge injection centers of write and erase coincide with each other, so that (program and erase) endurance is improved.
US07915664B2
A non-volatile storage system in which a sidewall insulating layer of a floating gate is significantly thinner than a thickness of a bottom insulating layer, and in which raised source/drain regions are provided. During programming or erasing, tunneling occurs predominantly via the sidewall insulating layer and the raised source/drain regions instead of via the bottom insulating layer. The floating gate may have a uniform width or an inverted T shape. The raised source/drain regions may be epitaxially grown from the substrate, and may include a doped region above an undoped region so that the channel length is effectively extended from beneath the floating gate and up into the undoped regions, so that short channel effects are reduced. The ratio of the thicknesses of the sidewall insulating layer to the bottom insulating layer may be about 0.3 to 0.67.
US07915663B2
A semiconductor device includes an insulation layer (14) provided on a semiconductor substrate (12), a p-type semiconductor region (16) provided on the insulation layer, an isolation region (18) provided that surrounds the p-type semiconductor region to reach the insulation layer, an n-type source region (20) and an n-type drain region (22) provided on the p-type semiconductor region, a charge storage region (30) provided above the p-type semiconductor region between the n-type source region and the n-type drain region, and an voltage applying portion that applies a different voltage to the p-type semiconductor region while any of programming, erasing and reading a different data of a memory cell that has the charge storage region is being preformed.
US07915648B2
A light-receiving element includes: a first-conductivity-type semiconductor region configured to be formed over an element formation surface; a second-conductivity-type semiconductor region configured to be formed over the element formation surface; an intermediate semiconductor region configured to be formed over the element formation surface between the first-conductivity-type semiconductor region and the second-conductivity-type semiconductor region, and have an impurity concentration lower than impurity concentrations of the first-conductivity-type semiconductor region and the second-conductivity-type semiconductor region. The light-receiving element further includes: a first electrode configured to be electrically connected to the first-conductivity-type semiconductor region; a second electrode configured to be electrically connected to the second-conductivity-type semiconductor region; and a control electrode configured to be formed in an opposed area that exists on the element formation surface.
US07915647B2
A nonvolatile semiconductor memory concerning an example of the present invention comprises a cell array, a plurality of conducting wires extending from the cell array to a lead area, and a plurality of contact holes to arranged in the lead area so that a distance from the end of the cell array sequentially increases from one to the other of the plurality of conducting wires, each of the plurality of conducting wires having a first conducting wire portion having a first conducting wire width, a second conducting wire portion connected to the contact hole and having a second conducting wire width smaller than the first conducting wire width, and a third conducting wire portion electrically connecting the first conducting wire portion to the second conducting wire portion.
US07915643B2
Enhancement mode III-nitride devices are described. The 2DEG is depleted in the gate region so that the device is unable to conduct current when no bias is applied at the gate. Both gallium face and nitride face devices formed as enhancement mode devices.
US07915640B2
A metamorphic buffer layer is formed on a semi-insulating substrate by an epitaxial growth method, a collector layer, a base layer, an emitter layer and an emitter cap layer are sequentially laminated on the metamorphic buffer layer, and a collector electrode is provided in contact with an upper layer of the metamorphic buffer layer. The metamorphic buffer layer is doped with an impurity, in a concentration equivalent to or higher than that in a conventional sub-collector layer, by an impurity doping process during crystal growth so that the metamorphic buffer layer will be able to play the role of guiding the collector current to the collector electrode. Since the sub-collector layer, which is often formed of a ternary mixed crystal or the like having a high thermal resistance, can be omitted, the heat generated in the semiconductor device can be rapidly released into the substrate.
US07915639B2
Embodiments of detectors made using lattice matched photoabsorbing layers are disclosed. A photodiode apparatus in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present invention comprises an indium phosphide substrate, and a photoabsorbing region comprising at least an indium gallium arsenide antimonide nitride (InGaAsSbN) layer, wherein the InGaAsSbN layer has a thickness of at least 100 nanometers and is nominally lattice-matched to the indium phosphide substrate.
US07915633B2
A nitride semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor substrate; a p-type semiconductor layer formed over the semiconductor substrate, made of a nitride semiconductor, and containing first impurities; and an insulating film contacting the p-type semiconductor layer and having an impurity region containing second impurities for trapping hydrogen. Since residual hydrogen in the p-type semiconductor layer is trapped in the impurity region, the hydrogen concentration in the impurity region is higher than that in the insulating film excluding the impurity region.
US07915632B2
A light emitting diode includes a conductive layer, an n-GaN layer on the conductive layer, an active layer on the n-GaN layer, a p-GaN layer on the active layer, and a p-electrode on the p-GaN layer. The conductive layer is an n-electrode.
US07915626B1
A denticulated Group III nitride structure that is useful for growing AlxGa1-xN to greater thicknesses without cracking and with a greatly reduced threading dislocation (TD) density.
US07915622B2
A high fill factor textured light emitting diode structure comprises: a first textured cladding and contact layer (2) comprising a doped III-V or II-VI group compound semiconductor or alloys of such semiconductors deposited by epitaxial lateral overgrowth (ELOG) onto a patterned substrate (1); a textured undoped or doped active layer (3) comprising a III-V or II-VI group semiconductor or alloys of such semiconductors and where radiative recombination of electrons aid holes occurs or intersubband transition occurs; and a second textured cladding and contact layer (4) comprising a doped III-V or II-VI group semiconductor or alloys of such semiconductors.
US07915621B2
A light source and method for fabricating the same are disclosed. The light source includes a substrate and a light emitting structure. The substrate has a first surface and a second surface, the second surface including a curved, convex surface with respect to the first surface of the substrate. The light emitting structure includes a first layer of a material of a first conductivity type overlying the first surface, an active layer overlying the first layer, the active layer generating light when holes and electrons recombine therein, and a second layer includes a material of a second conductivity type overlying the active layer and a second surface opposite to the first surface. A mirror layer overlies the light emitting structure.
US07915619B2
A transparent-substrate light-emitting diode (10) has a light-emitting layer (133) made of a compound semiconductor, wherein the area (A) of a light-extracting surface having formed thereon a first electrode (15) and a second electrode (16) differing in polarity from the first electrode (15), the area (B) of a light-emitting layer (133) formed as approximating to the light-extracting surface and the area (C) of the back surface of a light-emitting diode falling on the side opposite the side for forming the first electrode (15) and the second electrode (16) are so related as to satisfy the relation of A>C>B. The light-emitting diode (10) of this invention, owing to the relation of the area of the light-emitting layer (133) and the area of the back surface (23) of the transparent substrate and the optimization of the shape of a side face of the transparent substrate (14), exhibits high brightness and high exoergic property never attained heretofore and fits use with an electric current of high degree.
US07915617B2
A semiconductor device comprises: a first semiconductor layer of silicon carbide of a first conductivity type; a second semiconductor layer of silicon carbide of a second conductivity type selectively provided on the first semiconductor layer; a main electrode layer of silicon carbide of the first conductivity type selectively provided on the second semiconductor layer; a gate insulating film provided on the second semiconductor layer; a gate electrode formed on the gate insulating film; and a third semiconductor layer of the first conductivity type intervening a current path which is formed between the main electrode layer and the first semiconductor layer when an ON voltage is applied to the gate electrode. The third semiconductor layer is selectively provided on the first semiconductor layer and is adjacent to the second semiconductor layer. A doping density of the third semiconductor layer is higher than a doping density of the first semiconductor layer.
US07915612B2
A photoelectric conversion device includes a p-type layer, an i-type layer and an n-type layer each made of a silicon base semiconductor, stacked in this order, wherein the i-type layer contains n-type impurities in a concentration of 1.0×1016 to 2.0×1017 cm−3.
US07915604B2
An optical device which can operate as a single photon emitter 1, comprising a three dimensional optical cavity 7 which spatially confines a photon to the order of the photon wavelength in all three dimensions. The cavity 7 is configured to define preferred emission direction for photons entering the cavity. A photon can be supplied to the cavity using a quantum dot 5. Strong coupling can occur between the cavity 7 and the quantum dot 5 which causes the formation of two hybridised modes. Switching on an off the coupling by irradiating the device with radiation having an energy equal to that of one of the hybridised modes allows the device to act as an optical switch.
US07915597B2
A system and method extraction electrode system, comprising an extraction electrode, wherein the extraction electrode, further defines an aperture and forms a portion of the outside wall of the ion source and is configured to extract ions from the ion source, a suppression disk half assembly comprising two suppression electrode plate disk halves that form a variable suppression aperture, a ground disk half assembly comprising two ground electrode plate disk halves that form an variable ground aperture, wherein the suppression disk half assembly is configured between the extraction electrode and the ground disk half assembly, wherein the suppression aperture and the ground aperture variable in the direction perpendicular to the ion beam direction of travel, and wherein the extraction electrode system is used with a pendulum reciprocating drive apparatus.
US07915594B2
An X-ray detector and method of driving an X-ray detector include an X-ray detector having a detection module that includes a plurality of gate lines and a plurality of photoelectric transducers connected to the gate lines, respectively, to convert X-ray radiation into an electric signal, a data reading module that sequentially scans the gate lines, generates a dummy dark level, by reading electric signals of the photoelectric transducers during a standby period, generates an offset dark level, by reading the electric signals from the photoelectric transducers, before X-ray radiating a specimen, and generates a bright level by reading the electric signals from the photoelectric signals after the irradiation of the specimen during an X-ray radiation period, and a data processing module that ignores the dummy dark level and generates image data using only the bright level and the offset dark level.
US07915593B2
A photo detector matrix may have a plurality of photo detectors arranged in a matrix each generating an output signal, and a plurality of wires coupled with the photo detectors, wherein a number of wires is less than a number of photo detectors and the plurality of photo detectors are assigned to the plurality of wires such that signals generated by the plurality of photo detectors encode a location of a light peak applied to the photo detector matrix.
US07915580B2
A device for improved transportation and focusing of ions in a low vacuum or atmospheric-pressure region of a mass spectrometer is constructed from one or more electro-dynamic or electrostatic focusing lenses that is/are coupled to the first electrode of a stacked ring ion guide (SRIG) to which oscillatory (e.g., radio-frequency) voltages are applied. Such configurations as disclosed herein, minimizes deleterious field effects and/or repositioning problems of desired ion transfer instruments that utilize such stacked ring ion guides by generally configuring the outlet end of the ion transfer device to a desired position within the electro-dynamic or electro-static focusing lens(es).
US07915577B2
A method and system for remotely imaging a magnetic field within an atom cloud is provided. An atom sample held in a magneto-optical trap is released, and the released atom cloud is illuminated by a Raman beam. Resonant atoms having certain velocities will absorb photon momenta from the Raman beam. The velocities of those resonant atoms will change in response to the absorbed momenta, causing a change in the travel distance of those atoms as compared with non-resonant atoms. The atom cloud is imaged by an imaging device such as a CCD camera and the presence of the resonant atoms is shown in the images as bright lines in the atom cloud. The distance traveled by the resonant atoms and therefore the separation of the lines in the image is a function of the magnetic fields in the atom cloud. The system and method of the present invention can image the magnetic fields within an atom cloud with a high spatial resolution over the entire atom cloud in a single imaging cycle, and analysis of the image provides information regarding the magnetic fields.
US07915573B2
A photoelectric converter includes a plurality of substrates, which are located adjacent to each other and on which a plurality of photoelectric conversion devices are two-dimensionally arranged, and either scan circuits or detection circuits that are arranged on two opposing sides of the photoelectric converter, whereby scanning directions either from the scan circuits or from the detection circuits, which are arranged on the two opposing sides, are capable of being set so as to be performed in like directions.
US07915567B2
A heater resistance in particular for heating a solid part. An electric wire, and a ceramic sheath surround the wire. The sheath has a woven layer.
US07915565B2
A method of calibrating a high energy beam with a material source, the method comprising the steps of:using the high energy beam to provide an aperture, depositing material from the material source towards the aperture for a selected length of time and collecting the material which passes through the aperture, and adjusting the position and/or alignment of the material source relative to the high energy beam dependant on a comparison of the amount of material collected with a predetermined value.
US07915563B2
An arc detector is provided for a plasma processing system including a HF power source, a plasma processor, and a voltage/current signal detector. The arc detector includes a calculator for the phase difference between the AC voltage signal and the AC current signal, a calculator for an effective voltage based on the AC voltage signal, a calculator for an effective current based on the AC current signal, an FFT processor for the frequency spectrum of the AC voltage or current signal, and an arc analyzer connected to the phase difference calculator, effective voltage calculator, effective current calculator, and FFT processor. The arc analyzer calculates the plasma processor's impedance based on the calculated phase difference, effective voltage, and effective current. The arc analyzer monitors arcs in the plasma processor, based on the fluctuation rate of the calculated impedance and the output level of a frequency component in the spectrum.
US07915557B2
A method and an arrangement for synchronizing distribution information of a sorting stock are provided. The sorting stock has information relating to a sorter element of a sorter loaded with the sorting stock. The sorter element is moved, together with a plurality of further sorter elements, on a path closed on itself past a laying-down station where the sorting stock is laid onto the support of this sorter element. The occupancy of the sorter element is recognized by an image comparison and the information known before the laying-down relating to the sorting stock is assigned unequivocally to the sorter element recognized as fed.
US07915556B2
An input panel for a portable electronic device including a switch sheet, a touch-sensing sheet and an interposing sheet is provided. The switch sheet includes a circuit board and at least one dome switch. The circuit board has at least one contact pad, and the dome switch is disposed on the contact pad. The touch-sensing sheet is disposed on the switch sheet for sensing a touch action. The interposing sheet is disposed between the switch sheet and the touch-sensing sheet. The touch-sensing sheet contacts the dome switch when the touch-sensing sheet is pressed, so that the dome switch is deformed elastically to switch on the contact pad.
US07915554B2
A display unit, attached to a bar forming a handlebar, frame or stem of a bicycle with a securing tool, comprises a body having a display part capable of realizing a first display state displaying first data (traveling speed, for example) and a second state displaying second data (traveling distance, for example). The first and second display states are switched by pressing down body from above.
US07915549B2
In a multidirectional operation switch apparatus, a rotary switch is switched on by rotating a dial, and push switches are switched on by sliding the dial in multidirections by means of a sliding section. The sliding section is made of a single constituting member. The sliding section is provided on an upper surface thereof with an upper rail part which slides a pad in X direction (direction of arrow “c-d”; FIG. 3), and is provided on a lower surface thereof with a lower rail part which slides the pad supported by the sliding section in Y direction (direction of arrow “a-b”).
US07915544B1
Signals entering outside plant (OSP) telecommunications enclosures typically do so through weather tight connectors, with one connector mounted to the enclosure and a mating connector connected to a cable bringing the signals to the OSP housing. Such connectors are expensive and require extensive effort to connect the wires of a cable bundle to the connectors. These problems are avoided by allowing cables pre-installed with a cable seal and pre-terminated to cable connectors to pass through an opening in the wall of an OSP housing and seal the cable bundle to the housing to prevent the ingress of environmental elements into the housing through the opening. This permits easier installation and retrofitting of electronic equipment contained within the housing.
US07915542B2
A cable support bracket includes a backplate with a number of structures extending transversely therefrom and defining a plurality of cable restraints and slots. The cable restraints have a series of projections formed on the transversely extending structures. Each cable restraint has a series of projections aligned so as to create matching barbs that secure electrical cables within the restraints. At least one transversely-extending structure acts as a spacer to ensure that electrical safety requirements regarding the distance between cables and internal walls are met when the bracket is installed.
US07915541B2
According to an aspect of an embodiment, a multilayer interconnection substrate includes a resin substrate layer including a first insulating layer made of a resin, and a first interconnection layer made of a conductive material, a ceramic substrate layer including a second insulating layer made of a ceramic, and a second interconnection layer made of a conductive material, a mechanically bonding layer mechanically bonding the resin substrate layer and the ceramic substrate layer which are laminated, and an electrically bonding member penetrating the mechanically bonding layer and electrically bonding the resin substrate layer and the ceramic substrate layer.
US07915535B2
A grommet and corresponding installation system includes a grommet body with an outer surface and a cord that is attached to and extends outwardly from the grommet body, along with a grommet installation tool having a cord-engaging end removably attached to the cord such that the tool can be manipulated to tighten the cord which radially compresses the grommet body, whereby the tool can be used to pull the grommet through a panel hole when the grommet body is in such radially compressed state.
US07915534B2
In a grommet (1), a centering unit and a temporary anchor unit are provided on an outer surface of a grommet inner member (2). The centering unit includes a plurality of centering portions (e.g., centering claws 8) configured to elastically abut on an attachment panel (20) at an inner edge thereof around an insertion hole (21) so as to position the grommet inner member (2) in a center of the insertion hole (21). The temporary anchor unit includes a plurality of engaging portions (e.g., temporary anchor claws 7) configured to engage with the inner edge of the attachment panel (20), thereby supporting the grommet (1) in an axial direction thereof before lock portions (e.g., lock claws 6) make the grommet inner member (2) retained at the inner edge of the attachment panel (20) around the insertion hole (21) when the grommet inner member (2) is inserted into the insertion hole (21).
US07915532B2
An electrical cable having a polymeric inner layer enclosing a cable core, and a polymeric outer layer enclosing the cable core and the inner layer. The outer layer operable to maintain integrity of the cable within a predetermined temperature range.
US07915523B2
The present invention relates to a compact solar module (CSM) apparatus and a method of producing electricity using such an apparatus in residential buildings for example. One embodiment of the module is made of two arrays of 2×4 solar cells. Each cell in the array has a surface area of 36 square inches for example. Each array covers an area of 1×2 square ft, generating 26.4 Watts of electricity. One CSM of this embodiment consists of 2×8 sub-CSMs, generating a total of 422.24 Watts, and having the assembled dimension of 27.5″×21′×7.6″. The compact feature of solar module relies on sunray transmission to the solar cells and their remote illumination through optical fibers and sets of concave and convex mirrors & lenses. Sunrays are collected and concentrated and condensed on the optical fiber bundles installed in light guides penetrating through a roof top and tracks sunrays during sunrays. To illuminate the entire surface of a photocell, an array of 2×2 mirrors/fibers arranged in a square configuration, are utilized. This configuration optimizes material usage, cost effectiveness and provides greater sun energy for PV cells illumination.
US07915509B2
A moveable key lever pivot bearing system for keyboard instruments in which the pivot bearing is provided with a longitudinal slot to enable mounting the bearing over a pivot pin disposed on a balance rail mounted within the case of the instrument. The key lever, pivot pin, and balance rail all remain in fixed relationship to one another resulting in a fulcrum point change when the bearing is longitudinally shifted back and forth with respect to the pianist. Means are provided to fix the bearing at a selected longitudinal position, extension arms for example, which may be manipulated to adjust the position of the bearings.
US07915503B2
A Ptilotus variety designated BEPT107 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of Ptilotus variety BEPT107, to the plants of Ptilotus BEPT107, to plant parts of Ptilotus variety BEPT107 and to methods for producing a Ptilotus plant produced by crossing Ptilotus variety BEPT107 with itself or with another Ptilotus variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a Ptilotus plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic Ptilotus plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to Ptilotus varieties or breeding varieties and plant parts derived from Ptilotus variety BEPT107, to methods for producing other Ptilotus varieties, lines or plant parts derived from Ptilotus variety BEPT107 and to the Ptilotus plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid Ptilotus seeds, plants and plant parts produced by crossing the variety BEPT107 with another Ptilotus variety.
US07915497B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH425473. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH425473, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH425473 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH425473.
US07915492B2
A soybean cultivar designated 7017301 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 7017301, to the plants of soybean 7017301, to plant parts of soybean cultivar 7017301 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing soybean cultivar 7017301 with itself or with another soybean variety. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. This invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars and plant parts derived from soybean variety 7017301, to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 7017301 and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants and plant parts produced by crossing the cultivar 7017301 with another soybean cultivar.
US07915486B2
An isolated nucleic acid fragment encoding a plastidic phosphoglucomutase protein is disclosed. Also disclosed is the construction of a chimeric gene encoding all or a substantial portion of the plastidic phosphoglucomutase, in sense or antisense orientation, wherein expression of the chimeric gene results in production of altered levels of the plastidic phosphoglucomutase in a transformed host cell.
US07915485B2
The present invention provides a Nod-factor binding element, comprising one or more NFR polypeptides encoded by NFR genes, that are useful for providing non-nodulating plants with Nod-factor binding properties and triggering the endosymbiotic signalling pathway leading to nodulation. Furthermore the invention is useful for breeding for improved nodulation in nodulating legumes.
US07915466B2
A process for converting natural gas to liquid hydrocarbons comprising heating the gas through a selected range of temperature for sufficient time and/or combustion of the gas at a sufficient temperature and under suitable conditions for a reaction time sufficient to convert a portion of the gas stream to reactive hydrocarbon products, primarily ethylene or acetylene. The gas containing acetylene may be separated such that acetylene is converted to ethylene. The ethylene product(s) may be reacted in the presence of an acidic catalyst to produce a liquid, a portion of which will be predominantly naphtha or gasoline. A portion of the incoming natural gas or hydrogen produced in the process may be used to heat the remainder of the natural gas to the selected range of temperature. Reactive gas components are used in a catalytic liquefaction step and/or for alternate chemical processing.
US07915464B2
A process for converting natural gas to liquid hydrocarbons comprising heating the gas through a selected range of temperature for sufficient time and/or combustion of the gas at a sufficient temperature and under suitable conditions for a reaction time sufficient to convert a portion of the gas stream to reactive hydrocarbon products, primarily ethylene or acetylene. The gas containing acetylene may be separated such that acetylene is converted to ethylene. The ethylene product(s) may be reacted in the presence of an acidic catalyst to produce a liquid, a portion of which will be predominantly naphtha or gasoline. A portion of the incoming natural gas or hydrogen produced in the process may be used to heat the remainder of the natural gas to the selected range of temperature. Reactive gas components are used in a catalytic liquefaction step and/or for alternate chemical processing.
US07915461B2
A process for converting natural gas to liquid hydrocarbons comprising heating the gas through a selected range of temperature for sufficient time and/or combustion of the gas at a sufficient temperature and under suitable conditions for a reaction time sufficient to convert a portion of the gas stream to reactive hydrocarbon products, primarily ethylene or acetylene. The gas containing acetylene may be separated such that acetylene is converted to ethylene. The ethylene product(s) may be reacted in the presence of an acidic catalyst to produce a liquid, a portion of which will be predominantly naphtha or gasoline. A portion of the incoming natural gas or hydrogen produced in the process may be used to heat the remainder of the natural gas to the selected range of temperature. Reactive gas components are used in a catalytic liquefaction step and/or for alternate chemical processing.
US07915458B2
A method of increasing the yield of oil production in a process of producing bio-ethanol in particularly comprises: creating concentrated syrup as a by-product from an ethanol production, and recovering oil from the concentrated syrup, wherein the step of recovering oil from the concentrated syrup includes using a horizontal axis centrifuge, and wherein the step of using a horizontal axis centrifuge includes using a bowl, a discharge of deoiled syrup and a baffle plate, the baffle plate being located inside of the bowl and retaining oil from the discharge of deoiled syrup.
US07915452B2
A method of producing xylylenediamine from xylene. In the method, xylene is converted into dicyanobenzene by ammoxidation. The produced dicyanobenzene is extracted into an organic solvent. The extract is then distilled to separate dicyanobenzene from the organic solvent. After added with a solvent, the separated dicyanobenzene is hydrogenated in a liquid phase. Finally, the hydrogenation product is purified by distillation to obtain a highly pure xylylenediamine. The method is conducted in a simple and low energy-consuming process.
US07915447B2
The present invention is intended to provide a process capable of efficiently producing highly purified succinic acid from an alkali metal succinate by a simple separation and purification process. The process for producing succinic acid in the present invention comprises (1) the step to add sulfuric acid into a solution containing an alkali metal succinate, (2) the step to precipitate and remove the crystal of an alkali metal sulfate from said solution, and (3) the step to precipitate and recover the crystal of succinic acid. The removal of the crystal of an alkali metal sulfate in the step (2) is performed by a solid-liquid separation in a state that the crystal of alkali metal sulfate is precipitated by concentrating and heating the solution that is obtained by adding sulfuric acid in the step (1) and succinic acid is dissolved in the solution.
US07915444B2
The present invention relates to a process for preparing diisocyanates from diamines and phosgene in the gas phase.
US07915442B2
The present invention relates to a process for producing an aliphatic nitrile, including the step of reacting at least one compound selected from the group consisting of an aliphatic monocarboxylic acid, an aliphatic dicarboxylic acid and alkyl esters of these acids containing an alkyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms, with ammonia in the presence of a compound of at least one metal selected from the group consisting of zinc, cobalt, titanium and aluminum, and a sulfonic acid compound! and a process for producing an aliphatic amine, including the step of subjecting the aliphatic nitrile produced by the above process to hydrogenation reaction in the presence of a hydrogenation catalyst. There are provided an industrially advantageous process for producing an aliphatic nitrile with a high reactivity; and a process for producing an aliphatic amine using the aliphatic nitrile as a raw material.
US07915430B2
A method of producing a phenolphthalein comprises reacting a phenolic compound of the formula: wherein R1 is a hydrogen or a C1-C12 hydrocarbyl group, with a phthalic anhydride compound of the formula: wherein R2 is a hydrogen, a C1-C12 hydrocarbyl group, or a halogen, in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst and a promoter to form a reaction mixture comprising a phenolphthalein compound of the formula: wherein each R1 is independently a hydrogen or a C1-C12 hydrocarbyl group, and R2 is a hydrogen, a C1-C12 hydrocarbyl group, or a halogen; wherein the heterogeneous catalyst comprises a metal oxide composition in combination with a porous support, wherein the metal is molybdenum, tungsten, or a combination comprising at least one of the foregoing metals.
US07915429B2
Agents useful for the treatment of various metabolic disorders, such as insulin resistance syndrome, diabetes, polycystic ovary syndrome, hyperlipidemia, fatty liver disease, cachexia, obesity, atherosclerosis and arteriosclerosis are disclosed, wherein n is 1 or 2; m is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4; q is 0 or 1; t is 0 or 1; R1 is alkyl having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms; R2 is hydrogen, halo, alkyl having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms, or alkoxy having from 1 to 3 carbon atoms; A is phenyl, unsubstituted or substituted by 1 or 2 groups selected from: halo, hydroxy, alkyl having 1 or 2 carbon atoms, perfluoromethyl, alkoxy having 1 or 2 carbon atoms, and perfluoromethoxy; or cycloalkyl having from 3 to 6 ring carbon atoms wherein the cycloalkyl is unsubstituted or one or two ring carbons are independently mono-substituted by methyl or ethyl; or a 5 or 6 membered heteroaromatic ring having 1 or 2 ring heteroatoms selected from N, S and O and the heteroaromatic ring is covalently bound to the remainder of the compound of formula (I) by a ring carbon. Alternatively, the agent can be a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the compound of formula (I).
US07915428B2
A photorefractive dendron compound, a photorefractive dendrimer compound and applications thereof, and more particularly, a photorefractive dendron compound, including a non-linear chromophore containing a tricyanopyrroline-based electron-withdrawing group and a carbazole derivative having excellent charge transport properties, a method of preparing the photorefractive dendrimer compound, a photorefractive device including the photorefractive dendrimer compound, and a method of manufacturing the photorefractive device. In the photorefractive dendrimer compound, dendron has the non-linear optical chromophore and carbazole introduced thereto to thus impart one molecule with both photoconductivity and non-linear optical properties, thereby solving conventional problems caused by poor compatibility between photoconductive material and chromophores in conventional photorefractive material. The dendrimer compound may be applied to bio-imaging techniques thanks to the use of the non-linear optical chromophore, which is sensitive to near infrared light.
US07915421B2
Method for preparing (S)(+)phenyl acetic acid derivatives having the general formula (I): wherein R1 is a linear or branched alkyl group with 1-6 carbon atoms or substituted benzyl group, and R2 is methyl, ethyl or propyl group said method, characterised in that a compound of the general formula (II): wherein R1 is as given above, and R3 is a nucleofuge, or a suitable salt of a compound of the general formula (II) is reacted with a compound having the general formula (III): wherein R2 is as given above, and R4 is hydrogen or a nucleofuge that can be removed hydrolytically, and the protective group R4 that may be present, may be subsequently removed hydrolytically.
US07915416B2
Disclosed are compounds of formula (I), wherein W, R, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, and R7 have the meanings indicated in claim 1. Said compounds can be used for the treatment of tumors, among other things.
US07915413B2
The invention relates to at least one compound of general formula I wherein R1 is phenyl, pyridinyl, thienyl, furanyl, imidazolyl, pyrrolyl, triazolyl, thiazolyl, or pyridine N-oxide, where each R1 phenyl and R1 heteroaromatic ring may optionally and independently be substituted by 1, 2 or 3 substituents selected from CF3, methyl, iodo, bromo, fluoro, and chloro; R2 is independently selected from ethyl and isopropyl; R3 is hydrogen or fluoro; R4 is —NH2 or —NHSO2R5; and R5 is hydrogen, —CF3, or C1-C6 alkyl, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, at least one process for making at least one compound in accordance with Formula I; at least one method for treating at least one δ receptor associated condition with at least one compound in accordance with Formula I; and at least one pharmaceutical composition comprising at least one compound in accordance with Formula I.
US07915412B2
The present invention relates to a process for preparing paliperidone from its intermediate 3-(2-chloroethyl)-6,7,8,9-tetrahydro-9-hydroxy-2-methyl-4H-pyrrido[1,2-a]-pyrimidin-4-one.
US07915403B2
Lactams, notably ε-caprolactam, are prepared from alkyl cyanovalerates, themselves obtained from unsaturated nitrile compounds, by contacting same, in gaseous state, with hydrogen in the presence of hydrogenation/cyclization catalysts, and then condensing the gas stream thus formed, without intermediate separation of any alkyl aminocaproate, and recovering lactam produced therefrom.
US07915402B2
This invention provides, but is not limited to, novel oleanolic acid derivatives having the formula: wherein the variables are defined herein. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions, kits and articles of manufacture comprising such compounds, methods and intermediates useful for making the compounds, and methods of using the compounds and compositions.
US07915400B2
The present invention concerns methods and reagents useful in modulating hepatitis C virus (HCV) gene expression in a variety of applications, including use in therapeutic, diagnostic, target validation, and genomic discovery applications. Specifically, the invention relates to small nucleic acid molecules, such as short interfering nucleic acid (siNA), short interfering RNA (siRNA), double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), micro-RNA (miRNA), and short hairpin RNA (shRNA) molecules capable of mediating RNA interference (RNAi) against hepatitis C virus (HCV) gene expression and/or activity. The small nucleic acid molecules are useful in the treatment and diagnosis of HCV infection, liver failure, hepatocellular carcinoma, cirrhosis and any other disease or condition that responds to modulation of HCV expression or activity.
US07915398B2
A promoter isolated from Zea mays, designated the P67 promoter, provides a high level of specificity for expression in developing pollen, particularly at the mid-uninucleate stage, as confirmed by RT-PCR and Northern blot analyses of RNA samples from various tissues. Compositions and methods of use of the P67 promoter are disclosed.
US07915396B2
Humanized anti-TAG-72 CC49 monoclonal antibodies are disclosed herein. The antibodies include a light chain Complementarity Determining Region (L-CDR)1, a L-CDR2, and a L-CDR3; and a heavy chain Complementarity Determining Region (H-CDR)1, a H-CDR2, and a H-CDR3 from humanized antibody HuCC49V10. The L-CDR1, L-CDR2, L-CDR3 are within a HuCC49V10 light chain framework region that includes the corresponding amino acid from LEN at position 5, 19, 21, and 106 in the light chain. The H-CDR1, H-CDR2, and H-CDR3 are within a heavy chain HuCC49V10 framework comprising a human 21/28′ CL residue at positions 20, 38, 48, 66, 67, 69, and 80 in the heavy chain. These humanized CC49 antibodies retain binding affinity for TAG-72 and have reduced immunogenicity, as compared to a parental HuCC49V10 antibody. Methods are disclosed herein for using these antibodies in the treatment or diagnosis of a tumor, such as a carcinoma, expressing TAG-72.
US07915394B2
The invention relates to mutants and alleles of the opcA gene of coryneform bacteria, which encode variants of the OpcA subunit of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (EC: 1.1.1.49), and to processes for preparing amino acids, in particular L-lysine and L-tryptophan, by using bacteria which harbor said alleles.
US07915393B2
Compositions and methods for the therapy of malignant diseases, such as leukemia and cancer, are disclosed. The compositions comprise one or more of a WT1 polynucleotide, a WT1 polypeptide, an antigen-presenting cell presenting a WT1 polypeptide, an antibody that specifically binds to a WT1 polypeptide; or a T cell that specifically reacts with a WT1 polypeptide. Such compositions may be used, for example, for the prevention and treatment of metastatic diseases.
US07915389B2
An anti-acharan sulfate antibody, a hybridoma that produces the antibody, a detection method and a detection kit to which the antibody is applied are disclosed. The anti-acharan sulfate antibody can be produced by immunizing a mammal using as an antigen a substance obtained by chemically bonding a protein to acharan sulfate.
US07915388B2
The present invention encompasses IL-13 binding proteins. Specifically, the invention relates to antibodies that are chimeric, CDR grafted and humanized antibodies. Preferred antibodies have high affinity for hIL-13 and neutralize hIL-13 activity in vitro and in vivo. An antibody of the invention can be a full-length antibody or an antigen-binding portion thereof. Method of making and method of using the antibodies of the invention are also provided. The antibodies, or antibody portions, of the invention are useful for detecting hIL-13 and for inhibiting hIL-13 activity, e.g., in a human subject suffering from a disorder in which hIL-13 activity is detrimental.
US07915383B2
The present invention provides a separate and purified peptidoglycan-recognition protein having an amino acid sequence as set forth in SEQ ID NO: 1 and also a peptidoglycan detection kit comprising the separate and purified peptidoglycan-recognition protein.
US07915382B2
The present invention is directed to fusion peptides comprising a fungal targeting agent and a channel-forming domain consisting essentially of amino acids 451-626 of colicin Ia, as well as the polynucleotides encoding the peptides of the invention. The fusion peptides of the peptides of the present invention are particularly useful for the treatment of fungal infections in a wide variety of organisms.
US07915366B1
An extrudable polyvinyl chloride composition comprising from 80 to 99.9 percent by weight polyvinyl chloride for use in extruding a first part and a second part, wherein a fusion joint between the first extruded part and the second extruded part is formed by: A) composition at least a portion of a first terminal edge of the first extruded part and a first terminal edge of the second extruded part; B) engaging the melted terminal edges; and C) maintaining pressure between the engaged terminal edges to create a fused joint having a strength that is at least 50% of the tensile strength of the extruded part as measured by ASTM D638-2a. The extruded parts can be pipe sections.
US07915365B2
The present invention relates to methods of forming absorbent materials and polymers used in absorbent materials, which are based upon vinyl type monomers that contain pendant carboxylic acid groups and ester group functionality. The polymers may be prepared under selected conditions of partial neutralization to provide relatively high conversions and/or relatively high values of molecular weight and/or selected amounts of repeating unit tacticity. The polymers may then be used in absorbing materials.
US07915364B2
The invention provides a process for preparing vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymers in the form of their solid resins by means of free-radically initiated suspension polymerization in aqueous medium of 70% to 90% by weight of vinyl chloride, 10% to 30% by weight of vinyl acetate and, if desired, further comonomers copolymerizable therewith, characterized in that 0.1% to 5% by weight of a vinyl acetate-vinyl chloride copolymer soluble in ethyl acetate is introduced as an initial charge, the amounts in % by weight being based in each case on the total weight of the comonomers.
US07915363B2
The present invention relates to novel hydrophilic swellable addition polymers comprising improved odor control, a process for their preparation and their use for absorbing aqueous fluids and a process for screening superabsorbents.
US07915362B2
Provided is a heat-curable silicone composition containing: (A) an organopolysiloxane having at least one structure represented by the following general formula (2) within each molecule: wherein m represents an integer of 0, 1 or 2, R1 represents a hydrogen atom, a phenyl group or a halogenated phenyl group, R2 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, R3 represents an identical or different monovalent organic group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and R4 represents an identical or different bivalent organic group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms; and (B) a quantity of an organic peroxide that is effective as a curing catalyst. The heat-curable silicon composition yields a cured product having excellent transparency and minimal discoloration over time. Also provided is a light emitting diode element having a material composed of the cured product.
US07915359B2
A propylene resin composition which is a three-component material is improved in rigidity, heat resistance, and impact resistance while maintaining a satisfactory balance among these and further improved in low-temperature (about −30° C.) impact resistance. A propylene resin composition as described in the specification.
US07915358B2
Copolymers when used as lubricating oil viscosity modifiers enable lubricating oils to show excellent low-temperature properties. Processes for producing the copolymers are disclosed. Lubricating oil viscosity modifiers and lubricating oil compositions contain the copolymers.A copolymer includes structural units derived from ethylene and structural units derived from a C3-20 α-olefin and satisfies the following requirements (1) to (8): (1) the melting point (Tm) according to DSC is in the range of 0 to 60° C.; (2) the melting point (Tm) and the density D (g/cm3) satisfy the equation: Tm≧1073×D−893; (3) Mw/Mn according to GPC is from 1.6 to 5.0; (4) the half-value width (ΔThalf) of a melting peak measured by DSC is not more than 90° C.; (5) the half-value width (ΔThalf) and the melting point (Tm) satisfy the equation: ΔThalf≦−0.71×Tm+101.4; (6) the heat of fusion (ΔH) as measured by DSC is not more than 60 J/g; (7) the crystallization temperature (Tc) measured by DSC is not more than 70° C.; (8) the heat of fusion (ΔH), the crystallization temperature (Tc), each measured by DSC and the crystallization temperature measured by a CRYSTAF method (Tcrystaf) satisfy the equation: Tc−Tcrystaf≧0.028×ΔH+25.3.
US07915356B2
A fluoropolymer [polymer (F)], a polymerisation process for its manufacture, and a molding process using such fluoropolymer [polymer (F)].The polymerisation process comprises polymerising at least one fluorinated monomer in a polymerization medium, in which the polymerization medium is mixed by means of a stirring system comprising at least two counter-rotating impellers. Surprisingly and advantageously, the polymerization occurs without fouling or deposit formation on the reactor walls, and moreover, occurs with improved homogeneity, without composition, pressure or temperature gradients, thus enabling obtaining homogeneous polymer composition with no risk of local overheating.A polymer (F) obtained from such process has improved morphology (percentage of organized structures, i.e. of particles of regular shape) and, hence, has good free flowing properties which make it suitable for being processed by compression molding with no need of intermediate milling or grinding process or other size reduction process.
US07915355B2
The present invention relates to a process for continuously preparing water-absorbing polymers by mixing a monomer solution with at least one crosslinker and polymerizing the resulting mixture, wherein the residence time of the mixture between the addition of the at least one crosslinker and the entry into the polymerization reactor is less than 180 seconds, and also to an apparatus for performing the process.
US07915353B2
Provided is a silica nanocomposite including silica and a siloxane-based polymer covalently bonded to the silica.
US07915342B2
A polymeric composition having a MFR of less than 2 g/10 min. which when formed into a film has an oxygen transmission rate of equal to or greater than 300 cc/100 in2/24 h at 73° F. and 0% relative humidity per ASTM D 3895 and a water vapor transmission rate of equal to or greater than 0.5 g/100 in2/24 hrs at 100° F. and 100% relative humidity per ASTM F 1249. A polymeric film having a 2% secant modulus in the machine direction of 300 MPa to 700 MPa; an oxygen transmission rate of greater than 300 cc/100 in2/24 h at 100° F., a water vapor transmission rate of greater than 0.5 g/100 in2/24 hrs at 100° F. and 100% relative humidity; an Elmendorf tear strength in the MD of from 50 g to 400 g; an Elmendorf tear strength in the transverse direction of from 150 g to 400 g, a dart drop strength of from 200 g to about 500 g, a haze of from 0% to 85% and, gloss at 45° of from 5% to 70%.
US07915339B2
Novel additive systems for metallocene based filled cable insulation are disclosed. These systems provide excellent protection against thermal degradation, better cure state and reduced dissipation factor after prolonged heat exposure. The additives may contain one or more hindered amine light stabilizers and amine antioxidants.
US07915335B2
A rubber composition is provided that attains both low heat generating property and high reinforcement property simultaneously at high levels, is capable of attaining low fuel consumption through the tire, is excellent in durability, and is good in workability and surface property. The rubber composition contains 100 parts by weight of a diene rubber component, from 0.5 to 50 parts by weight of bagasse charcoal having a BET specific surface area of from 10 to 300 m2/g, and at least one of carbon black and silica. The total amount of the bagasse charcoal, the carbon black and the silica is preferably from 30 to 100 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the diene rubber component.
US07915334B2
A dual purpose receiver sheet suitable for use in both digital offset printing presses and xerographic (dry toner) printers and presses, is provided. The inventive receiver sheet employs a microporous toner receiving layer(s) prepared from fine particles in combination with at least one film forming binder, these components being present within a fixed ratio range. The inventive dual purpose receiver sheet with microporous toner receiving layer(s) exhibits good heat stability and good to excellent adhesion to both liquid toners used in digital offset presses and dry toners used in xerographic printing systems.
US07915315B2
Benzocycloheptyl analogs that have agonist activity at one or more of the S1P receptors are provided. The compounds are sphingosine analogs, which, after phosphorylation, can behave as agonists at S1P receptors.
US07915309B2
The present application describes deuterium-enriched oseltamivir, pharmaceutically acceptable salt forms thereof, and methods of treating using the same.
US07915303B2
A glycopyrronium salt such as glycopyrronium iodide has a lower glass transition temperature than glycopyrronium bromide. It is therefore more suitable for formulation.
US07915294B2
A method is disclosed for detecting colorectal carcinoma having at least one HERG potassium ion channel, where at least one HERG potassium channel is detected in a tissue biopsy of the human color or rectum. In addition, a method is disclosed for treating colorectal carcinoma having at least one HERG potassium channel in a patient in need of said treatment, which comprises the step of administering to said patient, a therapeutically effective amount of 4-[1-{2-(6-methyl-2-pyridinyl)ethyl-4-piperidinyl}carbonyl]methane-sulfoanilide 2HCl sufficient to treat the colorectal carcinoma having at least one HERG potassium channel by selectively blockading the HERG potassium channel.
US07915292B2
The present invention relates to novel substituted quinoline derivatives according to the general Formula (Ia) or Formula (Ib): the pharmaceutically acceptable acid or base addition salts thereof, the quaternary amines thereof, the stereochemically isomeric forms thereof, the tautomeric forms thereof and the N-oxide forms thereof. The claimed compounds are useful for the treatment of a bacterial disease including a mycobacterial disease, particularly those diseases caused by pathogenic mycobacteria such as Mycobacterium tuberculosis, M. bovis, M. avium and M. marinum. Also claimed is a composition comprising a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier and, as active ingredient, a therapeutically effective amount of the claimed compounds, the use of the claimed compounds or compositions for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of bacterial diseases and a process for preparing the claimed compounds.
US07915291B2
Hepatitis C virus inhibitors are disclosed having the general formula: wherein R1, R2, R3, R′, B, Y and X are described in the description. Compositions comprising the compounds and methods for using the compounds to inhibit HCV are also disclosed.
US07915287B2
Selected compounds are effective for prophylaxis and treatment of diseases, such as HGF mediated diseases. The invention encompasses novel compounds, analogs, prodrugs and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, pharmaceutical compositions and methods for prophylaxis and treatment of diseases and other maladies or conditions involving, cancer and the like. The subject invention also relates to processes for making such compounds as well as to intermediates useful in such processes.
US07915283B2
This invention provides compounds having drug and bio-affecting properties, their pharmaceutical compositions and method of use. In particular, the invention is concerned with new piperidine 4-alkenyl derivatives that possess unique antiviral activity. More particularly, the present invention relates to compounds useful for the treatment of HIV and AIDS. The compounds of the invention for the general Formula I: wherein: Z is Q is selected from the group consisting of: —W— is
US07915265B2
The invention features pharmaceutical compositions that include dipyridamole and a corticosteroid.
US07915263B2
The present invention relates to a compound of formula I: wherein: R1 is a hydrogen atom, F, CN, etc.; R1′ is a hydrogen atom or lower alkyl which may be substituted; R2 is O, S, SO, SO2, etc.; R3 is a phenyl which may be substituted; X1, X2, and X3 each independently CH, N, etc. provided, however, that among X1, X2 and X3, the number of nitrogen is 0 or 1; W is the following residue: wherein: W1, W2, and W3 each independently CH, N, etc., or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or ester thereof.
US07915257B2
The present invention relates to the use of specific derivatives of triazinetriones for controlling coccidioses in livestock, especially pigs.
US07915250B2
Disclosed are compounds of Formula (I) and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and solvates thereof. Such compounds are MEK inhibitors and are useful in the treatment of proliferative diseases, such as cancer. Also disclosed are pharmaceutical compositions containing such compounds as well as methods of using the compounds and compositions of the invention in the treatment of cancer.
US07915249B2
This invention concerns novel substituted heterocyclic tetracyclic tetrahydrofuran derivatives with binding affinities towards serotonin receptors, in particular 5-HT2A and 5-HT2C receptors, and towards dopamine receptors, in particular dopamine D2 receptors and with norepinephrine reuptake inhibition properties, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds according to the invention, the use thereof as a medicine, in particular for the prevention and/or treatment of a range of psychiatric and neurological disorders, in particular certain psychotic, cardiovascular and gastrokinetic disorders and processes for their production.The compounds according to the invention can be represented by general Formula (I) and comprises also the pharmaceutically acceptable acid or base addition salts thereof, the stereochemically isomeric forms thereof, the N-oxide form thereof and prodrugs thereof, wherein all substituents are defined as in Claim 1.
US07915239B2
The invention relates to a process for treating lameness with an osseous, articular or osteoarticular component, comprising the administration, to a human or to an animal not suffering from arthritis or from fractures, of an effective amount of a bisphosphonic acid derivative of formula: in which: R1 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a hydroxyl, an amino, a mono(C1-C4)alkylamino or a di(C1-C4) alkylamino; R2 represents a halogen atom, a linear alkyl comprising from 1 to 5 carbon atoms which is unsubstituted or substituted with a group chosen from a chlorine atom, a hydroxyl, an amino, a mono(C1-C4)alkylamino or a di(C1-C4)alkylamino; a (C3-C7) cycloalkylamino, or R2 represents a phenoxy, a phenyl, a thiol, a phenylthio, a chlorophenylthio, a pyridyl, a pyridyl-methyl, a 1-pyridyl-1-hydroxymethyl, an imidazolyl-methyl or a 4-thiomorpholinyl, of one of its pharmaceutically acceptable salts or of one of its hydrates.
US07915238B2
The present invention is directed to methods of treating diseases and disorders related to immune responses by administering one or more immunomodulatory compounds. In particular, the invention is directed to methods of stimulating and reducing immune responses, therapeutic and prophylactic treatment of cancer, treating autoimmune conditions, treating allergic reactions and asthma, and preventing ischemic damage and asthma by administering one or more immunomodulatory compounds.
US07915230B2
Compositions and methods for improved delivery of macromolecules into eukaryotic cells are provided. Fusogenic peptides from fusion proteins of non-enveloped viruses enhance the efficiency of transfection of eukaryotic cells mediated by transfection agents such as cationic lipids, polycationic polymers such as PEI and dendrimers. These fusogenic peptides are used as part of a transfection complex that efficiently delivers a macromolecule, for example, a nucleic acid, into a eukaryotic cell. Novel cationic lipids and compositions of cationic lipids also are provided that may be used for the introduction of macromolecules such as nucleic acids, proteins and peptides into a variety of cells and tissues. The lipids can be used alone, in combination with other lipids and/or in combination with fusogenic peptides to prepare transfection complexes.
US07915229B2
An aminocarboxylic acid chelating agent, preferably EDTA, or a salt thereof has been found to be useful for inhibiting particulate formation in piperacillin/tazobactam parenteral combinations. The composition may also contain a buffer, preferably citrate, and optionally an aminoglycoside. The product may be in the form of a frozen composition that can be thawed for use. The product may also be in the form of a cryodesiccated powder that can be reconstituted by addition of an aqueous vehicle to reform a solution.
US07915228B2
The present invention relates to derivatives of N-methyl-N-[(1S)-1-phenyl-2-((3S)-3-hydroxypyrrolidin-1-yl)ethyl]-2,2-diphenylacetamide with covalently bonded acids, and to the salts, solvates and prodrugs thereof, to the derivatives as medicaments, to the use of these derivatives for the preparation of a medicament, to the use of these derivatives for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition, to a process for the preparation of the pharmaceutical compositions, to pharmaceutical compositions obtainable by this process, and to a process for the treatment of diseases which comprises the administration of the pharmaceutical composition.
US07915220B2
A peptidomimetic agent from dextrorotatory amino acids includes vGek with Dval-gly-Dglu-Dlys as a central D-amino acid sequence, whereby gly is equal to D-glycine, which is equal to L-glycine. Pharmaceutical agents for use in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, in particular Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, Lewy Body dementia, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, as well as Huntington's Chorea disease, multi-system atrophy as well as disorders similar to these neurodegenerative diseases that contain at least one peptidomimetic agent from dextrorotatory amino acids are also included.
US07915218B2
A system for expressing antigenic polypeptides in oligomeric form fuses the antigenic polypeptide to an oligomerisation polypeptide such that the oligomerisation polypeptide can interact with other oligomerisation polypeptides and bring multiple copies of the antigenic polypeptide into close proximity in the form of an oligomer. Expressing the polypeptides in oligomeric form in this way can improve their immunogenicity compared to a monomeric form.
US07915213B2
An aqueous based liquid laundry detergent comprises at least 15 wt. % of an alkali metal carbonate builder and a hygroscopic agent in sufficient amounts to maintain the stability of the detergent composition and reduce the formation of insoluble hydrates of the carbonate builder.
US07915207B2
The present invention relates to antimicrobial compositions, and specifically antimicrobial compositions that are useful at sanitizing food products. The compositions of the present invention include octanoic acid, an acidulant, a coupling agent, an optional buffer, and water. The compositions of the present invention are composed of GRAS or food additive raw materials.
US07915202B2
A clay stabilizer which is capable of inhibiting swelling in a wide variety of clay types and is also capable of restoring permeability in formations which have previously been damaged by clay swelling. Amine salts of differing molecular weights configurations and ionic strength are combined to provide transport into micropores, mesopores and macropores in the formation and to effect cationic change therein. A poly quaternary amine having a high to very high charge density is added along with lower molecular weight amine salts to substantially permanently exchange cations with the clay in the formation.
US07915193B2
A method of activating an iron Fischer-Tropsch catalyst by introducing an inert gas into a reactor comprising a slurry of the catalyst at a first temperature, increasing the reactor temperature from the first temperature to a second temperature at a first ramp rate, wherein the second temperature is in the range of from about 150° C. to 250° C., introducing synthesis gas having a ratio of H2:CO to the reactor at a space velocity, and increasing the reactor temperature from the second temperature to a third temperature at a second ramp rate, wherein the third temperature is in the range of from about 270° C. to 300° C. The iron Fischer-Tropsch catalyst may be a precipitated unsupported iron catalyst, production of which is also provided.
US07915175B1
A method of forming a semiconductor structure comprises etching an anti-reflective coating on a substrate with a first plasma comprising bromine and oxygen; and etching a nitride layer on the substrate with a second plasma comprising bromine and oxygen.
US07915165B2
A support section (28) for supporting a wafer (1) is convexly formed in the center of a receiving section (26) of a support groove (25) of a boat 21. At the time of boat loading of the boat (21), in which wafers (1) respectively received by the supporting sections (28) are aligned, from a standby chamber (33) to a processing chamber (14), the pressure in the standby chamber (33) and processing chamber (14) is set to 200 pascals or more, and 3000 pascals or less. By supporting the wafer upwards from the receiving section with use of the support section, even if peeling of the film on the wafer occurs from a large frictional force between the supported surface of the wafer and the support section under a reduced pressure, the particles from the peeling are caught by the receiving section and therefore particles are prevented from adhering to the IC fabrication surface of the wafer directly below the receiving section.
US07915162B2
A method of forming a semiconductor device. A first dielectric layer is deposited on and in direct mechanical contact with the substrate. A first hard mask is deposited on the first dielectric layer. A first and second trench is formed within the first dielectric layer and the first hard mask. The second trench is wider than the first trench. A first conformal liner is deposited over the first hard mask and within the first and second trenches, a portion of which is removed, leaving a remaining portion of the first conformal liner in direct physical contact with the substrate, the first dielectric layer, and the first hard mask, and not on the first hard mask. Copper is deposited over the first conformal liner to overfill fill the first and second trenches and is planarized to remove an excess thereof to form a planar surface of the copper.
US07915152B2
A boule formed by high rate vapor phase growth of Group III-V nitride boules (ingots) on native nitride seeds, from which wafers may be derived for fabrication of microelectronic device structures. The boule is of microelectronic device quality, e.g., having a transverse dimension greater than 1 centimeter, a length greater than 1 millimeter, and a top surface defect density of less than 107 defects cm−2. The Group III-V nitride boule may be formed by growing a Group III-V nitride material on a corresponding native Group III-V nitride seed crystal by vapor phase epitaxy at a growth rate above 20 micrometers per hour. Nuclear transmutation doping may be applied to an (Al,Ga,In)N article comprises a boule, wafer, or epitaxial layer.
US07915142B2
A wafer processing method for dividing a wafer into individual devices along streets. The wafer processing method includes the steps of forming a division groove on the front side of the wafer along each street, attaching the front side of the wafer to the front side of a rigid plate having a plurality of grooves by using an adhesive resin, applying ultraviolet radiation to the adhesive resin to thereby increase the holding force of the adhesive resin, grinding the back side of the wafer to expose the division grooves to the back side of the wafer, attaching an adhesive tape to the back side of the wafer, immersing the wafer and the rigid plate in hot water to swell the adhesive resin, thereby decreasing the holding force of the adhesive resin, and removing the rigid plate from the front side of the wafer.
US07915134B2
A MIM capacitor is formed on a semiconductor substrate having a top surface and including regions formed in the surface selected from a Shallow Trench Isolation (STI) region and a doped well having exterior surfaces coplanar with the semiconductor substrate. A capacitor lower plate is either a lower electrode formed on the STI region in the semiconductor substrate or a lower electrode formed by a doped well formed in the top surface of the semiconductor substrate that may have a silicide surface. A capacitor HiK dielectric layer is formed on or above the lower plate. A capacitor second plate is formed on the HiK dielectric layer above the capacitor lower plate. A dual capacitor structure with a top plate may be formed above the second plate with vias connected to the lower plate protected from the second plate by side wall spacers.
US07915127B2
A method of forming a semiconductor device is described. First, a substrate is provided. Thereafter, a gate structure including, from bottom to top, a high-k layer, a work function metal layer, a wetting layer, a polysilicon layer and a mask layer is formed on the substrate. Afterwards, a spacer is formed on the sidewall of the gate structure. Source/drain regions are then formed in the substrate beside the gate structure. Further, an interlayer dielectric layer is formed over the substrate. Thereafter, a portion of the interlayer dielectric layer is removed to expose the surface of the mask layer. Afterwards, the mask layer and the polysilicon layer are sequentially removed to expose the surface of the wetting layer. A selective chemical vapor deposition process is then performed, so as to bottom-up deposit a metal layer from the surface of the wetting layer.
US07915123B1
A dual node memory device and methods for fabricating the device are provided. In one embodiment the method comprises forming a layered structure with an insulator layer, a charge storage layer, a buffer layer, and a sacrificial layer on a semiconductor substrate. The layers are patterned to form two spaced apart stacks and an exposed substrate portion between the stacks. A gate insulator and a gate electrode are formed on the exposed substrate, and the sacrificial layer and buffer layer are removed. An additional insulator layer is deposited overlying the charge storage layer to form insulator-storage layer-insulator memory storage areas on each side of the gate electrode. Sidewall spacers are formed at the sidewalls of the gate electrode overlying the storage areas. Bit lines are formed in the substrate spaced apart from the gate electrode, and a word line is formed that contacts the gate electrode and the sidewall spacers.
US07915121B1
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device having a buried gate is provided. A gate conductive layer is first formed in the peri region before a bit line contact is formed in the cell region, so that a fabrication process is simplified and the problem caused by a step height between the cell region and the core/peri region is not encountered.
US07915118B2
A nonvolatile memory device may include a semiconductor substrate, a floating gate electrode on the semiconductor substrate that includes an acute-angled tip at an upper end, and a control gate electrode insulated from the floating gate electrode and facing at least a portion of the floating gate electrode, wherein an angle formed between the semiconductor substrate and an upper portion of a lateral surface of the floating gate electrode is smaller than an angle formed between the semiconductor substrate and a lower portion of the lateral surface of the floating gate electrode.
US07915108B2
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a device isolation structure in a substrate to define active regions, forming a hard mask pattern to open a region defining an active region pattern and to cover the device isolation structure, forming the active region pattern by selectively recessing the device isolation structure formed in the opened region using the hard mask pattern as an etch barrier, removing the hard mask pattern, forming a gate insulation layer over the substrate to cover at least the active region pattern, and forming a gate electrode over the gate insulation layer to cover at least the active region pattern.
US07915103B2
The method for fabricating a flat panel display includes performing a first crystallization process to re-crystallize an amorphous silicon layer on a glass substrate to make the amorphous silicon layer become a polysilicon layer, forming a patterned absorbing layer to cover an active area pattern of a driving TFT and to expose portions of the polysilicon layer, performing a second crystallization process to re-crystallization the exposed portions of the polysilicon layer so that the exposed portions of the polysilicon layer has a different grain structure from the grain structure of the driving TFT, removing the patterned absorbing layer, and removing portions of the polysilicon layer to form an active area of the driving TFT and an active area of a switching TFT area in the exposed portions of the polysilicon layer of each sub-pixel.
US07915096B2
A semiconductor device includes a fuse pattern formed as conductive polymer layer having a low melting point. The fuse pattern is easily cut at low temperature to improve repair efficiency. The semiconductor device includes first and second fuse connecting patterns that are separated from each other by a distance, a fuse pattern including a conductive polymer layer formed between the first and second fuse connection patterns and connecting the first and second fuse connection patterns, and a fuse box structure that exposes the fuse pattern.
US07915095B2
An antifuse contains a first silicide layer, a grown silicon oxide antifuse layer on a first surface of the first silicide layer, and a first semiconductor layer having a first surface in contact with the antifuse layer.
US07915088B2
A semiconductor device 100 has such a structure that a semiconductor chip 110 is flip-chip mounted on a wiring board 120. The wiring board 120 has a multilayer structure in which a plurality of wiring layers and a plurality of insulating layers are arranged, and has a structure in which insulating layers of a first layer 122, a second layer 124, a third layer 126 and a fourth layer 128 are provided. The first layer 122 has a first insulating layer 121 and a second insulating layer 123. A protruded portion 132 which is protruded in a radial direction (a circumferential direction) from an outer periphery at one surface side of a first electrode pad 130 is formed on a whole periphery over a boundary surface between the first insulating layer 121 and the second insulating layer 123.
US07915086B2
Performing electrolysis plating to a wiring is made possible, aiming at the increasing of pin count of a semiconductor device. Package substrate 3 by which ring shape common wiring 3p for electric supply was formed in the inner area of bonding lead 3j in device region 3v of main surface 3a is used. Since a plurality of first plating lines 3r and fourth plating lines 3u for electric supply connected to common wiring 3p can be arranged by this, the feeder for electrolysis plating can be arranged to all the land parts on the back. Hereby, it becomes possible to perform electrolysis plating to the wiring of main surface 3a of package substrate 3, and the back surface. Even if the land part of plural lines is formed covering the perimeter of the back surface, electrolysis plating can be performed to the all land parts. As a result, electrolysis plating can be performed to a wiring, aiming at the increasing of pin count of a semiconductor device.
US07915080B2
A method for bonding IC die to TSV wafers includes bonding at least one singulated IC die to respective ones of a plurality of IC die on a TSV wafer that includes a top semiconductor surface and TSV precursors including embedded TSV tips to form a die-wafer stack. The die-wafer stack is thinned beginning from the bottom surface of the TSV wafer to form a thinned die-wafer stack. The thinning includes exposing the embedded TSV tips to provide electrical access thereto from the bottom surface of the TSV wafer. The thinned die-wafer stack can be singulated to form a plurality of thinned die stacks.
US07915077B2
Chip-scale packages and assemblies thereof and methods of fabricating such packages including Chip-On-Board, Board-On-Chip, and vertically stacked Package-On-Package modules are disclosed. The chip-scale package includes a core member of a metal or alloy having a recess for at least partially receiving a die therein and includes at least one flange member partially folded over another portion of the core member. Conductive traces extend from one side of the package over the at least one flange member to an opposing side of the package. Systems including the chip-scale packages and assemblies are also disclosed.
US07915075B2
An object is to establish a processing technique in manufacture of a semiconductor device in which an oxide semiconductor is used. A gate electrode is formed over a substrate, a gate insulating layer is formed over the gate electrode, an oxide semiconductor layer is formed over the gate insulating layer, the oxide semiconductor layer is processed by wet etching to form an island-shaped oxide semiconductor layer, a conductive layer is formed to cover the island-shaped oxide semiconductor layer, the conductive layer is processed by dry etching to form a source electrode, and a drain electrode and part of the island-shaped oxide semiconductor layer is removed by dry etching to form a recessed portion in the island-shaped oxide semiconductor layer.
US07915072B1
A coating method for preparing a light absorbing layer of a solar cell is provided. In a non-vacuum environment, an ultrasonic vibrating mixer is employed to mix a CIGS mixture with a mixing fluid to obtain a CIGS coating material. The CIGS coating material is then uniformly coated on a molybdenum (Mo) layer which is driven by a conveyor device, so as to form a CIGS coating material layer having a uniform thickness on the Mo layer. An infrared ray (IR) heating lamp is then used to dry the CIGS coating material layer for removing residue of the mixing fluid remained in the CIGS coating material layer. In such a way, a CIGS light absorbing layer adapted for absorbing a solar energy and converting the absorbed solar energy into an electric energy is obtained. The CIGS light absorbing layer can be then used for fabricating a CIGS solar cell.
US07915071B2
A method and associated composition for chemical mechanical planarization of a chalcogenide-containing substrate (e.g., germanium/antimony/tellurium (GST)-containing substrate) are described. The composition and method afford low defect levels (e.g., scratches incurred during polishing) as well as low dishing and local erosion levels on the chalcogenide-containing substrate during CMP processing.
US07915069B2
An n/p semiconductor substrate is formed in such a manner that an n type semiconductor layer is deposited on a p+ semiconductor substrate. An imaging area including a plurality of n type semiconductor regions making photoelectric conversion and a plurality of p type semiconductor region for isolation formed around the n type semiconductor regions, is formed in the n/p semiconductor substrate. The n type semiconductor layer is divided into an upper layer and a lower layer. A second n type semiconductor region is formed to connect to the p+ type semiconductor substrate from a surface of the n/p semiconductor substrate in a peripheral region of the imaging area.
US07915067B2
A backside illuminated image sensor comprises a sensor layer implementing a plurality of photosensitive elements of a pixel array, and an oxide layer adjacent a backside surface of the sensor layer. The sensor layer comprises a seed layer and an epitaxial layer formed over the seed layer, with the seed layer having a cross-sectional doping profile in which a designated dopant is substantially confined to a pixel array area of the sensor layer. The doping profile advantageously reduces dark current generated at an interface between the sensor layer and the oxide layer. The image sensor may be implemented in a digital camera or other type of digital imaging device.
US07915053B2
A substrate for forming a target substance detecting device includes a supporting member, an underlying layer disposed on a surface of the supporting member, and a metal pattern layer, disposed on a surface of the underlying layer, for being bound to a target substance trapping substance capable of trapping a target substance in a specimen solution at least containing water as a liquid medium to detect the target substance by utilizing plasmon resonance. The underlying layer has a refractive index nb satisfying the following relationship: 0.90 na≦nb≦1.05 na, wherein na represents a refractive index of water.
US07915038B2
The method represents a further development of a cell-colonization process, in which biological cells are colonized on a synthetic or natural tissue matrix in order to obtain a tissue implant or tissue transplant. The growth of the cells, which in general come from the designated recipient of the transplant of implant, may be promoted by the addition of mediators, factors or co-factors. The factors or mediators are supplied by co-cultivating cells, which are particularly suitable for producing the factors, with the tissue.
US07915035B2
The invention concerns a vaccine that can induce protection against disease especially in consequence of a lentivirus infection, especially an infection with the Feline Leukosis virus. Such vaccine comprises codon-optimized DNA sequences encoding structural proteins and the most important membrane protein of FeLV.
US07915030B2
At least one exemplary embodiment of the invention is directed to a molecular diagnostic device that comprises a cartridge configured to eject samples comprising genomic material into a microfluidic chip that comprises an amplification area, a detection area, and a matrix analysis area.
US07915028B2
A tissue regeneration substrate comprising a film with a honeycomb structure composed primarily of a polymer compound and a phospholipid. A tissue regeneration complex comprising the tissue regeneration substrate and cells held in the tissue regeneration substrate. The substrate is particularly suitable for regeneration of cartilage tissue, and allows growth of cartilage tissue in a three-dimensional fashion.
US07915020B2
The presently disclosed subject matter provides improved processes for processing starch from plant sources, including processes for starch liquefaction, for simultaneous liquefaction and saccharification, and for the preparation of ethanol. These processes can be performed without a pH adjustment and at relatively low temperatures. The processes can involve the use of starch-containing plant material derived from plants that express starch-digesting enzymes. The presently disclosed subject matter further relates to improved processes for the preparation of other starch-derived products, including dried distiller grain (dried distiller grain) and dried distiller grain and solubles (dried distiller grain and solubles), and to the starch-derived products, themselves.
US07915011B2
Disrupting the expression of endogenous Escherichia host cell genes gcvA and spr provides mutant host cells having increased heterologous peptide production. The addition of a genetic modification to the coding region of gene yejM further enhances peptide production and facilitates easier downstream processing. Recombinant Escherichia host cells are provided as well as methods of using such host cells for heterologous peptide production.
US07915002B2
Disclosed is a method for controlling the therapeutic treatment of a patient suffering from cardiac insufficiency. In said method, it is determined how the concentration of at least one of the vasoactive peptides adrenomedullin (ADM), endothelin-1 (ET-1), and/or vasopressin (AVP) changes in the patient's blood after beginning the therapy, and the therapeutic measures are considered to be unsatisfactory and are modified in case said concentration does not decrease at all or not enough in relation to a threshold value for the respective vasoactive peptide.
US07915001B2
Methods are described for improving the diagnostic possibilities of diseases where oxidative NO-modifications occur, for example inflammatory conditions, cancer, Parkinson's or Alzheimer's disease, and to provide means of monitoring the effects of therapeutical measures taken towards such diseases. The invention enables the detection of disease specific catabolic markers related to oxidative NO-modifications, utilizing an immunoassay comprising antibodies directed against nitrated and non-nitrated epitopes characteristic of a specific protein.
US07914995B2
A novel method of pyrophosphorolysis activated polymerization (PAP) has been developed. In PAP, pyrophosphorolysis and polymerization by DNA polymerase are coupled serially for each amplification by using an activatable oligonucleotide P* that has a non-extendible 3′-deoxynucleotide at its 3′ terminus. PAP can be applied for exponential amplification or for linear amplification. PAP can be applied to amplification of a rare allele in admixture with one or more wild-type alleles by using an activatable oligonucleotide P* that is an exact match at its 3′ end for the rare allele but has a mismatch at or near its 3′ terminus for the wild-type allele. PAP is inhibited by a mismatch in the 3′ specific sequence as far as 16 nucleotides away from the 3′ terminus. PAP can greatly increase the specificity of detection of an extremely rare mutant allele in the presence of the wild-type allele. Specificity results from both pyrophosphorolysis and polymerization since significant nonspecific amplification requires the combination of mismatch pyrophosphorolysis and misincorporation by the DNA polymerase, an extremely rare event. Using genetically engineered DNA polymerases greatly improves the efficiency of PAP.
US07914993B2
The presently disclosed subject matter provides improved processes for processing starch from plant sources, including processes for starch liquefaction, for simultaneous liquefaction and saccharification, and for the preparation of ethanol. These processes can be performed without a pH adjustment and at relatively low temperatures. The processes can involve the use of starch-containing plant material derived from plants that express starch-digesting enzymes. The presently disclosed subject matter further relates to improved processes for the preparation of other starch-derived products, including dried distiller grain (dried distiller grain) and dried distiller grain and solubles (dried distiller grain and solubles), and to the starch-derived products, themselves.
US07914990B2
An in vitro method for genotyping genetic variations in a individual, and products for use in the method.
US07914983B2
Provided is a novel approach for generating oligonucleotide probes and the use of these probes in gene expression profiling, by hybridization to test oligonucleotides on arrays or beads. This approach involves labeling of the complement oligonucleotide probes using a mixture of dye or hapten labeled-ddNTPs in solution. The labeled oligonucleotide probes are then used to hybridize to the test oligonucleotides on the solid support. Success in hybridization is monitored by associated signal on the solid support. This approach greatly reduces hybridization time, due to the simplification of the probe content. It is especially useful when analyzing a small number of genes, such as a signature set of genes for a disease or condition.
US07914981B2
The present invention describes a method for identifying one or more of a plurality of sequences differing by one or more single base changes, insertions, deletions, or translocations in a plurality of target nucleotide sequences. The method includes a ligation phase, a capture phase, and a detection phase. The ligation phase utilizes a ligation detection reaction between one oligonucleotide probe, which has a target sequence-specific portion and an addressable array-specific portion, and a second oligonucleotide probe, having a target sequence-specific portion and a detectable label. After the ligation phase, the capture phase is carried out by hybridizing the ligated oligonucleotide probes to a solid support with an array of immobilized capture oligonucleotides at least some of which are complementary to the addressable array-specific portion. Following completion of the capture phase, a detection phase is carried out to detect the labels of ligated oligonucleotide probes hybridized to the solid support.
US07914968B2
A positive resist composition including a resin component (A) and an acid-generator component (B), the resin component (A) including a structural unit (a1) derived from hydroxystyrene, and a structural unit (a2) having an acetal-type acid dissociable dissolution inhibiting group, and the acid-generator component (B) including an acid generator (B1-i) having at least one anion moiety selected from the group consisting of anion moieties represented by general formula (b-3), (b-4), and (b-5), an acid generator (B1-ii) having an anion moiety represented by general formula (b-6) shown below, or an acid generator (B1-iii) having a cation moiety represented by general formula (b′-3) shown below: wherein X″ represents an alkylene group of 2 to 6 carbon atoms in which at least one hydrogen atom has been substituted with a fluorine atom; Y″ and Z″, U″, V″, and W″ each independently represents an alkyl group of 1 to 10 carbon atoms in which at least one hydrogen atom has been substituted with a fluorine atom, [Chemical Formula 2] R10″—SO3− (b-6) wherein R10″ represents a hydrocarbon group which may or may not have a substituent, wherein R7″ to R9″ each independently represents a phenyl group or naphthyl group that may or may not have a substituent; with the proviso that the case where all of R7″ to R9″ represent phenyl groups which do not have a substituent is excluded.
US07914967B2
A resist composition for immersion exposure including a base component (A) which exhibits changed solubility in an alkali developing solution under action of acid, an acid-generator component (B) which generates acid upon irradiation, and a fluorine-containing compound (C) having a group represented by general formula (c) shown below and containing at least one fluorine atom: wherein Q represents a group in which one hydrogen atom has been removed from a monovalent hydrophilic group; and R1 represents a hydrocarbon group of 2 or more carbon atoms which may have a fluorine atom.
US07914965B2
A resist composition comprises (A) a compound having a molecular weight of 3,000 or lower which has in its molecule a structure having two or more monovalent anions and a structure having two or more monovalent cations.
US07914963B2
The present invention is a toner that includes a polymeric binder and a polyethylene wax or ester wax. A dispersing agent of poly(ethylene vinyl acetate) is included in the toner that dispersed the wax and reduces the amount of free wax particles.
US07914953B2
A photomask includes: a transparent substrate having a transparent property against exposing light; a first light-shielding pattern formed on the transparent substrate and having a first dimension; a second light-shielding pattern formed on the transparent substrate and having a second dimension larger than the first dimension; and an opening provided in part of the transparent substrate where the first light-shielding pattern and the second light-shielding pattern are not formed. The first light-shielding pattern includes a first semi-light-shielding portion and an auxiliary pattern which is arranged within the first semi-light-shielding portion and allows the exposing light to pass through in an opposite phase with respect to the first semi-light-shielding portion. The second light-shielding pattern includes a second semi-light-shielding portion and a light-shielding portion which does not substantially allow the exposing light to pass through.
US07914951B2
A method of correcting a pattern critical dimension of a photomask includes forming a phase shift layer and a light blocking pattern on a substrate, measuring a critical dimension (CD) of the light blocking pattern, and forming a negative resist pattern that has a relatively smaller CD than the CD of the light blocking pattern on the light blocking pattern, and correcting the CD of the light blocking pattern by etching the light blocking pattern exposed by the negative resist pattern. The method may further include forming a phase shift pattern by etching the phase shift layer exposed by the corrected light blocking pattern and the negative resist pattern as an etch mask, and removing the negative resist pattern and the corrected light blocking pattern.
US07914946B2
Carbonate fuel cathode side hardware having a thin coating of a conductive ceramic formed from one of LSC (La0.8Sr0.2CoO3) and lithiated NiO (LixNiO, where x is 0.1 to 1).
US07914937B2
A fuel cell includes an electrolyte electrode assembly and separators. The separator has a fuel gas supply passage, a fuel gas distribution passage, an oxygen-containing gas supply passage, and an oxygen-containing gas distribution passage. The fuel gas flows through the fuel gas supply passage into the separator. The fuel gas distribution passage connects the fuel gas channel and the fuel gas supply passage. The oxygen-containing gas flows through the oxygen-containing gas supply passage into the separator. The oxygen-containing gas distribution passage connects the oxygen-containing gas channel and the oxygen-containing gas supply passage.
US07914931B2
A separator for a rechargeable lithium battery, a rechargeable lithium battery including the same, and a method of manufacturing a rechargeable lithium battery. The separator includes a separating substrate; and an antistatic agent coated on the separating substrate.
US07914927B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a material for electrolytic solutions suited for use as material in electrolytic solutions serving as ionic conductors in electrochemical devices, such as large-capacity cells or batteries. The present invention is related to a material for electrolytic solutions which comprises, as an essential constituent, an anion represented by the general formula (i): wherein X represents at least one element selected from among B, N, O, Al, Si, P, S, As and Se; M1 and M2 are the same or different and each represents an organic linking group; a is an integer of not less than i, and b, c And d each independently is an integer of not less than 0.
US07914923B2
A cell includes an electrode plate group which is formed by laminating a positive electrode plate and a negative electrode plate with a separator interposed between them, and includes leads protruding toward directions opposite to each other from one side of the positive electrode plate and the negative electrode plate. Collectors are joined to the leads on both sides of the electrode plate group, and include connection protrusions formed so as to protrude outside. A bag-shape battery case containing the electrode plate group is joined to the collectors such that only the connection protrusions of the collectors are protruded outside the bag-shaped battery case. A battery module is constituted by placing a plurality of the cells, connected together, into a prismatic battery case.
US07914921B2
The present invention discloses enhanced separators for storage batteries with zinc negative electrodes. These enhanced separators include a separator layer and one or more resistive layers on said separator layer. The dimensions of the one or more resistive layers are less than or equal to that of the separator layer. Portions of the separator layer can also be treated with a PTFE suspension to increase the resistance at those portions. For storage batteries where the resistance along two edges of the separator layer has to be larger then the center, the enhanced separator include said resistive layers where each layer includes two independent parts positioned along the two edges of the separator layer. The edge portions of the separator layer can also be treated with a PTFE suspension. Using these enhanced separators in storage batteries with zinc negative electrodes can increase the capacity and prolong the life of the batteries. These enhanced separators are also simple, easy to manufacture, and low in cost.
US07914920B2
A battery includes a separator with a trapping layer that traps dissolved metal ions.
US07914915B2
A highly charged ion modified device is provided that includes a first metal layer or layers deposited on a substrate and an insulator layer, deposited on the first metal layer, including a plurality of holes therein produced by irradiation thereof with highly charged ions. The metal of a further metal layer, deposited on the insulator layer, fills the plurality of holes in the insulator layer.
US07914911B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a luminescent material that has resistance to repeated oxidation reactions. Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide a light-emitting element that is high in luminous efficiency. Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide a light-emitting element that has a long life. An aspect of the present invention is an anthracene derivative represented by a general formula (1). In the general formula (1), R2 to R4 and R7 to R9 are individually any one of hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and a group represented by the following structure formula (2), and R1, R5, R6, and R10 are individually any one of hydrogen and an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms.
US07914910B2
An organic electroluminescence device includes an anode; a cathode; and at least one organic layer, wherein the at least one organic layer includes a first organic layer which is a light-emitting layer being provided between the anode and the cathode and containing at least one light-emitting material, and the at least one organic layer contains at least one compound represented by formula (I): wherein Q1 represents an aromatic heterocyclic ring; each of R1, R2, R3 and R4 independently represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent; and each of R11, R12 and R13 independently represents an alkyl group, an aryl group, or an aromatic heterocyclic group, provided that at least one of R11, R12 and R13 represents an aryl group or an aromatic heterocyclic group.
US07914902B2
A thermal module directly press-forged from magnesium alloy is disclosed having a peripheral wall, a recessed chamber surrounded by the peripheral wall. The body is made of magnesium alloy by means of softening magnesium alloy with heat and then press forging softened magnesium alloy into the desired shape.
US07914896B2
A moisture-curable polyurethane hot-melt adhesive containing a urethane prepolymer obtained by reacting a polyol (A) which comprises a polyester polyol (a-1) obtained by reacting a polyol prepared by the addition of bisphenol A with an alkylene oxide with both an aliphatic polycarboxylic acid and an aromatic polycarboxylic acid, a crystalline polyester polyol (a-2), and a polyoxyethylene glycol (a-3) having a number-average molecular weight of 2000 to 25000 with a polyisocyanate (B); and a moisture-permeable film, which are suitable for the production of sport wear, raincoats, shoes, fireman uniforms, military uniforms, and so on.
US07914895B2
A moisture curable hot melt adhesive composition includes a polyurethane prepolymer, optionally a tackifying resin, and optionally a thermoplastic polymer. The polyurethane prepolymer includes a reaction product of an amorphous polyester polyol, a polyisocyanate, and a crystalline monofunctional alcohol that has a melting point of no less than about 80° C.
US07914893B2
Disclosed are particles containing substrates and an anion-binding layer, containing one or more anion-forming organic active compounds or active compound/colorant mixtures; processes for preparing said particles and to methods of use thereof in cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, formulations, paints, coatings, plastics, films, in security printing, in security features in documents or identity papers, for coloring seed, for coloring foods or in medicament coatings and for the preparation of pigment compositions and dry preparations.
US07914892B2
The present invention relates to proppants which can be used to prop open subterranean formation fractions. Proppant formulations are further disclosed which use one or more proppants of the present invention. Methods to prop open subterranean formation fractions are further disclosed. In addition, other uses for the proppants of the present invention are further disclosed, as well as methods of making the proppants.
US07914888B2
This invention relates to antimicrobial composites, films, labelstocks and labels. The antimicrobial composites comprise a mixture of (A) a terpolymer prepared from a mixture comprising (i) an olefin, (ii) at least one copolymerizable comonomer comprising ethylenically unsaturated organic acids or esters, vinyl esters of saturated carboxylic acids and mixtures of two or more thereof, and (iii) carbon monoxide, and (B) an antimicrobial composition which comprises at least one metal chlorite and at least one hydrophilic material capable of reacting with the metal chlorite when exposed to water. The composites which are described herein are useful in preparing films, labelstocks and labels which exhibit the desirable antimicrobial properties by providing a controlled release of chlorine dioxide gas over an extended period of time.
US07914876B2
A honeycomb structure has a plurality of honeycomb segments each including porous partition walls that define a plurality of cells communicating with two end surfaces and an outer wall that surrounds the partition walls. The honeycomb segments are combined in a direction perpendicular to the axial directions of the honeycomb segments, and the outer walls of the honeycomb segments are integrally joined by a joint material. The outer wall of each honeycomb segment has corners. A cell in contact with the inner surface of a portion of the outer wall having one of the corners is defined by a plurality of sides including two sides formed by the inner surface and two sides each having one end in contact with the inner surface. An angle θa of the corner formed by the two sides each having the one end in contact with the inner surface is 100 to 150°.
US07914874B2
Disclosed are ceramic batch compositions for forming porous ceramic articles. The ceramic forming precursor batch compositions include ceramic forming inorganic batch components and a cyclododecane pore forming agent. Also disclosed are methods for manufacturing porous ceramic articles.
US07914872B2
A segmented insulative device and related kit for insulating components of a thermal distribution system. The kit includes a sheet of segmented insulation formed by a composite layer of segmented, flexible, pre-sewn insulation that is easily cut to size in the field using scissors, utility knives or other simple, hand-held cutting devices. The kit also includes two-sided hook-and-loop straps as fasteners, also easily cut to length, using hand-held devices. The segmented insulation and the hook-and-loop straps are attached to one another in the field using a stapler or other hand-held attachment device. This provides an installation kit that an installer can use to provide a versatile insulation in the form of the assembled segmented insulative device. The segmented insulative device lends itself to quick customization on-site rather than requiring costly off-site manufacture or pre-assembly and subsequent quick installation on the pipe component requiring thermal installation.
US07914857B2
There is provided a method of making a heat treated (HT) coated article to be used in shower door applications, window applications, or any other suitable applications where transparent coated articles are desired. The method may include heat treating a glass substrate coated with at least a layer of or including diamond-like carbon (DLC) or other type of carbon, with an oxygen barrier layer provided thereon directly or indirectly. Optionally, a release layer of a material such as zinc oxide or the like may be provided between the oxygen barrier layer and the DLC. In certain example embodiments, the oxygen content of at least part of the protective film when deposited may be determined based on whether the coated surface is to be bent in a convex manner, to be bent in a concave manner, or to remain flat. Following heat treatment, which may include bending the coated surface into a convex or concave shape, and quenching, the protective film may be removed by washing or the like.
US07914856B2
The present invention provides methods for manufacturing an article having a wetting-resistant surface. The method includes providing a mixture comprising a plurality of micron-sized first particles and a plurality of nano-sized second particles, and a binder; depositing the mixture onto a substrate to form a wetting-resistant surface via a thermal spray process. The mixture is deposited without substantial melting of the first and second particles. The wetting-resistant surface has wettability sufficient to generate, with a reference fluid, a static contact angle of greater than about 90 degrees.
US07914852B2
A coating technique for amorphous fluoropolymer involves adding amorphous fluoropolymer resin to a solvent. The resin solvent mixture is heated to a predetermined temperature above room temperature. The amorphous fluoropolymer resin is dissolved in a heated solvent, and the liquid coating solution is applied to a substrate. The solvent is then removed from the applied liquid coating solution. The coating technique may be employed in connection with liquid core waveguides.
US07914849B2
A new and refined method to produce α-Al2O3 layers in a temperature range of from about 750 to about 1000° C. with a controlled growth texture and substantially enhanced wear resistance and toughness than the prior art is disclosed. The α-Al2O3 layer of the present invention is formed on a bonding layer of (Ti,Al)(C,O,N) with increasing aluminium content towards the outer surface. Nucleation of α-Al2O3 is obtained through a nucleation step being composed of short pulses and purges consisting of Ti/Al-containing pulses and oxidising pulses. The α-Al2O3 layer according to the present invention has a thickness ranging from about 1 to about 20 μm and is composed of columnar grains. The length/width ratio of the alumina grains is from about 2 to about 12, preferably from about 4 to about 8. The layer is characterized by a strong (104) growth texture, measured using XRD, and by low intensity of (012), (110), (113), (024) and (116) diffraction peaks.
US07914847B2
Protective layers are formed on a surface of an atomic layer deposition (ALD) or chemical vapor deposition (CVD) reactor. Parts defining a reaction space for an ALD or CVD reactor can be treated, in situ or ex situ, with chemicals that deactivate reactive sites on the reaction space surface(s). A pre-treatment step can maximize the available reactive sites prior to the treatment step. With reactive sites deactivated by adsorbed treatment reactant, during subsequent processing the reactant gases have reduced reactivity or deposition upon these treated surfaces. Accordingly, purge steps can be greatly shortened and a greater number of runs can be conducted between cleaning steps to remove built-up deposition on the reactor walls.
US07914846B2
A process for encapsulating a metal hydride within a hollow glass sphere is provided. The process includes providing a hollow glass sphere, the hollow glass sphere having a shell enclosing an inner volume. The hollow glass sphere is placed within an enclosed chamber and the chamber is evacuated such that a negative pressure is present therewithin. The hollow glass sphere within the evacuated enclosed chamber is subjected to an external element such that the shell affords for molecules to diffuse therethrough. In some instances, the external element is heat, infrared light and combinations thereof. Thereafter, a metal hydride is provided in the form of a vapor and the evacuated enclosed chamber with the hollow glass sphere is exposed to metal hydride vapor and molecules of the metal hydride diffuse through the shell into the inner volume. Thereafter, the external element is removed from the hollow glass sphere such that diffusion of molecules through the shell is generally prohibited and the metal hydride within the hollow glass sphere is in a dense state.
US07914840B2
A process for preparing a texturizing powder by creating a mixture of egg and milk protein components, pasteurizing the mixture at a temperature that is sufficiently high to eliminate bacteria, and drying the pasteurized mixture to form a powder that retains the functional and organoleptic properties of the egg when reconstituted in an aqueous medium is provided. A texturizing powder and edible compositions including the powder are also described.
US07914833B2
The invention relates to starch used in the baking-industry. Creams, (fruit-) fillings, toppings, glazes and other bakery products are often thickened by the inclusion of a certain amount of starch as binder, filling or thickening agent, for example providing gel-strength, viscosity, glaze, texture or creaminess to the cream or filling. Commonly used starches have insufficient stability to for example heat appled during baking. The invention provides a starch-containing filling or topping for a bakery product wherein said starch comprises a tuber or root starch containing less than about 5% amylose and use of such a filling or topping for improving a bakery product. Furthermore, the invention provides a heat-stable starch and bakery products comprising a heat-stable starch.
US07914831B2
The invention provides compositions containing a fraction isolated or derived from hops and a methylxanthine. The invention additionally provides compositions containing a fraction derived from hops and a curcuminoid. The invention also provides methods of using such compositions to reduce inflammation.
US07914828B2
An herbal composition for providing a beneficial effect to the respiratory tract. The composition includes Colt's Foot, Mangosteen, Thyme Leaf, Wild Cherry Bark, Quercitin, Sundew, Butterbur, and Grape Seed Extract. In particular, the composition may prevent or treat cough. Also described are methods of using the herbal composition.
US07914822B2
Methods of isolating, treating, storing and processing human milk, as well as nutritional formulations of human milk comprising protective human milk proteins.
US07914820B2
The present invention relates to novel coating compositions for application to solid dosage forms such as tablets or caplets, solid dosage forms coated with the composition, and methods of preparing said coating compositions.
US07914813B2
It is intended to provide an interface for a transdermal drug administration device that can supply a drug almost evenly and favorably from a plurality of projections through skin. This interface for a transdermal drug administration device has a flat plate 8. The flat plate 8 comprises a plurality of two-dimensionally arranged conical or pyramidal projections 6 capable of piercing skin and a plurality of openings 7 capable of delivering a drug which are respectively arranged in correspondence with the projections. The openings 7 are respectively arranged in proximity to their corresponding projections 6. The flat plate 8 can be made of a metal or ceramics. The ratio between the number of the openings and the number of the projections can be 1:1 to 1:2.
US07914807B2
In accordance with various aspects of the invention, implantable and insertable medical devices are provided, which contain one or more polymeric regions. In one aspect, the polymeric regions comprise (a) a block copolymer that comprises a polyaromatic block and a polyalkene block admixed with (b) a sulfonated high Tg polymer. In another aspect, the polymeric regions comprise a block copolymer that comprises (a) a sulfonated polymer block and (b) fluorinated polymer block.
US07914805B2
An implantable or insertable medical device which comprises (a) a therapeutic agent and (b) a polymeric release region comprising a polymer. The polymeric release region is treated with a radiation dose that is effective to substantially increase the cumulative release of the therapeutic agent subsequent to administration to a patient. The polymeric release region can be, for example, (a) a carrier region that comprises the therapeutic agent or (b) a barrier region that is disposed over a therapeutic-agent-containing region that comprises the therapeutic agent. The present invention is further directed to methods of forming such medical devices, methods of releasing a therapeutic agent within a patient using such medical devices, and methods of modulating the release of a therapeutic agent from such medical devices.
US07914795B2
The invention discloses the Moraxella catarrhalis outer membrane protein-106 (OMP106) polypeptide, polypeptides derived therefrom (OMP106-derived polypeptides), nucleotide sequences encoding OMP106 polypeptides, and antibodies that specifically bind the OMP106 polypeptide and/or OMP106-derived polypeptides. Also disclosed are immunogenic, prophylactic or therapeutic compositions, including vaccines, comprising OMP106 polypeptide and/or OMP106-derived polypeptides. The invention additionally discloses methods of inducing immune responses to M. catarrhalis and M. catarrhalis OMP106 polypeptides and OMP106-derived polypeptides in animals.
US07914774B2
A liquid solution for topical application to the skin of an animal consists of solutes and a solvent, where the solutes include ascorbate, tropocollagen factors, copper, and zinc gluconate. The tropocollagen factors include L-proline, glycine and L-lysine.
US07914773B2
A cosmetic and personal care composition comprising a hydrophobically functionalised dendritic macromolecule.
US07914772B2
A cosmetic water-in-oil emulsion composition is provided which includes composite particles of a sunscreen agent and a condensation polymerized polyamide binder, an emulsifying silicone surfactant sufficient to form the water-in-oil emulsion, an oil phase, and a water phase. The composition exhibits relatively high SPF photoprotection while maintaining excellent soft focus properties that hide skin imperfections.
US07914771B2
The present invention encompasses methods and compositions for the treatment and prevention of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or emphysema, typically smoking-induced emphysema. More specifically, the present invention relates to the treatment and prevention of COPD or emphysema by inhalation of alpha one-antitrypsin (AAT).
US07914767B2
A composition for oral radionuclide chelation therapy comprises a DTPA chelate selected from Zn-DTPA and Ca-DTPA and a permeation enhancer that preferentially increases jejunal uptake of the DTPA chelate. The composition has a DTPA chelate bioavailability of at least 10% of the chelate when orally administered to a mammal.
US07914762B2
A method for preparing a chalcopyrite-type semiconductor compound which is widely used as a sunlight-absorbing material. More specifically, disclosed is a method for preparing a chalcopyrite-type compound, in which microwaves are used as heat sources in the preparation of the chalcopyrite-type compound, and the chalcopyrite-type compound can be produced in a large amount in a short reaction time using a batch or continuous reactor.
US07914760B2
A silicoaluminophosphate molecular sieve is disclosed that comprises first and second intergrown phases of a CHA framework type and an AEI framework type, wherein said first intergrown phase has an AEI/CHA ratio of from about 5/95 to about 40/60 as determined by DIFFaX analysis, the second intergrown phase has an AEI/CHA ratio of about 30/70 to about as determined by DIFFaX analysis and said molecular sieve has a silica to alumina molar ratio (Si/Al2) from about 0.13 to about 0.24.
US07914752B2
The invention concerns a reagent system for the so-called on-board control of analytical elements, in particular test strips, containing an organic N-oxide or a nitroso compound. The invention also concerns analytical elements containing a reagent system for a detection reaction and a reagent system for an on-board control. Furthermore, the invention concerns a method for checking analytical elements in which a reagent system for an on-board control is examined optically or electrochemically with the aid of a measuring instrument for changes which could indicate a stress of the analytical element.
US07914746B2
A recycling apparatus for spent protective atmosphere gas contaminated with fouling organic decomposition byproduct materials. The recycling apparatus includes a compressor having an inlet connected to a spent protective atmosphere gas supply line, and a solvent supply configured to supply solvent to a gas passage at or upstream of the compressor. The recycling apparatus also includes a first chamber connected to an outlet of the compressor, where the first chamber is configured to receive compressed gas from the compressor and to collect a mixture including the solvent and any contaminants entrapped or dissolved in the solvent.
US07914734B2
The invention encompasses analyzers and analyzer systems that include a single molecule analyzer, methods of using the analyzer and analyzer systems to analyze samples, either for single molecules or for molecular complexes. The single molecule uses electromagnetic radiation that is translated through the sample to detect the presence or absence of a single molecule. The single molecule analyzer provided herein is useful for diagnostics because the analyzer detects single molecules with zero carryover between samples.
US07914733B2
Disclosed herein are deodorizer systems and methods for making and using the same. In one embodiment, a deodorizer system comprises: a mesh, nanoparticle titania coating on the mesh, and a frame disposed around a periphery of the mesh such that the mesh is configured to be in optical communication with sunlight and for receiving contaminated gas to be deodorized. The mesh has an open area of greater than or equal to about 35%, and has greater than or equal to 6,400 openings/in2. In another embodiment, a deodorizer system comprises: a mesh disposed in a housing and for receiving contaminated gas to be deodorized, nanoparticle titania coating on the mesh, and a UV light source disposed to be in optical communication with the mesh. The mesh has an open area of greater than or equal to about 35%, and has greater than or equal to 6,400 openings/in2.
US07914720B2
The present invention provides a method for manufacturing a conductive structure having high electrical conductivity, and a method for manufacturing a dimensionally accurate separator for a fuel cell having high electrical conductivity. In the present invention, the cavity surface temperature of a mold is kept equal to or higher than the crystal melting temperature (Tm) of composite material until the shaping of the composite material melted in the mold is completed, and after the completion of the shaping process, the cavity surface temperature of the mold is controlled to be equal to or higher than a temperature 20° C. lower than the crystallization temperature (Tc) of the composite material but equal to or lower than a temperature 20° C. higher than the crystallization temperature of the composite material to harden the composite material.
US07914718B2
Porous ceramic articles may be produced by using a gas as a pore former, where the gas is injected into a ceramic precursor batch material and mixed. Pressure is then applied to mixture such that the gas liquefies. The pressure is maintained during formation of a green body, maintaining the gas in a liquefied state. After formation of the green body, the pressure is removed whereby the gas returns to a gaseous state, creating pores in the green body. The green body may then be fired to produce a porous ceramic article.
US07914716B2
A measurement control method uses an ending target position Xes calculated by adding a prescribed length Ls to a measurement ending position Xe. A rotation rate pattern Ar for rotating a screw 2, a back pressure Ps in relation to the screw 2, and a retraction rate pattern Ab for the screw 2 to retract, are set in advance. The remaining rotation rate pattern Ar to stop the rotation of the screw 2 at the ending target position Xes from the detected screw position X, is calculated at the time of measurement, and the rotation of the screw 2 is stopped based on the calculation. Further, the remaining retraction rate pattern Ab is calculated from the detected retraction rate Vd, and the retraction of the screw 2 is stopped based on the calculation. The result is the stopping of the screw at the measurement ending position Xe.
US07914715B2
A granulating method for forming a particle with a continuous ink-jet method using a liquid material, in which the liquid material containing a solid component and a binder component is supplied into one or more ink-jet nozzles of a continuous ink-jet device, a droplet is formed by having the supplied liquid material flow out the ink-jet nozzle, the droplet is carried in to drying means for drying the droplet, and the carried droplet is dried so as to obtain a granulated particle(s), the granulated particle(s) and a granulating device.
US07914711B2
Optical disks are formed using mother stampers having a spiral groove and/or a spiral pattern of pits corresponding to the pattern from an original laser cut. The mother stamper is the mirror image of the corresponding father stamper. Injection molding of polycarbonate material or other suitable material using the mother stamper forms an optical disk having lands and bumps corresponding to the original laser cut. A phase-change material having constructive change in phase and thickness is deposited over the polycarbonate material to create the disk. Data is written to and read from the lands, and tracking is performed on the wobbled lands.
US07914710B2
Method for the preparation of inorganic-NP-composite microgels is based on the reversible transfer of microgels between water and an organic solvent such as tetrahydrofuran (THF). The method is used to produce semiconductor nanocrystals, often referred to as quantum dots (QDs) which are well known for their unique optical, electrical, magnetic and catalytic properties, as the inorganic NPs, recognizing that the best quality QDs are synthesized by a high temperature process in organic media, and have their surface covered with hydrophobic ligands (such as trioctylphosphine oxide, TOPO) that render the NPs insoluble in an aqueous solution.
US07914706B2
The present invention relates to charge transport compositions. The invention further relates to electronic devices in which there is at least one active layer comprising such charge transport compositions.
US07914704B2
A binder for an electric double layer capacitor electrode, which includes a copolymer (A) including monomer units derived from at least one compound (a) represented by the following general formula (1): CH2═CR1—COOR2 (1) wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, and R2 represents an alkyl group or a cycloalkyl group, the glass transition temperature obtained by homopolymerizing the compound (a) being less than 0° C., and monomer units derived from at least one compound (b) selected from acrylic acid alkyl esters, methacrylic acid alkyl esters, aromatic vinyl compounds, and α,β-unsaturated nitrile compounds, the glass transition temperature obtained by homopolymerizing the compound (b) being 0° C. or higher, wherein the total content of the monomer units derived from the compound (a) and those derived from the compound (b) is 90% or more by weight per 100% of the whole copolymer (A), and the glass transition temperature of the copolymer (A) is 10° C. or lower, which binder is excellent in smoothness, crack resistance and binding properties.
US07914700B2
The invention relates to compounds of formula (I): wherein R1 and R2 are each independently selected from the group: H, F, Cl and CH3; n1 and n2 are each independently integers 3 to 20; q and r are each independently integers 0, 1 or 2, with the proviso that q+r is ≧1; D is a divalent chiral radical selected from the group: wherein R3 is a C1 to C6 straight or branched chain alkyl group; and each B1 and B2 is a divalent radical independently selected from the group: R4-substituted-1,4-phenyl, wherein R4 is H, —CH3 or —OCH3; 2,6-naphthyl; and 4,4′-biphenyl; with the provisos that when q+r=3, at least one of B1 and B2 is R4-substituted-1,4-phenyl; and when q+r=4, at least two of B1 and B2 are R4-substituted-1,4-phenyl. The invention further relates to liquid crystal compositions comprising compounds of formula (I) and polymer networks derived from the polymerization of the liquid crystal compositions.
US07914694B2
A semiconductor wafer handler comprises a ring (70) attached to a hub (80) by a plurality of spokes (90). Vacuum is applied to the surface of the semiconductor wafer through orifices (100) containing in the ring (70). Water and/or nitrogen can be applied to the surface of the semiconductor wafer through orifices (110) contained in the spokes (90).
US07914677B2
Water (23) that contains micro-nano bubbles generated in a micro-nano bubble generation tank (6) is introduced and treated in a charcoal water tank (ii) which is filled with a charcoal (15) and in which an air diffusing pipe (12) is placed and thereafter introduced and treated in a membrane device (21). Thus, activities of microorganisms propagating in the charcoal (15) are increased by the micro-nano bubbles, markedly increasing ability of decomposing organic matters in the water. Therefore, a clogging phenomenon due to the organic matters can be prevented by reducing organic loads on the membrane device (21). Moreover, a very small amount of alcohols or salts are added as a micro-nano bubble generation aid to the micro-nano bubble generation tank (6), improving an incidence rate of the micro-nano bubbles. The alcohols and salts are easily decomposed by the charcoal water tank (ii) and easily removed by the membrane device (21).
US07914676B2
In a method for removing sulphate and heavy metals from waste water: a) in a first treatment step (I) hydrogen sulphide is guided through the waste water, heavy metals that are present in the waste water are precipitated as sulphide, and are removed from the waste water, b) in a second treatment step (II), calcium sulphate is precipitated from the waste water by adding a precipitation auxiliary agent, c) the calcium sulphate is removed in the second treatment step (II) and one part thereof is guided to a third treatment step (III) in which sulphate is converted into hydrogen sulphide with the aid of sulphate-reducing bacteria, d) hydrogen sulphide formed in the third treatment step (III) is guided back to the first treatment step (I).
US07914660B2
Provided is a method of controlling the pH of a solution using electrolysis in a microfluidic device comprising an electrolysis device including an anode chamber, a cathode chamber, and a partition membrane between the anode chamber and the cathode chamber, wherein the anode chamber includes an inlet and an outlet through which an anode chamber solution enters and is discharged from the anode chamber, respectively, and an electrode, and the cathode chamber includes an inlet and an outlet through which a cathode chamber solution enters and is discharged from the cathode chamber, respectively, and an electrode. The method includes: flowing the anode chamber solution containing a compound having a lower standard oxidation potential than water into the anode chamber through the inlet of the anode chamber; flowing the cathode chamber solution containing a compound having a lower standard reduction potential than water into the cathode chamber through the inlet of the cathode chamber; applying voltage between the electrode in the anode chamber and the electrode in the cathode chamber to induce electrolysis in the anode chamber and the cathode chamber; and mixing equal volumes of the acidic anode-electrolyzed solution and the basic cathode-electrolyzed solution, wherein the volumes of the cathode chamber and the anode chamber are controlled in a predetermined ratio according to a target pH of a solution obtained by mixing the acidic anode-electrolyzed solution and the basic cathode-electrolyzed solution.
US07914648B2
A papermaking apparatus having a machine direction, cross machine direction, and a z-direction. The papermaking apparatus also has a web stabilization device. The web stabilization device has a plurality of surface features that have a feature depth of greater than about 0.02″.
US07914643B2
The end cap is preferably formed of a relatively high durometer material with an inner surface on an outer surface of the shaft and on an outer surface of the balloon skirt section, and contacts a compression member on the balloon outer surface. The configuration prevents or inhibits failure at the balloon seals which otherwise results from the compression member moving or the balloon pulling off the shaft and out from under the compression member during inflation of the balloon. As a result, the balloon catheter of the invention has an improved consistent burst pressure and/or failure mode.
US07914640B2
The method is for adding images or text on a beverage can lid. A beverage can lid is provided that has a handle member, the handle member attached to a top surface of the beverage can lid. An image is printed on the foil member. The printed foil member is placed on top of the top surface of the beverage can lid so that a first cut out segment is placed above the handle member and a second cut out segment is aligned with a weakened segment of the beverage can lid. With the foil member placed on top of the weakened segment, the handle member is lifted to engage the weakened segment and push the second cut out segment and a portion of the weakened segment through the beverage can lid.
US07914639B2
A method of making an implantable medical device includes extruding a first ePTFE tube and a second ePTFE tube, cutting a plurality of slits in the first ePTFE tube, positioning a radially expandable support layer between the first and second ePTFE tubes so that the slits span portions of the support layer, and laminating the first ePTFE tube to the second ePTFE tube through openings in the support layer.
US07914638B2
A vehicle is wrapped by a printed adhesive film where the film is also applied over doors and other areas intended not to be covered. The film is cut at the door edge and over the area by adhesively attaching a tape having a release coating on the front surface and carrying a filament along a center of the front side. The printed film is applied over the door, the area not to be covered and the tapes and is cut along the door edge and around the area by pulling the filament from the tape so that a strip of the film at the door edge and the film over the area can be removed. The film can be stretched and pulled away from the tape for reapplying for proper fit.
US07914636B2
A recipe and two sequential processes for fabrication of electrode substrates of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are described in this invention. The typical recipe consists of 50˜86 wt % electrolyte (8YSZ) or 50˜80 wt % anode electrode (NiO/8YSZ), 12˜22 wt % MEK (solvent 1), 5˜9 wt % EtOH (solvent 2), 1˜2 wt % TEA (dispersant), 0.5˜2 wt % DBP (plasticizer 1), 0.5˜2 wt % PEG (plasticizer 2), 3˜6 wt % PVB (binder), and 0.1˜10 wt % graphite (pore former). Two sequential processes include: 1. The process for preparation of the green tape slurry from materials of the recipe, 2. The synergistic process for fabrication of a high integrity membrane electrode assembly (MEA) of SOFC from the prepared electrode substrates.
US07914635B2
A unitary, fiber-containing composite comprises (a) a first region comprising a plurality of first binder fibers and a plurality of bast fibers, (b) a second region disposed above the first region, the second region comprising a plurality of second binder fibers and a plurality of bast fibers, and (c) a transitional region disposed between the first region and the second region. The transitional region comprises concentrations of the first binder fiber, the second binder fiber, and the bast fiber. The concentration of the first binder fiber in the first transitional region is greatest proximate to the first region and least proximate to the second region, and the concentration of the second binder fiber and the bast fiber in the first transitional region is greatest proximate to the second region and least proximate to the first region. A method for producing a unitary, fiber-containing composite is also described.
US07914629B2
The present invention provides high strength thick steel plate superior in crack arrestability high in strength, free of deterioration of HAZ toughness, and free of anisotropy, that steel plate containing, by mass %, C: 0.03 to 0.15%, Si: 0.1 to 0.5%, Mn: 0.5 to 2.0%, P: ≦0.02%, S: ≦0.01%, Al: 0.001 to 0.1%, Ti: 0.005 to 0.02%, Ni: 0.15 to 2%, and N: 0.001 to 0.008% and having a balance of iron and unavoidable impurities as chemical components, having a microstructure of a ferrite and/or pearlite structure with bainite as a matrix phase, and having an average circle equivalent diameter of crystal grains with a crystal misorientation angle of 15° or more of 15 μm or less in the regions of 10% of plate thickness from the front and rear surfaces and of 40 μm or less in the other region including the center part of plate thickness.
US07914613B2
A liquid processing apparatus, includes an apparatus main body, a power room having an atmosphere separated from the clean room by a partition member, an air suction path configured to suction an air in the clean room and take the air into the power room, a temperature control part provided in the power room and configured to control at least a temperature of the air taken in via the air suction path, an air supplying path configured to supply the air from the temperature control part to the liquid processing unit, a ventilation part configured to take the air from the air suction path and supply the air via the air supplying path, and a cleaning filer configured to clean the air taken in from the air suction path.
US07914611B2
In various embodiments, a support system includes a multi-layer cover sheet with a number of layers. In certain embodiments, a source to move air inside and outside the multi-layer cover sheet can be provided. The source can include a source of positive pressure or negative pressure.
US07914610B2
In an FCC process in which swirl arms are used to discharge gas and catalyst from a riser, a baffle is used to direct descending catalyst away from a wall of a disengaging vessel proximate a stripping section comprising elongated strips of metal.
US07914608B2
Discharge gas containing a volatile organic compound is supplied to an adsorption apparatus, and the volatile organic compound adsorbed in the adsorbent is then desorbed from the adsorbent by the use of steam and mixed it with the steam, and finally, the steam mixed with the volatile organic compound is supplied under a pressurized environment to a combustion apparatus to thereby combust it with fuel gas.
US07914606B2
Produced natural gas containing carbon dioxide is dehydrated and chilled to liquefy the carbon dioxide and then fractionated to produce a waste stream of liquid carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide. Natural gas liquids may be first separated and removed before fractionation. After fractionation, the waste stream is pressurized and transmitted to a remote injection well for injection either for disposal of the waste stream and preferably to urge hydrocarbons toward the producing well. A hydrocarbon stream proceeds from fractionation to a methanol absorber system which removes carbon dioxide gas. The hydrocarbon stream is thereafter separated into at least hydrocarbon gas, nitrogen and helium. Some of the nitrogen is reintroduced into a fractionation tower to enhance the recovery of hydrocarbons. A methanol recovery system is provided to recover and reuse the methanol. The hydrocarbons are sold as natural gas and the helium is recovered and sold. Excess nitrogen is vented.
US07914601B2
A method of cold starting a molten bath-based direct smelting process for producing molten iron in a vessel (3) is disclosed. The method includes a step of preheating the vessel before supplying solid feed materials into the vessel. The method also includes a subsequent step of supplying an oxygen-containing gas and solid feed materials including material for forming slag, iron-containing feed material, and carbonaceous material into the vessel and generating heat and forming a bath of molten material that includes molten iron and molten slag in the vessel. This step includes supplying feed materials to promote formation of molten slag over molten iron in an early stage of developing the molten bath.
US07914599B2
A slag conditioner containing MgO, carbon or a filler and a binder is mixed and formed under pressure to produce aggregates which can have the form of a briquette. The slag conditioner is used to improve the operating performance and refractory life in steel melting furnaces. A slag conditioner comprising by weight a mixture and 2% to 25% binder for bonded agglomerates or larger particles of said mixture, the mixture comprising: 20% to 90% burned aggregates comprised of particles less than 8 mm of which at least 30% is 0.2 mm or greater and containing between 35% and 94% MgO; up to 50% slag-making carbonaceous or other additive; and up to 50% light burned magnesite.
US07914595B2
In a conventional reflow furnace equipped with a fume removal device, fume solids adhere to the inside of piping connecting it to the removal device, and a great amount of trouble was required for removal of the fume solids. The present invention maintains a fumes-containing gas discharged from a furnace at a temperature of at least the liquefication temperature of the fumes until the gas reaches a removal device so that fume solids do not adhere to the inside of piping. A removal device installed on a reflow furnace according to the present invention comprises an elongated-hole filter and a labyrinth filter, and fumes are completely removed by both filters.
US07914594B2
An air filtering device and an air cleaning system of a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus to reduce cost and increase manufacturing productivity. The air filtering device may include a frame having an open aperture coupled to an air supply line. A buffer frame configured to be inserted into the frame may include a plurality of slot parts, each slot part having a plurality of air in/out apertures through which air may flow in or out from the buffer frame. A plurality of filters may be releasably fastened to the plurality of slot parts to filter pollution material contained in air flowing through the air in/out apertures. An air interrupter for interrupting air flowing through the air in/out apertures may be used when replacing the plurality of filters, thereby providing purified air to the semiconductor manufacturing apparatus during the replacement.
US07914589B2
Fluorine-containing urethanes represented by the general formula: [Rf-A1-Z—X1—OC(═O)NH—]mI[—NHC(═O)O—Y1]n[—NHC(═O)O—(ClCH2—)X2O)a—R1]k (1) wherein I is a group derived from a polyisocyanate by removal of the isocyanato groups; Rf is perfluoroalkyl of 1 to 21 carbon atoms; A1 is a direct bond or an organic group of 1 to 21 carbon atoms; Z —SO2—; X1 is a divalent, straight-chain or branched, C1-5 aliphatic group which may have at least one hydroxyl group; X2 is a trivalent, straight-chain or branched, C2-5 aliphatic group; Y1 is a monovalent organic group which is optionally hydroxylated; and R1 is hydrogen or alkyl of 1 to 10 carbon atoms.
US07914587B2
A multi-axis wrist device is provided for use with a prosthetic limb. The wrist device includes a base plate that is configured for attachment to a prosthetic limb. A cross piece, having first and second axes, can be coupled to the base plate. A prosthetic attachment can be coupled to the cross piece. The cross piece can enable a user to simultaneously flex the prosthetic attachment in two different axes. A first and second torsional spring can be coupled to the first and second axes, respectively, to enable the prosthetic attachment to be biased toward a center point.
US07914585B2
A hip prosthesis includes a straight shaft which is to be inserted into the femur, the straight shaft including a proximal part that is configured to be inserted in the metaphyseal region of the femur. The proximal part has, on each of its front and rear faces, at least one projecting fin with a steep medial flank that deviates at least over part of its length away from the longitudinal direction of the shaft. At its top the proximal part is inclined toward the femoral neck. In this way, when the shaft is driven into the bone, the bone substance surrounding the fin is compacted and is able to absorb greater forces. The height of the fin decreases from its medial flank toward its lateral edge.
US07914582B2
A method and system for the creation or modification of the wear surface of orthopedic joints, involving the preparation and use of one or more partially or fully preformed and procured components, adapted for insertion and placement into the body and at the joint site. In a preferred embodiment, component(s) can be partially cured and generally formed ex vivo and further and further formed in vivo at the joint site to enhance conformance and improve long term performance. In another embodiment, a preformed balloon or composite material can be inserted into the joint site and filled with a flowable biomaterial in situ to conform to the joint site. In yet another embodiment, the preformed component(s) can be fully cured and formed ex vivo and optionally further fitted and secured at the joint site. Preformed components can be sufficiently pliant to permit insertion through a minimally invasive portal, yet resilient enough to substantially assume, or tend towards, the desired form in vivo with additional forming there as needed.
US07914579B2
Connective tissue, including neo-tendons and ligaments, has been constructed using biodegradable synthetic scaffolds seeded with tenocytes. The scaffolds are preferably formed from biodegradable fibers formed of a polymer such as polyglycolic acid-polylactic acid copolymers, and seeded with cells isolated from autologous tendon or ligament by means of enzymatic digestion or direct seeding into tissue culture dishes from explants. The cell polymer constructs are then surgically transplanted to replace missing segments of functioning tendon or ligament.
US07914574B2
The invention relates generally to expandable medical implants for maintaining support of a body lumen and, in particular, to an axially nested, diametrically expandable, slide and lock vascular device for enlarging an occluded portion of a vessel. The axially nested vascular device desirably achieves both competitive crossing profiles while maintaining other key features, such as, for example, radial strength and luminal patency. The collapsed profile can also be made very thin without compromising radial strength. Thus, the vascular device can advantageously be deployed in small and difficult to reach areas or vessels. The axial nesting substantially eliminates radial overlap between mating structural elements thereby desirably allowing for a low, uniform profile.
US07914573B2
A biocompatible material may be configured into any number of implantable medical devices including intraluminal stents. Polymeric materials may be utilized to fabricate any of these devices, including stents. The stents may be balloon expandable or self-expanding. By preferential mechanical deformation of the polymer, the polymer chains may be oriented to achieve certain desirable performance characteristics.
US07914568B2
A stent-graft which is particularly useful for applications in biliary ducts. An expandable stent is provided with a covering of a material which is substantially impervious to body fluids and tissue ingrowth and has an increased resistance to bacterial attachment due to its lack of porosity and reduced surface texture. A preferred covering is porous PTFE film rendered substantially non-porous by a coating of a polymeric material such as FEP. The resulting stent has a thin wall for minimum pre-deployment diameter and for minimum interference with fluid flow through the device after implantation. It has good flexibility, allowing its use in curved ducts.
US07914563B2
A heat transfer pad includes a bladder and a pad port. The bladder has an outside perimeter, an inner face and an outer face enclosing a bladder interior. The pad port has a tubing segment with a proximal end which extends through the outside perimeter of the bladder into the bladder interior. A port seal is formed by bonding the inner and outer faces of the bladder to the proximal end of the tubing segment at a port bond point distal to the outside perimeter of the bladder in the bladder interior. The proximal end of the tubing segment is maintained unbonded to the inner and outer faces of the bladder between the port seal and the outside perimeter of the bladder, thereby defining a strain relief section of the bladder which resists occlusion of the pad port.
US07914555B2
Disclosed is an expandable percutaneous sheath, for introduction into the body while in a first, low cross-sectional area configuration, and subsequent expansion to a second, enlarged cross-sectional configuration. The sheath is maintained in the first, low cross-sectional configuration by a removable tubular restraint. In one application, the sheath is utilized to introduce a formed in place orthopedic fixation rod such as for use in spinal fixation procedures.
US07914550B2
A mechanical coupling device is provided for temporarily interconnecting a gem or a crystal to be used for acupressure treatment to a vibration generating device. Alternatively a mechanical coupling device is provided for temporarily interconnecting the handle of an acupuncture needle to a gem or a crystal. The mechanical coupling device can be a helical or spiral, metal wire, a cylindrical linkage, a conical linkage or a clamp connecting the acutreatment device to the other element. The method employed is to apply the acutreatment devices to acupoints of a patient with the above devices including the combination of a gem or a crystal interconnected to an acupuncture needle or a vibration generating device interconnected to an acupressure gem or crystal.
US07914547B2
Lancing devices and methods of use are provided. Also provided are lancets for use with lancing devices. Certain embodiments of the lancing devices include a front end cap with an annular skin-engaging surface surrounding a piercing aperture.
US07914535B2
Disclosed are surgical tools, tool sets and methods for percutaneously accessing and preparing treatment sites within the spine for subsequent treatment procedures. The treatment site may be an inter-vertebral motion segments in the lumbar and sacral regions of the spine. The tool set may comprise introducer tools and bone dilators for accessing and tapping into a targeted site, such as, for example, the anterior surface of the S1 vertebral body. The tool set may also comprise cutters and extractors for preparing the treatment site for subsequent treatment procedures. The tool set may additionally comprise a bone graft inserter, an exchange system, and/or a temporary distraction tool for further preparing the treatment site for subsequent treatment procedures.
US07914534B2
A tool for preparing vertebral surfaces following a discectomy has a body and a rotary cutting tool mounted at the distal end of a lever which extends through the body. The proximal end of the lever can be squeezed toward the body to force the cutting tool against the vertebral surface facing it, while the tool is rotated by turning a crank supported on the tool body, or by a motor. The cutting tool is preferably a flexible rasp or blade which can conform to and control the convexity of the prepared surface.
US07914528B2
The present invention provides an ablation catheter tip for use with an irrigated catheter device comprising an inner cavity and at least one passageway that leads to an orifice, wherein the fluid flow from the orifice promotes a circular, vortex, or spiral flow around the catheter tip from the acute angle formed at the orifice with respect to a line tangent to the surface of the ablation electrode at the orifice. The present invention further provides for an ablation catheter tip, for use with an irrigated catheter device, comprising an inner cavity and at least one curved passageway that leads to an orifice, wherein a line drawn tangent to the arc of the curve forms an acute angle measured with respect to a line drawn tangent to surface of the ablation electrode at the orifice of the passageway. Additionally, the present inventions provides a method for cooling an ablation catheter tip and a method for generating, with a low-volume irrigation flow, a rotational, spiral, or vortex flow around the ablation catheter tip.
US07914527B2
Methods and apparatus for treatment of patent foramen ovale (PFO) provide for applying energy to tissues adjacent the PFO with a catheter device to substantially close the PFO acutely. Apparatus generally includes a catheter device having at least one energy transmission member at or near its distal end configured to apply energy to PFO tissues to acutely, substantially close the PFO. Applied energy may be monopolar or bipolar radiofrequency energy or any other suitable energy, such as laser, microwave, ultrasound, resistive heating or the like. Some embodiments of a catheter device further include one or more tissue apposition members near the distal end for helping bring PFO tissues together, such as a PFO covering member, a vacuum applying member and/or the like. PFO closure via energy-based approaches of the invention may help prevent stroke, treat migraine headache, and possibly treat or prevent other medical conditions.
US07914523B2
A method and device for causing a predetermined physiological change in a mammalian tissue. The method includes irradiating the tissue with a radiation having a power density in the tissue substantially larger than an activation threshold power density, the tissue being irradiated under conditions suitable to cause the predetermined physiological change. The device can emit radiation and forms to the anatomy of a patient. The device can both cool the patient and treatment head using one cooling system.
US07914520B2
The present invention is directed to medical catheters that may be modularly constructed to facilitate manufacture and provide properties that may be difficult to achieve with a catheter formed from a single extrusion or multiple materials that are fused together. The catheter may be constructed of one or more core elements that may be partially or fully surrounded by a jacket member in a variety of configurations. The core elements may comprise different properties with respect to the jacket member or one another, thereby permitting increased manufacturing flexibility. The modular catheter designs of the present invention further provide for a variety of lumen configurations, as well as providing for catheters that can change their shape by moving the core elements with respect to the jacket member or one another.
US07914514B2
A computerized system collects, organizes and stores various sets of data during several phases of treatment relating to monitoring and location of a route in vivo and a visible image of that route for retrograde perfusion of a tumor with a therapeutic agent and for monitoring treatment procedures during such retrograde perfusion. The data obtained from present and past treatment procedures are stored for analysis and also made available real time to treating physicians during treatment procedures.
US07914513B2
A multi-lumen catheter assembly with a two-piece hub is disclosed. The catheter includes a distal portion having a plurality of catheter lumens, wherein each of the plurality of catheter lumens includes a distal tip and a proximal lumen portion. The distal portion further includes a distal hub portion slidably disposed over the proximal lumen portion, wherein the distal hub portion includes a pivoting locking member. The catheter assembly further includes a proximal portion having a plurality of catheter extensions, wherein each of the plurality of catheter extensions fluidly communicates with at least one of the plurality of catheter lumens. The proximal portion also includes a proximal hub portion having a locking receiver, wherein the pivoting locking member is releasably engaged with the locking receiver.
US07914505B2
The irrigation system comprises a reservoir (1) for irrigating liquid, a probe (3) for arrangement in a user, conduit means (6,7,10,11) for conducting the irrigating fluid from the reservoir to the probe, and a fixation member (5) for fixation of the probe in the user. Pumping means (9) are provided for pumping gas into the reservoir (1) to transfer the irrigating liquid from the reservoir to the probe (3). The fixation member includes an inflatable cuff (5), and the system includes a control unit (8) which may be set in at least a cuff inflating position and a liquid transferring position.
US07914504B2
An infiltration cannula and method of using the infiltration cannula during an infiltration procedure are disclosed herein. The infiltration cannula includes: a tubular needle and a hub. The tubular needle has a proximal end and a distal end. The tubular needle also has a plurality of apertures disposed in a pattern about the distal end. The apertures are configured to infiltrate fluid into the subcutaneous tissue of a patient. The hub is configured to be held by a person performing the infiltration procedure. The hub has a first end and an opposing second end. The first end is attached to the proximal end of the tubular needle and the second end includes a connector configured to connect to an input source for receiving the fluid to be infiltrated into the subcutaneous tissue of the patient. The fluid flows from the connector, through the hub and into the tubular needle.
US07914499B2
A fluid delivery device for administering a first medicament and a second medicament includes a first fluid reservoir configured to contain the first medicament and a second fluid reservoir configured to contain the second medicament. The fluid delivery device may include one or more basal drive mechanisms to provide a basal delivery of one or more of the first and second medicaments. The fluid delivery device may further include one or more bolus drive mechanisms to provide a bolus delivery of one or more of the first and second medicaments.
US07914496B2
A ribbed seal for use in endoscopic surgery is intended to be incorporated into a cannula assembly to limit the escape of insufflation gasses from a body cavity by forming a fluid-tight seal around an instrument inserted through the cannula assembly. The ribbed seal includes a relatively flat, disk shaped elastomeric overmold portion having a central aperture sized slightly smaller than the instrument such that the aperture must expand to accommodate the instrument. Molded together with the elastomeric overmold is an array of slender ribs disposed about the aperture. The ribs are designed to be relatively flexible under lateral loads. This allows the seal to bend easily as the surgical instrument is inserted through the aperture thereby maintaining a low insertion and glide force. On the other hand, the ribs are designed to be relatively rigid when loaded axially. This rigidity provides robust radial support for the instrument inserted through the center of the array of ribs. The seal performs a centering function for the instrument due to its combined elasticity and stiffness. Finally, the seal also allows for an instrument to be removed easily while maintaining the required atmospheric integrity.
US07914494B2
An indwelling catheter comprises a tube, a female connector and an elastically deformable hemostasis valve which can be pressed by a male connector. An opening taper portion tapered forwardly is formed in a longitudinal intermediate portion of an inner circumferential surface of the female connector. The elastically deformable hemostasis valve is provided longitudinally slidably in the opening taper portion of the female connector and an inside portion extending rearwardly from the opening taper portion. The hemostasis valve includes; a body having a hollow form opened at its front and rear ends or a tubular portion fitted over the connecting portion from a rearward direction; and an openable/closable portion being opened by elastic deformation of the body or the tubular portion.
US07914482B2
An apparatus and method to suppress vacuum surges in a surgical aspiration system is disclosed and claimed. A vacuum surge suppressor includes a first fluid path for coupling to a surgical instrument, and a filter attached to the first fluid path. A flow restrictor is coupled to the filter with the filter disposed upstream of the flow restrictor. The vacuum surge suppressor also includes a second fluid path for coupling to a vacuum pump. The second fluid path is connected to the flow restrictor and disposed downstream of the flow restrictor. The second fluid path defines a path internal pressure. A third fluid path is coupled to the filter and is connected to the second fluid path, bypassing the flow restrictor. A valve in the third fluid path obstructs flow in the third fluid path in response to the path internal pressure.
US07914474B2
Finger splints for use in connection with distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint fractures are disclosed. The splints include a ring element for positioning around a finger at a location proximal to the distal interphalangeal (DIP) joint and include an extension member that extends over the DIP joint and attaches to the fingernail.
US07914468B2
A system for detecting non-verbal acoustic energy generated by a subject is provided. The system includes a sensor mountable on or in a body region of the subject, the sensor being capable of sensing the non-verbal acoustic energy; and a processing unit being capable of processing the non-verbal acoustic energy sensed by the sensor and deriving an activity related signature therefrom, thereby enabling identification of a specific activity associated with the non-verbal acoustic energy.
US07914465B2
A skin penetrating system has a housing member and a plurality of penetrating members positioned in the housing member. A tissue stabilizing device is coupled to the housing member. A user interface is configured to relay at least one of, skin penetrating performance or a skin penetrating setting.
US07914464B2
A surgical biopsy system is provided for removing at least one tissue sample from a surgical patient. The surgical biopsy system comprises an elongated, hollow piercer and a cutter rotatably and axially positionable relative to the piercer. The piercer has a lateral port for receiving the tissue sample into the piercer. The surgical biopsy system further comprises a power transmission source operatively connected to the cutter for rotating and translating the cutter, a control unit, and a display mounted in a display frame for showing an operator a plurality of operational modes of the surgical biopsy system. The surgical biopsy system further comprises at least one control button operatively connected to the control unit by a circuit and remotely located from the control unit. The operator may actuate the control button(s) to select any one of the operational modes and the selected operational mode is visually identifiable on the display.
US07914452B2
A cardiac rhythm management (CRM) system provides for post-myocardial infarction (MI) therapy with closed-loop control using one or more ultrasound transducers sensing one or more ultrasound signals indicative of cardiac dimensions. Cardiac size parameters are produced using the one or more ultrasound signals to represent, for example, cardiac chamber diameter, cardiac chamber volume, cardiac wall thickness, infarct size, and degree of change in any of these parameters over time or between measurements. In various embodiments, such cardiac size parameters provide for titration, safety check, and acute optimization of the post-MI therapy.
US07914448B2
A cooling structure of a heat-generating electronic component including a cooling circuit, which includes a cooling fluid delivery unit, a first heat exchanger for absorbing and discharging thermal energy at the heat-generating electronic component as well as a control structure. The control structure adjusts the cooling fluid flow and thus the cooling capacity of the heat exchanger to such value that at a predetermined temperature in the area of the electronic component a balance is brought about between the heat quantity generated and the heat quantity discharged. The cooling structure is inserted in the deflecting forming a bendable adapter outside the end cap of an endoscope.
US07914441B2
An endoscope includes an insertion portion and a treatment instrument insertion channel, and is inserted into a body cavity; an operation portion which is connected to a proximal end side of the insertion portion; and a treatment instrument raiser which has a guiding surface for guiding a treatment instrument, and able to rise according to an operation from the operation portion. The raiser includes a slit which is formed on a distal end side of the guiding surface and with which a guide wire guided toward the distal end side opening can be engaged, and a guide wire guiding unit which is formed on an outer periphery of the guiding surface and serves to guide the guide wire into the slit. The guide wire is guided into the slit by the guiding unit, when the raiser is raised by the operation from the operation portion.
US07914439B2
Pumps for use with inflatable implantable penile prostheses in accordance with the invention include features that can provide for free fluid flow during inflation and deflation modes of the pump. Pumps may also include a bypass chamber that is fluidly connected to the fluid passageway by a bypass input channel and a bypass output channel. The bypass chamber comprises a bypass check valve biased toward a closed position.
US07914430B2
A roll is supported at the middle thereof, for a paper, board or finishing machine is composed of two sections, a so-called inner shell (54′) and an outer shell (52′), supported by one another in the middle area of the roll (50′). The nominal stiffness of the manufacturing material of the inner shell (54′) of the roll is substantially greater than the nominal stiffness of the manufacturing material of the outer shell (52′) of the roll.
US07914428B2
Multi-directional body swing, turn and twist trainer with interchangeable and adjustable attachments
An exercise apparatus for providing multi-directional training of the body allows a user to exercise the mid-section, hips, legs, ankles and connective tissues enjoining all the muscles in these areas. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a main frame, two foot platforms and hanging members for attaching the foot platforms to the main frame. The exercise apparatus is designed to be free standing or to be mounted onto other supporting structures. In another embodiment, a movable upright bar is connected to a supporting frame for training the upper body of the user. The apparatus has multiple interchangeable parts, attachments and accessories for allowing several types of exercises.
US07914422B1
An exercise device for exercising a person's body is provided. The exercise device comprises a frame having a first side rail, a second side rail substantially perpendicular to the first side rail, a front rail between the first side rail and the second side rail, and a rear rail opposite the front rail and between the first side rail and the second side rail. A front axle is mounted to the front rail and a rear axle is mounted to the first side rail and the second side rail adjacent the rear rail. A wheel is rotatably attached to each end of each axle. A handlebar is pivotally mounted to and between the first side rail and the second side rail. A propelling gear is rotatably mounted on the handlebar between the first side rail and the second side rail with the gear rotatable in only one direction. A freewheel/gear system is mounted on the rear axle and a rotatable gear is mounted to the front rail. A chain loop is connectingly positioned around the propelling gear, the freewheel/gear system, and the rotatable gear. A pair of guide rails extends between and mounted to the rear axle and the handlebar and a seat is movable along the guide rails. A pair of footrests is mounted to the front axle wherein upon the handlebar being pivoted in a first direction, the exercise device is propelled in a generally forward direction.
US07914420B2
Sensing applications for exercise machines are described. An example sensing application for profiling a workout session of an exercise machine comprises selecting at least one workout parameter or inputting at least one physical characteristic of a user and operating the exercise machine in compliance with the at least one workout parameter selected. The method further comprising reading output signal values from a sensor in which the output signals are generated by a user impact to the exercise machine during the exercise session and processing the output signals. The method further comprising determining workout matrices to profile the exercise session using the processed output signals and providing feedback information based on the workout matrices.
US07914418B2
An apparatus for an interval exercise performable by a person, the interval exercise including at least two training intervals, each including a work phase and a recovery phase, wherein processing a first exercise parameter data characterizing an exertion level of the interval exercise, detecting a work phase of a training interval from the first exercise parameter data, detecting a value of the first exercise parameter from the exercise parameter data at end of the work phase, and determining a threshold level of a physiological parameter, measured from the person and characterizing the person's recovery level in a recovery phase, based on the value of the first exercise parameter at the end of the work phase.
US07914414B2
A transmission of the present invention has an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices may include clutches and brakes. The torque transmitting devices are selectively engageable in combinations of at least three to establish at least ten forward speed ratios and at least one reverse speed ratio.
US07914411B2
A drive train having a power-split transmission for distributing the power to at least one first power branch and at least one second power branch. The first power branch at least indirectly drives an electric generator, while a connection is established between the first power branch and the second power branch by a hydrodynamic circuit, which is disposed at the output end of the power-split transmission. The power flow is influenced in such a way by the hydrodynamic circuit that the speed at which the electric generator is driven is substantially constant.
US07914406B2
A vane that can be mounted to a projectile to provide stability of flight, without substantially degrading speed due to added weight and/or causing clearance concerns. The vane is approximately 1.85 inches long and 0.465 inches high with a front-edge and a back-edge that meet at a point. The back-edge arcs down towards the base of the vane while the front edge degrades in a substantially linear fashion to the base of the vane.
US07914405B1
The toy assembly is a ball or similar object that can be temporarily compressed into a disc-shaped object. A short time after compression, the toy pops back into its original ball-like shape. The toy assembly has a body that can be selectively configured between an expanded shape and a compressed shape. The body is naturally biased into its expanded shape. A binding hole is defined on a first side of the body. A nub extends inwardly from the body opposite the binding hole. The nub passes into the binding hole with a friction fit when the body is in its compressed shape. The friction fit creates a friction force that temporarily counteracts the natural bias of the body. After a predetermined period of time, the friction fit fails and the body of the toy pops back into its original shape.
US07914401B2
Rotatable sleeves are disposed adjacent the ends of the crossbar of a goalpost. A stub is integrally formed with each of the sleeves and each stub protrudes through an opening in the crossbar. The opening in the crossbar is dimensioned to permit back to front movement of the stub and corresponding rotation of the sleeve until verticality of the stub and its associated upright is achieved. At that point, the sleeve is locked against further rotation by means of a tapping block previously installed in the sleeve and engaged with a serrated bolt through an appropriately dimensioned opening in the crossbar and corresponding holes in the sleeve. Once the bolts are tightened into the tapping block, the sleeve is drawn tightly against the interior surface of the crossbar, thereby locking the sleeve and the stub and the upright against further rotation.
US07914398B2
The present invention is a golf swing training aid to help train golfers how to better hit a golf ball with a golf club. The training aid consists of a generally T shaped member having a central portion, an elongated pointer portion extending from the central portion and first and second side arms extending from the central portion in opposite directions. The pointer portion is oriented perpendicular to the first and second side arms. The aid further includes a tower member pivotally connected to the central portion of the T shaped member, the tower member being movable between an upright position wherein the tower member extends perpendicularly upward relative to the central portion and a lowered position wherein the tower member is pivoted towards the pointer portion. The tower member is dimensioned and configured to support a golf ball when the tower member is in its upright position. The central portion of the T shaped member has a space dimensioned and configured to receive the tower member when the tower member is in its lowered position.
US07914395B2
A cavity back golf club head having a bridge member and a damping element is disclosed. The bridge member extends across a first rear cavity connecting a heel and a toe of the golf club head to control the trajectory of a golf ball. For the longer iron clubs, a damping element extends from the sole portion of the cavity back golf club head to the bridge member to define a second cavity to further influence the trajectory of the golf ball. For the shorter iron clubs, the damping element extends from the top portion of the cavity back golf club head to the bridge member. The damping element may reduce the vibration and sound of the golf club head upon impact with a golf ball.
US07914393B2
A golf club head with sound tuning. The golf club head includes a hollow body that defines an interior cavity and at least one tuning member extends across the interior cavity. The tuning member dimensions, stiffness and dampening characteristics are selected to alter the vibration behavior of the golf club head.
US07914378B2
A gaming apparatus for facilitating game play. The gaming apparatus may include a value input device, a display unit, and a player control panel. The player control panel may include a curved surface centered around at least one axis. The gaming apparatus also may include a touch screen, the touch screen conforming to the curved surface of the player control panel. A value input may be received from a player via the value input device, and the display unit may be caused to display a game display. One of a plurality of player input displays may be selected and display the selected one of the plurality of player input displays. Player input data associated with the selected one of the plurality of player input displays may be received via the touch screen, and a value payout associated with an outcome of the game may be determined.
US07914377B2
A gaming device, a gaming system and a method for operating a gaming device or gaming system with a plurality of bonus and/or progressive outcomes is disclosed. The present disclosure provides a bonus and/or progressive architecture that enables a central controller to add or remove bonusing and/or progressive features from one or more gaming devices in a gaming system. In one embodiment, the central controller designates one or more game outcomes in a paytable as designated game outcomes. If the gaming device generates one of the designated game outcomes, the central controller dynamically determines a bonus award and/or a progressive award in conjunction with a manner of presenting the bonus award and/or the progressive award to the player of the gaming device. If the gaming device does not generate a designated game outcome, the gaming device provides the player an award that is associated with the generated outcome based on the paytable.
US07914373B2
A gaming device including a game having a plurality of selections. The player sequentially picks masked selections. The picked selections each yield a number or a terminator. If a number is revealed, the number is placed in a position or digit of an outcome or award. If the position is already occupied by another number, that other number is shifted, moved or slid to a new position. In one embodiment, the other number is shifted, moved or slid to the next highest order digit, for example, from the one's digit to the ten's digit. In this way, the player's outcome or award changes after each pick of a selection. If a number is in a last position, it is shifted off or removed from the positions. Eventually, the player picks a terminator and is provided an award that is based on the numbers in the positions, for example, the overall number made up of the constituent numbers and their associated digits.
US07914367B2
A fan assembly and mounting method is provided for mounting a fan within an electrical enclosure. The assembly includes a mounting assembly which houses the fan and can be removed from the exterior of the enclosure. The fan assembly also includes an interior mounting plate which can be detached from the mounting assembly to allow fan removal from the interior of the enclosure. Thus, the fan assembly allows the fan to be accessed from both the interior and exterior of the enclosure.
US07914363B2
A method and apparatus for monitoring polishing pad conditioning mechanisms is provided. In one embodiment, a semiconductor substrate polishing system includes a rinse station, a polishing surface, a conditioning element, and a conditioning mechanism. The conditioning mechanism selectively positions the conditioning element over the polishing surface and over the rinse station. At least one sensor is provided and is configured to detect a first position and a second position of the conditioning element when disposed over the rinse station.
US07914361B1
An entertainment apparatus and methods propelling toy vehicles about multiple tracks providing a variety of play modes while mechanically driven by a single motor and simple belt sub-system. A motor and a plurality of adjacent discs disposed in the same horizontal plane are mechanically engaged with the motor for rotating the discs simultaneously in the same direction. An object alternately engages each of the plurality of discs and at least one transition area is adjacent the plurality of discs and disposed in the same horizontal plane for facilitating the action of the object about the plurality of discs. One or more objects are propelled about one or more tracks providing a variety of play modes.
US07914348B1
A probe connector includes an insulating housing having a base, and a plurality of probe pin assemblies. The base defines a front surface which has a plurality of inserting holes arranged side by side. The inserting hole has a channel at a bottom thereof and reaching a rear surface of the base, and a mating lump protruded inwards from a rear portion of an inner surface thereof. The probe pin assembly has a cylindraceous barrel received in the inserting hole, an elastic element accommodated in the barrel, and a plunger. The barrel has a notch at a rear end of a periphery thereof for engaging with the mating lump. A conduct element of strip shape is extended rearwards from the rear end of the barrel, and exposed out of the insulating housing through the channel for being soldered to a PCB.
US07914344B2
Disclosed herein are dual-barrel, connector jack and plug assemblies. Particularly, plug assemblies having two single barrel connectors that are situated side-by-side. Each barrel may include two or more contacts for receiving and transmitting DC IN+ electrical signals. Further, each barrel may include two or more contacts for receiving and transmitting DC IN− electrical signals. Inside each barrel connector may be disposed center pins. The barrel connectors may be cylindrically-shaped and configured to mate to a dual-barrel, connector jack assembly as described herein. A bridge component may be disposed between the barrel connectors for preventing the plug assembly from being inserted into the jack assembly in the wrong orientation. The bridge assembly may be shaped to prevent improper insertion into a corresponding aperture of the jack assembly.
US07914343B2
An adapter for coupling a pair of implantable neurostimulator lead extension plugs to a connector port of a neurostimulator device includes a connector coupled to a first end of an elongate body and a flexible bifurcation member coupled to a second end of the elongate body, wherein the bifurcation member includes a first branch, to which a first housing, having first and second ports, is coupled, and a second branch, to which a second housing, having first and second ports, is coupled. Openings of the first and second ports of each housing provide for side-by-side insertion of first and second connector terminals of one of the lead extension plugs. Contacts within each port provide for electrical coupling with corresponding contacts of the connector terminals of the plug, and are coupled to corresponding contacts of the adapter connector via conductors extending within the elongate body between the corresponding housing and connector.
US07914342B2
This invention is a kind of signal plug, mainly comprising of a body and a sleeve. On the front of the body there is a C-shaped section contact pin and on the end, there is a positioning device and conducting wire anchor parts. The sleeve comprises of a hole passing through it, a positioning part and joining screw guide hole. These components combined make plug assembly convenient and make wiring connecting easier and safer, and, moreover, increase the signal conductivity of the main body because the contact pin to the conducting wire anchor parts is a one piece design.
US07914335B2
Devices including strip connectors in measurement devices are provided. Also provided are systems, kits and methods.
