US08004936B2
Watch movement having a display mechanism with: several rotating indicators (12, 15), for displaying a two-digit number in an aperture, cams (5, 6) arranged to control the angular position of the rotating indicator or indicators (12), selection means actuated by the crown (34) for selecting the cam acting on each indicator (12, 15).
US08004929B2
A semiconductor memory device includes: a command latch circuit that latches a command signal; an address latch circuit that latches an address signal; a mode latch circuit that latches a mode signal; and a command decoder that selects the address latch circuit in response to the latch of a normal command by the command latch circuit, and selects the mode latch circuit in response to the latch of an adjustment command. With this arrangement, the mode signal can be dynamically received without performing a mode register set. Therefore, when a sufficiently large latch margin of the mode latch circuit is secured, there is no risk that it becomes impossible to input the mode signal.
US08004918B2
The present disclosure relates to the heating of memory cells.
US08004904B2
A semiconductor integrated circuit device capable of shortening a chip reset period (time) is provided. The semiconductor integrated circuit device has a nonvolatile memory which performs a reading operation of trimming information after completion of precharge of a data line, and a power-on reset circuit (64) which starts an operation in response to power-on to reset a control circuit of the nonvolatile memory. The device further has a power-on precharge circuit (66) which starts an operation in response to the power-on to perform the precharge operation of the data line. The power-on reset circuit (64) includes a first CR operation circuit (642) which produces a reset release signal indicative of change of a voltage level at a time point when a first predetermined time period (T1) elapses from the power-on. The power-on precharge circuit (66) includes a second CR operation circuit (662) which produces a precharge completion signal indicative of change of a voltage level at a time point when a second predetermined time period (T2) elapses from the power-on. The first predetermined time period (T1) is longer than the second predetermined time period (T2).
US08004901B2
A semiconductor device is disclosed. The semiconductor device includes a plurality of memory cells that are provided in a matrix and that have a charge storage layer made of an insulating film that is provided on a semiconductor substrate and a plurality of word lines that are provided on the charge storage layer. A plurality of memory cells that are arranged in a single line among the plurality of memory cells arranged in the matrix are coupled to the same word line. The semiconductor device further includes an application section that when reading data from a selected memory cell selected from the plurality of memory cells, applies a voltage to a selected word line to be coupled to the selected memory cell among the plurality of word lines. The application section applies a voltage that has a polarity that is opposite to the voltage applied to the selected word line to non-selected word lines arranged on both adjacent sides of the selected word line.
US08004900B2
A technique for erasing a non-volatile memory applies a p-well voltage to a substrate and drives or floats select gate voltages to accurately control the select gate voltage to improve write-erase endurance. Source and drain side select gates of a NAND string are driven at levels to optimize endurance. In one approach, the select gates float after being driven at a specific initial level, to reach a specific, optimal final level. In another approach, the select gates are driven at specific levels throughout an erase operation, in concert with the p-well voltage. In another approach, onset of select gate floating is delayed while the p-well voltage ramps up. In another approach, p-well voltage is ramped up in two steps, and the select gates are not floated until the second ramp begins. Floating can be achieved by raising the drive voltage to cut off pass gates of the select gates.
US08004896B2
According to a method of controlling the operation of a flash memory device including a number of memory blocks, a memory block of the memory blocks is first selected as a reference block. A program operation is performed on a memory cell included in the reference block. In order to check an operating characteristic of the reference block, a threshold voltage level of the programmed memory cell is read. Parameters for performing an operation of the flash memory device are determined based on the operating characteristic of the reference block. The parameters are stored in the reference block.
US08004889B2
A memory cell array is configured so that a plurality of memory cells storing one value of an n value (n is a natural number more than 2) are arranged in a matrix. A control circuit controls the voltage of a word line and a bit line in accordance with input data. The control circuit supplies a first voltage to a word line of a selected cell in a write operation, and supplies a second voltage to at least one word line adjacent to the selected cell. Thereafter, the control circuit changes a voltage of the at least one word line adjacent to the selected cell from the second voltage to a third voltage (second voltage
US08004872B2
A method and apparatus for writing data to a non-volatile memory cell, such as an RRAM memory cell. In some embodiments, a semiconductor array of non-volatile memory cells comprises a resistive sense element (RSE) and a switching device. A RSE of a plurality of memory cells is connected to a bit line while the switching device of a plurality of memory cells is connected to a word line and operated to select a memory cell. A source line is connected to the switching device and connects a series of memory cells together. Further, a driver circuit is connected to the bit line and writes a selected RSE of a selected source line to a selected resistive state by passing a write current along a write current path that passes through the selected RSE and through at least a portion of the remaining RSE connected to the selected source line.
US08004871B2
A memory cell includes a memory element including a MFSFET having a gate insulating film made of a ferroelectric film, and a selection switching element including a MISFET having a gate insulating film made of a paraelectric film. A load element for a read operation is connected in series to the memory cell. The ferroelectric film and the paraelectric film are stacked with a semiconductor film being interposed therebetween. The semiconductor film forms a common channel shared by the MFSFET and the MISFET. The load element includes a MISFET having a channel made of the semiconductor film or a resistance element having a resistor made of the semiconductor film.
US08004859B2
According to one embodiment, an electronic apparatus includes a printed circuit board on which a part is mounted, a first connector for external connection provided in a peripheral portion of the printed circuit board, a reinforcing plate, a first fixing member, and a second fixing member. The reinforcing plate has a first portion to be attached in a region corresponding to the part on the printed circuit board, and a second portion attached to the printed circuit board to reinforce the first connector. The first fixing member fixes the first portion to the printed circuit board at an end of the first portion that is opposite to a portion facing the second portion. The second fixing member fixes the second portion to the printed circuit board.
US08004825B2
A solid electrolyte capacitor that prevents the capacitance from decreasing. The solid electrolyte capacitor includes an anode, a cathode, and a dielectric layer, which is arranged between the anode and the cathode in contact with the cathode. The dielectric layer includes a plurality of recesses arranged at an interface between the dielectric layer and the cathode.
US08004821B2
A metal capacitor in which an electric conductivity is significantly improved by applying a metal material, instead of a solid electrolyte and electrolyte of an aluminum electrolytic capacitor, and a manufacturing method thereof is provided. A metal capacitor 10 includes a metal member 11 including a plurality of grooves 11a on both surfaces of the metal member 11, a metal oxide film 12 being formed on the metal member 11, a seed electrode layer 13 being formed on the metal oxide film 12, a main electrode layer 14 being formed on the metal oxide film 12 to fill the plurality of grooves 11a, a plurality of lead terminals 15 being installed in the main electrode layer 14, and a molding member 16 being disposed so that the plurality of lead terminals may be externally protruded from the molding member 16, and the metal member 11, the metal oxide film 12, the seed electrode layer 13, and the main electrode layer 14 may be sealed.
US08004816B1
One system described herein provides electrical energy by means of a Tesla coil that generates a strong electric field in the vicinity of an electrical target. An energy booster provides additional electrical energy to increase the probability of disabling and/or disrupting the electrical target. For example, an electrode may be configured with the Tesla coil to form the electric field of the electrical target. The electric field may cause a breakdown in the air about the Tesla coil that allows electric current to conduct to the electrical target. The Tesla coil may repetitively burst the electric field such that pulses of electric current are conducted to the electrical target.
US08004800B2
A magnetoresistive sensor having a hard bias structure that provides improved bias field robustness. The sensor includes a nitrogenated hard bias layer and a seed layer that include a nitrogenated NiTa layer and a layer of Ru. The seed layer can also include a layer of CrMn disposed between the layer of NiTa and the layer of Ru. The novel seed structure allows a nitrogenated hard bias layer to be used, while maintaining a high magnetic coercivity of the hard bias layer.
US08004799B2
A magnetic head comprises a plurality of elements selected from a group consisting of readers and writers. A servo sensor is positioned towards the elements, the servo sensor being adapted for sensing a first servo track of a magnetic medium. A fence is positioned towards the servo sensor and aligned therewith in a tape travel direction. A magnetic head in another embodiment includes a substrate and a reader positioned above the substrate, the reader having a sensor and shields sandwiching the sensor. A fence is positioned towards the reader on an opposite side thereof from the substrate, the fence being aligned with the reader in a travel direction of a magnetic medium passing thereby.
US08004798B1
A disk drive flexure has a pattern of voids in the ground plane in the area directly underneath the read and write bond pads, in order to adjust the respective impedances of the read and write bond pad pairs to match the impedances of the read and write transducers and the signal trace pairs to and from the transducers. The resulting impedance matched bond pads increase the effective signal bandwidth of the flexure and its electrical connections, decreasing the probability of error at high signal speeds and increasing the maximum data rate through the suspension.
US08004797B2
Various embodiments are disclosed for a flexible circuit. In one embodiment, the flexible circuit bends on a curved surface to form a partial loop.
US08004796B2
A method is disclosed for producing sliders with protective contacts features the fabrication of which is initiated at the wafer level. Recesses are formed in the wafer, a protective material is provided in the recesses, and the wafer is sliced along the recesses and diced into sliders, such that the protective material forms corners of the sliders. The protective material may be disposed such that it has a low elastic modulus at the corners, and a higher elastic modulus at a displacement from the corners which is still lower than the elastic modulus of the slider body, thereby providing superior protection for potential contacts between the slider and an adjacent media surface.
US08004790B2
A spoiler implementable in a hard disk drive. The spoiler includes a structure. The structure includes a diffuser integrated therewith. The structure further includes an extension emanating there from, the extension configured to complete a wall of a bypass channel in said hard disk drive, said inner wall having a portion removed there from.
US08004789B2
A method, a servo system and a tape drive are provided to acquire lock on a servo signal. The servo signals of at least one servo element are monitored to detect a valid servo signal. If a valid servo signal is not detected than the fine actuator is moved in a first direction until either a valid servo signal is detected or the fine actuator travel limit is reached. When a valid servo signal is detected, the fine actuator is set to a neutral position and the coarse actuator is moved in the first direction. When the fine actuator travel limit is reached the fine actuator is moved to the first position and the coarse actuator is moved in a second direction, opposite of the first direction.
US08004769B2
A binocular display system that provides minimum occlusion of a user's field of vision such that the occluded area is primarily filled with an image displayed to the user.
US08004764B2
A filter and method for filtering an optical beam are disclosed. One embodiment of the filter is an optical filter for filtering an incident light beam, comprising an optically effective material characterized by: a light transmittance of less than 1% for wavelengths below 420 nm; and a light transmittance for wavelengths complementary and near complementary to wavelengths below 420 nm that, combined with the transmittance for wavelengths below 420 nm, will yield a filtered light beam having a luminosity of about 90% and an excitation purity of 5% or less. The complementary wavelengths can be wavelengths above about 640 nm, wavelengths above about 660 nm, and/or wavelengths from about 540 nm to about 560 nm.
US08004753B2
A MO-PA type optical amplifier is provided which includes an oscillator and an amplifier including a fiber for optical amplification, including: a reflected-light wavelength conversion fiber which is provided on an optical path between the oscillator and the amplifier and which converts a wavelength of reflected-light traveling toward the oscillator due to Stimulated Raman Scattering; and a filter which is provided on the optical path between the oscillator and the amplifier and which eliminates the wavelength-converted light.
US08004750B1
A switchable free-spectral-range mode selector is used to change the free spectral range of a free-space delay-line interferometer. The mode selector consists of a rotatable device with at least one transparent plate selected to produce the desired change in the free spectral range of the delay-line interferometer. The device may be rotated in and out of the free-space optical path of on of the interferometer arms. If used as a DPSK demodulator, the device enables operation at multiple predetermined free spectral ranges. In the preferred embodiment, the demodulator includes a 50/50 beam-splitter cube combined with two cavities. The mode selector consists of a plurality of different transparent slabs attached to a rotatable shaft so that any one of the slabs or none may be inserted in the appropriate optical path to obtain the desired FSR mode of operation.
US08004736B2
A first electrode and a sacrificial layer are sequentially formed on a substrate, and then first openings for forming supports inside are formed in the first electrode and the sacrificial layer. The supports are formed in the first openings, and then a second electrode is formed on the sacrificial layer and the supports, thus forming a micro electro mechanical system structure. Afterward, an adhesive is used to adhere and fix a protection structure to the substrate for forming a chamber to enclose the micro electro mechanical system structure, and at least one second opening is preserved on sidewalls of the chamber. A release etch process is subsequently employed to remove the sacrificial layer through the second opening in order to form cavities in an optical interference reflection structure. Finally, the second opening is closed to seal the optical interference reflection structure between the substrate and the protection structure.
US08004730B2
A scanning apparatus for transparent documents includes a scanner which includes a host and a lid pivotally coupled with the host, and a transparent document holding module which is located between the host and the lid, and includes a main body and a light guide element which is located on the periphery of the main body. The host has an optical module for scanning. The optical module includes a plurality of lighting units and a first attraction element. The main body aims to hold a transparent document. The light guide element includes a second attraction element attracted to the first attraction element. When the light guide element is moved with the optical module, the direction of light projecting to the transparent document is altered. Thus when the light guide element is moved with the optical module along a track, scanning of images on the transparent documents can also be accomplished.
US08004729B2
A method of adjusting a printing system includes providing a printing system including a plurality of marking engines that include first, second and third actuators. The method includes setting each of the actuators of each marking engine to predetermined values, and generating a plurality of printed samples having a visually apparent background density using at least one of the marking engines. The method also includes evaluating the printed samples, and adjusting the first actuator of at least one marking engine based at least partially on the evaluation. A system is also disclosed.
US08004723B2
An image processing apparatus formed of MFP or the like includes a plurality of folders for storing files. In the image processing apparatus, a script for the processing executed on a file stored in each folder is generated. Then, the generated script is stored in association with a folder storing a file subjected to the processing corresponding to the script in the image processing apparatus.
US08004722B2
A system for printing a second document by interacting with a first document. The system includes: a first document having visible textual information and first coded data; a handheld optically imaging sensor which generates indicating data indicative of the position of the sensor relative to the first document using sensed coded data; and a printer for printing the second document in response to interpretation of the indicating data by a computer system. The second printed document includes visible textual information and second coded data in the form of a plurality of tags, each tag defining unique coded data identifying the second document and a position of that tag on the second document.
US08004719B2
A plurality of types of basic tiles are arranged in a matrix area while prohibiting an arrangement of only ON or OFF elements in two rows and two columns, to acquire an element matrix representing an arrangement of dots in a gray level of 50%. After one element is specified in each of a set of the ON elements and a set of the OFF elements, a process of specifying an element farthest from specified elements is repeated to acquire a turn-on order of dots with increase in gray level on a highlight side and a turn-off order of dots with decrease in gray level on a shadow side, and a threshold value of each element is determined in accordance with these orders. With this operation, it is possible to generate a threshold matrix which is capable of reducing graininess in an image generated by halftoning an original image.
US08004718B2
Image data representing an image is obtained, raster image processing is performed on the image data, and then trapping is performed on the image data after raster image processing. The trapping may be performed based on a tag plane generated during the raster image processing, or the determination of which pixels to trap may be performed after the raster image processing.
US08004704B2
A scanner which is connected via network or locally connected to a printer for realizing a copying function by outputting a scanned image to the printer as a copy job, the scanner, comprises a menu display that displays an operation menu of the copying function on a display portion; a capability information reception unit that receives capability information from the printer; an available setting item determination unit that determines print setting items relating to the copying function that can be provided, based on the capability information; and a display controller that selectively displays display contents of the operation menu displayed by the menu display, based on the setting items determined by the available setting item determination unit.
US08004702B2
This invention aims at conducting a scheduling work of print processing efficiently. A device scheduler refers to print job composition information registered in step control information of the step “printer reservation” of other print job (other order) in a workflow information table, and a schedule information table. The device scheduler searches both other print jobs (proof print jobs and regular print jobs) that a to-be-registered proof print job having a processing time of the proof print job described above affects and other print jobs (proof print jobs and regular print jobs) that affect the to-be-registered proof print job. The device scheduler determines whether the to-be-registered proof print job can be registered in a schedule (there is no search result in Step 2017 described above). When the registration is not possible, the device scheduler informs an operator of the result that automatic scheduling is impossible.
US08004701B2
An information processing system includes an information management apparatus that accepts image generation requests and an image generation section that generates image data, which is provided independently of the information management apparatus. The information management apparatus issues a job ID in response to a print request from a client, and transmits the job ID and a URL of the image generation apparatus to the client. Based on the URL, the client directly requests the image generation apparatus for image data corresponding to the job ID.
US08004700B2
It is so arranged that a mount image suited to a user photo image can be selected. To accomplish this, a creator accesses a scrapbook server using a computer and executes a simulation for creating a scrapbook by affixing part images such as photographic images and decorative images to an image of a paper mount on the display screen of the computer. When a user photo image and a mount image are selected, thumbnail images of decorative images recommended as decorative images for the user photo image and mount image are displayed in a small window. The creator selects a desired decorative image from among the thumbnail images of the recommended decorative images. The selected decorative image is displayed on a scrapbook edit image.
US08004699B2
A scanner section, a printing section, and an operation section having an input section for receiving operational information and a display section are provided. A setting table section is provided and is formed from non-contact type and contact type IC card reader use sections, in which the non-contact type and contact type IC card readers are arranged, respectively. The non-contact type and contact type IC card reader use sections are closer to and farther from an operator, respectively.
US08004689B2
A technique for acoustic detection of a disbond within a bonded structure involves thermal excitation of the surface of the bonded structure to induce a lifting and membrane vibration and is applicable to laminates and coated structures, as well as foam core structures or a honeycomb structures. The technique does not require access to both sides of the bonded structure. A large etendue interferometer is used to provide surface displacement measurement. The surface displacement measurement can be analyzed both by frequency or amplitude to determine existence of a disbond by membrane vibration, and further a thickness of the disbond can be determined using traditional pulse-echo time analysis. The technique may allow detection of stick bonds.
US08004686B2
An optical device under test (DUT) is interferometrically measured. The DUT can include one or more of an optical fiber, an optical component, or an optical system. First interference pattern data for the DUT is obtained for a first path to the DUT, and second interference pattern data for the DUT is obtained for a second somewhat longer path to the DUT. Because of that longer length, the second interference pattern data is delayed in time from the first interference pattern data. A time varying component of the DUT interference pattern data is then identified from the first and second interference pattern data. The identified time varying component is used to modify the first or the second interference pattern data to compensate for the time-varying phase caused by vibrations, etc. One or more optical characteristics of the DUT may then be determined based on the modified interference pattern data.
US08004674B2
A system for a flow cytometer that collects data for a sample prepared with a plurality of fluorochromes that includes a fixed gain detection system that collects data for a plurality of fluorescence channels, fluorochrome compensation factors for a plurality of fluorochromes types, and a computer system that has an interface that gathers fluorochrome information of the sample and an analysis program that compensates for spectral spillover in the collected data. The fixed gain detection system preferably has a wide dynamic range. A fluorochrome compensation factor preferably remains constant for a fixed gain detection system. The analysis program preferably uses the fluorochrome compensation factors to compensate for spectral spillover.
US08004671B2
The present invention relates to a method for identifying transparent objects, for example measurement cuvettes, with the aid of their absorption spectrum and therefore makes it possible to protect articles against forgery or imitation.
US08004670B2
An apparatus for spectrophotometric analysis comprises a sample reception surface, which is arranged to receive a sample to be analysed, and a sample contacting surface, which is moveable in relation to the sample reception surface such that it may be brought to a first position, where the surfaces are sufficiently far apart to allow the sample to be placed on the sample reception surface, and a second position, where the sample contacting surface makes contact with the sample and compresses the sample. The apparatus further comprises a sample thickness controller, which is arranged to control the distance between the sample reception surface and the sample contacting surface in the second position of the sample contacting surface, such that a sample thickness between the surfaces may be shifted for obtaining at least two measurements of the sample at different optical path lengths through the sample.
US08004667B2
An inspection apparatus for containers, comprising a first illumination device which directs light having first characteristic properties onto the base of the container, a second illumination device which directs light having second characteristic properties, which differ at least partially from the first characteristic properties, onto the base of the container, and at least one image recording device which receives at least a portion of the light directed onto the base of the container and transmitted by the latter. At least the second illumination device illuminates the base of the container in an indirect manner.
US08004661B2
A method, apparatus, and system for a sorting flow cytometer include an objective lens having an optical axis coaxially aligned with the flow path at the focal point. A controllable energy source selectively alters an analyte according to a determination of whether the analyte is in a desired sub-population. In various embodiments, one or both of the emission from the controllable energy source and/or the emission from an illumination energy source passes through the objective lens. In some embodiments in which the emission from the controllable energy source passes through the objective lens, the objective lens may focus the emission from the controllable energy source at a different point than the focal point of a signal detected from the analyte and, in particular, at a point closer to the objective lens.
US08004660B2
A simulation system for predicting a likelihood of whether a target object positioned in an environment will be detected by a detection system when illuminated by a laser source. The simulation system may be used for a laser rangefinder application and a laser designator application. The simulation system may provide a detection probability of the target object at a specified range to the detection system or a plurality of detection probabilities as a function of the range to the detection system. The simulation system may provide an indication of an overlap of the beam provided by the laser source on the target object. The simulation system may determine the effect of vibration on the detection of the target object at a specified range.
US08004658B2
An illumination optical apparatus is able to accomplish desired annular illumination, circular illumination, and so on, without substantial influence of the zero-order light from a diffractive optical element. The illumination optical apparatus comprises a diffractive optical element (3) which converts a light beam from a light source (1) into a light beam with a predetermined light intensity distribution; an optical integrator (8) disposed between the diffractive optical element and a surface to be illuminated (M) and adapted for forming a substantial surface illuminant on an illumination pupil plane on the basis of the light beam from the diffractive optical element; a shaping optical system (4, 6, 7) disposed between the diffractive optical element and the optical integrator and adapted for changing a size and shape of the substantial surface illuminant; and a preventing device disposed at a position substantially in the relation of Fourier transform with the diffractive optical element in an optical path of the shaping optical system, and adapted for preventing the zero-order light from the diffractive optical element from traveling along an illumination light path.
US08004653B2
A liquid immersion exposure apparatus includes an optical element via which a patterned beam is projected onto a substrate in an exposure operation, a liquid supply system having a supply port from which exposure liquid is supplied, and a member which has a surface and which is different from the substrate. In the exposure operation, the liquid supply system supplies the exposure liquid from the supply port to a space between the optical element and the substrate. In a cleaning operation, the member is moved to a position at which the surface of the member faces the optical element, and the liquid supply system supplies the exposure liquid from the supply port to a space between the optical element and the surface of the member.
US08004652B2
A lithographic apparatus is disclosed including a liquid supply system configured to at least partly fill a space between the projection system and the substrate with a liquid, an outlet configured to remove a mixture of liquid and gas passing through a gap between a liquid confinement structure of the liquid supply system and the substrate, and an evacuation system configured to draw the mixture through the outlet, the evacuation system having a separator tank arranged to separate liquid from gas in the mixture and a separator tank pressure controller, connected to a non-liquid-filled region of the separator tank, configured to maintain a stable pressure within the non-liquid-filled region.
US08004643B2
A liquid crystal display device includes first and second substrates which have opposed surfaces respectively provided with aligning films and have undergone aligning treatments such that aligning treatment directions are parallel and opposite between the films, and a liquid crystal layer made of a liquid crystal having a negative dielectric anisotropy and placed between the substrates such that molecular long axes of the liquid crystal are oriented parallel to surfaces of the substrates. The first substrate includes a first conductive layer in which elongated slits obliquely crossing the aligning treatment direction are formed parallel to each other, and a second conductive layer formed on a layer different from the first layer through an insulating layer so as to overlap the slits and overlap at least part of the first layer. Each slit includes first and second linear portions extending in different directions at angles line-symmetrical to the aligning treatment direction.
US08004636B2
A thin film transistor array panel for a flat panel display includes a substrate, a first signal line formed on the substrate, a second signal line intersecting and insulated from the first signal line, a switching element having a first terminal connected to the first signal line, a second terminal connected to the second signal line, and a third terminal, a pixel electrode connected to the third terminal of the switching element, and first and second light blocking members extending parallel to the second signal line, each being disposed on an opposite side of and partially overlapping an respective edge of the second signal line, an interval between the first and second light blocking members being in a range of from more than 1.5 μm to less than 4 μm. The array panel prevents light leakage from the display and improves its transmittance, aperture ratio and color reproducibility.
US08004634B2
A liquid crystal display device and a projection type liquid crystal display apparatus are provided. The liquid crystal display device includes two substrates opposed each other, a liquid crystal layer arranged between the two substrates, a plurality of pixel electrodes arranged on the opposed surfaces of the substrates to form pixels in a matrix form, and alignment films formed on the two substrates to align liquid crystal of the liquid crystal layer in a predetermined direction. The pixels arranged in the matrix form have different spacings between the pixels.
US08004632B2
A flat display device includes a flat display panel, an upper polarizing plate disposed on a light exit plane of the flat display panel, and a lower polarizing plate disposed on a light entrance plane of the flat display panel. The upper polarizing plate includes a wide view film, and its absorption axis and a horizontal view direction of the flat display panel have an included angle of about 15 degrees. The absorption axis of the lower polarizing plate and the horizontal view direction of the flat display panel have an included angle of about 105 degrees.
US08004631B2
A backlight unit for a liquid crystal display (LCD) device includes a light emitting device (LED) array portion having a plurality of LEDs and a diverter sheet disposed on the LED array portion and having continuous reflection surface in spaced relationship with to the LED array portion.
US08004625B2
An active matrix substrate is provided, which includes a substrate, a plurality of scan lines, data lines, pixel unites, and pre-charge components. The scan lines, data lines and pixel units are all disposed on the substrate. The pixel units are electrically connected with the corresponding scan lines and data lines. Each pixel unit includes an active device and a pixel electrode. The active devices are electrically connected with the scan lines, the data lines and the pixel electrodes. Each pre-charge component is electrically connected with one of the scan lines and two adjacent pixel electrodes controlled by the next scan line. When the pre-charge component is turned on via the scan line electrically connected therewith, the two adjacent pixel electrodes electrically connected with each pre-charge component have the same voltage level so that the two adjacent pixel units are pre-charged.
US08004623B2
There is provided a light-transmitting structure of a display panel for a slot machine using an electronic reel game scheme that is capable of playing other games on a reel game. The structure is located behind a touch pad. The structure allows a gamer to selectively play a typical display-based game through a separate game program while playing the reel game.
US08004622B2
An LCD device with 3D and 2D sections. The device includes an LCD panel, a light guide with a backlight, and an embedded 3D-2D film stack positioned between the LCD panel and the light guide. The 3D and 2D sections provide for simultaneously viewing visual content in 3D and 2D formats. The device can also include a frame providing a barrier between the 3D and 2D sections and can include other features to enhance the display.
US08004618B2
A broadcast channel detection system enabling search of channels providing a digital television broadcast from among a large number of channels at a high speed.This is configured by a periodic signal detecting function unit 21 receiving as input a selected received signal when a channel selecting function unit 12 selects a desired channel and detecting periodic signals (P) appearing at substantially constant timings, a periodicity distribution finding function unit 22 for finding a state of distribution of the cluster of periodic signals (P) detected a plurality of times, and a decision function unit 23 deciding the presence of a digital broadcast according to whether a width of the distribution of the cluster detected fits in a predetermined width.
US08004612B2
An inputted picture signal is stored in an image memory into which a picture signal for at least one frame period can be written, while rewriting the memory. At a plurality of timings within one frame period, an average brightness calculation unit calculates an average brightness from the picture signal written into the image memory, and a brightness control unit performs brightness control of the picture signal read from the image memory based on the calculated average brightness.
US08004609B2
There is provided an amplifier that measures a display delay time caused until a video is displayed actually after a video signal is generated, and sets automatically a delay time of an audio signal such that an audio synchronizes with this display. Test video data is stored in a memory 11. This test video data is video data that generates a clear change in luminance in such a manner that a screen is changed suddenly from deep black to pure white. This test video is output to a video display device 2 such as PDP, for example, and a delay time generated until the test video is displayed actually after this test video is output is measured. Since the luminance of the screen is changed suddenly when the test video is displayed actually, this change can be sensed by an optical sensor 20. The audio signal is delayed by setting this delay time in an audio signal processing portion 13, so that the video can synchronize with the audio.
US08004607B2
In a method for detecting the cadence of a sequence of images, each pixel in each current field in the sequence of images is compared to at least one pixel in at least one previous field. A pixel motion phase value is assigned to each pixel in the field as a function of the result of that comparison. For each block of pixels in the current field, a block motion phase value is determined from the motion phase values of the pixels in the block. The current field is segmented into at least one region, with each region comprising a whole number of blocks, as a function of at least the determined block motion phase values. A region motion phase value is assigned to each region, based on the block motion phase values for the blocks in the region.
US08004606B2
A technique for detecting original scan lines is disclosed. The technique involves receiving a deinterlaced signal with even scan lines and odd scan lines. After the deinterlaced signal is received, a determination is made as to whether the even scan lines or the odd scan lines are the original scan lines. In certain embodiments, an interlaced signal can be generated from the original scan lines. In other embodiments, an optimized deinterlaced signal can be generated using the original scan lines.
US08004600B2
A composite image device having image capturing, laser pointing, lighting and related functions in one includes a first perspective window, a second perspective window, a third perspective window, an image capturing module, laser source module, a light source module and a switchable light modulating module. The image capturing module captures ambient light through the first perspective window to generate digital image data. The laser source module emits a laser through the second perspective window. The light source module emits illuminating light through the third perspective window. The switchable light modulating module includes at least a light modulating gate and a switching device for moving the at least a light modulating gate to a position relatively parallel to the second or third perspective window to modulate the emitted laser or the emitted illuminating light.
US08004599B2
In an automatic focus adjusting method for adjusting the focus based on image signals in a preset focus detection area, the face is detected from an image, and the detected face area is set as the focus detection area in a front-light scene. On the other hand, when a backlight scene is identified, an area in which the detected face area is reduced is set as the focus detection area. This enables to control the focus so that the face is accurately focused on without being affected by the contrast of the contour of the face in a backlight scene (contrast of the contour of the face is strong in the backlight scene).
US08004598B2
A focus adjustment apparatus or an image capturing apparatus is provided with a system controller. The system controller calculates a correlation value between an image in a focus detection area when a focusing lens is located at a lens position apart by a predetermined distance from a lens position where a focus evaluation value reaches a peak value, to a close end side, and an image in a focus detection area when a focusing lens is located at a lens position apart by a predetermined distance from a lens position where a focus evaluation value reaches a peak value, to an infinity side, and determines a lens position corresponding to a peak value to be a focused lens position, when a correlation value calculated by the correlation value calculation unit is over a predetermined value.
US08004595B2
To provide a solid-state imaging device that can capture an image which is bright through to its periphery, even when used in a single-lens reflex digital camera that accepts various interchangeable lenses from wide-angle to telephoto. The solid-state imaging device includes a two-dimensional array of unit pixels each of which includes a light-collecting element. A light-collecting element in a unit pixel is a combination of circular-sector-shaped light-collecting elements having different concentric structures. A central axis of the concentric structures is perpendicular to a light-receiving plane of the light-collecting element. Each of the circular-sector-shaped light-collecting elements is divided into concentric zone areas of a width equal to or smaller than a wavelength of incident light. Thus, an image which is bright through to its periphery can be captured even when light incident on a unit pixel changes from wide-angle to telecentric (chief rays are approximately parallel to an optical axis).
US08004594B2
A display control apparatus includes a list-image-display control unit that executes control for displaying a unit moving image list image formed by arranging at least representative images corresponding to respective unit moving image data in a predetermined unit, a representative-image-display control unit that arranges, concerning representative images that should be designated as moving images among the representative images, a moving image obtained by reproducing unit moving image data corresponding thereto on the unit moving image list screen and arranges, concerning the representative images other than the representative images designated as the moving image, a still image represented by a unit moving image corresponding thereto on the unit moving image list image, and a moving-image-change control unit that sequentially changes the representative images designated as a moving image in accordance with a predetermined change rule and change timing.
US08004593B2
A digital image apparatus includes: a storage unit in which digital image information is stored; a display unit that displays the digital image information stored in the storage unit; a setting unit that sets a recipient of the digital image information; and a communication unit that transmits the digital image information stored in the storage unit to a recipient set through the setting unit, and further includes: an updating unit that updates transmission history information including recipient information indicating a recipient of the digital image information each time the digital image information is transmitted by the communication unit and stores the updated transmission history information into the storage unit in correspondence to the digital image information, and when the digital image information stored in the storage unit is displayed, the display unit also displays transmission history information pertaining to the digital image information in correspondence to the digital image information.
US08004581B2
An imaging apparatus includes an imaging device for capturing images, a display section, a temporary memory for temporarily recording captured images, a main memory for recording the captured images and a setting mechanism for setting one of a temporary recording mode and a direct recording mode. The images temporarily recorded are displayed for the user to select images to be saved, and the selected images are recorded into the main memory and deleted from the temporary memory. All of the non-selected images remaining in the temporary memory are deleted at once at a predetermined timing instructed by the user.
US08004577B2
The multi-band image photographing method and apparatus photograph a subject by dividing a photographing wavelength region into plural bands and obtain spectral images of the subject corresponding to the respective divided plural bands. The method and apparatus detect a sensitivity balance among the respective plural bands from photographing data of each of the spectral images obtained by preliminary photographing performed prior to main photographing, determine photographing conditions for the respective plural bands based upon the detected sensitivity balance, and perform the main photographing in accordance with the determined photographing conditions to photograph a multi-band image. The program is used to cause a computer to execute this method or part thereof.
US08004571B2
An information processing apparatus is connected to a projection device and an image capture device, and includes an acquiring portion, a detecting portion, and a controller. The acquiring portion acquires images captured by the image capture device. The detecting portion detects positions of the object and a user of the information processing apparatus from the captured images. The controller causes the projection device to project a first indication data indicating storage of at least one of the captured images onto an area except for a linear area linking the user of the information processing apparatus to the object and existing between the user of the information processing apparatus and the object, based on the detected positions of the object and the user of the information processing apparatus, and stores the at least one of the captured images in a memory when the projected first indication data has been interrupted.
US08004563B2
Method and system for performing event detection and object tracking in image streams by installing in field, a set of image acquisition devices, where each device includes a local programmable processor for converting the acquired image stream that consist of one or more images, to a digital format, and a local encoder for generating features from the image stream. These features are parameters that are related to attributes of objects in the image stream. The encoder also transmits a feature stream, whenever the motion features exceed a corresponding threshold. Each image acquisition device is connected to a data network through a corresponding data communication channel. An image processing server that determines the threshold and processes the feature stream is also connected to the data network. Whenever the server receives features from a local encoder through its corresponding data communication channel and the data network, the server provides indications regarding events in the image streams by processing the feature stream and transmitting these indications to an operator.
US08004557B2
An advanced dynamic stitching method for multi-lens camera system is disclosed. This invention aims to address the parallax phenomenon which exists in a multi-lens camera system. Stitching points vary with the object distance. In a video stitching system, a fast search engine to update the stitching points dynamically is needed. This invention provides an advanced method to reduce the high computation power required for the traditional block matching method of finding stitching points. As a result, the stitching points can be adjusted dynamically with the method of this invention.
US08004552B2
In an optical scanning device having a lens within a housing, the attachment of the lens to the housing is facilitated. The occurrence of lens distortion and warpage is prevented when the lens is formed by an injection molding apparatus. The lens is a long lens elongated in the main scanning direction for a photoreceptor and has support ends formed at both ends of outside of the lens effective area in the longitudinal direction, and one of the support ends formed at both the ends has a first projection that projects from a side surface in a thickness direction of the lens. The lens is positioned and equipped in the longitude direction of the lens relative to the housing supporting the lens with the first projection in the optical scanning device.
US08004550B2
The light-emitting element head includes: a first signal supply unit supplying a first signal for sequentially specifying a plurality of light-emitting elements one by one as a control target for control in common to light-emitting element chips; a second signal supply unit supplying second signals for giving an instruction to emit or not to emit light to one of the elements specified as the control target to a set of light-emitting element chips so that each of the signals is supplied in common to plural light-emitting element chips belonging to each of N groups into which the set of chips are divided; and an enable signal supply unit that supplies enable signals for allowing the set of chips to receive the second signals which are different from one another so that the enable signals are supplied respectively to the chips belonging to each of the N groups.
US08004546B2
A deviation amount detecting device for use in an electrophotographic color image forming device is configured to detect whether a deviation for each of toner images of different colors on a transporting member takes place, based on position information which is stored as a result of reading of a first set of deviation detecting patterns by a pattern reading unit.
US08004540B1
A method is provided to retrieve a display resolution used by a computing device in an online conference. With the display resolution, a boundary associated with the display resolution is displayed. The boundary is configured to define a display area shown on the computing device.
US08004539B2
Systems, methods and computer program code for improved graphical parameter definition may comprise, (i) receiving, by a graphical editing tool, a command associated with a graphical editing operation directed to performing a transformation to a graphical object, wherein the transformation is associated with changing a value of a first parameter of the graphical object, (ii) displaying, by the graphical editing tool, a transformation object associated with the transformation, wherein the transformation object comprises a second parameter comprising a value associated with the transformation, and wherein the value of the first parameter of the graphical object is related to the value of the second parameter, (iii) receiving, by the graphical editing tool, an indication associated with defining the transformation object as a new parameter of the graphical object, and (iv) defining, by the graphical editing tool, the transformation object as the new parameter of the graphical object.
US08004535B2
A method of generating displayable content is provided. The method includes obtaining a display package having a plurality of display elements defining a plurality of display frames. The method further includes rendering at least one selected group of the plurality of display elements. Each selected group is based on indicator information in the display package and comprises less than all of the plurality of display elements. Further included is saving a copy of each rendered selected group in a second display buffer. The method further includes rendering at least one display frame within the plurality of display frames such that at least a portion of the at least one rendered display frame comprises the saved copy of at least one rendered selected group. Further included is saving the at least one rendered display frame in a first display buffer that is different from the second display buffer.
US08004532B2
A server apparatus and a server control method which transmits display data to a client apparatus and which displays the display data on a display screen of the client apparatus, wherein there are provided a plurality of accelerators, each of the plurality of accelerators being equipped with a difference detection circuit which compares the display data for a previous screen transmitted to the client apparatus with the display data for a current screen to be transmitted to the client apparatus to detect a difference therebetween. Then, the size of a drawing area to be allocated to each of the plurality of accelerators is calculated for each of the accelerators in response to a request from the client apparatus, and when a display request is made from a new client apparatus, the accelerator having a smaller drawing area among the calculated drawing areas is allocated to the new client apparatus.
US08004528B2
A method for deriving three-dimensional information progressively from a streaming video sequence.
US08004523B1
An apparatus and method for translating fixed function state into a shader program. Fixed function state is received and stored and when a new shader program is detected the fixed function state is translated into shader program instructions. Registers specified by the program instructions are allocated for processing in the shader program. The registers may be remapped for more efficient use of the register storage space.
US08004519B2
A computer generated character is decorated with skin-attached features in computer graphics by defining a skin surface of the computer generated character. The skin surface is defined using a set of one or more connected parametric surfaces. Feature locations for the features are placed on the defined skin surface. Guide locations for guides are placed on the defined skin surface. The skin surface is partitioned into a plurality of cells. Each cell has a set of vertices. The set of vertices for each cell is a set of the guide locations. Interpolation weights are determined for the feature locations using the guide locations and the plurality of cells.
US08004515B1
A system and method that produces stereoscopic images modifies a vertex shader program that was intended to produce a single monoscopic image. When executed, the modified vertex shader program generates a first image of a stereoscopic image pair based on a first viewpoint and generates a second image of the stereoscopic image pair based on a second viewpoint.
US08004506B2
A display control device for controlling the display of an image in a display device includes a decision unit configured to decide whether the state of a scaling of a moving-image portion in a display object image or an image to be displayed in the display device has changed; and a display control unit configured to select a screen mode for displaying the display object image in response to the change in the scaling state of the moving-image portion in the display object image, and to display the display object image in the screen mode in the display device.
US08004504B2
A display element, such as an interferometric modulator, comprises a transparent conductor configured as a first electrode and a movable mirror configured as a second electrode. Advantageously, the partial reflector is positioned between the transparent conductor and the movable mirror. Because the transparent conductor serves as an electrode, the partial reflector does not need to be conductive. Accordingly, a greater range of materials may be used for the partial reflector. In addition, a transparent insulative material, such as a dielectric, may be positioned between the transparent conductor and the partial reflector in order to decrease a capacitance of the display element without changing a gap distance between the partial reflector and the movable mirror. Thus, a capacitance of the display element may be reduced without changing the optical characteristics of the display element.
US08004502B2
The correction of an image for ambient light in an optical touch-sensitive device is disclosed. For example, one disclosed embodiment comprises integrating a first field of pixels in an image data frame for a different duration of ambient light exposure than a second field of pixels in the image data frame. Intensity data is read from the first field of pixels and the second field of pixels, and an ambient light value is determined for one or more pixels in the image data frame from the intensity data. The ambient light value then is used to adjusting one or more pixels of the data frame for ambient light.
US08004498B1
Systems, methods, and computer-readable media for multipoint temporary anchoring are described. One embodiment includes a method having the steps of receiving a first input signal associated with a first area of an object within a graphical workspace, automatically determining that the first input signal is a locking signal, selecting the first area of the object based at least in part on the first input signal, and automatically locking the first area of the object.
US08004493B2
Peripherals and data processing systems are disclosed which can be configured to interact based upon sensor data. In at least certain embodiments, a method for sensing motion and orientation information for a device includes receiving a motion event from at least one sensor located in a device. The method further includes determining an orientation for a display of the device. The method further includes determining whether the device is currently moving. The method further includes determining whether the device moves within an angle with respect to a ground reference for a first time period. The method further includes switching the orientation of the display of the device if the device moves in excess of the angle.
US08004487B2
The present invention is intended to reduce a peak value of a momentary current, which is generated in a data driver, even when display data items expressing a succeeding display line have changed largely. The data driver includes: an internal control signal production circuit that groups multiple video lines into multiple blocks and produces internal control signals which are used to make the transmission timings of video voltages onto video lines, which belong to the blocks, different from one another among the blocks; a first latch circuit that sequentially latches display data items which express one display line a second latch circuit that latches the display data items which have been latched into the first latch circuit; and a third latch circuit that latches the display data items, which have been latched into the second latch circuit and are associated with the blocks, at timings, responsively to internal control signals.
US08004476B2
A technique capable of suppressing or preventing generation of flickers (blinks) by a sustain period control as well as capable of ensuring or enhancing display quality in a PDP device. The PDP device adjusts a sustain pulse of the sustain period for every subfield by selecting a combination of one or more than one cycle so that start and end timings of a field in fields before and after change are almost the same according to a display load ratio of the subfield of the field. Field weighted emission center positions then becomes almost the same, and flickers and the like are suppressed.
US08004472B2
An antenna stabilizing apparatus for use on a marine vessel comprises a base body, a housing, a carrier, and a limiting member. The housing is mounted on a top of the base body and internally defines a receiving space. The carrier has at least one antenna carried thereon, and is connected to the house via a hanging member to suspend in the receiving space. The limiting member interconnects the carrier and a bottom of the housing to each other and limits a displacement range allowable for the carrier. With these arrangements, the antenna stabilizing apparatus is able to minimize the adverse influence of the rolling and pitching marine vessel on the signal receiving and transmitting via the antenna mounted on the marine vessel. Therefore, the marine vessel can navigate the sea more safely and stable wireless signal transmission via the antenna mounted on the marine vessel can be ensured.
US08004468B2
A Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a first microstrip antenna comprising a microstrip positioned towards a first side of the device, and a Radio Frequency—(RF-)reflective back plane spaced from the microstrip of the first microstrip antenna; a second microstrip antenna comprising a microstrip positioned farther from the first side of the device than the microstrip of the first microstrip antenna, and an RF-reflective back plane spaced from the microstrip of the second microstrip antenna; and circuitry for receiving signals from the first and second microstrip antennas, wherein the first and second microstrip antennas are each independently coupled to the circuitry.
US08004457B2
The present invention relates to antenna calibration for active phased array antennas. Specifically, the present invention relates to a built in apparatus for autonomous antenna calibrationAccordingly, the present invention provides a method of continuous on-line monitoring of each element in an array antenna comprising the steps of: (i) transmitting known test signals to one or more elements of the array antenna; (ii) monitoring responses of the elements to the test signals; and (iii)comparing the response with expected responses for the elements to determine an operation condition of the elements.
US08004455B1
A method and apparatus for simulating antenna apparatuses are provided. In an illustrative embodiment, the apparatus comprises a first portion configured to produce a first and third plurality of signals and to receive a second plurality of signals from a transmitter, wherein said first and third plurality of signals are determined by more than one of a plurality of relationships between said transmitter and at least one antenna apparatus adapted to receive signals from said transmitter.
US08004454B2
The present invention is directed towards method, apparatus, and computer product for obtaining additional information in relation to a target in the vicinity of a mobile electronic device as well as such a mobile electronic device. The device includes a radar unit for operation in a certain frequency range including a pulse generating unit, a transmitting and receiving antenna, an echo detecting unit, a timing unit for timing the generation and transmission of pulses and providing an echo detection window for the echo detecting unit to detect echoes of said pulses when being reflected by a target, and a signal processing unit configured to process received echo pulses.
US08004448B2
A system for converting an analog signal to a digital codeword having N bit positions that includes a dual DAC structure having a small DAC and a large DAC. At least one comparator is coupled to the small DAC and large DAC. The small DAC performs bit trials to calculate bit positions 1 to M, and the large DAC with performs bit trial calculates bit positions M+1 to N after having been set with bit decisions from the bit trials of the small DAC.
US08004447B2
The configuration of a successive approximation analog to digital converter (ADC) and a method thereof are provided in the present invention. The proposed configuration includes a comparator having an inverting input terminal, a non-inverting input terminal and an output terminal outputting a comparison result, a most significant bit ADC coupled to the non-inverting input terminal, and a least significant bit ADC coupled to the inverting input terminal.
US08004440B2
A transimpedance amplifier according to an exemplary aspect of the present invention includes a first terminal supplied with a first power supply voltage, and a second terminal supplied with a second power supply voltage having a potential lower than that of the first power supply voltage. The transimpedance amplifier outputs a voltage signal that is converted into a binary signal of one of the first power supply voltage and the second power supply voltage, based on an input analog current signal. This makes it possible to reduce a conversion error.
US08004437B2
A bandpass delta-sigma modulator is formed to include a bandpass filtering circuit that bandpass filters an input signal. An analog-to-digital converter (ADC) receives output of the bandpass filtering circuit and generates an output quantization code. A digital filter receives the output quantization code. A digital-to-analog converter (DAC) receives output of the digital filter and scales the value of the output quantization code by DAC coefficients to the bandpass filtering circuit.
US08004436B2
The invention is directed to a circuit and method for equalizing digital interference. A digital interference equalizing circuit may include a signal clipping unit, receiving a digital signal and clipping the digital signal based upon a clipping function, and a dithering unit adding dither to the clipped digital signal. A digital interference equalizing circuit may also include a noise detection circuit, detecting the normal activity level in a digital signal which may then be used to scale the dither added to the digital signal.
US08004434B2
An RD converter is disclosed that has a first multiplier multiplying a resolver signal S1 by an output of a SIN ROM; a second multiplier multiplying a resolver signal S2 by an output of a COS ROM; a subtractor subtracting an output of the first multiplier from an output of the second multiplier; a synchronous detecting circuit detecting synchronously an output of the subtractor with reference to an excitation signal; a controller controlling an output angle θ′ to make an output of the synchronous detecting circuit equal to zero; a correction data part outputting a correction angle θc for the output angle θ′; an adder adding the output angle θ′ and the correction angle θc; the SIN ROM producing a sine value of a result from the adder; and the COS ROM producing a cosine value of the result.
US08004433B2
A semiconductor integrated circuit (10D) for receiving a parallel data signal and a first clock signal and outputting a serial data signal and a second clock signal, wherein a first clock generation circuit (15) produces a third clock signal obtained by multiplying the first clock signal by X/Y. A second clock generation circuit (11) has a variable transmission characteristic, and produces a fourth clock signal obtained by multiplying the third clock signal by N. A parallel/serial conversion section (12) converts the parallel data signal, which has been converted by a scaler (16), to the serial data signal in synchronism with the fourth clock signal. A frequency divider (13) produces a fifth clock signal obtained by dividing a frequency of the fourth clock signal by N. A selector (14) selectively outputs, as the second clock signal, one of the third and fifth clock signals.
US08004431B2
Methods and systems for parsing and decoding compressed data are provided. Random segments of the compressed data may be decompressed and positioned appropriately in the corresponding uncompressed data set. The methods and systems utilize variable to fixed length (VF) coding techniques. For some applications, the VF coding techniques may be implemented within media encoders, decoders, or combined encoder-decoders (CODECs).
US08004414B2
Material passing through a piping is laced with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags. As the RFID tags pass an RFID sensor, which is either adjacent to or within the piping, a flow-rate of the material is determined by counting the rate at which the RFID tags pass the RFID sensor.
US08004403B2
A system and method for generating an alert signal for a trailer. Proper truck/trailer matching is based on a proximity analysis between position reports for a truck and position reports for a trailer. In one embodiment, this proximity analysis is triggered by a detection of movement in a trailer. In the proximity analysis, unexpected deviations in proximity between a truck and a trailer would lead to a generation of an alert signal that is sent to the appropriate management system for investigation.
US08004400B2
A method of locating a parked vehicle that is equipped with a RKE system including a vehicle-installed RF communication module and a driver-borne wireless RF nomadic device such as a key fob involves installing a RFID tag in the nomadic device and a RFID interrogator in the vehicle. The driver depresses a button on the nomadic device to transmit a location request to the vehicle's communication module, and the RFID interrogator in turn emits a RF interrogation signal to identify the RFID tag and determine its location relative to the vehicle. The communication module then transmits a compass bearing to the nomadic device, and an indicator of the nomadic device is activated to provide the driver with a bearing for locating the vehicle.
US08004396B2
An information integration system for integrating information includes: a local information receiving unit configured to receive information from a plurality of sensors; an information collecting unit configured to collect information from a plurality of remote information sources; and an information processing unit coupled to the local information receiving unit and the information collecting unit, the information processing unit being configured to process the information received by the local information receiving unit and the information collected by the information collecting unit.
US08004394B2
A vehicle-borne camera-based observation system for monitoring areas adjacent a vehicle or passenger vehicle, such as a bus or schoolbus, is disclosed, to provide safer operation for passersby, including for children, and driver convenience. The system includes several cameras, and several monitors in a driver's area displaying all of the fields of view from the cameras, such that each monitor may be controllable to show either the field of view of a first camera or a the field of view of a second camera, according to a driver selection or according to an automatic selection. Night vision, automatic tracking, and illumination systems are also provided.
US08004392B2
A voice acquisition system for a vehicle includes an interior rearview mirror assembly. The mirror assembly may include a microphone for receiving audio signals within a cabin of the vehicle and generating an output indicative of these audio signals. The microphone may provide sound capture for a hands free cell phone system, an audio recording system and/or an emergency communication system. The system may include a control that is responsive to the output from the microphone and that distinguishes vocal signals from non-vocal signals present in the output. The microphone may provide sound capture for at least one accessory of the equipped vehicle, and the accessory may be responsive to a vocal signal captured by the microphone. The interior rearview mirror assembly may include at least one accessory, such as an antenna, a video device, a security system status indicator, a tire pressure indicator display and/or a loudspeaker.
US08004391B2
A method and apparatus of generating mood-based haptic feedback are disclosed. A haptic system includes a sensing device, a digital processing unit, and a haptic generator. The sensing device, in one embodiment, is configured to detect user's modalities in accordance with mood information collected by one or more sensors and capable of issuing a sensing signal in response to the user's modalities. The digital processing unit is capable of identifying a user's condition in accordance with the sensing signal and providing a haptic signal in response to the user's condition. The user's condition, in one aspect, indicates user's mood and/or user's psychological conditions. The haptic generator generates haptic feedback in accordance with the haptic signal.
US08004387B2
Methods, systems, and media to improve polling accuracy in RFID systems are disclosed. Embodiments comprise receiving information from one or more tags by a tag reader, comparing the information from the tags to other information, and adding the tag to an inventory if the tag does not exist in the other information. While some embodiments compare the tag information from the tags to baseline inventories for other areas, some embodiments compare it to current inventories for the other areas or compare it to a combination of both inventories. Some embodiments involve polling RFID tags in storage containers. Other embodiments involve machine-accessible mediums with instructions to receive information from the tag reader, analyze the information with baseline and current inventories of other areas, and store identification information for the tag in a current inventory database if the information is absent from the baseline and current inventories.
US08004383B2
A highly reliable multilayer coil component is provided without forming voids between magnetic ceramic layers and internal conductor layers. According to the multilayer coil component, an internal stress problem is reduced, the direct current resistance is low, and fracture of internal conductors caused by the surge or the like is not likely to occur. An acidic solution is allowed to permeate a magnetic ceramic element from a side surface thereof through a side gap portion which is a region between side portions of the internal conductors and the side surface of the magnetic ceramic element and to reach interfaces between the internal conductors and a magnetic ceramic located therearound. A pore area ratio of the magnetic ceramic of the side gap portion which is located between the side portions of the internal conductors and the side surface of the magnetic ceramic element is set in the range of 6% to 28%.
US08004378B2
A coil configuration having a tube-shaped coil brace of an electromagnetic drive is provided, particularly a two-stage starter solenoid switch, the coil configuration having a holding winding and a pull-in winding. The coil brace has at its one end a first delimitation and at its other end a second delimitation, between which the holding winding is situated. The first delimitation has on its side, facing away from its second delimitation, an axial recess for accommodating the pull-in winding.
US08004369B2
An electromagnetic-wave suppression structure in a multilayer PCB or package structure is supplied with a power to be used therein by a power distribution network including a power plane and a ground plane. The multilayer PCB and package includes: an electromagnetic-wave suppression structure including an electromagnetic band-gap; and the electromagnetic-wave suppression structure is formed at a specific portion(s) of the power plane and/or the ground plane to suppress noises.
US08004365B2
The invention relates to a circuit arrangement (30, 40, 70, 80, 90) of a low-noise linear input amplifier comprising a parallel circuit of a common-base circuit (20) and a common-emitter circuit (30), the emitters of two first transistors (Q3, Q4) are interlinked and the bases of two second transistors (Q1, Q2) are intercoupled, the collectors are interconnected in parallel with the output, and the source voltage (VG) is interlinked with the emitters of the second transistors (Q1, Q2) and with the bases of the first transistors (Q3, Q4), in which a linearization of the output current (OUTLNA1,2) as a function of the source voltage (VG) is achieved by a linearization of the transfer function, such as the tangential hyperbolic function, of the first and second transistors (Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4).
US08004364B2
A high power, high frequency, solid state power amplifier system includes a plurality of input multiple port splitters for receiving a high-frequency input and for dividing the input into a plurality of outputs and a plurality of solid state amplifier units. Each amplifier unit includes a plurality of amplifiers, and each amplifier is individually connected to one of the outputs of multiport splitters and produces a corresponding amplified output. A plurality of multiport combiners combine the amplified outputs of the amplifiers of each of the amplifier units to a combined output. Automatic level control protection circuitry protects the amplifiers and maintains a substantial constant amplifier power output.
US08004361B2
An embodiment is a circuit comprising a first transistor, a second transistor, a third transistor, a fourth transistor, a first switch, and a second switch. The first transistor, the second transistor, the third transistor, and the fourth transistor are all of a same conductivity type. Sources of the first transistor, the second transistor, the third transistor, and the fourth transistor are electrically coupled together. Drains of the first transistor and the third transistor are electrically coupled together, and drains of the second transistor and the fourth transistor are electrically coupled together. A feature of the third transistor is three times a feature of the first transistor such that 3 [ μ C ox ( W L ) ] T 1 = [ μ C ox ( W L ) ] T 3 is satisfied where “T1” denotes the first transistor and “T3” denotes the third transistor, and a feature of the fourth transistor is three times a feature of the second transistor such that 3 [ μ C ox ( W L ) ] T 2 = [ μ C ox ( W L ) ] T 4 is satisfied where “T2” denotes the second transistor and “T4” denotes the fourth transistor. The first switch is operable to selectively electrically couple a first input terminal to a gate of the third transistor, and the second switch is operable to selectively electrically couple a second input terminal to a gate of the fourth transistor.
US08004356B2
A method of tuning a multiport amplifier and a multiport amplifier are provided. The multiport amplifier comprises an even number of microwave power amplifiers arranged in parallel, a series of input ports and a series of output ports, the input ports being connected to the amplifiers by a series of input hybrids and the output ports being connected to the amplifiers by a series of output hybrids, whereby an input signal at any given input port is amplified by all amplifiers, and then recombined into an output signal at a given output port. The method includes the steps of matching each amplifier in a pair of adjacent amplifiers to the other to an extent which is greater than matching between non paired amplifiers while still being able to ensure acceptable signal isolation between all output ports. This method of tuning results in an MPA well suited to the requirements of certain frequency re-use schemes and which has a significantly reduced set-up and test time.
US08004351B2
A semiconductor integrated circuit device includes: a target circuit whose at least power supply voltage is variable; a power supply voltage providing circuit feeding the target circuit with a power supply voltage; and a minimum energy point monitor circuit detecting an energy-minimizing power supply voltage which minimizes a change in the energy consumed by the target circuit upon a change in the power supply voltage. The power supply voltage delivered by the power supply voltage providing circuit is controlled so as to be equal to the energy-minimizing power supply voltage detected by the minimum energy point monitor circuit.
US08004340B2
In one embodiment, a semiconductor circuit for coupling a first node to a second node includes a first transistor having a first terminal coupled to the first node, a second terminal coupled to the second node, and a control terminal coupled to a control node. The circuit also includes a level shifting circuit having a series diode for coupling a bulk terminal of the first transistor to the control node, and a supply coupling circuit coupled between a first power supply node and the control node.
US08004336B2
A semiconductor memory device includes an edge detector configured to receive two pairs of complementary clocks to detect edges of the clocks, a comparator configured to compare output signals of the edge detector to detect whether clocks of the same pair have a phase difference of 180 degrees and detect whether clocks of different pairs have a phase difference of 90 degrees, a control signal generator configured to generate a control signal for controlling phases of the clocks according to an output signal of the comparator, and a phase corrector configured to correct phases of the clocks in response to the control signal.
US08004333B2
A controller which has functions of remote control, multiple protection and PWM inside. The controller can shut down and latch the converter, when a failure happens (such as under voltage and over voltage of output, and over power protection). But, under-voltage and over-power protection will also happen when Vin is decreased by AC interruption or Vin source is removed. This invention is to provide a method to reset the latch protection by detecting Vin and Vo voltage.
US08004328B2
An AC-coupling phase interpolator and a DLL using the same are provided. The AC-coupling phase interpolator includes a coupling capacitor generating and outputting a coupling signal by AC-coupling to an interpolation signal obtained by phase-interpolating an input signal. Thereby, it is possible to correct duty of an input signal and adjust the level of an output signal.
US08004325B2
A device in which a clock generation circuit is connected to a counter circuit for controlling operation timing of a DLL circuit or the like, and the counter circuit is intermittently operated by intermittently supplying a clock signal to the counter circuit from the clock generation circuit.
US08004324B2
Provided is a phase-locked loop frequency synthesizer, including: a reference oscillator; a voltage controlled oscillator; a variable frequency divider that divides the high frequency signal in frequency to output a feedback signal; a phase comparator that compares the reference signal and the feedback signal with each other to output a phase comparison signal; a loop filter that outputs a control signal of the voltage controlled oscillator based on the phase comparison signal; and a frequency/phase control circuit that generates frequency division number control data in synchronism with any one of the feedback signal and the reference signal based on setting data which is input from an external to give an output frequency and setting data which is input from the external to give a phase to the reference signal, to thereby output the frequency division number control data to the variable frequency divider.
US08004322B2
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for providing synchronization of an output signal to a synchronization information. The synchronization is accomplished by providing coupling of a correction control information that controls a signal generating means, e.g. a phase locked loop arrangement (30) or a direct digital synthesis arrangement, to its exact frequency to a frequency conversion unit (90) that converts an uncorrected reference frequency to a correct or exact reference frequency. Thereby, the uncorrected reference frequency for the signal generating means (30) can be provided by a simple crystal oscillator (2) without any means for frequency control. The setting of the signal generating means (30) and the frequency conversion unit (90) can be done in a predetermined sequence which enables a user equipment to synchronize its reference frequency to the synchronization information emitted by a communication network.
US08004320B2
A frequency synthesizer is provided, including a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO), a frequency prescaler, a divide-by-2.5 circuit, and a selector. The VCO determine the frequency of a first signal according to an input voltage. The frequency prescaler determines the frequency of a second signal to be the frequency of the first signal divided by 3, 3.5, or 4 according to a first selection signal, and the frequency prescaler also determines the frequency of a third signal to be the frequency of the first signal divided by 6, 7, or 8 according to the first selection signal. The divide-by-2.5 circuit generates a fourth signal, wherein the frequency of the fourth signal is the frequency of the first signal divided by 2.5. The selector selects one of the second signal, the third signal, and the fourth signal as a fifth signal according to a second selection signal.
US08004315B1
The invention provides a reduced complexity layout style based on applying a limited set of changes to an underlying repeated base template. With the templates properly defined in accordance with the characteristic features disclosed, the invention enables efficient implementation of logic circuitry, with a dramatic reduction in the pattern complexity (or number of unique layout patterns at each mask level) for realistically sized designs. This reduction in pattern complexity that the invention provides is particularly important for advanced and emerging semiconductor processes, because it enables effective use of SMO and full-chip mask optimization.
US08004310B1
Power supply regulation. A power supply regulation system includes a transistor through which power is carried. The system also includes a switch connected to a gate of the transistor. Further, the system includes a transmission gate responsive to an input signal to apply a first signal level causing the transistor to enter an ON state in which the transistor carries full power, to apply a second signal level causing the transistor to enter an OFF state in which the transistor carries no power and to apply a third signal level causing the transistor to enter an INTERMEDIATE state in which the amount of power the transistor carries is controlled by the switch.
US08004307B2
A repeater circuit. The repeater circuit includes two input circuits, two intermediate circuits, and two output circuits. Responsive to a transition of an input signal from one logic level to another level, one of the input circuits is activated. The corresponding intermediate circuit is activated corresponding to activation one of the input circuits, and in turn, the corresponding output circuit is activated, which then drives an output signal on an output node. After a delay, a feedback signal conveyed via a feedback path deactivates the corresponding intermediate circuit and the corresponding output circuit. After deactivation of the corresponding output circuit, a keeper circuit continues to provide the output signal on the output node. The other one of the two input circuits inhibits activation of the other one of the intermediate circuit responsive to the transition, which results in the other output circuit also being inhibited from activation.
US08004304B2
A life prediction wire 14 is connected to an emitter-wire bonding pad 2 of a semiconductor device 1. Wire deterioration is detected by checking whether or not an electric current flows from the life prediction wire 14 to the emitter-wire bonding pad 2. Thus, by directly checking a deterioration state of the semiconductor device, the life of the semiconductor device is predicted.
US08004299B2
A probe for a probe card assembly includes a beam and a fulcrum element. The fulcrum element is positioned between a base end portion of the beam and a tip end portion of the beam and is adapted for contact with the beam such that the beam is cantilevered by the fulcrum.
US08004295B2
An electrical specific resistivity probing robot is directed to automatically measuring a three-dimensional electrical specific resistivity structure of an underground shallow region by installing a plurality of probing electrodes at regular intervals along a robot-moving caterpillar to measure difference of potentials of the electrodes at a ground plane. The electrical specific resistivity probing robot includes a frame, a driving member installed under the frame, a pair of insulating caterpillars installed to both sides of a lower portion of the frame and driven by the driving member, a plurality of probing electrodes installed along track circumferences of the caterpillars at regular intervals, a slip ring electrically slip-connected to the probing electrodes one by one, and a cable electrically connected to the slip ring.
US08004289B2
Structures for aligning wafers and methods for operating the same. The structure includes (a) a first semiconductor wafer including a first capacitive coupling structure, and (b) a second semiconductor wafer including a second capacitive coupling structure. The first and second semiconductor wafers are in direct physical contact with each other via a common surface. If the first and second semiconductor wafers are moved with respect to each other by a first displacement distance of 1 nm in a first direction while the first and second semiconductor wafers are in direct physical contact with each other via the common surface, then a change of at least 10−18 F in capacitance of a first capacitor comprising the first and second capacitive coupling structures results. The first direction is essentially parallel to the common surface.
US08004287B2
Methods for detecting wet arc faults are based on the direct current (DC) signature analysis and pattern matching pertaining to wet arc characteristics. While magnifying some wet arc fault signatures, it may be found that the wet arc current signal itself resembles a normal current signal in both time and frequency domains. The change in magnitude or high frequency behavior found may not be enough to distinguish a wet arc fault signature from a normal signature. Embodiments of the present invention may look at the magnitude change in the DC content per cycle of the wet arc current signal, which may be more positive in one cycle while, in the next cycle, it may be negative in a relative manner. A particular number of these changes may be determinative of a wet arc fault.
US08004286B2
Voltage measuring instruments and methods of measuring the amplitude of an input signal are disclosed. In an example method of measuring the amplitude of an input signal, in an AC measurement mode, the input signal is coupled through a capacitor, the RMS amplitude of the input signal coupled through the capacitor is determined, and a digital value corresponding to the RMS amplitude is provided. In an automatic measurement mode, the RMS amplitude of the input signal is determined without first coupling the input signal through the capacitor, and a digital value corresponding to the RMS amplitude of the input signal is provided. Further disclosed is a calibration procedure may be used to compensate for any offset of an amplifier of the voltage measuring instrument.
US08004284B2
A leak detecting circuit includes: a current path having one end connected to a conductor housing a device supplied with a direct-current voltage from a direct-current power source, and having another end connected to a negative electrode of the direct-current power source; the current path including a limiting resistance for limiting a current, a switch element having a first electrode, a second electrode, and a control electrode, conduction between the first electrode and the second electrode being controlled, a detecting resistance for detecting a current flowing through the current path, and a variable direct-current power source allowing a plurality of leak detecting reference voltages for detecting a leak to be selected, and having a negative electrode connected to the negative electrode of the direct-current power source; an amplifier for amplifying a voltage across the detecting resistance; and a constant-voltage circuit for making constant a potential difference between a voltage of the control electrode of the switch element and a voltage of a positive electrode of the variable direct-current power source; wherein a leak between the conductor and the direct-current power source is detected on a basis of the voltage across the detecting resistance, the voltage across the detecting resistance being amplified by the amplifier.
US08004274B2
An inductive position sensor, which in particular is a rotational angle sensor, is provided with two first transmitter units for the generation of two site-dependent first alternating fields having the same carrier frequency, and at least one oscillating circuit arranged in or on an element which may be moved within the alternating field and the position of which is to be determined. The oscillating circuit can be energized by the total alternating field and generates a oscillating-circuit alternating field having the same carrier frequency as the first alternating fields. The position sensor is further provided with at least one receiver unit which receives the oscillating-circuit alternating field, and an analysis unit for determining the phase shift between the oscillating-circuit alternating field and at least one of the two first alternating fields, wherein the two first alternating fields may each be generated by a carrier frequency signal on which substantially identical, substantially 90° phase-shifted modulation signals are modulated. Each carrier frequency signal may be generated by application of a square-wave alternating voltage to the first transmitter units, the repetition frequency of said voltage being equal to the carrier frequency. The modulation signal is a pulse density signal having a pulse density changing over time for generation of a signal development having a substantially sine or cosine wave form. The square wave signal is applied to the first transmitter units for the duration of the pulse density signal.
US08004271B2
The present invention relates generally to a load center. More particularly, the invention encompasses a self contained kilowatt-hour meter which is integral to a standard load center. The present invention is also directed to a novel printed circuit board and housing for the self contained kilowatt-hour meter. The self contained kilowatt-hour meter of this invention measures the energy usage of a facility, such as, residential unit, a house, an apartment, a condominium, and then it communicates the energy usage in a timely manner or as desired to a local requester, such as, the owner, occupant or any other entity, as well as, to another requester, such as, a remote requester, for example, an energy provider.
US08004270B2
The present invention provides an inspecting apparatus for photovoltaic devices which electrifies the photovoltaic devices in a forward direction thereof to make the photovoltaic devices emit electro-luminescence light and which has a simple-structured and cheap darkroom. The inspecting apparatus of the present invention includes a darkroom 110 provided with a flat upper surface 111, a transparent plate 112 which is provided in the upper surface of the darkroom for disposing the photovoltaic devices as an inspecting object 200, a camera 120 which is provided in the darkroom and a driving mechanism to move the camera in the darkroom.
US08004268B2
An interpolated signal generating circuit (101) generates interpolated signals (SIG1-SIGN) of two consecutive discrete signals (SIG). N measuring circuits (501) measure interpolated signals. Since the interpolated signals are measurement targets, N-times oversampling measurement can also be performed for the discrete signals. With the oversampling measurement, the frequency spectra of the signal components of the discrete signals are maintained, and only the frequency spectrum of a noise component due to a quantization error increases to a high-frequency band, thereby reducing a noise component per unit frequency. Therefore, removing a high-frequency component from a measurement result from each measuring circuit using a low-pass filter (502) makes it possible to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the measurement result as compared with a case in which no oversampling is performed.
US08004250B2
A pyramid electric generator for harvesting the vibrational energies of Earth's atomic oscillators according to the present invention comprises: (1) an antenna/waveguide that is geometrically optimized; (2) a secondary coil wound with an insulated conductor on a nonconductive coil form, the coil being attached electrically to the conducting surface of the antenna/waveguide such that the secondary coil is attached near the point at which the electric field contacts the antenna/waveguide; (3) the antenna/waveguide connected with the secondary coil serving as a quasi-capacitive series element to provide a specific resonant frequency; and (4) a primary coil of a few turns wound around the secondary coil, the secondary coil being positioned coaxially within the primary coil and acting as a resonant step-up transformer winding, inductively coupled with the primary coil. The generator resonantly couples into specific frequencies of Earth's atomic oscillators and extracts electric energy therefrom.
US08004247B1
In one or more embodiments, a battery charger switching circuit enables a device to automatically select between multiple device interfaces individual ones of which are connectable to different power supplies for recharging the device. In at least some embodiments, selection of a particular device interface is based upon the magnitude of the voltage associated with a particular power supply. For example, the battery charger switching circuit can ascertain charge voltages associated with individual power supplies and select a power supply having a greater magnitude of charge voltage. In at least some embodiments, the battery charger switching circuit can enable charge control circuits associated with a particular power supply and disable charge control circuits associated with unselected power supplies in a manner that reduces or eliminates leakage current associated with unselected power supplies.
US08004236B2
A contactless charging device and contactless charging method is provided. The contactless charging device includes an energy-storing device for providing a DC signal as an input power, a power module electrically connected to the energy-storing device for generating an output signal in response to the DC signal and a control signal. The power module includes a transformer primary winding for coupling the output signal to a transformer secondary winding located external to the contactless charging device. The charging device further includes a feedback controller electrically connected to the power module for generating the control signal in response to the output signal, a predetermined power and a predetermined phase. When the contactless charging device is in close proximity to a plurality of loads, the output signal at the transformer primary winding will be coupled to the transformer secondary windings of the plurality of loads so as to simultaneously charge the loads.
US08004232B2
A method of providing power includes providing no power to an output device if the output device cannot or should not use power. If the output device can use power, power is provided to the output device from an input source. If power available at the input source would not overload the output device, power is provided to the output device from the input source according to a maximum power point tracking algorithm. If power available at the input source would overload the output device, power is provided to the output device from the input source according to a target power.
US08004221B2
The present invention has an object to provide an inverter system for a vehicle-mounted air conditioner that prevents noise from entering a control circuit and allows high speed communication. A motor control microcomputer 24 is isolated from a gate circuit 22, and communication therebetween is performed via a photocoupler 80. This suppresses the influence of noise resulting from changes caused by changes in voltage and current that occur in a high voltage system for driving a motor 30. Also, the motor control microcomputer 24 and a communication driver 27 can be directly bus-connected without a photocoupler, thereby allowing high speed communication therebetween.
US08004215B2
One embodiment of the present invention relates to a lamp abnormality detecting device that detects an abnormality in a lamp. A maximum/minimum extraction circuit outputs, as a maximum current, a current having a maximum current value among currents supplied thereto from lamp drive circuits and outputs, as a minimum current, a current having a minimum current value. A subtraction circuit calculates a difference between the maximum current and the minimum current and outputs an amplified difference as a differential voltage. A comparison circuit compares the differential voltage with a predetermined threshold voltage and outputs a result of the comparison as a control signal. A control circuit stops the operation of the lamp drive circuit when the control signal indicates that the differential voltage is higher than the threshold voltage.
US08004208B2
A power supply system and a method for providing power supply to electrical equipment from conventional lighting circuits in buildings are disclosed. The invention is intended to provide power supply to electrical equipment, without the need of conventional alternating current (AC) power supply power socket outlets. Instead, it obtains electrical power from existing lighting points. An embodiment of the invention is disclosed for achieving this without disrupting normal operation of turning on and off existing lighting sources. The present invention consists a wall switch unit and a lighting source control unit. The wall switch unit controls the level or waveforms of AC voltage supply to the lighting source control unit while the lighting source control unit detects the AC voltage level or waveforms for switching on or off a lighting source. Additionally, regardless of whether the lighting source is switched on or off, an uninterrupted power supply is derived from the lighting source control unit with this power supply being usable for electrically powering external electrical equipment connected thereto.
US08004206B2
A method and electrical circuit corrects a difference in light output at opposite ends of a fluorescent lamp array. An electrical circuit for correcting a difference in light output at the ends of a fluorescent lamp array includes a microcontroller and firmware for generating a first pulse-width modulated inverter switch control signal having a first duty cycle that may be varied by computer program instructions executed by the microcontroller. An inverter bridge driver is coupled to the microcontroller for generating a switching signal for a first inverter bridge from the first pulse-width modulated inverter switch control signal to generate a first inverter voltage having a magnitude determined by the first duty cycle.
US08004199B2
The method according to the present invention relates to controlling a gas discharge lamp during a pre-heating period of said lamp, wherein a first terminal of a control circuit is connected with a first electrode of the lamp and a second terminal of a control circuit is connected with a second electrode of the lamp, and wherein means are provided, suitable for connecting the first terminal and the second terminal with each other, thus providing a conducting path, and suitable for disconnecting the first terminal and the second terminal. Furthermore the method comprises the use of a chargeable and dischargeable power buffer, for powering control circuitry for operating the switching means.
US08004196B2
The invention relates to aluminoborosilicate glasses as a glass casing body of a lighting means, especially for background illumination, which glass composition is equally suitable for use in lighting means with external contacting as well as for lighting means with internal contacting.
US08004195B2
A discharge bulb and an arc tube are provided. The discharge bulb includes an arc tube main body having a discharge arc chamber, in which two discharge electrodes are disposed to oppose to each other; a tube portion disposed at each end portion of the arc tube main body, each of the tube portions being in communication with the discharge arc chamber and holding one of the discharge electrodes, wherein a wall for forming the discharge arc chamber has a taper portion whose diameter is reduced gradually from a cylinder portion of the arc tube main body in a center area to the tube portion of the arc tube main body, and an inner diameter Di of the cylinder portion is about 1.0 mm to about 2.5 mm, and a projection length Le of the discharge electrode into the discharge arc chamber is about 1.5 mm to about 2.5 mm.
US08004191B2
A plasma display panel is disclosed. The plasma display panel has discharge cells which each have a range of widths between the first substrate and the second substrate. In addition, the discharge spaces are separated by non-discharge spaces having heights which are less than the heights of the discharge spaces.
US08004190B2
The present invention improves discharge characteristics of a protective layer in order to provide a PDP that exhibits excellent display performance even if the PDP is of a fine-cell structure. The present invention also provides a manufacturing method for the PDP. In particular, a protective layer 8 is composed of an MgO film layer 81 and an MgO particle layer 82 that is made of MgO particles 16. The MgO particles 16 are formed by burning an MgO precursor and satisfy that a/b≧1, where a denotes a spectrum integral value in a wavelength region of a CL spectrum from 200 nm to 300 nm, exclusive of 300 nm, and b denotes a spectrum integral value in a wavelength region of the CL spectrum from 300 nm to 550 nm, exclusive of 550 nm.
US08004189B2
Provided is a thin organic light-emitting device which exhibits satisfactory emission characteristics and is hardly affected by film thickness fluctuation in individual layers and exhibits stable emission characteristics and which includes a substrate, a first electrode provided on the substrate, an organic compound layer provided on the first electrode, a second electrode provided on the organic compound layer, and a first sealing layer provided on the light extraction side of the second electrode, in which an optical distance between a first reflective surface located on the substrate side and a second reflective surface located on the sealing layer side is adjusted so as to form a resonance portion of a resonator structure for resonating light emitted from the organic compound layer, and in which the second reflective layer is an interface on the light extraction side of the first sealing layer.
US08004187B2
An organic electro-luminescence display includes an organic electro-luminescence device array, a first passivation layer completely covering organic electro-luminescence device array, and a plurality of color filters disposed on the first passivation layer. The color filters include a plurality of red color filters, green color filters, or blue color filters. The organic electro-luminescence device array includes a white light organic electro-luminescence device array. The type of the organic electro-luminescence device array includes an active matrix array or a passive matrix array.
US08004186B2
The present invention relates to a white and color photoexcitation light emitting sheet comprising a substrate, a light source formed on the substrate, and a white and color photoexcitation light emitting layer capable of converting a light emitted from the light source into a light having a different wavelength, where the white and color photoexcitation light emitting layer is fabricated by mixing a matrix polymer, white and color photoexcitation light emitting materials and a solvent, spinning the resulting mixture to prepare an ultrafine composite fiber layer of the matrix polymer/photoexcitation light emitting materials, and thermocompressing the ultrafine composite fiber layer; and a method for fabrication thereof. The white and color photoexcitation light emitting sheet according to the present invention has uniform brightness and color coordinates and exhibits high color reproducibility.
US08004184B2
The present invention provides an electro-luminescent (EL) display device and a method of fabricating the same. The EL display device includes a substrate including a display region. The display origin may include a first electrode layer, a second electrode layer, and an emission portion interposed therebetween. A seal member may seal at least the display region. A blocking layer interposed between the seal member and the second electrode layer may overlap the display region.
US08004179B2
A display apparatus has a switchable birefringent lens array. The display apparatus produces a substantially linearly polarised output. The lens array comprises birefringent material arranged between a planar surface of a first substrate and a relief substrate of a second substrate defining an array of cylindrical lenses. The lens array has electrodes for applying a control voltage across the birefringent material for electrically switching the birefringent material between a first mode and a second mode. In the first mode the lens array modifies the directional distribution of incident light polarised in a predetermined direction. In the second mode the lens array has substantially no effect on incident light polarised in said predetermined direction.
US08004177B2
Provided are a conducting polymer composition and an electronic device including a layer formed using the conducting polymer composition. The conducting polymer composition contains: at least one compound selected from the group consisting of a siloxane compound of formula (1) below, a siloxane compound of formula (2) below, and a silane compound of formula (3) below; and a conducting polymer: where R1, R2, X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, X6, X7, X8, X9, X10, X11, X12, X13, X14, X15, X16, X17, X18, X19, X20, D, p, m, q, and r are the same as described in the detailed description of the invention. The electronic device including a layer formed using the conducting polymer composition has excellent electroluminescent characteristics and long lifetime.
US08004176B2
In one embodiment, an organic light emitting display (OLED) includes a thin film transistor (TFT) disposed on a substrate. In addition, the display includes: an insulating layer disposed on the TFT and having a via hole; a pixel electrode disposed on the insulating layer and connected to a drain electrode of the TFT through the via hole; an emission layer disposed on the pixel electrode; and an opposite electrode pattern disposed on the emission layer and exposing at least an upper region of the via hole. This avoids close configuration proximity between the opposite electrode and the pixel layer thus reducing the possibility of a short circuit.
US08004163B2
A substrate has a first thermal expansion coefficient and a piezoelectric thin film has a second thermal expansion coefficient. The piezoelectric thin film is mainly composed of a potassium sodium niobate (K,Na)NbO3 with a perovskite structure. A curvature radius of a warping of the substrate provided with the piezoelectric thin film due to difference between the first and the second thermal expansion coefficients is 10 m or more at room temperature. The piezoelectric thin film has a thickness of 0.2 μm to 10 μm. The piezoelectric thin film is oriented in one of plane orientations (001), (110), and (111).
US08004157B2
An electrode forming region for providing lead electrodes (65a, 65b) is provided on a crystal resonator plate (2). Opposed side surfaces (67a, 67b) of a substrate (6) are formed and inclined in the same direction with respect to a front major surface (63). Also, an adhesion reinforcing portion (7) for reinforcing adhesion to a conductive adhesive (5) is provided in the electrode forming region for the lead electrodes (65a, 65b). For example, the adhesion reinforcing portion (7) is a notch portion which is cut and formed in the opposed side surfaces (67a, 67b). Thereby, an adhesion strength of the crystal resonator plate (2) and the conductive adhesive (5) is increased.
US08004155B2
A multi-layer piezoelectric element of high durability wherein the internal electrodes and the external electrodes do not break even when operated continuously over a long period of time under high electric field and high pressure is provided. The first multi-layer piezoelectric element according to the present invention comprises a stack formed by stacking piezoelectric layers and internal electrodes alternately one on another and external electrodes formed on a first side face and on a second side face of the stack, wherein one of the adjacent internal electrodes is connected to the external electrode formed on the first side face and the other internal electrode is connected to the external electrode formed on the second side face, and the external electrodes include an electrically conductive material and glass and is formed from a porous electrically conductive material that has a three-dimensional mesh structure.
US08004143B2
An electric motor that includes a rotor; a coil that is wound around the rotor; and a carbon brush that supplies power to the coil, wherein the brush is formed by using a raw material in which artificial graphite whose crystallites are flaky in shape is mixed with natural graphite whose crystallites are squamous or scaly in shape.
US08004134B2
A rotary actuator including: a housing that rotatably supports thereinside a rotor shaft of an electric motor; an eccentric shaft portion that is provided on a protruding end portion of the rotor shaft that protrudes outside the housing; an external gear that is rotatably supported on the eccentric shaft portion via a bearing; an internal gear that is fixed to an outer surface of the housing and meshes with the external gear; and a transmitting portion that is provided on the external gear, and transmits rotation force to an external output shaft.
US08004133B2
An electric motor contains a mechanical mechanism that causes a rotor to move in an epitrochoidal path. Disposed around the epitrochoidal path are stators that may impel or force the rotor to rotate. The mechanical mechanism that creates the epitrochoidal path may consist of an output shaft with an eccentric lobe, where the rotor revolves around the eccentric lobe. A fixed mounted sun gear may engage a ring gear mounted to the rotor to cause the epitrochoidal motion. Some embodiments may have two or more rotors, and may include controllers with feedback sensors to operate the electric motor at a specific speed or to control the speed as defined in a speed profile.
US08004127B2
A rotary reluctance motor includes a set of inner disks each having an inner diameter root, an outer diameter free end, and a plurality of alternating high permeability teeth and low permeability material segments. A set of outer disks is interleaved with the inner disks to form a disk stack. Each outer disk has an outer diameter root, an inner diameter free end, and a plurality of alternating high permeability teeth and low permeability material segments. The inner and outer disks are configured to bear against and support each other in response to axial magnetic forces. Flux return portions are disposed axially adjacent the disks at each end of the disk stack. A coil is associated with the roots of one of the sets of disks and configured to provide axial flux through the disk stack to rotate one set of disks with respect to the other set of disks.
US08004126B2
A molded motor includes an annular stator formed by molding coils in resin, a rotor disposed in an internal space which is formed radially inside the stator, a cover covering the internal space, and an elastic member sandwiched between the cover and the stator and located at a more inner side in the radial direction of the stator from the coils.
US08004120B2
A bipolar pulse generator is implemented in a simple structure while providing a high efficiency design having a relatively low total size, while still allowing access by fibers used to control a photoconductive switch that activates the generator. The bipolar pulse generator includes a stacked Blumlein generator structure with an additional transmission line connected to a load at its near end and short-circuited at its distal end. An extra transmission line is positioned between the Blumlein generator's structure and the load provides specified limited gap between positive and negative sub-pulses. The bipolar pulse generator further includes a bended Blumlein generator structure, in which an existing intrinsic “stray” transmission line is used to provide the bipolar pulse. Still further, bipolar pulse generator includes stepped transmission lines, with additional switches positioned between steps, which are charged by different voltages.
US08004112B2
A communication apparatus has a electrical outlet that is electrically connected to a power connector so as to supply power externally; a connection detector that detects connection of an external plug to the electrical outlet; and a controller that uses a receiver and a transmitter so as to perform setting with a device connected to the electrical outlet, when external connection is detected at the electrical outlet.
US08004104B2
A method and apparatus for harnessing power associated with ocean waves and converting that power into electricity. The apparatus is a buoy that houses a vertically oriented central shaft, a pendulum, and a generator. As the buoy tilts from the vertical under the influence of wave motion, the pendulum is accelerated and rotates about the central shaft. A centrally-placed generator is mechanically coupled to, and driven by, the rotating pendulum so that the pendulum's kinetic energy is converted into electricity. The electricity may be stored at or near the buoy or transferred to a remote facility. Moreover, a fin array located along the bottom of the buoy serves as an anti-torque mechanism and improves the operational efficiency of the electricity production. The method involves employing use of the centrally located generator and the fin array to efficiently harness wave power.
US08004101B2
A device to convert the kinetic energy of wind into kinetic energy in the form of a rotating mass (FIG. 9) and to then selectively harvest and convert the kinetic energy of the rotating mass into electrical energy using both permanent magnet and electromagnet generators (FIG. 33). The conversion of the kinetic energy of wind into mechanical kinetic energy of the rotating mass is maximized through mechanical means by varying the physical moment of inertia of the rotating mass programatically based upon real time sensor data (FIG. 27A,27B). The conversion of the kinetic energy of the rotating mass into electrical energy is maximized through the programatical control of the field coil current of the electromagnet generator based upon real time sensor data (FIG. 62).
US08004098B2
An alignment key, a method for fabricating the alignment key, and a method for fabricating a thin film transistor substrate using the alignment key are provided. The alignment key includes a base substrate, a first alignment key and a first mark portion of a second alignment key, which are formed on the base substrate using a printing roll, a dielectric that is formed on the base substrate to cover the first alignment key, and a second mark portion of the second alignment key, which is formed on the dielectric and at least partly overlaps the first mark portion of the second alignment key.
US08004094B2
The present invention provides a semiconductor-device copper-alloy bonding wire which has an inexpensive material cost, ensures a superior ball joining shape, wire joining characteristic, and the like, and a good loop formation characteristic, and a superior mass productivity. The semiconductor-device copper-alloy bonding wire contains at least one of Mg and P in total of 10 to 700 mass ppm, and oxygen within a range from 6 to 30 mass ppm.
US08004091B2
A semiconductor package includes one or more semiconductor chips to form a semiconductor package. The semiconductor package may include a first semiconductor chip package having a first substrate including a first surface having a center portion on which a first semiconductor chip is mounted, at least one first boundary portion on which a plurality of conductive connection pad groups are formed, and/or a molding member including a body that covers the first semiconductor chip and at least one extension that extends from the body. The extension extends while avoiding the conductive connection pad group. The semiconductor package may further include a second semiconductor chip package stacked on the first semiconductor chip package and including a second substrate on which at least one second semiconductor chip that is electrically connected to the conductive connection pad group may be mounted.
US08004086B2
The present invention provides a semiconductor device capable of preventing occurrence of cracking and the like, taking a large area, where wiring and the like that function as elemental devices can be arranged, within a plurality of interlayer insulation films, and reducing production cost. The semiconductor device according to the present invention has a low dielectric constant film having a dielectric constant of not less than 2.7. In the low dielectric constant film and the like, materials (e.g., a first dummy pattern, a second dummy pattern) with a larger hardness than that of the low dielectric constant film are formed at a part under a pad part.
US08004084B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor wafer, a source region and a drain region formed within the semiconductor wafer, a gate electrode formed on the semiconductor wafer between the source region and the drain region, an interlayer film formed on the semiconductor wafer and the gate electrode, and a dummy floating pattern embedded into the interlayer film, having a film containing metal or a metallic compound having tensile stress or compressive stress and formed to be spaced from the semiconductor wafer and the gate electrode.
US08004083B2
An integrated circuit chip includes a silicon substrate, a first circuit in or over said silicon substrate, a second circuit device in or over said silicon substrate, a dielectric structure over said silicon substrate, a first interconnecting structure in said dielectric structure, a first pad connected to said first node of said voltage regulator through said first interconnecting structure, a second interconnecting structure in said dielectric structure, a second pad connected to said first node of said internal circuit through said second interconnecting structure, a passivation layer over said dielectric structure, wherein multiple opening in said passivation layer exposes said first and second pads, and a third interconnecting structure over said passivation layer and over said first and second pads.
US08004082B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a technology for forming an ULSI fine copper wiring by a simpler method. An electronic component in which a thin alloy film of tungsten and a noble metal used as a barrier-seed layer for an ULSI fine copper wiring is formed on a base material, wherein the thin alloy film has a composition comprising tungsten at a ratio equal to or greater than 60 at. % and the noble metal at a ratio of equal to or greater than 5 at. % and equal to or less than 40 at. %. The noble metal is preferably one or more kinds of metals selected from the group consisting of platinum, gold, silver and palladium.
US08004081B2
A semiconductor chip package includes a signal interconnection penetrating a semiconductor chip and transmitting a signal to the semiconductor chip and a power interconnection and a ground interconnection penetrating the semiconductor and supplying power and ground to the semiconductor chip. The power interconnection and the ground interconnection are arranged to neighbor each other adjacent to the signal interconnection.
US08004080B2
A module has a substrate, first and second integrated circuits, and a heat sink. The integrated circuits each have a first major surface, a second major surface, a first edge, a second edge, and a third edge and have optical circuits having ports on the first edge and electronic circuits having ports on the second edge. The second edges are connected to the substrate. The first major surface of the second integrated circuit is parallel with the second major surface of the first integrated circuit. The heat sink has a backplane adjacent to the third edge, a first portion along the first major surface of the first integrated circuit, a second portion along the second major surface of the second integrated circuit extending from the backplane, and an insert between the first major surface of the second integrated circuit and the second major surface of the first integrated circuit.
US08004078B1
Provided is an adhesive composition for a semiconductor device. For example, the adhesive composition comprises a binder resin and a silicon carbide filler. The silicon carbide filler has relatively high thermal conductivity and a relatively low coefficient of thermal expansion (CTE). Accordingly, the adhesive composition containing the silicon carbide filler exhibits improved heat dissipation performance and electrical performance due to high thermal conductivity and shows inhibition of delamination or cracking of semiconductor devices due to low CTE. The silicon carbide has high thermal conductivity, but is electrically non-conductive. Therefore, an electrically conductive adhesive can be obtained by additional incorporation of a silver (Ag) filler into the binder resin.
US08004070B1
A wire-free chip module and method. The wire-free chip module including a conductive pattern formed from at least a portion of a lead frame, the conductive pattern including a plurality of pads; at least two electrical components that includes an integrated circuit and a passive component, the integrated circuit and the passive component bonded to the plurality of pads by solder; and wherein the conductive pattern is disposed to interconnect at least a portion of the integrated circuit with the passive component.
US08004066B2
A design for a crack stop and moisture barrier for a semiconductor device includes a plurality of discrete conductive features formed at the edge of an integrated circuit proximate a scribe line. The discrete conductive features may comprise a plurality of staggered lines, a plurality of horseshoe-shaped lines, or a combination of both.
US08004065B2
A nitride semiconductor includes: a substrate having a major surface including a first crystal polarity surface and a second crystal polarity surface different from the first crystal polarity surface; and a single polarity layer provided above the major surface and having a single crystal polarity.
US08004063B2
A precision high-frequency capacitor includes a dielectric layer formed on the front side surface of a semiconductor substrate and a first electrode on top of the dielectric layer. The semiconductor substrate is heavily doped and therefore has a low resistivity. A second electrode, insulated from the first electrode, is also formed over the front side surface. In one embodiment, the second electrode is connected by a metal-filled via to a layer of conductive material on the back side of the substrate. In alternative embodiments, the via is omitted and the second electrode is either in electrical contact with the substrate or is formed on top of the dielectric layer, yielding a pair of series-connected capacitors. ESD protection for the capacitor can be provided by a pair of oppositely-directed diodes formed in the substrate and connected in parallel with the capacitor. To increase the capacitance of the capacitor while maintaining a low effective series resistance, each of the electrodes may include a plurality of fingers, which are interdigitated with the fingers of the other electrode. The capacitor is preferably fabricated in a wafer-scale process concurrently with numerous other capacitors on the wafer, and the capacitors are then separated from each other by a conventional dicing technique.
US08004056B2
A solid-state imaging device having a high sensitivity and a structure in which a miniaturized pixel is obtained, and a method for manufacturing the solid-state imaging device in which an interface is stable, a spectroscopic characteristic is excellent and which can be manufactured with a high yield ratio are provided. The solid-state imaging device includes at least a silicon layer formed with a photo sensor portion and a wiring layer formed on the front-surface side of the silicon layer, and in which light L is made to enter from the rear-surface side opposite to the front-surface side of the silicon layer and the thickness of the silicon layer 4 is 10 μm or less. Also, the method for manufacturing the solid-state imaging device at least includes the steps of: forming a semiconductor region of a photo sensor portion in a silicon layer of a layered substrate in which a silicon substrate, an intermediate layer and a silicon layer are laminated; bonding a first supporting substrate onto the silicon layer; removing the silicon substrate and the intermediate layer; forming thereafter a wiring portion above the silicon layer; bonding a second supporting substrate onto the wiring portion, and removing the first supporting substrate to make the silicon layer exposed.
US08004053B2
A micromechanical device according to an aspect of the present invention includes, a substrate, a micromachine which is mounted on the substrate, is provided with a mechanism deformed by a function of an electric field, and changes the electrical characteristics concomitantly with the deformation, an inner inorganic sealing film which contains an inorganic material, is provided on a principal surface of the substrate, covers the micromachine through a hollow section containing a gaseous body therein, and is provided with opening shape sections allowing the hollow section to communicate with the outside, an organic sealing film which contains an organic material, is formed on the inner inorganic sealing film, and blocks up the opening shape sections, and an outer inorganic sealing film which contains an inorganic material with lower moisture permeability than the organic material, is formed on the organic sealing film, and covers the organic sealing film.
US08004049B2
A device includes an array of cells, the source regions of the individual cells comprising a plurality of source region branches each extending towards a source region branch of an adjacent cell, the base regions of the individual cells comprising a corresponding plurality of base region branches merging together to form a single base region surrounding the source regions. The junctions between the merged base region and the drain region define rounded current conduction path areas for the on-state of the device between adjacent cells. Floating voltage regions of opposite conductivity type to the drain region are buried in the substrate beneath the merged base region. The features of the floating voltage regions define rings of the opposite conductivity type to the drain region that surround the current conduction paths of respective cells. The floating voltage regions include respective islands situated within the current conduction paths.
US08004043B2
In accordance with some embodiments, logical circuits comprising carbon nanotube field effect transistors are disclosed herein.
US08004041B2
A semiconductor device for surge protection having high surge resistance is provided. A semiconductor substrate (10) included in the semiconductor device for surge protection according to the present invention includes a high concentration first conductivity type semiconductor substrate (1), a low concentration first conductivity type semiconductor layer (2), a high concentration first conductivity type semiconductor layer (4), a second conductivity type semiconductor layer (3), and a cylindrical low concentration second conductivity type semiconductor layer (5) that extends from a surface of the low concentration first conductivity type semiconductor layer (2) into the low concentration first conductivity type semiconductor layer (2) so as to share an axis with the high concentration first conductivity type semiconductor layer (4), and has an interface (J4) with the high concentration first conductivity type semiconductor layer (4) and an interface (J5) with the second conductivity type semiconductor layer (3). Further, the low concentration second conductivity type semiconductor layer (5) has an impurity concentration lower than an impurity concentration of the second conductivity type semiconductor layer (3).
US08004034B2
Embodiments relate to a single poly type EEPROM and a method for manufacturing an EEPROM. According to embodiments, a single poly type EEPROM may include unit cells. A unit cell may include a floating gate at a side of a control node formed on and/or over a semiconductor substrate having an activation region and a device isolation area, not overlapping a device isolation region but overlapping only a top of the activation region. A select gate may be formed on and/or over a top of the activation region. According to embodiments, a ratio of a capacitance of a control node side to a capacitance of a bit line side may increase, which may improve a coupling ratio. According to embodiments, a junction capacitance may be maximized by not doping the floating gate with an impurity, which may allow for a reduction in chip size by securing design margins.
US08004033B2
Nonvolatile memory cells and methods of forming the same are provided, the methods including forming a first conductor at a first height above a substrate; forming a first pillar-shaped semiconductor element above the first conductor, wherein the first pillar-shaped semiconductor element comprises a first heavily doped layer of a first conductivity type, a second lightly doped layer above and in contact with the first heavily doped layer, and a third heavily doped layer of a second conductivity type above and in contact with the second lightly doped layer, the second conductivity type opposite the first conductivity type; forming a first dielectric antifuse above the third heavily doped layer of the first pillar-shaped semiconductor element; and forming a second conductor above the first dielectric antifuse.
US08004029B2
A spin transistor includes a non-magnetic semiconductor substrate having a channel region, a first area, and a second area. The channel region is between the first and the second areas. The spin transistor also includes a first conductive layer located above the first area and made of a ferromagnetic material magnetized in a first direction; and a second conductive layer located above the second area and made of a ferromagnetic material magnetized in one of the first direction and a second direction that is antiparallel with respect to the first direction. The channel region introduces electron spin between the conductive layers. The spin transistor also includes a gate electrode located between the conductive layers and above the channel region; and a tunnel barrier film located between the non-magnetic semiconductor substrate and at least one of the conductive layers.
US08004027B2
Provided is an image sensor. The image sensor comprises an interlayer dielectric, lines, and a crystalline semiconductor layer including photodiodes and a device isolation region. The interlayer dielectric can be formed on a first substrate comprising a readout circuitry. The lines pass through the interlayer dielectric to connect with the readout circuitry, and each line is formed according to unit pixel. The crystalline semiconductor layer can be bonded on the interlayer dielectric including the lines. The photodiodes, formed inside the crystalline semiconductor layer, are electrically connected with the lines. The device isolation region comprises conductive impurities and is formed inside the crystalline semiconductor layer so that the photodiodes can be separated according to unit pixels.
US08004020B2
A solid-state image capturing device includes a plurality of electrode pads for inputting and outputting a signal or voltage from and to the outside, a plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, a planarization film for planarizing the difference in the level on the surface above the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, a microlens for focusing incident light on each of the plurality of photoelectric conversion elements, and a protection film provided above the microlens and the planarization film, the planarization film and the protection film above the plurality of electrode pads being removed as an opening, where the protection film has a protection film removing area that at least includes an area removed across all or a corner portion of the opening and the image capturing area.
US08004019B2
P type semiconductor well regions 8 and 9 for device separation are provided in an upper and lower two layer structure in conformity with the position of a high sensitivity type photodiode PD, and the first P type semiconductor well region 8 at the upper layer is provided in the state of being closer to the pixel side than an end portion of a LOCOS layer 1A, for limiting a dark current generated at the end portion of the LOCOS layer 1A. In addition, the second P type semiconductor well region 9 at the lower layer is formed in a narrow region receding from the photodiode PD, so that the depletion layer of the photodiode PD is prevented from being obstructed, and the depletion is secured in a sufficiently broad region, whereby enhancement of the sensitivity of the photodiode PD can be achieved.
US08004018B2
A layer of high aspect ratio nanoparticles is disposed on a surface of a substrate under the influence of an electrical field applied on the substrate. To create the electrical field, a voltage is applied between a pair of electrodes arranged near the substrate or on the substrate, and the high aspect ratio nanoparticles disposed on the substrate are at least partially aligned along direction(s) of the applied electrical field. The high aspect ratio nanoparticles are grown from catalyst nanoparticles in an aerosol, and the aerosol is directly used for forming the nanoparticle layer on the substrate at room temperature. The nanoparticles may be carbon nanotubes, in particular single wall carbon nanotubes. The substrate with the layer of aligned high aspect ratio nanoparticles disposed thereon can be used for fabricating nanoelectronic devices.
US08004017B2
A preferred embodiment microcavity plasma device array of the invention includes a plurality of first metal circumferential metal electrodes that surround microcavities in the device. The first circumferential electrodes are buried in a metal oxide layer and surround the microcavities in a plane transverse to the microcavity axis, while being protected from plasma in the microcavities by the metal oxide. In embodiments of the invention, the circumferential electrodes can be connected in patterns. A second electrode(s) is arranged so as to be isolated from said first electrodes by said first metal oxide layer. In some embodiments, the second electrode(s) is in a second layer, and in other embodiments the second electrode(s) is also within the first metal oxide layer. A containing layer, e.g., a thin layer of glass, quartz, or plastic, seals the discharge medium (plasma) into the microcavities. In a preferred method of formation embodiment, a metal foil or film is obtained or formed with micro-holes. The foil is anodized to form metal oxide. One or more self-patterned metal electrodes are automatically formed and buried in the metal oxide created by the anodization process. The electrodes form in a closed circumference around each microcavity in a plane(s) transverse to the microcavity axis, and can be electrically isolated or connected. Preferred embodiments provide inexpensive microplasma device electrode structures and a fabrication method for realizing microplasma arrays that are lightweight and scalable to large areas. Electrodes buried in metal oxide and complex patterns of electrodes can also be formed without reference to microplasma devices—that is, for general electrical circuitry.
US08004014B2
A layout structure of a semiconductor integrated circuit is provided with which narrowing and breaking of metal interconnects near a cell boundary can be prevented without increasing the data amount and processing time for OPC. A cell A and a cell B are adjacent to each other along a cell boundary. The interconnect regions of metal interconnects from which to the cell boundary no other interconnect region exists are placed to be substantially axisymmetric with respect to the cell boundary, while sides of diffusion regions facing the cell boundary are asymmetric with respect to the cell boundary.
US08003990B2
The present invention provides a backlight having a uniform in-plane brightness distribution, the backlight having at least two dot light emitting devices of substantially similar color having at least two different brightness ranks into which the dot light emitting devices are classified in accordance with brightness, wherein each brightness rank comprises a predetermined range of brightness variations, arranged in a plane manner, wherein the plurality of dot light emitting devices are mounted in a plurality of blocks, each block having at least two dot light emitting devices of different brightness ranks, so that the number of the dot light emitting devices provided in each of the plurality of blocks is substantially uniform across the plurality of blocks and a total brightness associated with the brightness ranks of the dot light emitting devices provided in each of the plurality of blocks provides a substantially uniform brightness distribution across the plurality of blocks.
US08003985B2
Apparatus having a dielectric containing scandium and gadolinium can provide a reliable structure with a high dielectric constant (high k). In an embodiment, atomic layer deposition (ALD) can be used to form a nanolaminate dielectric of gadolinium oxide (Gd2O3) and scandium oxide (Sc2O3) In an embodiment, a dielectric structure can be formed by depositing gadolinium oxide by atomic layer deposition onto a substrate surface using precursor chemicals, followed by depositing scandium oxide onto the substrate using precursor chemicals, and repeating to form the thin laminate structure. A dielectric containing scandium and gadolinium may be used as gate insulator of a MOSFET, a capacitor dielectric in a DRAM, as tunnel gate insulators in flash memories, as a NROM dielectric, or as a dielectric in other electronic devices, because the high dielectric constant (high k) of the film provides the functionality of a much thinner silicon dioxide film.
US08003983B2
A wafer for manufacturing image sensors is disclosed. The wafer includes an image sensor and a test key. The image sensor includes a plurality of micro-lenses; the test key includes a plurality of micro-lens samples for defects inspection. The arrangement of the micro-lens samples on the test key is substantially different from the arrangement of the micro-lenses on the image sensor. The arrangement of the micro-lens samples on the test key allows defects inspection to become less complicated.
US08003977B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a light emitting element with improved luminous efficiency, a reduced drive voltage, and improved degree of deterioration with respect to driving time. According to a light emitting element including a first electrode; a second electrode; and a light emitting laminated body formed therebetween, the light emitting laminated body has at least a first layer, a second layer, and a third layer in this order, the first layer is a layer having a carrier transporting property, the third layer is a layer including an emission center material and a host material in which the emission center material is dispersed, the second layer has an energy gap larger than that of the first layer and equal to or larger than that of the host material, and the second layer has a thickness of 0.1 nm or more and less than 5 nm.
US08003973B2
A multi layered substrate structure can be formed where the substrates are coupled together using surface Coulomb forces. Connect substrates electrically connects signals and DC voltages between the substrates. The connect substrates bypass output/input buffers between two communicating substrates. The capacitor substrates provide a fully charged capacitor that provides additional energy to a levitated substrate if the capacitor substrate is connected to the levitated substrate. VLSI systems can also be build on each of the substrates.
US08003967B2
In one characterization, the present invention relates to a radiation-shielding assembly for holding a container having a radioactive material disposed therein. The assembly may, at least in one regard, be referred to as an elution shield and/or a dispensing shield. The assembly includes a body at least partially defining a cavity. There is at least one opening through the body into the cavity. The assembly may include a cap that at least generally hinders escape of radiation from the assembly through the opening. The cap may be releasably attached to the body in one orientation and may establish non-attached engagement with the body in another orientation. The assembly may include an adjustable spacer system for adapting the assembly for use with containers having different heights.
US08003964B2
An apparatus includes a yoke having a first end and a second end. The yoke is configured to hold a device that includes an aperture and a range compensation structure. A catch arm is pivotally secured to the first end of the yoke. The catch arm includes a locking feature. The locking feature and the second end of the yoke interface, respectively, to a first retention feature and a second retention feature defined by the aperture and the range compensation structure. The locking feature is configured to interface to the first retention feature and the second end of the yoke is configured to interface to the second retention feature.
US08003957B2
To implant a carbon-containing species, a gas containing carbon is ionized in the ion chamber. The ionization of this gas will typically produce a number of ionized species. However, many of these resulting ionized species are not beneficial to the desired implant, as they contain only non-carbon atoms. These species must be eliminated before the implantation, leaving only carbon-based species. However, the current of the desired species may be low, thereby requiring extra energy or time to implant the desired dosage of carbon into a substrate. This can be improved through the use of a second gas. This second gas is used to dilute the primary carbon-containing gas to be ionized in the ion chamber. By incorporating this dilution gas, more of the resulting ionized species are beneficial to the carbon implantation.
US08003956B2
An ion implantation system for neutralizing the space charge effect associated with a high current low energy ion beam. The implantation system includes an ion source configured to receive a dopant gas and generate ions having a particular energy and mass from which ions are extracted through an aperture. A work piece positioned downstream of the ion source for receiving the extracted ions in the form of an ion beam. A bleed gas channel disposed between the ion source and the work piece. The bleed gas channel supplying a gas used to neutralize the space charge effect associated with the ion beam.
US08003951B2
An optical radiation sensor system having: a housing having a distal portion for receiving radiation from the radiation source and a proximal portion; a sensor element in communication with the proximal portion, the sensor element configured to detect and respond to incident radiation received from the radiation source; and motive structure configured to move the housing with respect to the sensor element between at least a first position and a second position. A radiation pathway is defined between the radiation source and the sensor element when the housing is in at least one of the first position and the second position. Movement of the housing with respect to the sensor element causes a modification of intensity of radiation impinging on the sensor element.
US08003949B2
The present invention is a detection system and method for using the detection system in radiant energy imaging systems. In particular, the present invention is an improved detection system employing multiple screens for greater detection efficiency. And more particularly, the present invention is a detection system for detecting electromagnetic radiation having an enclosure having four adjacent walls, connected to each other at an angle and forming a rectangle and interior portion of the enclosure, a front side area and a back side area formed from the four adjacent walls and located at each end of the enclosure, at least two screens, that further include an active area for receiving and converting electromagnetic radiation into light, and a photodetector, positioned in the interior portion of the enclosure, having an active area responsive to the light.
US08003948B2
A method for estimating the start time of an electronic pulse generated in response to a detected event, for example the start time for pulses received in response to photon detection in positron emission tomography, includes providing a detector that detects an external event and generates an electronic analog pulse signal. A parameterized ideal curve shape is selected to represent analog pulse signals generated by the detector. Upon receiving an analog pulse signal, it may be filtered, and then digitized, and normalized based on the area of the digital signal. Using at least one point of the normalized digital pulse signal, a curve from the parameterized ideal curve shape is selected, that best represents the received analog pulse signal, and the selected curve is used to estimate the pulse start time.
US08003946B2
The invention concerns a method for detecting localized defects, such as hot spots or wet spots, present in a mat of mineral fibers bonded by a binder, including using a microwave radiation of frequency ranging between 1 and 50 GHz, preferably between 5 and 10 GHz, the total power of the emitted electromagnetic wave ranging between 0.1 and 5 watts, preferably of the order of 1 watt. The invention also concerns a device for implementing said method as well as an installation for continuously making mineral fiber mats containing said device.
US08003944B2
NDIR gas sensing methodology is advanced which renders the output of an NDIR gas sensor, when implemented with this new methodology, to remain stable or drift-free over time. Furthermore, the output of such a sensor will also be independent of the temperature of an environ wherein the sensor is in physical contact. This method utilizes the same narrow band-pass spectral filter for the detection of the gas of interest for both the signal and the reference channels. By so doing, the two channels always receive radiation of the same spectral content from the infrared source of the sensor convoluted with that from any external elements exposed to the sensor. While the same sample chamber through which the gas of interest to be detected flows is shared by the two channels, the detector package for the reference channel is hermetically sealed with 100% of the gas to be detected instead of 100% N2 as for the signal detector. In so doing, the reference channel is rendered almost completely “blind” to the presence or absence of the gas of interest flowing in the common sample chamber thereby creating an absorption bias or difference between the two channels enabling the concentration of the gas of interest to be detected by ratioing the outputs of the two channels via calibration.
US08003942B2
A system and method for enhancing inspections using infrared cameras through in-field displays and operator-assisted performance calculations. A handheld infrared imaging system typically includes an infrared camera having a programmed computer and an interactive user interface suitable for displaying images and prompting response and accepting input from the infrared camera operator in the field during an inspection. An operator may designate at least one thing of interest on a displayed infrared image; and the programmed computer may uses a performance algorithm to estimate performance associated with the thing of interest. The programmed computer may extract information or parameters from previously measured data. The programmed computer may vary the way in which it displays new measurements based on the information extracted from the stored data. One or more of the parameters extracted from the IR image may be adapted to provide an automated alert to the user.
US08003933B2
Spurious light is prevented from entering a cover of an optical fiber identification device by placing an opaque, flexible medium such as brush bristles within optical fiber clearance openings in the cover to block the light path around the fiber. Short opposing lengths of strip brushes are placing on either side of each of the slot openings in the cap. The opposing bristles make contact with each other in the slot, keeping out most ambient light. The strip brushes exert very little force on the fiber, permitting it to bend freely.
US08003929B2
A solid-state image pickup device includes a plurality of pixels on a light-receiving surface, photodiodes disposed on the light-receiving surface of a semiconductor substrate while being partitioned on the pixel basis, signal transferring portions which are disposed on the semiconductor substrate and which read signal charges generated and stored in the photodiodes or voltages corresponding to the signal charges, insulating films disposed on the semiconductor substrate while covering the photodiodes, concave portions disposed in the insulating films, pad electrodes disposed on the insulating films, a passivation film which covers inner walls of the concave portions, which is disposed on the pad electrodes, and which has a refractive index higher than that of silicon oxide, and a core layer which is disposed on the passivation film while being filled in the concave portions and which has a refractive index higher than that of silicon oxide.
US08003928B1
A method for compensating a plurality of sensors comprises exposing each of the plurality of sensors to a scene energy from a scene, exposing each of the plurality of sensors to the scene energy from the scene and a reference signal energy, exposing each of the plurality of sensors to a uniform signal energy, exposing each of the plurality of sensors to the uniform signal energy and the reference signal energy, obtaining reference outputs during each exposure of the plurality of sensors, and determining the scene energy received by each of the plurality of sensors relative to the reference signal energy by combining the sensor and reference outputs obtained.
US08003923B2
A domestic appliance device with a light signal unit, a control unit, which is designed to interact with the light signal unit for outputting information by means of a light signal, and a carrier unit for supporting the light signal unit.
US08003920B2
A substrate processing apparatus of which through holes in a mounting stage can be properly sealed. A substrate processing apparatus comprises a plate-like mounting stage having a plurality of first through holes, a base member including a plurality of second through holes that have female thread portions, a plurality of pin-shaped members being passed through and fitted into the first and second through holes and including flange portions, a plurality of sealing surfaces, and a plurality of sealing members disposed such as to enclose openings of the first through holes. One ends of the pin-shaped members project out from the sealing surfaces, and the other ends have male thread portions capable of engaging with female thread portions of the base member. When the base member moves away from the mounting stage, an end of each of the female thread portions comes into abutment with an end of each of the male thread portions.
US08003904B2
A dimmer switch includes a first switch for coupling to a power source, a second switch, a dimmer module, and a main actuator movable between an operational position and a disconnected position. The main actuator includes a first switch actuator and a second switch actuator. The first switch may be a normally-closed air-gap switch including a lever in contact with the first switch actuator. Movement of the main actuator between the operational position and the disconnected position is effective to open the switch. The main actuator is pivotally and slidably coupled to a frame. A coupling between the main actuator and the frame includes a pivot in a pivot holder; a partial cylindrical surface of the pivot is in contact with a surface of the pivot holder which includes a first portion having a partial cylindrical surface and a second portion having a ramp surface.
US08003901B2
When a knob is operated, operating force is exerted on an operating point Pm of the manual switch and an operating point Po of the automatic switch from a pusher, and thus the manual switch and the automatic switch are pushed and turned on sequentially. In this case, since the height H of the pusher is set ‘0.9 times’ or more of the distance Lmo from the operating point Pm of the manual switch to the operating point Po of the automatic switch, the pusher has a vertically long shape. As a result, the operating force of the knob is influenced by the friction when the automatic switch is pushed and turned on. Therefore, the manual switch and the automatic switch can be pushed and turned on sequentially while using the automatic switch having small self-holding force Fo.
US08003899B2
A flexible, modular mounting system for an industrial process terminal or similar instrumentation. The instrumentation may be panel mounted or DIN rail mounted using an enclosure having only a minimum number of unique components. An instrument housing is included for containing various electronic components of such a terminal. The housing is adapted to mate with a DIN rail, and can easily be fitted with mounting brackets that allow the housing to be used in a panel mounted arrangement. In the latter case, a user interface module is located on an opposite side of a panel wall and connected to the appropriate electronic components of the instrumentation through an opening provided therein.
US08003895B2
An electronic parts packaging structure of the present invention includes a core substrate having such a structure that a recess portion is provided by forming a prepreg insulating layer having an opening portion therein on a resin layer, and an electronic parts mounted on a bottom portion of the recess portion of the core substrate such that a connection pad of the electronic parts is directed upward, and also, such a structure may be employed that the electronic parts is embedded in a resin layer of a core substrate having a structure that the resin layer is formed on the prepreg insulating layer.
US08003894B2
A soldering nest provided in a bus bar, having an aperture for the introduction of a terminal lead (40) to be soldered thereinto, and the introduction of the terminal lead may be effected from a first surface plane of the bus bar (10) and soldering may be effected from a second, opposite surface plane of the bus bar (10). The aperture is formed by a conical bore (20) which is perpendicular or approximately perpendicular to the surface plane of the bus bar (10) and whose cone angle is at least 30?. The apex of the conical bore (20) is oriented toward the first surface plane of the bus bar (10), and the conical bore (20) terminates in a circular aperture (21) whose diameter is slightly greater than the diameter of the terminal lead (40).
US08003892B2
A print circuit substrate is composed of a base material, a wiring pattern formed on the base material, the wiring pattern constituting a predetermined circuit pattern, and a connection terminal of a shape narrowing toward an end thereof, the connection terminal being formed on the base material and extending from the wiring pattern.
US08003886B1
A light switch assembly to replace an existing light switch, which generally includes a mounting bracket attached to an electrical box. The assembly slides into the mounting bracket and is locked into place with the mounting bracket. A decorative light switch cover and custom artwork within the frame snaps and locks onto the outer perimeter of the mounting bracket to complete the assembly. The assembly provides for a battery hack-up system for power failure situations to illuminate the white, light emitting diodes in the event of a loss of power. The assembly senses the loss of power and unlocks the switch assembly from attachment to the mounting bracket. Unsnapping the decorative cover exposes the switch assembly so it can be removed from the mounting bracket. The switch assembly then becomes a mobile, hand-held emergency flashlight. The battery back-up system also allows for communication with first responders.
US08003884B2
The present invention relates to a photovoltaic device, especially hybrid solar cells, comprising at least one layer comprising evaporated fluoride and/or acetate; and to a method for preparing the same.
US08003881B2
A method of preparing a polymeric composition with photovoltaic properties comprises a step of blending, in a solvent, at least one electron donor type semiconductor polymeric material essentially in the form of nanofibrils and at least one electron acceptor type material in the solvent, said nanofibrils representing at least 10% by weight of the electron donor type semiconductor polymeric material, to polymeric compositions with photovoltaic properties, and to photovoltaic cells incorporating such polymeric compositions.
US08003880B2
A method for generating power is provided. The method including: providing a heat source with an output of radiation in a predetermined spectrum; generating a first portion of the power from the absorption of the radiation; and generating a second portion of the power from a temperature difference between a first element heated by the heat source and a second element at least partially thermally insulated from the first element.
US08003878B2
An electroacoustic transducer system for converting sound waves propagating from a musical instrument drum to an electric signal is generally provided. The system includes a housing, an electroacoustic transducer, and a cover. The housing includes a concave inner surface and a convex outer surface. In addition, the housing defines a housing cavity with a mouth. The electroacoustic transducer is disposed in the housing cavity and faces outwardly from the concave inner surface and towards the mouth to receive sound waves propagating from the drum. The electroacoustic transducer receives and converts the sounds waves in the housing cavity to the electric signal. The cover has a generally planar outer surface and extends over the mouth to at least partially enclose the electroacoustic transducer.
US08003875B2
A playback apparatus is provided that includes an operation plane, a detection unit to detect which of contact relationship including first contact relationship, second contact relationship with a higher degree of contact than the first contact relationship and third contact relationship with a higher degree of contact than the second contact relationship the operation plane and an operation object have, a creation unit to create a list screen of content data for selecting content data based on movement of the operation object with respect to the operation plane in the first contact relationship, a playback unit to play back content data, and a playback control unit to cause the playback unit to play back content data selected on the list screen when becoming the second contact relationship from the first contact relationship if contact relationship becomes the third contact relationship from the second contact relationship.
US08003873B2
The present invention relates to a percussion assembly comprising a multitude of percussion instruments, means for playing said percussion instruments and input means for inputting a tone pitch selection for the purpose of producing a tone pitch selection signal. The percussion assembly further comprises sensor means for producing a synchronization signal when at least one of said percussion instruments is being played. The percussion assembly furthermore comprises control means for receiving the tone pitch selection signal and the synchronization signal and for producing an audio signal dependent on the tone pitch selection signal synchronously with the synchronization signal. The invention further relates to drumsticks and to input means for use with a percussion assembly as described in the foregoing.
US08003864B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV433540. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV433540, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV433540 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV433540 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV433540.
US08003863B1
Basically, this invention provides for an inbred corn line designated NPID3606, methods for producing a corn plant by crossing plants of the inbred line NPID3606 with plants of another corn plant. The invention relates to the various parts of inbred NPID3606 including culturable cells. This invention also relates to methods for introducing transgenic transgenes into inbred corn line NPID3606 and plants produced by said methods.
US08003847B2
The genome of the non-human mutant mammal, deficient in an endogenous Sigma receptor, contains a mutation that comprises a disruption in an endogenous Sigma receptor gene, wherein said gene disruption gives rise to a mutant lacking detectable levels of endogenous Sigma receptor. The mutant may be used as a control animal for in vivo tests, as well as a source of cells that can be used in in vitro tests. Mutants deficient in the Sigma-1 receptor can be used as models for in vivo study of disorders of the central nervous system, memory alterations, stress conditions and drug addictions, analgesia processes and neuroprotection. Mutants deficient in the Sigma-2 receptor can be used to study diagnostic or therapeutic tools to fight cancer and/or degenerative processes and/or to design compounds capable of preventing, reducing or alleviating the secondary pathology associated with administration of neuroleptic agents.
US08003843B2
The present invention relates to a new method for a safe transport of ethyne in form of α-alkynols as precursors for ethyne. The new method comprises three steps. In a first step the synthesis of the α-alkynol(s) is performed by reacting ethyne with (a) carbonyl compound(s). The second step comprises the transport of the resulting α-alkynol(s) in a safe manner, whereas the safety requirements for this transport are not as high as for ethyne because α-alkynol(s) are normally classified for transportation as hazardous class 3. In the third step the α-alkynol(s) can be cleaved and the ethyne and the carbonyl compound(s) can be obtained in the cleavage reaction and can be separated to yield pure products for further applications.
US08003839B2
The present invention relates to an in-line method for generating comonomer, from monomer, such as ethylene. The comonomer generated is stored prior to transporting to a polyethylene polymerization reactor. The in-line method includes the steps of providing an in-line comonomer synthesis reactor and a downstream gas/liquid phase separator prior to the polymerization reactor; feeding ethylene monomer and a catalyst in a solvent and/or diluent to the comonomer synthesis reactor; reacting the ethylene monomer and the catalyst in solvent and/or diluent under reaction conditions to produce an effluent stream including ethylene monomer and comonomer; passing the effluent stream from the comonomer synthesis reactor to the downstream gas/liquid phase separator to separate a gas stream from a bottom stream, wherein the gas stream is a mixture of ethylene monomer and comonomer; and passing the gas stream to the polymerization reactor to provide the necessary comonomer input.
US08003833B2
The present invention addresses the processing of waste and low-value products to produce useful materials in reliable purities and compositions, at acceptable cost, without producing malodorous emissions, and with high energy efficiency. In particular, the invention comprises a multi-stage process that converts various feedstocks such as offal, animal manures, municipal sewage sludge, tires, and plastics, that otherwise have little commercial value, to useful materials including gas, oil, specialty chemicals, and carbon solids. The process subjects the feedstock to heat and pressure, separates out various components, then further applies heat and pressure to one or more of those components. Various materials produced at different points in the process may be recycled and used to play other roles within the process. The invention further comprises an apparatus for performing a multi-stage process of converting waste products into useful materials, and at least one oil product that arises from the process.
US08003832B2
The process for recovering pentafluoroethane of the invention includes bringing a mixed gas containing pentafluoroethane and a non-condensable gas into contact with a chlorinated solvent, and allowing the chlorinated solvent to absorb pentafluoroethane contained in the mixed gas. The process for the production of pentafluoroethane of the invention uses the recovering process.
US08003824B2
The present invention relates to the preparation of compounds of formula (I) derived from arylacetic acid comprising two phenol functions and an amide function, which have free-radical scavenging and antioxidant properties and which are soluble in lipid media. These compounds can be used as cosmetic and pharmaceutical preparations for the prevention of biological degradations caused by free radicals.
US08003819B2
The present invention provides novel compounds useful as proteasome inhibitors. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds of the invention and methods of using the compositions in the treatment of various diseases.
US08003818B2
The invention provides a process for the hydrogenation of a reactant selected from the group consisting of: at the ring-closing carbon atom and has a proton at a (a) a 5- or 6-membered lactone that is substituted carbon atom adjacent to the ring-closing carbon atom; (b) an ester of a carboxylic acid having a gamma-carbonyl group and a proton at a carbon atom adjacent to the carbon atom of the carbonyl group; and (c) a carboxylic acid having a gamma-carbonyl group and a proton at a carbon atom adjacent to the carbon atom of the carbonyl group, wherein the reactant is contacted with a strongly acidic heterogeneous catalyst comprising a hydrogenating metal, in the presence of hydrogen, at a temperature in the range of from 100 to 350° C. and a pressure in the range of from 1 to 150 bar (absolute). The invention further provides a fuel composition, preferably a diesel composition, comprising di-alkyl 4-methylnonanedioate or di-alkyl 3-ethyl-4-methylheptanedioate.
US08003812B2
A taxane having a cyclopentyl ester substituent at C10, a keto substituent at C9, a hydroxy substituent at C2, a 2-thienyl substituent at C3′ and an isopropoxycarbamate substituent at C3′.
US08003810B2
The present invention relates to a process for preparing Nebivolol and, more particularly, to an improved process for synthesizing enantiomerically enriched 6-fluoro chroman alcohol or epoxide derivatives of formula, wherein R and X is defined in the description; as useful intermediates in the preparation of Nebivolol.
US08003807B2
An electronic device including a compound comprising at least one type of an optionally substituted indolocarbazole moiety and at least one divalent linkage.
US08003806B2
The invention relates to compounds of the Formula 1 and to pharmaceutically acceptable salts and solvates thereof, wherein A, X2, X4, X5 and X1 are as defined herein. The invention also relates to methods of treating abnormal cell growth in mammals by administering the compounds of Formula 1 and to pharmaceutical compositions for treating such disorders which contain the compounds of Formula 1.
US08003794B2
This invention relates to S-MNTX, methods of producing S-MNTX, pharmaceutical preparations comprising S-MNTX and methods for their use.
US08003792B2
The present invention is directed to compounds of Formula I: (where variables A1, A2, B, J, K, m, n, R4, R5a, R5b and R5c are as defined herein) useful as antagonists of CGRP receptors and useful in the treatment or prevention of diseases in which the CGRP is involved, such as headache, migraine and cluster headache. The invention is also directed to pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and the use of these compounds and compositions in the prevention or treatment of such diseases in which CGRP is involved.
US08003784B2
Methods for preparing cyclic carbamates and thiocarbamates containing cyanopyrrole moieties and of the formula are provided. Z are the same or different and are H, optionally substituted C1 to C6 alkyl, or CORA; RA is H, optionally substituted C1 to C6 alkyl, optionally substituted C1 to C6 alkoxy, or optionally substituted C1 to C6 aminoalkyl; Q are the same or different and are H, OH, NH2, CN, halogen, optionally substituted C1 to C6 alkyl, optionally substituted C2 to C6 alkenyl, optionally substituted C1 to C6 alkynyl, optionally substituted C1 to C6 alkoxy, optionally substituted C1 to C6 aminoalkyl, or CORB; and RB is H, optionally substituted C1 to C6 alkyl, optionally substituted C1 to C6 alkoxy, or optionally substituted C1 to C6 aminoalkyl. Compounds including 2-amino-5-(5-cyano-1-methyl-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)benzoic acid methyl ester, 5-[4-amino-3-(1-hydroxy-1-methyl-ethyl)-phenyl]-1-methyl-1H-pyrrole-2-carbonitrile, and 2-amino-5-(5-cyano-1-methyl-1H-pyrrol-2-yl)-phenyl-ethanone, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, and the uses thereof are also provided.
US08003783B2
There is provided a compound of Formula (III) wherein R1 is a selected from an alkyloxyalkyl group, a nitrile group, alkylaryl group, alkenylaryl group, alkylheteroaryl group, alkenylheteroaryl group, ═N—O—alkyl or ═N—O—H group, branched alkenyl, alkyl-alcohol group, amide or alkylamide or —CHO so that R1 together with R3 provide the enol tautomer or R1 together with R3 form a pyrazole, wherein (a) R4 is ═N—O-alkyl or ═N—O—H group, (b) the pyrazole is substituted with one of alkyl-OH group, alkyl ester group, alkyloxyalkyl group, branched alkyl group, and an amide and/or (c) the 2-position is substituted with a group selected from —OH and —O-hydrocarbyl or a heteroaryl ring; R2 is selected from —OH and a sulphamate group; and R3 is selected from —OH or ═O; wherein the ring system may be further substituted with one or more hydroxyl, alkyl, alkoxy, alkinyl or halo substituents.
US08003780B2
The present invention relates to a variant of AIMP2 lacking exon 2 gene, named as AIMP2-DX2 gene, which is specifically expressed in cancer cells. The AIMP2-DX2 gene and siRNA targeting AIMP2-DX2 can be successfully used in the development of diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
US08003776B2
A method is provided for identifying mycobacterial genes that are induced or up-regulated under culture conditions that are nutrient-starving and which maintain mycobacterial latency, said conditions being obtainable by batch fermentation of a mycobacterium for at least 20 days post-inoculation, when compared with culture conditions that are not nutrient-starving and which support exponential growth of said mycobacterium. Said induced or up-regulated genes form the basis of nucleic acid vaccines, or provide targets to allow preparation of attenuated mycobacteria for vaccines against mycobacterial infections. Similarly, peptides encoded by said induced or up-regulated genes are employed in vaccines. In a further embodiment, the identified genes/peptides provide the means for identifying the presence of a mycobacterial infection in a clinical sample by nucleic acid probe or antibody detection.
US08003768B1
A system and method for providing 20% ethanol solutions meeting bioburden and endotoxin specifications, which provides the 20% ethanol solution in a ready-to-use form which may be dispensed directly from the container in which the solution is shipped, and which may be used in connection with storage, reuse and/or rejuvination of Protein A.
US08003766B2
This invention provides a monoclonal antibody specific to ochratoxin A and methods of assaying the level of ochratoxin A in food and feed.
US08003765B2
The present disclosure relates to detection of the presence or absence of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) in a sample, in particular to the analysis of the CSF protein lipocalin-type prostaglandin D2 synthase (L-PGDS). The present disclosure provides assays for the analysis of L-PGDS indicating the presence or absence of CSF in a sample.
US08003760B2
The invention is a proteinaceous construct comprising a Factor VIII molecule which is conjugated to a water-soluble polymer via carbohydrate moieties of Factor VIII, and methods of preparing same.
US08003755B2
Disclosed are hydrochloride salts of telavancin having a chloride ion content of from about 2.4 wt. % to about 4.8 wt. %. The disclosed salts have improved stability during storage at ambient temperatures compared to other hydrochloride salts. Also disclosed are processes for preparing such salts.
US08003752B2
Articles made of and/or including ultrahigh molecular weight polyethylene (UMWPE) having increased strength and/or wear resistance, such as high yield strength, high tensile strength, high load strength, and/or high impact strength. Some embodiments of articles made of and/or including UHMWPE having increased strength and/or wear resistance, such as that listed above, include UHMWPE having co-monomers.
US08003749B2
Disclosed is a fluorine-containing dicarboxylic acid represented by formula (1), wherein n represents an integer of 1-4, and the two carboxylic groups are not adjacent to each other on the aromatic ring. It is possible to obtain a linear polymer compound by reacting the fluorine-containing dicarboxylic acid with a comonomer (e.g., diaminodiol). By thermal cyclization, this linear polymer compound can be converted into another polymer compound having superior characteristics.
US08003738B2
The present invention relates to a method of producing aqueous secondary dispersions of water-insoluble copolymers by free-radical solution polymerization of ethylenically unsaturated monomers M comprising: i) at least one hydrophobic, monoethylenically unsaturated monomer M1 with a solubility in water of not more than 30 g/l at 25° C. and 1 bar and ii) at least one hydrophilic, monoethylenically unsaturated, nonionic comonomer M2 with a solubility in water of at least 80 g/l at 25° C. and 1 bar, in an organic, water-miscible solvent or a mixture of water with an organic, water-miscible solvent as polymerization medium and subsequent replacement of the organic solvent by water in which, toward the end of the polymerization, some of the monomers M are added in the form of a monomer composition M′ which comprises essentially only monomers M2 as monomers. The present invention also relates to the aqueous polymer dispersions obtainable by the method according to the invention and to their use, particularly in pharmacy and cosmetics.
US08003725B2
This invention relates to hetero-phase polyolefin compositions comprising: a) 30 to 99.7 wt % of a polypropylene-based TPO comprising at least 50 wt % propylene and at least 10 wt % ethylene, and b) 0.1 to 20 wt % of one or more non-functionalized plasticizer, and c) 0.2 to 50 wt % of one or more filler; based upon the weight of the composition, and having: i) an MFR of 5 dg/min or more, and ii) a flexural modulus of 500 MPa or more, and iii) a notched Charpy impact strength at −30° C. of 1 kJ/m2 or more or a notched Izod impact strength at −18° C. of 50 J/m or more.These compositions are especially useful in applications such as automotive parts that demand both high stiffness and high impact toughness, as well as good processibility during fabrication.
US08003724B2
The invention relates to allyl functionalized precipitated silica, rubber compositions containing such silica, particularly sulfur cured rubber compositions, and articles of manufacture having a component thereof such as, for example tires. The invention particularly relates to synthetic amorphous silica, particularly a precipitated silica, treated with an allyl silane, particularly to a precipitated silica containing allyl functional groups.
US08003718B2
This invention relates to new polypiperidine compounds of general formula (I) which give different kinds of polymer materials, in particular polyolefins, high stability towards oxidative action and photodegradation.The invention also relates to the processes used to prepare the compounds of formula (I).
US08003711B2
The invention relates to a dental composition comprising a) carbosilane containing component (A) comprising at least 1 Si-Aryl bond, at least 1 silicon atom, at least 2 Si—H functional moieties, no Si-Oxygen bond, b) unsaturated component (131), and/or epoxy component (132), c) initiator (C), d) optionally filler (D) and e) optionally component (E) selected from modifiers, dyes, pigments, thixotropic agents, flow improvers, polymeric thickeners, surfactants, odorous substances, diluting agent(s) and flavorings.
US08003698B2
The present invention relates to compounds of structural formula I as site-specific inhibitors of histone methyltransferase, where R1 and R1 is —OCH3 or —OH, R2 and R2 is —OH or —OAc; a process of isolating compound of structural formula Ia, where R1 and R1 is —OCH3, R2 and R2 is —OH; a process of preparation of compound of structural formula Ib, where R1 and R1 is —OCH3, R2 and R2 is —OAc; a process of preparation of compound of structural formula Ic, where R1 and R1 is —OH, R2 and R2 is —OH; and use of compounds of structural formula I for manufacture of a medicament for management of cancer and/or disease conditions in a subject in need thereof.
US08003697B2
The inventors have discovered that the disodium salt of certain delivery agents has surprisingly greater efficacy for delivering active agents than the corresponding monosodium salt. Furthermore, the inventors have discovered that the disodium salts of these delivery agents form solvates with ethanol and hydrates with water. The delivery agents have the formula wherein R1, R2, R3, and R4 are independently hydrogen, halogen, C1-C4 alkyl, or C1-C4 alkoxy; and R5 is a substituted or unsubstituted C2-C16 alkylene, substituted or unsubstituted C2-C16 alkenylene, substituted or unsubstituted C1-C12 alkyl(arylene), or substituted or unsubstituted aryl(C1-C12 alkylene). The hydrates and solvates of present invention also have surprisingly greater efficacy for delivering active agents, such as heparin and calcitonin, than their corresponding monosodium salts and free acids. The present invention provides an alcohol solvate, such as ethanol solvate, of a disodium salt of a delivery agent of the formula above. The invention also provides a hydrate of a disodium salt of a delivery agent of the formula above. Preferred delivery agents include, but are not limited to, N-(5-chlorosalicyloyl)-8-aminocaprylic acid (5-CNAC), N-(10-[2-hydroxybenzoyl]amino)decanoic acid (SNAD), and sodium N-(8-[2-hydroxybenzoyl]amino)caprylate (SNAC). The invention also provides methods of preparing the disodium salt, ethanol solvate, and hydrate and compositions containing the disodium salt, ethanol solvate, and/or hydrate.
US08003682B2
Compounds of formula (I): wherein: R1 represents an alkyl, cycloalkyl or cycloalkylalkyl group, R2 represents a linear or branched (C1-C6)alkyl group, and n represents from 1 to 6. Medicaments.
US08003677B2
The invention relates to heterocyclic derivatives of formula I wherein R, R1, A, B, D, M, L and n are as defined herein, or their physiologically compatible salts, their pharmaceutical compositions and their uses as SCD1 inhibitors.
US08003674B2
Disclosed herein are compounds, compositions and methods for treating or ameliorating flavivirus infections. This is particularly important because the present disclosure provides methods for treating flavivirus infections for which there is no effective vaccine.
US08003670B2
The present invention relates to novel aminoalkoxy arylsulfonamide compounds of the formula (I), their derivatives, their stereoisomers, their pharmaceutically acceptable salts and pharmaceutically acceptable compositions containing them. The present invention also relates to a process for the preparation of above said novel compounds, their derivatives, their stereoisomers, their pharmaceutically acceptable salts and pharmaceutically acceptable compositions containing them. These compounds are useful in the treatment of various disorders that are related to 5-HT6 receptor functions. Specifically, the compounds of this invention are also useful in the treatment of various CNS disorders, hematological disorders, eating disorders, diseases associated with pain, respiratory diseases, genito-urological disorders, cardiovascular diseases and cancer.
US08003665B2
Salts and polymorphs of a compound useful in the treatment of inflammatory and metabolic conditions and diseases are provided herein. In particular, the invention provides salts and polymorphs of a compound which modulates the expression and/or function of a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor. The salts and polymorphs are useful for the treatment or prevention of conditions and disorders associated with energy homeostasis such as type II diabetes, lipid metabolism, adipocyte differentiation and inflammation.
US08003658B2
The present invention relates to a novel quinazoline derivative and a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof for inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, a method for the preparation thereof and a pharmaceutical composition comprising same as an active ingredient.
US08003627B2
The present invention relates to novel compounds with inhibitory activity towards urokinase plasminogen activator (uPA); to methods for preparation of said uPA inhibitor compounds; to pharmaceutical compositions comprising said uPA inhibitor compounds; to the use of said uPA inhibitor compounds as a medicament and the use of said uPA inhibitor compounds for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of conditions chosen from the group comprising cancer, tumour growth, tumour invasion, tumour metastasis, diabetic retinopathy, hemorrhagic atherosclerosis and inflammatory conditions, such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis.
US08003624B2
In its many embodiments, the present invention provides a novel class of indolines as inhibitors of α2C adrenergic receptor agonists, methods of preparing such compounds, pharmaceutical compositions containing one or more such compounds, methods of preparing pharmaceutical formulations comprising one or more such compounds, and methods of treatment, prevention, inhibition, or amelioration of one or more conditions associated with the α2C adrenergic receptors using such compounds or pharmaceutical compositions.
US08003623B2
The present invention relates to mixtures of polysaccharides derived from heparin having a mean molecular weight of 1500 to 3000 Daltons and an anti-Xa/anti-IIa ratio greater than 30, their method of preparation and pharmaceutical compositions containing them.
US08003622B2
The invention provides an expression cassette comprising a DNA sequence encoding amino acids 1-99 of human preproenkephalin, a DNA sequence encoding a precursor of a carboxy-amidated peptide flanked by dibasic cleavage sites and optionally a DNA sequence encoding a marker protein (such as Enhanced Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP)) all in operable linkage and under control of a promoter. Where the encoded precursor of a carboxy-amidated peptide is an agonist for an opioid receptor, the invention further provides a method of treating neuropathic pain by administering the gene transfer vector comprising such an expression cassette to a patient. The invention also provides a method for detecting a peptide having a desired effect comprising introducing a library of DNA sequences encoding one or more precursors of carboxy-amidated peptides into host cells; expressing the carboxy-amidated peptides encoded in the library to provide expression products; and screening from the polypeptide expression products for the desired effect.
US08003620B2
Disclosed herein are compounds, compositions and methods for modulating DGAT-1 activity. Preferably, the expression of DGAT-1 from a nucleic acid is inhibited. Methods are provided for treating, ameliorating or treating liver fibrosis, either directly or by treating an underlying etiological factor. Preferably, the treatment, amelioration or prevention comprises administering a DGAT-1 activity modulator.
US08003616B2
A composition for treating ear infections in animals includes an antifungal agent, an antibiotic agent, a steroidal anti-inflammatory agent, and an acid dissolved to form a liquid. The acid aids in keeping the steroidal anti-inflammatory agent in solution, and enhances the bactericidal effect of the composition. The method of preparing such composition includes dissolving the antifungal agent, steroidal anti-inflammatory agent, and acid in dehydrated alcohol, dissolving the antibiotic agent in propylene glycol, combining the two solutions together, heating the combination and then cooling the composition. Several drops of the composition are applied at least twice per day to the affected area of the animal's ear.
US08003607B2
An HGF precursor protein variant, in which a peptide structure comprises a sequence including a peptide chain X inserted between an α chain of HGF or a polypeptide where 1 to 20 amino-acid residues from the C-terminus of the α chain are deleted, and a β chain of HGF or a polypeptide where 1 to 20 amino-acid residues from the N-terminus of the β chain are deleted; wherein (i) the peptide chain X has an amino-acid sequence of at least two residues, (ii) the peptide chain X can be cleaved by a protease reaction or a chemical reaction, and (iii) a protein obtained by cleaving at least one site of the peptide chain X has HGF action.
US08003606B2
Described are methods of improving glycemic control/improving insulin sensitivity by administering an inhibitor of serum response factor (SRF) activity, and methods of identifying new compounds for use in the described methods of treatment.
US08003605B2
A method for minimizing weight gain, preventing weight gain or inducing weight loss in a mammal, said method involving a treatment regimen which comprises administration of an insulin derivative having a substituent containing from 6 to 40 carbon atoms attached to one of its amino acid residues.
US08003595B2
The invention concerns an amino acid sequence capable of facilitating penetration of a substance of interest into cells and/or cell nuclei, characterized in that it is capable of reacting in vivo with aminoglycans. Optionally the sequence is derived from a protein of human origin.
US08003594B2
Foamable moisturizing compositions are disclosed. The compositions can include quaternary ammonium surfactant, humectant, secondary solubilizer, and thickening agent. In one embodiment, the composition can be contained in a non-aerosol dispensing container that mixes the composition with air causing the composition to foam when dispensed.
US08003589B2
According to the present invention there is provided a laundry detergent composition, comprising a hueing dye and a pearlescent agent, wherein the hueing dye exhibits a hueing efficiency of at least 10 and a wash removal value in the range of from about 30% to about 85%.
US08003587B2
A composition that includes 2-(2-aminoethylamino)-ethanol, at least one of a chelating agent and a corrosion inhibitor, and water. The composition is capable of removing organic, organometallic and metal oxide residues from semiconductor substrates. The invention also relates to a method of removing etching residue from a semiconductor substrate.
US08003581B1
An iron control agent capable of reducing ferric iron containing compounds to ferrous iron containing compounds in an acidic solution, such as one used for formation acidizing. The iron control agent comprises a combination of a sulfur dioxide, sulfurous acid, sulfite salts, bisulfite salts, or thiosulfate salts or mixtures thereof, with a source of copper ions and a source of iodine or iodine ions. The iron control agent may also include small amounts of an adjunct such as stannous chloride, 2-mercaptoethanol, and thioglycolic acid and its salts.
US08003580B2
A process for the preparation of hydrolytically and hydrothermally stable consolidated proppants is described, in which (A) a consolidating agent comprising (A1) a hydrolysate or precondensate of at least one functionalized organosilane, a further hydrolyzable silane and at least one metal compound, the molar ratio of silicon compounds used to metal compounds used being in the range of 10 000:1 to 10:1, and (A2) an organic crosslinking agent are mixed with a proppant and (B) the consolidating agent is cured at elevated pressure and elevated temperature.The consolidated proppants obtained have high mechanical strength.
US08003577B2
A method of treating a subterranean formation penetrated by a wellbore utilizes a treating fluid formed from an aqueous solution of a water-soluble polymer. The treating fluid further contains a crosslinking agent and an optional delayed release alkaline additive. The delayed release alkaline additive may be at least one of urea, a urea derivative, a solid alkaline earth metal carbonate, a solid alkaline earth metal oxide and combinations of these. The treating fluid further includes an acidic pH adjusting agent used in an amount to provide the treating fluid with a pH of less than about 5. The treating fluid is then introduced into the formation.
US08003571B2
A composite structure is provided including a base substrate, an IBAD oriented material upon the base substrate, and a cubic metal oxide material selected from the group consisting of rare earth zirconates and rare earth hafnates upon the IBAD oriented material. Additionally, an article is provided including a base substrate, an IBAD oriented material upon the base substrate, a cubic metal oxide material selected from the group consisting of rare earth zirconates and rare earth hafnates upon the IBAD oriented material, and a thick film upon the cubic metal oxide material. Finally, a superconducting article is provided including a base substrate, an IBAD oriented material upon the base substrate, a cubic metal oxide material selected from the group consisting of rare earth zirconates and rare earth hafnates upon the IBAD oriented material, and an yttrium barium copper oxide material upon the cubic metal oxide material.
US08003557B2
A reaction sintered silicon carbide-based product, including a silicon carbide component, a bond component, wherein the bond component includes silicon oxynitride in excess of any silicon nitride of the bond component, and at least one boron component residual to an amount present prior to reaction sintering to cause increased resistance of the reaction sintered silicon carbide-based product to volume change under oxidative stress, and methods of making the same.
US08003548B2
A method for forming an atomic deposition layer is provided, which includes: (a) performing a first water pulse on a substrate; (b) performing a precursor pulse on the hydroxylated substrate, wherein the precursor reacts with the hydroxyl groups and forms a layer; (c) purging the substrate with an inert carrier gas; (d) exposing the layer to a second water pulse for at least about 3 seconds so that the layer has a minimum of 70 percent of surface hydroxyl groups thereon; (e) purging the layer with the inert carrier gas; and (f) repeating steps (b) to (e) to form a resultant atomic deposition layer.
US08003545B2
A method of forming an electronic device can include forming a patterned mask layer overlying a underlying layer such that the mask layer has a first feature, a second feature, and a third feature, and the first feature is between the second feature and the third feature. The first feature can be spaced apart from the second feature by a first opening in the mask layer, and can be spaced apart from the third feature by a second opening in the mask layer. The method can further include selectively removing portions of the underlying layer under the first opening, the second opening, the second feature, and the third feature, and also removing the second feature and the third feature while leaving substantially all of the first feature and a significant portion of the underlying layer under the first feature.
US08003541B2
A method of etching a material that includes comprising germanium, antimony, and tellurium encompasses exposing said material to a plasma-enhanced etching chemistry comprising Cl2 and CH2F2. A method of forming a variable resistance memory cell includes forming a conductive inner electrode material over a substrate. A variable resistance chalcogenide material comprising germanium, antimony, and tellurium is formed over the conductive inner electrode material. A conductive outer electrode material is formed over the chalcogenide material. The germanium, antimony, and tellurium-comprising material is plasma etched using a chemistry comprising Cl2 and CH2F2.
US08003536B2
A vertical metallic stack, from bottom to top, of an elemental metal liner, a metal nitride liner, a Ti liner, an aluminum portion, and a metal nitride cap, is formed on an underlying metal interconnect structure. The vertical metallic stack is annealed at an elevated temperature to induce formation of a TiAl3 liner by reaction of the Ti liner with the material of the aluminum portion. The material of the TiAl3 liner is resistant to electromigration, thereby providing enhanced electromigration resistance to the vertical metallic stack comprising the elemental metal liner, the metal nitride liner, the TiAl3 liner, the aluminum portion, and the metal nitride cap. The effect of enhanced electromigration resistance may be more prominent in areas in which the metal nitride cap suffers from erosion during processing.
US08003535B2
A semiconductor device manufacturing method includes removing copper deposits, by use of an organic acid gas and an oxidizing gas, from a surface of a second interlayer insulation film having a groove formed therein and reaching a copper-containing electric connector member. The second interlayer insulation film is disposed on a first interlayer insulation film provided with the electric connector member. The method then includes reducing a surface of the electric connector member exposed at a bottom of the groove of the second interlayer insulation film; forming a barrier layer on the second interlayer insulation film; and forming a copper-containing conductive film to fill the groove of the second interlayer insulation film.
US08003532B2
A method of backside metal process for semiconductor electronic devices, particularly of using an electroless plating for depositing a metal seed layer for the plated backside metal film. The backside of a semiconductor wafer, with electronic devices already fabricated on the front side, is first coated with a thin metal seed layer by electroless plating. Then, the backside metal layer, such as a gold layer or a copper layer, is coated on the metal seed layer. The metal seed layer not only increases the adhesion between the front side metal layer and the backside metal layer through backside via holes, but also prevents metal peeling after subsequent fabrication processes. This is helpful for increasing the reliability of device performances. Suitable materials for the metal seed layer includes Pd, Au, Ni, Ag, Co, Cr, Cu, Pt, or their alloys, such as NiP, NiB, AuSn, Pt—Rh and the likes.
US08003531B2
A method for manufacturing a flash memory device is capable of controlling a phenomenon in which a length of the channel between a source and a drain is decreased due to undercut. The method includes forming a gate electrode comprising a floating gate, an ONO film and a control gate using a hard mask pattern over a semiconductor substrate, forming a spacer over the sidewall of the gate electrode, forming an low temperature oxide (LTO) film over the entire surface of the semiconductor substrate including the gate electrode and the spacer, etching the LTO film such that a top portion of the source/drain region and a top portion of the gate electrode are exposed, and removing the LTO film present over the sidewall of the gate electrode by wet-etching.
US08003528B2
A method for forming a semiconductor structure is provided. The method includes providing a substrate; forming a dielectric layer on the substrate; forming a conductor pattern on a main surface of the dielectric layer, the conductor pattern having a top surface and sidewalls; and performing a selective atomic layer deposition (ALD) process to selectively deposit a conformal metal layer onto the top surface and sidewalls of the conductor pattern, but without depositing onto the main surface of the dielectric layer substantially.
US08003524B2
An interconnect structure which includes a plating seed layer that has enhanced conductive material, preferably, Cu, diffusion properties is provided that eliminates the need for utilizing separate diffusion and seed layers. Specifically, the present invention provides an oxygen/nitrogen transition region within a plating seed layer for interconnect metal diffusion enhancement. The plating seed layer may include Ru, Ir or alloys thereof, and the interconnect conductive material may include Cu, Al, AlCu, W, Ag, Au and the like. Preferably, the interconnect conductive material is Cu or AlCu. In more specific terms, the present invention provides a single seeding layer which includes an oxygen/nitrogen transition region sandwiched between top and bottom seed regions. The presence of the oxygen/nitrogen transition region within the plating seed layer dramatically enhances the diffusion barrier resistance of the plating seed.
US08003517B2
A method for forming an interconnect, comprising (a) providing a substrate (203) with a via (205) defined therein; (b) forming a seed layer (211) such that a first portion of the seed layer extends over a surface of the via, and a second portion of the seed layer extends over a portion of the substrate; (c) removing the second portion of the seed layer; and (d) depositing a metal (215) over the first portion of the seed layer by an electroless process.
US08003514B2
A method can include forming gate lines on a semiconductor substrate and forming a first interlayer dielectric layer for insulating the gate lines from each other. First and second contact plugs are formed on the semiconductor substrate and landing pads are formed on the first contact plugs and the first interlayer dielectric layer to overlap portions of the first contact plugs. Recessed contact plugs are formed to have recessed portions by etching the second contact plugs, to be located below an upper surface of the first interlayer dielectric layer, where a cross-sectional total distance between the landing pads and the recessed contact plugs increases due to the recessed portions.
US08003497B2
A method for is disclosed for fabricating diluted magnetic semiconductor (DMS) nanowires by providing a catalyst-coated substrate and subjecting at least a portion of the substrate to a semiconductor, and dopant via chloride-based vapor transport to synthesize the nanowires. Using this novel chloride-based chemical vapor transport process, single crystalline diluted magnetic semiconductor nanowires Ga1-xMnxN (x=0.07) were synthesized. The nanowires, which have diameters of ˜10 nm to 100 nm and lengths of up to tens of micrometers, show ferromagnetism with Curie temperature above room temperature, and magnetoresistance up to 250 Kelvin.
US08003490B2
An integrated circuit and method including an isolation arrangement. One embodiment provides a substrate having trenches and mesa regions and also auxiliary structures on the mesa regions. A first isolation structure covers side walls and a bottom region of the trenches and at least partially side walls of the auxiliary structure. A liner on the first isolation structure fills the trenches and gaps between the auxiliary structures with a second isolation structure; and the second isolation structure is pulled back, wherein upper sections of the liner are uncovered.
US08003487B2
In methods of forming a trench, first patterns separated from each other by a first width and second patterns separated from each other by a second width are formed on a substrate. The second width is wider than the first width. The substrate is etched using the first patterns and the second patterns to form a first trench having a first depth and a preliminary second trench having a second depth. A sacrificial layer is formed to fill up a space between the first patterns. The substrate is etched using the sacrificial layer to form a second trench having a third depth deeper than the second depth.
US08003442B2
The invention provides an integrated circuit package and method of fabrication thereof. The integrated circuit package comprises an integrated circuit chip having a photosensitive device thereon; a bonding pad formed on an upper surface of the integrated circuit chip and electrically connected to the photosensitive device; a barrier formed between the bonding pad and the photosensitive device; and a conductive layer formed on a sidewall of the integrated circuit chip and electrically connected to the bonding pad. The barrier layer blocks overflow of the adhesive layer into a region, on which the photosensitive device is formed, to improve yield for fabricating the integrated circuit package.
US08003435B2
A method of fabricating an organic thin film transistor exhibiting excellent semiconductor performance by which an organic TFT can be formed continuously on a flexible base such as a polymer support through a simple coating process, and thus the fabrication cost can be reduced sharply, and an organic semiconductor layer thus formed has a high carrier mobility, In the method of fabricating an organic thin film transistor by forming a gate electrode, a gate insulation layer, an organic semiconductor layer, a source electrode and a drain electrode sequentially on a support, the organic semiconductor layer contains an organic semiconductor material having an exothermic point and an endothermic point in a differential scanning thermal analysis, and the organic semiconductor layer thus formed is heat-treated at a temperature not less than the exothermic point and less than the endothermic point.
US08003434B2
A photo-detector comprising: a photo absorbing layer comprising an n-doped semiconductor exhibiting a valence band energy level; a barrier layer, a first side of the barrier layer adjacent a first side of the photo absorbing layer, the barrier layer exhibiting a valence band energy level substantially equal to the valence band energy level of the doped semiconductor of the photo absorbing layer; and a contact area comprising a doped semiconductor, the contact area being adjacent a second side of the barrier layer opposing the first side, the barrier layer exhibiting a thickness and a conductance band gap sufficient to prevent tunneling of majority carriers from the photo absorbing layer to the contact area and block the flow of thermalized majority carriers from the photo absorbing layer to the contact area. Alternatively, a p-doped semiconductor is utilized, and conductance band energy levels of the barrier and photo absorbing layers are equalized.
US08003425B2
Protuberances, having vertical and lateral dimensions less than the wavelength range of lights detectable by a photodiode, are formed at an optical interface between two layers having different refractive indices. The protuberances may be formed by employing self-assembling block copolymers that form an array of sublithographic features of a first polymeric block component within a matrix of a second polymeric block component. The pattern of the polymeric block component is transferred into a first optical layer to form an array of nanoscale protuberances. Alternately, conventional lithography may be employed to form protuberances having dimensions less than the wavelength of light. A second optical layer is formed directly on the protuberances of the first optical layer. The interface between the first and second optical layers has a graded refractive index, and provides high transmission of light with little reflection.
US08003421B2
A method for manufacturing a compound semiconductor substrate includes at least the processes of epitaxially growing a quaternary light emitting layer composed of AlGaInP on a GaAs substrate; vapor-phase growing a p-type GaP window layer on a first main surface of the quaternary light emitting layer, the first main surface being opposite to the GaAs substrate; removing the GaAs substrate; and epitaxially growing an n-type GaP window layer on a second main surface of the light emitting layer, the second main surface being located at a side where the GaAs substrate is removed. The method includes the process of performing a heat treatment under a hydrogen atmosphere containing ammonia after the process of removing the GaAs substrate and before the process of epitaxially growing the n-type GaP window layer.
US08003418B2
Provided is a method for producing a Group III nitride-based compound semiconductor light-emitting device, wherein a contact electrode is formed on an N-polar surface of an n-type layer through annealing at 350° C. or lower. In the case where, in a Group III nitride-based compound semiconductor device produced by the laser lift-off process, a contact electrode is formed, through annealing at 350° C. or lower, on a micro embossment surface (i.e., a processed N-polar surface) of an n-type layer from vanadium, chromium, tungsten, nickel, platinum, niobium, or iron, when a pseudo-silicon-heavily-doped layer is formed on the micro embossment surface (i.e., N-polar surface) of the n-type layer through treatment with a plasma of a silicon-containing compound gas, and treatment with a fluoride-ion-containing chemical is not carried out, ohmic contact is obtained, and low resistance is attained.
US08003414B2
Methods of fabricating light emitting elements and light emitting devices, light emitting elements and light emitting devices are provided. In some embodiments, the methods of fabricating a light emitting element includes forming a buffer layer on at least one first substrate, bonding the at least one first substrate on a second substrate, wherein the buffer layer is placed between each of the first substrate and the second substrate and the second substrate is larger than the first substrate, exposing the buffer layer, and sequentially forming a first conductive layer, a light emitting layer, and a second conductive layer on the exposed buffer layer.
US08003409B2
The present invention measures defect fluorescence exhibited from a defect level mainly on a semiconductor nanoparticle surface site which has an energy level existing inside the forbidden band of energy levels inside the semiconductor nanoparticle.
US08003405B2
A method for determining the volume of a test liquid aliquot used to calibrate a liquid delivery device. The method is useful for determining the volume of an aliquot of a test liquid which is complex, non-aqueous or both. A mixture contains the test liquid and a stock solution including a first dye, the first dye having absorbance characteristics which are measurably distinguishable from the absorbance characteristics of a second dye. The mixture is mixed with a diluent including the second dye to form a sample solution used to measure absorbances of the first dye and the second dye. The test liquid and the stock solution are combined gravimetrically in a controlled ratio so that the flow characteristics of the test-stock mixture correspond to the flow characteristics of the test liquid and without affecting the ability to distinguish the absorbance characteristics between the first dye and the second dye.
US08003402B2
The invention provides an accurate, economical, automatable, high throughput method for the determination of the concentration of glycosaminoglycan anticoagulants, including low molecular weight heparin (LMWH) anticoagulants, in aqueous solutions. A method for cleaning a unit of manufacturing equipment used in the preparation of a LMWH to obtain an acceptable residual concentration of LMWH is further provided.
US08003392B2
Described are methods and kits to detect early stage hepatocellular carcinoma or a change in the gradation of hepatocellular carcinoma in mammals. The diagnostic marker is based on the profiling and identification of diagnostic carbohydrates present in a body fluid, such as blood serum.
US08003391B2
A fluid storage and dispensing vessel having associated therewith a colorimetric member that is effective to change color in exposure to leakage of a gas contained in the vessel. The colorimetric member may be constituted by a film, e.g., of a shrink-wrap character, that contains or is otherwise associated with a colorimetric agent undergoing color change in exposure to fluid leaking from the vessel. Such shrink-wrap film may be applied to a portion of the vessel susceptible to leakage, or alternatively to the entire vessel, so that the film is colorimetrically effective to indicate the occurrence of a leakage event by visually perceptible change of color.
US08003385B2
The present invention incorporates germinal centers (GCs) into three-dimensional (3D) engineered tissue constructs (ETCs). In an embodiment, we have incorporated the GC in the design of an artificial immune system (AIS) to examine immune responses to vaccines and other compounds. Development of an in vitro GC adds functionality to an AIS, in that it enables generation of an in vitro human humoral response by human B lymphocytes that is accurate and reproducible, without using human subjects. The invention also permits evaluation of, for example, vaccines, allergens, and immunogens, and activation of human B cells specific for a given antigen, which can then be used to generate human antibodies. In an embodiment of the present invention the function of the in vitro GC is enhanced by placing FDCs and other immune cells in a 3D ETC; FDCs appear more effective over a longer time (antibody production is sustained for up to about 14 days.
US08003380B2
The present invention relates to articles and methods involving porous materials (e.g., membranes) which may interact with species, such as biological molecules, cells, etc., whereby the species may adhere to or become immobilized with respect to a surface of the porous material or an adhesion layer coating the porous surface. The porous material may be capable of attaching species with control over the positioning and spatial distribution of the species across the surface of the material. Such articles and methods may be useful in, for example, biological assays, biological sensors, or in the culturing of biological cells.
US08003375B2
The invention concerns a method for identifying and/or cloning nucleic acid regions representing qualitative differences associated with alternative splicing events and/or with insertions, deletions located in RNA transcribed genome regions, between two physiological situations, comprising either hybridization of RNA derived from the test situation with cDNA's derived from the reference situation and/or reciprocally, or double-strand hybridization of cDNA derived from the test situation with cDNA's derived from the reference situation; and identifying and/or cloning nucleic acids representing qualitative differences. The invention also concerns compositions or banks of nucleic acids representing qualitative differences between two physiological situations, obtainable by the above method, and their use as probe, for identifying genes or molecules of interest, or still for example in methods of pharmacogenomics, and profiling of molecules relative to their therapeutic and/or toxic effects. The invention further concerns the use of dysregulation of splicing RNA as markers for predicting molecule toxicity and/or efficacy, and as markers in pharmacogenomics.
US08003372B2
A device for performing cell assays has at least one assay site. The site comprises a pair of stimulating electrodes and a cell confinement cavity for confining at least one cell in an extracellular fluid medium. The cell confinement cavity and the stimulating electrodes are arranged so that, in use, each cell is exposable to an electrical field generated by a potential difference applied across the stimulating electrodes. The stimulating electrodes are spaced a distance apart such that the potential difference can induce field stimulation of each cell and simultaneously be below the level that would result in electrolysis of the extracellular fluid medium.
US08003369B2
The present invention is a bacteriolytic agent containing a cationic surfactant (A) of which a counteranion is an acid having a pKa (25° C.) of 0 to 10. As the counterion, a carboxylate anion is preferable. As the cationic surfactant (A), a quaternary ammonium salt-type surfactant is preferable. Examples of the useful substance include a protein, an amino acid, a nucleic acid, an antibiotic, sugars or vitamins.The bacteriolytic agent of the present invention is excellent in a bacteriolytic power in a step of extracting a useful substance from a microorganism (useful substance producing bacterium etc.). In addition, denaturation of the useful substance during the step is small.
US08003368B2
A method for producing an L-amino acid, such as L-histidine, L-threonine, L-lysine, L-glutamic acid, and L-tryptophan, using bacterium belonging to the genus Escherichia which has increased expression of genes, such as those of the xylABFGHR locus, which encode the xylose utilization enzymes, is disclosed. The method includes cultivating the L-amino acid producing bacterium in a culture medium containing xylose, and collecting the L-amino acid from the culture medium.
US08003360B2
Polypeptides comprising a polypeptide chosen from the group consisting of the polypeptide of SEQ ID No. 2 and a polypeptide exhibiting at least 90% identity with the polypeptide of SEQ ID No. 2. Polynucleotides selected from the group consisting of the polynucleotide whose sequence is between position 1538 and position 2923 of SEQ ID No. 1, and a polynucleotide encoding the polypeptide chosen from the group consisting of the polypeptide of SEQ ID No. 2 and a polypeptide exhibiting at least 90% identity with the polypeptide of SEQ ID No. 2. Furthermore, vectors and expression cassettes comprising the polynucleotide.
US08003359B2
Disclosed are: a eukaryotic amadoriase which is prepared by introducing a mutation into DNA encoding a eukaryotic amadoriase derived from a microorganism belonging to the genus Coniochaeta or Eupenicillium so as to introduce a substitution into a specific amino acid residue in the eukaryotic amadoriase, thereby overcoming the defect associated with thermal stability; a gene or recombinant DNA for the eukaryotic amadoriase; and a process for production of a eukaryotic amadoriase having excellent thermal stability.
US08003352B2
The invention relates to a process for obtaining a product sugar stream from a cellulosic biomass, comprising pretreating the cellulosic biomass to hydrolyze a portion of the cellulose and hemicellulose to produce glucose, acetic acid and a sugar monomer, adding base to the pretreated cellulosic biomass to produce inorganic salt and acetate salt; hydrolyzing the neutralized cellulosic biomass with cellulase enzymes and separating insoluble residue from the resulting sugar stream; treating the clarified sugar stream using exclusion chromatography at a pH of 5 to 10 to produce a product sugar stream.
US08003351B2
Compositions comprising activatable recombinant neurotoxins and polypeptides derived therefrom. The invention also comprises nucleic acids encoding such polypeptides, and methods of making such polypeptides and nucleic acids.
US08003349B2
The present invention relates to a novel YlMPO1 gene which plays an important role in mannosylphosphorylation of an industrial yeast Yarrowia lipolytica, and to a method for preparing a host system capable of producing recombinant glycoproteins free of mannosylphosphate by disruption of the gene. The mannosylphosphorylation is suppressed by the disruption of YlMPO1 gene according to the present invention, thereby achieving humanization of glycosylation pathway of Yarrowia lipolytica.
US08003348B2
The present invention relates to a gene construct which is capable of achieving efficient production of an antimicrobial peptide in a microorganism, and a method for efficient mass production and separation of an antimicrobial peptide using the same. The gene construct of the present invention has a translationally coupled configuration of two independent and separate cistrons which encode an acidic peptide and a basic antimicrobial peptide, each having an opposite charge, under the control of a single promoter. The translationally coupled acidic peptide and basic antimicrobial peptide undergo charge-charge interaction simultaneously with expression thereof to neutralize the potential cytotoxicity of the antimicrobial peptide, resulting in prevention of antimicrobial peptide-mediated killing of host microorganisms. In addition, a conjugate of the acidic peptide and the antimicrobial peptide can be separated without chemical or enzymatic treatment. Therefore, it is possible to achieve easy mass production of antimicrobial peptides from recombinant microorganisms.
US08003335B2
The present invention provides a method of measuring the levels of APRIL in a biological sample, in a preferred embodiment, in serum. The diagnostic assays are useful in predicting an individual's likelihood of developing or currently suffering from an autoimmune disease, such as RA, predicting the future severity of the disease, and for methods for treating an individual clinically diagnosed with an autoimmune disease. This diagnostic test serves to predict a patient's likelihood to respond to a specific drug treatment, in particular treatment with APRIL antagonists, either singly or in combination with other immune suppressive drugs.
US08003330B2
Provided are methods of producing low copy number circularized nucleic acid variants that can be distributed to reaction volumes. The methods include providing a template nucleic acid; producing a population of clonal nucleic acids from the template nucleic acid; generating a set of partially overlapping nucleic acid fragments from the population of clonal nucleic acids; circularizing the partially overlapping nucleic acid fragments to produce circularized nucleic acid variants; and aliquotting the circularized nucleic acid variants into reaction volumes. Related compositions of nucleic acid templates are also provided.
US08003318B2
The physiological regulation of intake, growth and energy partitioning in animals is under the control of multiple genes, which may be important candidates for unraveling the genetic variation in economically relevant traits in beef production. The present invention relates to the identification of a single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within the bovine genes encoding growth hormone receptor (GHR), ghrelin, leptin, neuropeptide Y (NPY), and Uncoupling Protein 2 (UCP2) and their association with economically relevant traits in beef production. The invention further encompasses methods and systems, including network-based processes, to manage the SNP data and other data relating to specific animals and herds of animals, veterinarian care, diagnostic and quality control data and management of livestock which, based on genotyping, have predictable meat quality traits, husbandry conditions, animal welfare, food safety information, audit of existing processes and data from field locations.
US08003295B2
A pattern is formed by applying a first positive resist composition onto a substrate, heat treatment, exposure, heat treatment and development to form a first resist pattern, the first positive resist composition comprising a polymer having copolymerized recurring units having naphthol and recurring units with an alkaline solubility that increases under the action of acid; causing the first resist coating to crosslink and cure by irradiation of high-energy radiation of sub-200 nm wavelength; further applying a second positive resist composition onto the substrate, heat treatment, exposure, heat treatment and development to form a second resist pattern. The double patterning process reduces the pitch between patterns to one half.
US08003293B2
A deliberately engineered placement and size constraint (molecular weight distribution) of photoacid generators, solubility switches, photoimageable species, and quenchers forms individual pixels within a photoresist. Upon irradiation, a self-contained reaction occurs within each of the individual pixels that were irradiated to pattern the photoresist. These pixels may take on a variety of forms including a polymer chain, a bulky cluster, a micelle, or a micelle formed of several polymer chains. Furthermore, these pixels may be designed to self-assemble onto the substrate on which the photoresist is applied.
US08003279B2
An electrically conductive element for a proton exchange membrane fuel cell having low electrical contact resistance and high corrosion resistance. The conductive element comprises a corrosion susceptible metal substrate with a surface, which is preferably treated to activate the surface (i.e., to remove a passivation layer of oxides from the surface) with an acidic treatment solution. The treated surface is then overlaid with an electrically conductive, corrosion-resistant, protective coating to protect the substrate re-forming a passivation layer while exposed to the corrosive environment of the fuel cell.
US08003270B2
Fuel cell stacks and systems with thermal management systems to deliver a liquid heat exchange fluid into thermal communication with the stack and thereafter recycle the stream. In some embodiments, the system is adapted to selectively apportion the recycled liquid stream between a stream that, prior to reuse as a heat exchange stream, is returned to a fluid reservoir and/or selectively cooled, and/or selectively returned to the reservoir and mixed with heat exchange fluid in the reservoir, and a stream that is returned into thermal communication with the stack without returning the stream to the reservoir and/or without heating or cooling and/or without being mixed with additional heat exchange fluid. In some embodiments, the system is adapted to automatically apportion the recycled stream responsive to its temperature. In some embodiments, the system includes a thermostatic valve and/or selectively apportions the recycled stream without requiring an electronic controller or manual input.
US08003268B2
A modular, regenerative fuel cell system that includes a plurality of dedicated or reversible electrochemical cell stack modules, where each such module is devoid of major fluid systems, is provided. The inventive system allows a user to specifically and effectively tailor the system to the demands of a particular application. If additional electrolysis capability and/or additional power are needed, only electrolysis cell stack modules and/or fuel cell stack modules are added to the system. The use of unnecessary or duplicative support equipment is avoided thereby rendering this system more cost effective and efficient.
US08003266B2
A fuel cell is provided which can supply the stable power and has higher reliability and a longer period of life without the influence of the circumstances and the operation conditions. An absorbent disposed near an oxidant electrode of a fuel cell including a fuel electrode and the oxidant electrode approaches to the vicinity of or is in contact with the oxidant electrode surface or departs from the oxidant electrode. Thereby, the absorbent removes moisture on the oxidant electrode so that the fuel cell which can supply the stable power with the higher reliability and the longer period of life can be provided.
US08003264B2
A process for the generation of electricity and the production of a concentrated carbon dioxide stream using a molten carbonate fuel cell. Anode off-gas is at least partly fed to a catalytic afterburner wherein it is oxidized with an oxidant consisting of part of the cathode off-gas and/or part of a molecular oxygen containing external oxidant stream, which external oxidant stream has at most 20% (v/v) nitrogen. The oxidized anode off-gas is brought into heat exchange contact with the remainder of the cathode off-gas and the remainder of the external oxidant stream to obtain cooled anode off-gas and a heated mixture of cathode off-gas and external oxidant which are fed to the cathode chamber as the cathode inlet gas. As soon as a set point in the carbon dioxide concentration at the cathode chamber outlet is reached, part of the cooled anode off-gas is withdrawn from the process.
US08003261B2
The present invention provides a microporous polyolefin film having a thickness of 1 μm (inclusive) to 50 μm (inclusive), a porosity of 30% (inclusive) to 70% (inclusive), a piercing strength of 0.15 N/μm or more in terms of a film thickness of 1 μm, tensile strengths in the length direction (MD tensile strength) and the width direction (TD tensile strength) of 30 MPa or more each, a thermal shrinkage in the width direction (TD thermal shrinkage) of 1% or less at 65° C., and a thermal shrinkage ratio in the length to width direction (MD/TD thermal shrinkage ratio) of more than 2 at 65° C. A process for producing the microporous film and a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery using the film are also provided.
US08003252B2
An electrode, for a rechargeable lithium battery, including a current collector; an active material layer disposed on the current collector; and a coating layer disposed on the active material layer. The coating layer includes a lithium ion conductive polymer and an inorganic material represented by Formula 1: MwHxPyOz, wherein M is an element selected from the group consisting of an alkali metal, an alkaline-earth metal, a Group 13 element, a Group 14 element, a transition element, a rare earth element, and a combination thereof; and 1≦w≦4, 0≦x≦4, 1 ≦y≦7, and 2≦z≦30.
US08003249B2
A stacked battery sealed by a film casing shows a raised degree of resistance against vibrations. The stacked battery includes a stacked body formed by alternately laying plate-like positive electrodes and plate-like negative electrodes one on the other by way of separators, each of the positive electrodes and the negative electrodes having recessed sections and corresponding projecting sections, the recessed sections of each electrode being disposed vis-a-vis the projecting sections of one of the adjacent electrodes of the opposite polarity and the projecting sections of each electrode being disposed vis-a-vis the recessed sections of the other adjacent electrode of the opposite polarity except the those arranged closest to the exposed surfaces of the stacked body, and holding members respectively engaged directly or through at least one of the separator and the film casing with the recessed sections and the projecting sections of the electrodes arranged closest to the exposed surfaces, the holding members being rigidly secured to the film casing covering the stacked body and sealing the stacked battery, the positive electrodes and the negative electrodes being respectively connected to a positive terminal and a negative terminal.
US08003247B2
A button-type alkaline battery in which an anode 3 containing an anode active material and an alkaline electrolyte is disposed in a sealed space formed by sealing a cathode housing 4 with an anode sealing member 5, with a gasket 6 being interposed between the cathode housing 4 and the anode sealing member 5. The anode active material includes mercury-free zinc or a mercury-free zinc alloy. The button-type alkaline battery includes a metal layer 7 that is disposed between and in contact with the anode sealing member 5 and the anode 3. The metal layer 7 includes a base material containing zinc, and at least one metal M selected from the group consisting of indium, bismuth, and tin, with the metal M having segregated in the base material.
US08003245B2
A battery module includes a battery assembly having a plurality of unit batteries. A housing receives the battery assembly and has an coolant flow passage formed around the battery assembly. A divider is installed in the coolant flow passage to divide the coolant flow passage into a plurality of sub-coolant flow passages.
US08003244B2
The invention relates to a battery comprising an electrically non-conductive substrate (1) on which it is arranged, in addition to at least one cathode (4), one anode (6), and a separator/electrolyte layer (5) in the form of layers or films that are pre-formed from an electrochemically active or activatable material and optionally a polymer matrix and/or other auxiliary substances, in a corresponding sequence on the substrate (1). The layer thickness of each electrode layer is 10 μm. The inventive battery also comprises at least one current diverter (7) and at least one battery contact (2, 2a, 2b) that are respectively in electrical contact with an electrode. Said battery is characterized in that it comprises at least one first covering layer (8, 16, 17, 21) consisting of a first, electrically insulating material that is stable in relation to the used electrolyte and electrode material and has been deposited from the gas phase or in the form of a liquid or viscous paste. Said covering layer forms an encapsulation element with the substrate and optionally at least one other component, by which means the battery is sealed from the surrounding environment, and is provided with at least one recess (11, 18, 19) that is closed by an electroconductive material and is connected to at least one current diverter (7) of the battery. The invention also relates to a plurality of such batteries on the same substrate, and to methods for producing the cited batteries using wafer-level techniques.
US08003242B2
A liquid retaining pressure relief valve for electrochemical battery cells is provided including a pressure regulator and a membrane vent that are mounted to the top and bottom ends of a threaded valve housing or plug. The valve housing or plug screws into the cell cover from the outside of the cell such that the membrane vent is internal to the cell. The membrane vent includes a thin gas permeable liquid repellant membrane that is molded into the body of the vent. The membrane is preferably composed of an expanded polytetraflouroethylene (ePTFE) polymer.
US08003240B2
A power disconnection apparatus includes a soft-shell Li ion battery and a power disconnection device. The soft-shell Li ion battery includes anode pin and a cathode pin and a soft shell enclosing the soft-shell Li ion battery. The power disconnection device includes a panel attaching to the surface of the shell of the soft-shell Li ion battery and a separation unit arranged at topside of the panel and corresponding to one of the anode pin and the cathode pin. The shell has expansion when the soft-shell Li ion battery is over-charged and the panel is move away from the soft-shell Li ion battery. Therefore, the separation unit disconnects power to the anode pin or the cathode pin.
US08003234B2
A coated cutting insert according to the present invention includes a base layer formed on a substrate and an indicating layer formed on a part of the base layer. The indicating layer is formed on a flank face, on the base layer on the entire surface or a part of a region A2 except for a specific region A1, and on a rake face, on the base layer on the entire surface or a part of a region B2 except for a specific region B1. In the region A1 and the region B1, the base layer is exposed at the surface, and has compressive residual stress in one or both of the region A1 and the region B1.
US08003227B2
The present invention relates to the improvement of phosphorescent organic electroluminescent devices by using materials of the formula (1), preferably triazines, pyrimidines, pyridazines and pyrazines, in the hole-blocking layer.
US08003221B2
Disclosed are a metallocenyl dendrimer, an organic memory device using the metallocenyl dendrimer and a method for fabricating the organic memory device. The metallocenyl dendrimer may be composed of a dendrimer and metallocenes as redox species linked to the dendrimer. The organic memory device may possess the advantages of shorter switching time, decreased operating voltage, decreased fabrication costs and increased reliability. Based on these advantages, the organic memory device may be used as a highly integrated, large-capacity memory device.
US08003218B2
With respect to a reflection-type display device, an Al-based alloy material for a reflective film, which has excellent reflective characteristics and can be directly bonded to a transparent electrode layer such as ITO and IZO is provided. The present invention is Al—Ni—B alloy material for a reflective film, comprising aluminum containing nickel and boron, wherein a nickel content is 1.5-4 at %, a boron content is 0.1-0.5 at %, and the balance is aluminum. It is more preferable if the nickel content is 1.5-3 at %, and the boron content is 0.1-0.4 at %.
US08003193B2
The present invention provides a low-cost MEMS functional device by improving air tightness of a jointed section by anode junction in wafer level packaging for MEMS based functional devices. The MEMS functional device comprises a function element section formed by processing a substrate mainly made of Si, a metallized film for sealing formed around the functional element, and a glass substrate jointed to the metallized film for sealing by anode junction. Formed on a surface of the metallized film for sealing is a metallized film containing at least one of Sn and Ti as a main component.
US08003191B2
Disclosed is a honeycomb structure capable of preventing the generation of cracks in buffer portions and preventing the honeycomb structure from being divided when an operation (regeneration) of burning collected particulate matters is repeated. A honeycomb structure 100 includes a plurality of honeycomb segments 4 having partition walls 2 separating and forming a plurality of cells, and protruding walls 3 which are provided so as to protrude externally from partition walls 2a forming side surfaces 5 of the segments. The plurality of honeycomb segments 4 are arranged adjacent to one another so that the side surfaces 5 of the honeycomb segments face each other with a predetermined distance being left therebetween, each buffer portion 11 is disposed between the adjacent honeycomb segments 4 to join the honeycomb segments 4 together, and an outer peripheral portion 13 is disposed on an outermost periphery 12.
US08003188B2
The information recording medium of the present invention is provided with a substrate and an information layer including a recording layer. Rerecording and reproducing of information are performed by irradiating the information layer with a laser beam. The recording layer contains, as its main component, a material composed of Te, O, and M, where M denotes at least one element selected from Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Re, Os, Ir, Pt, and Au. In the material, the content of Te atom is 1 to 19 atom %, the content of O atom is 20 to 70 atom % (preferably 40 to 70 atom %), the content of M atom is 11 to 79 atom % (preferably 11 to 59 atom %, and more preferably more than 35 atom %). The material is, for example, is indicated as the region enclosed by A, B, C, and D, preferably by C, D, E, and F, and more preferably by E, F, H, and G, in the composition diagram of a ternary material of Te—O—Pd shown in FIG. 1.
US08003181B2
An anticorrosion sleeve including a resin sleeve and a metal sleeve tightly received in the resin sleeve. The metal sleeve has a gradually expanding outer diameter thereof toward one circular edge thereof in a tapered shape in cross section so that the metal sleeve expands the resin sleeve in diameter when the metal sleeve is inserted into the resin sleeve. The resin sleeve includes a large-diameter portion and a small-diameter portion. The metal sleeve includes an engagement end portion, an intermediate portion, and a tapered end portion in that order. The outer circumference of the engagement end portion of the metal sleeve is engaged beforehand with a step between the inner circumferences of the large-diameter portion and the small-diameter portion of the resin sleeve.
US08003168B2
The solution of the problem is arrived at through the following steps: a) applying liquid resin to the top side, b) drying the resin, c) pressing the construction plate under the influence of temperature, so that the resin at least partially melts, wherein the pressing may be performed in a continuous press.
US08003165B2
Nanoparticles are coated using thick-film techniques with a catalyst to promote the growth of carbon nanotubes thereon. In one example, alumina nanoparticles are coated with a copper catalyst. Such nanoparticles can be selectively deposited onto a substrate to create a field emission cathode, which can then be utilized within field emission devices.
US08003157B2
A system for coating a stent includes a device for weighing a stent, a device for aligning the stent with a stent support, a device for coating the stent, a device for drying the stent, and a device for inspecting the stent.
US08003153B2
A palatable green leaf tea from Camellia sinensis var. assamica is disclosed. Infusion of 2 g of the leaf tea in 200 ml water for 1.5 minutes at 90° C. produces a beverage comprising catechins in an amount of between 0.01 and 0.1% by weight of the beverage. Also disclosed is a process for manufacturing the leaf tea product wherein fresh leaf from var. assamica is macerated using a combination of a rotorvane and double-cone processor.
US08003150B2
The present invention relates to flavonoid sugar addition products and a method for making the same. It also relates to the use of these addition products for modifying the taste of food products.
US08003145B2
System for making and delivering a customized beverage product to a consumer having a user interface, a customization director in communication with a customization data store and the user interface, wherein the customization director includes executable instructions for determining a users customized formulation; and a beverage delivery system in communication with the customization director, wherein the beverage delivery system includes executable instructions for delivering a customized beverage product. Method for delivering a customized beverage product to an individual including the steps of obtaining consumer preference data; determining a consumer beverage formulation corresponding to the consumer preference data; and providing the consumer a customized beverage corresponding to the customized beverage formulation, utilizing one or more of delayed dilution, delayed mixing, and delayed filtering, in any order.
US08003134B2
An ascorbic acid-based composition and related method for the treatment of aging or photo-damaged skin is disclosed. The composition includes water and ascorbic acid, at least a portion of which has generally been pretreated by being dissolved under relatively high temperature and concentration conditions. The composition typically includes at least about 5.0% (w/v) ascorbic acid and may advantageously be formulated to have a pH above 3.5. Generally, the composition also includes non-toxic zinc salt, tyrosine compound, and/or pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In addition, the composition may include an anti-inflammatory compound, such as aminosugar and/or sulfur-containing anti-inflammatory compound. The topical composition may be in the form of a serum, a hydrophilic lotion, an ointment, a cream, or a gel.
US08003126B2
The present invention is directed to a stable solid formulations of tetrahydrobiopterin, processes for producing them, and treatment methods using such formulations.
US08003120B2
An anhydrous powder composition wherein the ratio of platelet to non-platelet particulates is greater than about 5 to 1 respectively, which is preferably talc-free, oil-free, paraben-free, and fragrance-free; and a method for preparing the powder composition of the invention.
US08003118B2
An oral preparation consisting of a non-systemic antibiotic and a proton pump blocker used for prevention of aspiration pneumonia and sepsis; and a method of prevention of aspiration pneumonia and/or sepsis by orally administering to a subject in need of such treatment a composition containing a therapeutically effective amount of rifaximin.
US08003110B1
The invention discloses identification and therapeutic use of matrix metalloproteinase oligopeptides and peptidomimetics. The oligopeptides are used for making antibodies. The antibodies are used for diagnostic and treatment purposes of various diseases. In particular, the diseases may involve the mechanism of degradation of extracellular matrix by MMP's during cell proliferation cycle. Suppression of MMP activity seems to arrest tumor growth during cancer progression. MMP oligopeptides were used as vaccines to treat mice having murine melanoma B16FO induced tumor. There was a significant drop in tumor weight and size for the group of mice that were immunized with MMP oligopeptide.
US08003098B2
The present invention relates to the use of cytoxicity based on the effector function of anti-EphA4 antibodies. Specifically, the present invention provides methods and pharmaceutical compositions that comprise an anti-EphA4 antibody as an active ingredient for damaging EphA4-expressing cells using antibody effector function. Since EphA4 is strongly expressed in pancreatic cancer cells, the present invention is particularly useful in pancreatic cancer therapies.
US08003088B2
A detergent composition containing a copolymer and a surfactant is provided. The copolymer comprises a cationic vinyl monomer (A) a specific vinyl monomer (B) having a hydroxyl group or an amide group, or 2,3-dihydroxypropyl(meth)acrylate wherein the proportion of the cationic vinyl monomer (A) is from 25 to 45 mol % of the copolymer. A method for cleaning an object by washing the object with the detergent composition is also provided.
US08003075B2
The present invention includes a diagnostic assay for the detection and determination of MGP in a human serum sample, which comprises the use of one or more antibodies, preferably monoclonal antibodies, specifically recognizing epitopes on and/or conformations of human Matrix Gla-Protein. A method is provided for using MGP-related antigens as biomarkers for certain diseases, for example, atherosclerosis and other vascular diseases, and angiogenesis/neogenesis in tumor development. Monoclonal antibodies of class IgG are described for use in the assay, which are defined herein as mAb3-15, mAb35-49[Glu], mAb35-49[Gla], mAb35-53[Glu], and mAb35-53[Gla]. Polyclonal antibodies and methods are also disclosed for measuring MGP in a human serum sample.
US08003074B2
A process for producing ZSM-48 comprises crystallizing an aqueous reaction mixture comprising at least one source of silica, at least one source of alumina, at least one source of hydroxyl ions, at least one source of diquaternary alkylammonium, R2+, ions having the formula: (CH3)3N+(CH2)5N+(CH3)3 and optionally ZSM-48 seed crystals, wherein said reaction mixture has a composition including the following molar ratios: R2+:SiO2less than 0.1 SiO2:Al2O3less than 100 OH−:SiO2less than 0.2.
US08003063B2
The invention is directed to microfluidic devices comprising at least two processing channels, wherein each of the processing channels comprises an inlet, an outlet, and a high-flow-resistant and hydrophilic conduit; a distributing channel, wherein the distributing channel comprises an upstream end and a downstream end, and is in fluid communication with each inlet of the processing channels via the high-flow-resistant and hydrophilic conduit; and a flushing channel, wherein the flushing channel comprises an upstream end and a downstream end, and is in fluid communication with each outlet of the processing channels. The invention also provides methods of using the microfluidic devices.
US08003060B2
The present invention provides disposable, semi-reusable, or single use reaction vessels with integrated optical elements for use with diffraction based assay systems. The vessel for assaying liquids for analytes includes a housing having at least one chamber or well for receiving a liquid therein and an optical element integrally formed with the housing for directing an incident light beam towards the well or chamber and directing a light beam away from the reaction chamber after the light beam has interacted with analytes present in the liquid.
US08003054B2
Fluid analyzer systems are provided which can detect a multitude of fluids in a sample to a very high level of accuracy which includes the detection of the presence of very small amounts of fluids. The results are both qualitative and quantitative. The systems consist of a receptacle which is filled with the fluid sample to be analysed which is placed into a consistent light condition environment where its temperature is measured. Under a predetermined time duration, Charge-Coupled Device (CCD) detector(s) receive by absorbance, radiation from the fluid sample at known wavelengths and are matched against a databank of known wavelengths of fluids. Matching wavelengths within a pre-defined tolerance will determine whether an individual fluid is present or not.
US08003050B2
A device for analyzing samples is disclosed, which are supplied in sample vessels (2), a central unit (1) with reaction vessels (2), a transport unit (6) for transporting the reaction vessels and at least one analytical unit (7, 8, 9) being provided. The central unit (1) contains a sampling unit (30), by which at least a part of the sample is transferred from the sample vessel (2) to a reaction vessel. At least a part of the reaction vessels is transferred via/by the transport unit (6) to at least one of the analytical units (7, 8, 9). Furthermore, at least one reagent vessel (20, . . . , 23) with at least one reagent is provided, which is supplied to the sample in the reaction vessel for a reaction between the sample and the reagent. Finally, at least one measuring device (5) or at least one measuring unit for the measuring of a physical property of the sample is provided. The device according to the invention works extremely efficiently, simultaneously a minimal effort of resources being required. Thereby, particular advantageous is the modular construction of the device according to the invention, which allows an extension of the analysis capacity as required. Furthermore, the modular construction results in an easier maintenance since defective units (1; 7, 8, 9) can easily be replaced by new ones.
US08003049B2
In an analyzer for analyzing a sample that reacts with a reagent 25, an analyzing tool 10, an infrared sensor 1 and a temperature controlling part 5 are provided. Inside the analyzing tool 10, a reaction cell 24 in which the sample and the reagent 25 react with each other and a heating element 33 that is heated by electrification are provided. The infrared sensor 1 is disposed outside the analyzing tool 10 so as to photoreceive an infrared ray 9 that is emitted from the reaction cell 24, and outputs a signal that is in accordance with an amount of the photoreceived infrared ray 9 to the temperature controlling part 5. The temperature controlling part 5 adjusts a heat value of the heating element 33 based on the signal from the infrared sensor 1.
US08003029B2
The invention relates to a method for preventing or reducing deposit forming of superabsorbent material and/or oil onto guide rollers during the process of applying a superabsorbent water-in-oil emulsion onto a yarn wherein the oil is a mixture comprising saturated hydrocarbons, characterized in that the at least 70 wt % of the hydrocarbons have 20 to 32 carbon atoms.
US08003027B2
A process for the preparation of polymer yarns from ultra high molecular weight homopolymers or copolymers which includes the steps of preparing a suspension of a homopolymer or copolymer and a spinning or gelling solvent, extruding the suspension with the formation of a gel, spinning the gel to obtain non-stretched filaments or yarns, cooling the non-stretched filaments or yarns, feeding the non-stretched filaments or yarns, to an extractor together with the feed of an organic extraction solvent, extracting the non-polar long chain solvent impregnated in the yarns, drying the non-stretched filament bundles or yarns, and stretching said dry yarns at a temperature in excess of 80° C.
US08003023B2
A method for fabricating a liquid crystal display (LCD) device wherein a photolithography technique is replaced by soft lithography is disclosed. The method includes: forming a thin film transistor array substrate; forming a color filter substrate; bonding the thin film transistor array substrate and the color filter substrate; and applying a liquid crystal between the thin film transistor array substrate and the color filter substrate, wherein at least one of the forming the thin film transistor array substrate and the forming the color filter substrate includes a pattern forming method using a soft mold. The pattern forming method may be a soft lithography process that includes: contacting a soft mold having a particular pattern with a surface of a buffer layer and applying a constant heat to the soft mold and buffer layer to transfer the particular pattern onto the buffer layer.
US08003018B2
A composition for fabricating an electrode includes an organic binder and a conductive filler. About 3 to about 60 wt. % of the composition is the organic binder, about 5 to about 95 wt. % of the composition is the conductive filler, the conductive filler includes predominantly aluminum, the conductive filler has a flake shape, and the conductive filler has an average thickness of about 0.05 μm to about 0.75 μm.
US08003015B2
The present invention provides a composite positive electrode material for a lithium ion battery, which is particularly excellent in high-rate discharge characteristics in a battery, and also provides a slurry, positive electrode and battery using the composite positive electrode material. The composite positive electrode material for a lithium ion battery contains: a positive electrode active material (a); a conductive material (b) having a primary particle diameter of 10 to 100 nm and/or a fibrous conductive material (c) having a fiber diameter of 1 nm to 1 μm; and a conductive material (d) having an aspect ratio of 2 to 50.
US08003012B2
The current invention provides a persistent phosphor blend, along with techniques for making and using the blend. The persistent phosphor blend is made of at least one persistent phosphor combined with at least one other phosphor, where the excitation spectra of the one or more other phosphors overlap the emission spectra of the one or more persistent phosphors. The choice of the phosphors used allows the decay time and emission colors to be tuned for the specific application. In another embodiment, the invention provides a method for making persistent phosphor blends with tunable colors. In yet another embodiment, applications for such a persistent phosphor blend are provided.
US08003009B2
An environmentally friendly penetrant used in non-destructive testing of material includes a vegetable oil fatty acid ester. A first embodiment of the penetrant is a post-emulsifiable fluorescent penetrant, a second embodiment of the penetrant is a heatable fluorescent penetrant, a third embodiment of the penetrant is a water washable fluorescent penetrant, a fourth embodiment of the penetrant is a visible water washable penetrant, and a fifth embodiment is a visible solvent removable penetrant. The heatable fluorescent penetrant includes a phenolic antioxidant to provide stability to at least approximately 120 degrees Fahrenheit. A method for using the heatable fluorescent penetrant includes heating the penetrant to lower penetrant viscosity and thus provide better penetration into flaws in the material.
US08003005B2
Various non-limiting embodiments disclosed herein provide phase-separating polymer systems including a cured polymeric liquid crystal matrix phase and a guest phase including at least one photoactive material where the guest phase separates from the matrix phase during the curing process. Optical elements, including ophthalmic elements and other articles of manufacture including the phase-separating polymer systems are also disclosed. Methods of forming a liquid crystal phase-separating photoactive polymer system are also described.
US08002999B2
An exemplary stamper includes molding portions arranged in an array. Each of the molding portions includes a central optical molding portion and an annular peripheral molding portion surrounding the central optical molding portion. Each molding portion is capable of facilitating formation of a respective optical article. A surface roughness of the annular peripheral molding portion is larger than a predetermined wavelength of light. The predetermined wavelength is selected according to a wavelength of light that is expected to be incident on the optical article when the optical article is in use.
US08002997B2
According to one embodiment, a method of manufacturing a magnetic recording medium includes forming a resist on a magnetic recording layer, imprinting a stamper to the resist to transfer patterns of protrusions and recesses, and partially etching the magnetic recording layer in areas not covered with patterns of the resist used as masks by ion beam etching using a mixed gas of He and N2 as well as modifying a remainder of the magnetic recording layer to leave behind a nonmagnetic layer having a reduced thickness.
US08002991B2
Systems and methods for dewatering drilling fluid including a feeder, an aging tank, a polyductor configured between the feeder and the aging tank and a flocculant solution pump fluidly connected to the aging tank. Further, the system includes a portable skid to house the feeder, the aging tank, the polyductor, and the flocculant solution pump. In certain embodiments, the polyductor is configured to mix a liquid with a dry flocculant from the feeder, and disperse a resultant flocculant solution in the aging tank, the aging tank is configured to receive the flocculant solution, and the flocculant solution pump is configured to remove the flocculant solution from the aging tank.
US08002965B2
Testing of the performance of an electrochemical meter used to measure the presence of an analyte in a biological sample, particularly glucose in whole blood, includes introducing a control solution containing a predetermined amount of the analyte and a predetermined amount of an internal reference compound. The internal reference compound is selected such that it is oxidized at a potential greater than that used to oxidize the analyte, thereby making it possible to distinguish the control solution from a biological sample.
US08002962B2
A method and composition for electroplating Cu onto a substrate in the manufacture of a microelectronic device involving and electrolytic solution containing a source of Cu ions and a substituted pyridyl polymer compound for leveling.
US08002956B1
A stand-off for maintaining the separation between an electrode and an object during a flow-through electroplating process is disclosed. The stand-off comprises a substantially streamlined shape that mitigates the effects of shadowing during deposition.
US08002953B2
An energy-efficient extractive distillation process for producing anhydrous ethanol from aqueous/ethanol feeds containing any range of ethanol employs an extractive distillation column (EDC) that operates under no or greatly reduced liquid reflux conditions. The EDC can be incorporated into an integrated process for producing anhydrous ethanol used for gasoline blending from fermentation broth. By using a high-boiling extractive distillation solvent, no solvent is entrained by the vapor phase to the EDC overhead stream, even under no liquid reflux conditions. The energy requirement and severity of the EDC can be further improved by limiting ethanol recovery in the EDC. In this partial ethanol recovery design, ethanol which remains in the aqueous stream from the EDC is recovered in a post-distillation column or the aqueous stream is recycled to a front-end pre-distillation column where the ethanol is readily recovered since the VLE curve for ethanol/water is extremely favorable for distillation.
US08002946B2
A plasma reactor for etching a workpiece such as a rectangular or square mask, includes a vacuum chamber having a ceiling and a sidewall and a workpiece support pedestal within the chamber including a cathode having a surface for supporting a workpiece, the surface comprising plural respective zones, the respective zones of the surface being formed of respective materials of different electrical characteristics. The zones can be arranged concentrically relative to an axis of symmetry of the wafer support pedestal.
US08002945B2
A method is provided in plasma processing of a workpiece for stabilizing the plasma against engineered transients in applied RF power, by modulating an unmatched low power RF generator in synchronism with the transient.
US08002940B2
An inflatable convective thermal blanket is designed to have at least one section on its top surface that has securely mounted thereon at least one fluid absorbent mechanism for absorbing fluids from a subject that is placed onto the blanket, or from fluids fallen onto the blanket from other sources. The one section is configured onto the blanket in such a way that it forms a well for collecting the fluids. The fluid absorbent mechanism, which may be in the form of a pad, would absorb the collected fluid to thereby minimize evaporative and cooling effects on the subject. Instead of mounting it on top of the blanket, the fluid absorbent pad may be mounted to the underside of the blanket, with appropriate holes and/or openings provided at the fluid collecting section, so that the collected fluids are drained onto the fluid absorbent pad. To enhance the input flow of air to the blanket, as well as to enable the blanket to be flatly folded for storage or shipping, a collapsible retainer mechanism is provided at the input port(s) of the blanket. The retainer mechanism opens up to a shape that facilitates the mating of an air hose to the input port. When folded to its collapsed position, the retainer mechanism, and the input port, would lie substantially coplanarly with the blanket. When configured to the position for accepting the air hose, the retainer mechanism is positioned substantially orthogonal to the blanket.
US08002933B2
A method of fabricating an elastomeric structure, comprising: forming a first elastomeric layer on top of a first micromachined mold, the first micromachined mold having a first raised protrusion which forms a first recess extending along a bottom surface of the first elastomeric layer; forming a second elastomeric layer on top of a second micromachined mold, the second micromachined mold having a second raised protrusion which forms a second recess extending along a bottom surface of the second elastomeric layer; bonding the bottom surface of the second elastomeric layer onto a top surface of the first elastomeric layer such that a control channel forms in the second recess between the first and second elastomeric layers; and positioning the first elastomeric layer on top of a planar substrate such that a flow channel forms in the first recess between the first elastomeric layer and the planar substrate.
US08002930B2
The present invention relates to an article of manufacture having a reflective design thereon, as well as a method for manufacture thereof. The article of manufacture, such as a tire cover, comprises a substrate having a display surface, at least one adhesive material disposed on the display surface, and a first pigmented material arranged in a first design pattern and adhered to the display surface by the adhesive material, where the first pigmented material includes a plurality of glass particles operative to reflect light received from a light source. A second pigmented material, such as a reflective or non-reflective material of a different color, may be adhered to the display surface in a second design pattern. The present invention also provides a transfer pattern, and method for forming the same, that is for use in transferring a reflective design to a display surface.
US08002926B2
An apparatus for producing tubes formed from fiber reinforced composite material, the apparatus including: an elongate hollow mandrel (3) having an internal mandrel cavity (5), the mandrel having an external surface (7) upon which reinforcing fiber material (9) can be wrapped to provide a composite lay-up (10) supported thereon; and fluid flow means (11) for enabling heat transfer fluid of different temperatures to be circulated through the mandrel cavity (5), such that when fluid at an elevated temperature is circulated, heat is transferred from the fluid, through the mandrel (3) to the composite lay-up (10) for curing or forming said lay-up.
US08002922B2
A method of forming a power transmission belt including the steps of: providing a first layer made from rubber and having first and second oppositely facing sides; providing a mold; pressing the first side of the first layer conformingly against a surface on the mold having alternating projections and recesses to thereby form alternating teeth and troughs on the first layer; locally pressing the second side of the first layer at locations coinciding lengthwise with the teeth to thereby eliminate or prevent the formation of discrete holes; and joining the first layer, having the alternating teeth and troughs thereon, to at least one other component to define the power transmission belt.
US08002891B2
The present invention relates to molecules and molecular complexes which comprise the active site binding pockets of JNK3 or close structural homologues of the active site binding pockets.
US08002890B2
A method of preparing a mortar composition, comprising mixing of mortar materials comprising at least 25 to 45 parts by weight of high-early-strength portland cement, 40 to 60 parts by weight of sand, 0.05 to 0.12 parts by weight of polycarboxylic acid-based powdered water reducing agent, and 10 to 25 parts by weight of water, and not comprising any organic adhesives. Mixing of the mortar materials is achieved by agitating the same in an agitator until agitating load rapidly decreases. The mortar composition prepared in accordance with this invention has excellent ability to infiltrate into the surface to be adhered, and high bonding strength after hardening.
US08002888B2
The invention relates to a colorant of the formula (2) where M=Ca, Sr or a combination of Ca and Sr.
US08002884B2
The invention relates to a process of ink jet printing a radiation-curable ink from a printer having a de-wetting faceplate onto a substrate in which the ink is such that it has an advancing contact angle on the substrate of no more than 22° and a receding contact angle on the faceplate, after a period of contact of one month, of greater than 28° . The invention also provides a radiation-curable ink for use in an ink jet printer having a de-wetting faceplate, the ink having a receding contact angle on a material having a surface energy in the range of 16 to 20 dyne/cm of greater than 28° after a period of contact of one month and having an advancing contact angle on a substrate having a surface energy of less than 30 dyne/cm of no more than 22°.
US08002883B2
Use of compositions comprising a) at least one azole and b) at least one amidoalkylamine of the formula (I), a salt and/or acid addition compound thereof, in which R1 represents optionally substituted C1-C40-alkyl or C2-C40-alkenyl, R2, R3 and R4 independently of one another represent hydrogen or C1-C8-alkyl and n represents an integer from 1 to 6 for protecting industrial materials against attack and/or destruction by microorganisms.
US08002879B2
There is disclosed a method of controlling pore size in a porous material comprising the steps of: providing a porous material comprising a plurality of interconnected auxetic fibres; and applying a tensile or compressive load to the porous material so as to vary the pore size of the porous material in order to produce a desired effect.
US08002877B1
Ethylene is a gaseous growth hormone produced by plant which triggers the ripening of fruits and vegetables. Titanium dioxide, positioned on a filter, acts to trap ethylene to remove the ethylene from a vegetation storage container. Sodium silicate is utilized to absorb moisture to reduce the absorption of moisture by the titanium dioxide to prolong the ethylene trapping capacity of the titanium dioxide. The filter, after becoming saturated to a desired extent with ethylene, is removed from the vegetation storage container and heated to facilitate a release of the ethylene from the titanium dioxide. This process provides for a reconditioning of the filter for continued use within the vegetation storage container. Producing an air flow and providing for exhaust of ethylene enhance the reconditioning of the filter during the application of heat.
US08002876B2
The invention relates to an electrostatic filter method and electrostatic filter for separating particles from industrial waste gases, wherein an optimal electric charging or ionization in the ionization zone are performed in a high-voltage zone and its unchanged ducts with one high-voltage supply source to ensure the subsequent particle separation in the separation zone at sufficient field strength which requires minimal energy input.
US08002874B2
Processes for dehydrating an organic/water solution by pervaporation or vapor separation using fluorinated membranes. The processes are particularly useful for treating mixtures containing light organic components, such as ethanol, isopropanol or acetic acid.
US08002872B2
The invention provides efficient and effective processes for recovering metals such as aluminum, magnesium and lithium from mixed waste sources such as auto shredder residue, aluminum cans, waste particles of aluminum alloy and municipal waste. The metal-waste source is dissolved in a more noble metal solvent at a temperature at which contaminants do not dissolve. The purified metal is then recovered from the solvent, preferably by electrorefining.
US08002870B2
Soil amendment/foliar nutrient compositions and methods for their manufacture and use are provided. The compositions are aqueous compositions that include a carbon skeleton energy component (CSE); a macronutrient; a vitamin cofactor; a complexing agent; and at least one of exotic micronutrient component and an ionophore component.
US08002868B2
A dehumidifier is provided. The dehumidifier includes a cabinet defining an outer appearance of the dehumidifier and having an air inlet and an air outlet, and a filter assembly disposed in the cabinet and purifying air introduced through the air inlet, wherein the filter assembly comprises a filter frame and a filter case coupled to the filter frame by a hinge and being capable of pivoting frontward.
US08002854B2
A novel process and apparatus are disclosed for sustainable CO2-free production of hydrogen and carbon by thermocatalytic decomposition (dissociation, pyrolysis, cracking) of hydrocarbon fuels over carbon-based catalysts in the absence of air and/or water. The apparatus and thermocatalytic process improve the activity and stability of carbon catalysts during the thermocatalytic process and produce both high purity hydrogen (at least, 99.0 volume %) and carbon, from any hydrocarbon fuel, including sulfurous fuels. In a preferred embodiment, production of hydrogen and carbon is achieved by both internal and external activation of carbon catalysts. Internal activation of carbon catalyst is accomplished by recycling of hydrogen-depleted gas containing unsaturated and aromatic hydrocarbons back to the reactor. External activation of the catalyst can be achieved via surface gasification with hot combustion gases during catalyst heating. The process and apparatus can be conveniently integrated with any type of fuel cell to generate electricity.
US08002849B2
The present invention relates to a method of coloring hair, comprising the steps of applying onto the hair a pre-treatment composition containing at least one saccharide-siloxane copolymer to form pre-treated hair, optionally, at least one emulsifier, optionally, at least one viscosity-modifying agent, and a cosmetically acceptable medium; applying a permanent hair coloring composition onto the pre-treated hair to form colored hair, rinsing the colored hair, optionally, applying a post-treatment composition to the hair, and optionally, rinsing the colored hair.
US08002846B2
Method for manufacturing a protein filling agent for leather utilizing animal hairs. The method includes pre-treating the animal hairs to obtain pre-treated animal hairs, wherein the pre-treating comprises soaking the animal hairs in an inorganic acid solution and a reducing agent solution. Next, the pre-treated hairs are hydrolyzed in an alkaline compound to obtain a viscous liquid and then, neutralized and dried to obtain the protein filling agent for leather.
US08002845B2
The subject invention provides materials and methods for soft tissue augmentation. The materials and methods of the subject invention can, advantageously, be used to correct defects such as velopharyngeal insufficiency after cleft palate repair. Other uses include treatments for gastroesophageal acid-reflux, urinary incontinence, wrinkles and contour abnormalities.
US08002843B2
Biological-based polyurethanes and methods of making the same. The polyurethanes are formed by reacting a biodegradable polyisocyanate (such as lysine diisocyanate) with an optionally hydroxylated biomolecule to form polyurethane. The polymers formed may be combined with ceramic and/or bone particles to form a composite, which may be used as an osteoimplant.
US08002837B2
Implant devices in the form of a vertebral body replacement for implantation within an intervertebral space between adjacent vertebrae is disclosed for immobilization and support of the adjacent vertebrae in a desired spatial relationship and for promotion of fusion by the adjacent vertebrae. Instruments for insertion and implantation of the implant devices and of fusion material such as bone graft material are disclosed. Methods are disclosed for implantation of the implant devices.
US08002832B2
The present invention is a brace or spinal implant that can be inserted into vertebra that has had a cavity surgically created therein. The trapezoidal shaped spinal implant includes an opening that allows the surgical team to view the dura mater prior to packing the implant with osteogenic substances.
US08002829B2
A prosthesis for insertion in an ear to reduce pain resulting from TMJ disorders. The ear insert has a predefined shape conforming to the shape of the ear canal when the jaw is in an open position. The ear insert supports the TMJ and associated secondary musculature to reduce strain in the TMJ area, including the muscles, ligaments, nerves, and the temporo-mandibular joint itself. The insert is hollow in the inside to permit hearing and is made of a rigid material which retains the shape of the ear canal. A scalloped indenture extends across a surface of the ear insert positioned behind the tragus.
US08002827B2
A system for measuring the size of a capsular bag of an eye of a subject includes a size indicator and a sizing gauge. The size indicator is configured for insertion into a capsular bag and includes a peripheral portion and a pair of arms. The peripheral portion is configured to engage the capsular bag. Each of the arms has a proximal end and a distal end, the arms being joined to one another at the proximal ends. The peripheral portion is joined to the distal ends of the arms. The arms form an angle that depends on a size of the capsular bag into which the size indicator is placed. The sizing gauge has a body having a front surface, along with first and second features disposed along or behind the front surface. The features are configured to correspond to an angle that is within a predetermined range of angles of the arms of the size indicator when the size indicator is placed within a capsular bag.
US08002815B2
A delivery system for an implantable vascular prosthesis is provided for a vascular prosthesis including at least first and second helical sections having alternating directions of rotation that are coupled to one another at apices. The delivery system includes an elongate body, a plurality of retainers and an outer sheath. The plurality of retainers are configured to temporarily retain a plurality of inner wound apices of the vascular prosthesis. The outer sheath is configured to retain the vascular prosthesis in a contracted state on the elongate body.
US08002814B2
Over-the-scope stent introducers for detachably engaging at least a portion of the outside of an endoscope insert and for delivering a stent are provided. Embodiments include an inner member having a distal first end portion and a proximal second end portion and openings defining a channel. The inner member includes an outer surface, inner endoscope engaging surface, and stent abutting restraint disposed at the first end portion. Embodiments also include an outer member having a distal section and proximal section having openings defining a passageway sized to slideably receive at least a portion of the inner member, and a stent carrying inner chamber disposed at the distal section passageway and being configured to releasably contain a stent. In alternative embodiments, the inner and outer members are elongated to dispose substantially concentrically over a majority of an endoscope insert.
US08002813B2
An osteoinductive/osteoconductive composition prepared from a quantity, of demineralized fibrous bone elements possessing an average surface area to volume ratio of about 100:1 to about 20:1, a quantity of mostly shaped regular non-fibrous bone elements possessing an average surface area to volume ratio of about 10:1 or less and a sufficient quantity of biocompatible fluid carrier sufficient to provide the composition as a deformable mass is provided herein. Also provided is a method of using the composition to repair a bone defect site.
US08002812B2
A bone-fastening system includes an implant with a threaded screw, a distal nut with a threaded bore, and a proximal washer which may also be threaded. An instrument for implanting the implant includes a handle and a barrel terminating in a holder for the washer. A c-shaped bridge assembly has a first end connected to the barrel and a second end including a holder for the nut in axial alignment with the washer. A manually operated control on the instrument, coupled to an elongated element in the barrel, causes the washer to move toward the nut, thereby applying compressive pressure to bone portions to be fastened together. A drive mechanism disposed within the barrel has a distal end with a holder for the screw and a proximal end that is turned by a user, thereby advancing the screw through the washer to the nut to fasten the bone portions under compression. The manually operated control is preferably a trigger that is squeezed toward the handle by a user. A separate control, also preferably in the form of a trigger, is used to release pressure on the elongated element in the barrel, enabling the implant to be easily removed from the implant once in position.
US08002788B2
An obturator assembly for penetrating tissue and being at least partially positionable within a cannula assembly includes an obturator housing, an obturator shaft connected to the obturator housing and defining a longitudinal axis, a bladeless penetrating member adjacent the distal end of the obturator shaft and an obturator shield mounted about the obturator shaft and having a distal shield nose. The obturator shield is adapted for longitudinal movement between an extended position where the bladeless penetration member is substantially enclosed within the shield nose and a retracted position where the bladeless penetrating member is at least partially exposed from the shield nose. A manually manipulative member is mounted to the obturator housing and is adapted for rotational movement about the longitudinal axis and relative to the obturator housing between an initial position corresponding to a first mode of operation where the obturator shield is secured in the extended position and the shield nose is used to penetrate tissue, and a release position corresponding to a second mode of operation operatively releasing the obturator shield to permit the obturator shield to move to the retracted position thereof to expose the bladeless penetrating member for further dissecting the tissue.
US08002787B2
The present invention refers to a device and a method for subcutaneous detachment of the face, the leg, the thigh, the breast, the abdomen and the forehead, facilitating the full detachment of the skin from the underlying (adipose) tissue with substantial reduction in bleeding, better skin cutting quality, lesser amount of post-op edema, decreased surgery time, minimization of ecchymoses, prophylaxis of facial nerve injuries, and above all, minimized formation of post-op hematomas.
US08002784B2
A manipulator has a working unit in which when at least a first end effector finger and a second end effector finger are maximally closed on each other, at least the distance between a third joint axis and a first joint axis is greater than the distance between the first joint axis and a distal end of the second end effector finger, or the distance between the third joint axis and the first joint axis is greater than the distance between third joint axis and a second joint axis, or the angle formed between a direction from the third joint axis to the first joint axis and a direction from the third joint axis to the second joint axis is not π.
US08002782B2
The present invention relates to ultrasonic surgical clamping instruments and, more particularly, to a curved clamp arm tissue pad attachment for use with ultrasonic surgical instruments. A curved clamp arm for use with an ultrasonic surgical instrument is described. The curved clamp arm includes a proximal end and a distal end, with a top surface extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the curved clamp arm. The top surface comprises at least one hole. The clamp arm includes a bottom surface opposite the top surface, with the bottom surface extending from the proximal end to the distal end of the clamp arm. The bottom surface includes at least one engaging surface, where the hole in the top surface extends from the top surface to the engaging surface of the clamp arm. One embodiment of the curved clamp includes a plurality of the holes in the top surface, and a plurality of the engaging surfaces in the bottom surface, wherein each hole in the top surface extends through the curved clamp arm, terminating at a corresponding engaging surface on the bottom surface. The plurality of holes may also be staggered laterally from the proximal end of the clamp arm to the distal end of the clamp arm.
US08002780B2
An assisted anastomosis apparatus and a method thereby for reconnecting the urethral stump to the neck of the bladder after removal of the prostate during a prostatectomy, comprising two suture units, namely a urethral stump suturing unit (1a) and a bladder suturing unit (1b), at least a section of said urethral stump suturing unit (1a) has suitable dimensions to be introduced into a bladder neck and at least a section of said bladder suturing unit (1b) has suitable dimensions to be introduced into a urethral stump; such that each needle pulls the suture leading from its equivalent position on the urethral stump through the wall of the bladder neck.
US08002779B2
A dermatome has a main body with a first profile and at least one blade assembly with a blade, a size, an orientation corresponding to the main body, and a second profile. The second profile has characteristics corresponding to the first profile to properly orient and locate the at least one blade for proper mounting of the blade to the main body. The profiles are shaped to provide clearance for the second profile to reciprocate relative to the first profile.
US08002777B2
A punch assembly for preparing a tibia bone for a prosthesis includes a static component configured to be supported by the tibia bone and a dynamic component that includes a punch having a stem. The dynamic component is supported for movement relative to the static component along a generally arcuate path to prepare an aperture having an arcuate contour in the tibia bone. A method of preparing a tibial aperture for is also disclosed.
US08002774B2
A bone mill including a base and a mill head that is removably attached to the base. A cutting disc is rotatably disposed in the mill head. When the mill head is attached to base, the cutting disc is rotated by a motor internal to the base. A plunger mounted to the mill head urges the bone against the cutting disc. The cutting disc and an impingement plate internal to the mill head shear the bone into chips. The chips are discharged from an opening in the mill head into a catch tray removably attached to the mill head.
US08002773B2
An assembly includes a body, a plunger, a biasing member and a set screw. The body has a top surface, a bottom surface, and a polygonal drive surface interposed between the top surface and the bottom surface. The body has a first passageway extending from the top to the bottom surface, a second passageway extending from the polygonal drive surface to the first passageway, and a third passageway extending from the polygonal drive surface to the first or second passageway. The plunger has a channel that defines an interior surface having a threaded portion. The plunger moves within the second passageway. The biasing member biases the plunger toward a first plunger position. The set screw is movable within the third passageway between a first position in which the set screw inhibits movement and a second position in which the set screw allows movement of the plunger within the second passageway.
US08002758B2
When a patient is fitted with an external gastrostomy connection to the stomach, ingested food can be removed through the gastrostomy connection using a pump-based or siphon-based system to achieve weight loss. The process of removing ingested food can be improved by alternating the infusion of liquid into the stomach with the removal of material from the stomach. Optionally, stomach acid may be captured and returned to the stomach. Optionally, nutritional supplements or medicines may be added to the infused liquid. Optionally, a flush mount connectorized system with a built in valve may be used to simplify the interface with the gastrostomy hardware that remains installed in the patient. Optionally, the system may be configured to disable itself from further use after a triggering event (e.g., the passage of time or a predetermined number of uses) has occurred.
US08002757B1
Splash shield systems for use with wide mouth irrigation squeeze bottles and other irrigation fluid sources.
US08002754B2
A plunger rod useful for sliding a piston inserted in a syringe barrel has a threaded portion formed at an end of the plunger rod to attach the piston on the plunger rod and a flange formed at an opposite end of the plunger rod. The threaded portion and the flange are integrally connected together by a cylindrical member having an outer diameter such that the cylindrical member can be inserted with contact slidability in the syringe barrel, for example, an outer diameter equal to or slightly smaller than an inner diameter of the syringe barrel.
US08002747B2
An implantable infusion system includes at least two controllable fluid transfer devices that may be used to transfer different fluid flows to the same or different body sites.
US08002740B2
Devices and methods for altering gaseous flow within a lung to improve the expiration cycle of an individual, particularly individuals having chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. The methods and devices create channels in lung tissue and maintain the patency of these surgically created channels in tissue. Maintaining the patency of the channels allows air to pass directly out of the lung tissue which facilitates the exchange of oxygen ultimately into the blood and/or decompresses hyper-inflated lungs.
US08002736B2
Systems for injecting fluids and/or other materials into a targeted anatomical location, in particular, an intra-articular space, include a handpiece assembly having a proximal end and a distal end, a needle extending from the distal end of the handpiece assembly, a fluid delivery module comprising a cassette and a fluid transfer device. A conduit is generally configured to place the fluid delivery module in fluid communication with the handpiece assembly. Medications, formulations and/or other fluids or materials contained within vials that are secured to the fluid delivery module can be selectively delivered into an anatomy through a needle located at the distal end of the handpiece assembly. In some embodiments, ultrasound or other imaging technologies can be used to locate a joint or other targeted anatomical location.
US08002728B2
One disclosed embodiment comprises a method for treating lesions in the carotid artery of a mammalian body. The method comprises transcervical access and blocking of blood flow through the common carotid artery (with or without blocking of blood flow through the external carotid artery), shunting blood from the internal carotid artery and treating the lesion in the carotid artery.
US08002726B2
Methods and devices for providing dialysis treatment are provided. The device includes a resin bed including zirconium phosphate, zirconium oxide, and urease.
US08002721B2
The present invention is directed to a thermal covering that delivers consistent therapy to a portion of a user's hand-wrist area, is easy to use and apply to the body, and is securely positionable on the body. The thermal covering can be entirely disposable after one use. The thermal covering can also have a disposable component and a reusable component that can be packaged individually together as a kit.
US08002713B2
A biopsy device for tissue collection having a housing and a removable element. A power source is contained within the housing and the removable unit includes a biopsy needle module and a pressure source that can be integrated into the housing such that the biopsy device is fully operational without the need for wires or cables extending from the housing to connect to external units. The biopsy needle module includes a biopsy needle and a cutting sleeve, the biopsy needle having a sharpened distal end and a distal opening for collection of tissue, the cutting sleeve having a cutting blade on its distal end and being coaxially positioned with respect to the biopsy needle.
US08002712B2
A system for collecting an exhaled breath sample and exhaled breath aerosol from a subject includes a condensation chamber having an outerwall defining an interior space. The outer wall has an inlet port and an outlet port therethrough in fluid communication with the interior space. The inlet port is placeable in fluid communication with an exhaled breath sample of the subject. A condensation element is positioned within the condensation chamber interior space and has a shape tapering downwardly toward a bottom tip thereof. A condensation of fluid on the condensation element is enhanced through various elements. A collection area is positioned within the condensation chamber's interior space beneath the condensation element bottom tip. The collection area is for collecting condensate accumulating on an outer surface of the condensation element and dropping from the tip thereof.
US08002709B1
A system and method (1000) for an interactive game is disclosed herein. The system (1000) preferably includes monitoring device (20) monitoring the vital signs of a user, an interface (1115), a game console (1010) and an accessory (1020). The monitoring device (20) is preferably an article (25) having an optical sensor (30) and a circuitry assembly (35), and a pair of straps (26a and 26b). The monitoring device (20) preferably provides for the display of the following information about the user: pulse rate; blood oxygenation levels; calories expended by the user of a pre-set time period; target zones of activity; time; distance traveled; and/or dynamic blood pressure. The article (25) is preferably a band worn on a user's wrist, arm or ankle.
US08002708B2
A beamformer for an ultrasound system and a method for developing a beamformer are provided. The beamformer includes an RF interface configured to be connected to receiver boards that are connected to a probe. The method includes providing receiver boards, wherein each of the receiver boards is capable of conveying a common number of channels per board and has substantially similar circuit components and layouts. The method also includes selecting a number of channels per probe to be conveyed in parallel between a probe and the receiver boards, wherein the channels per probe is an integer multiple of the channels per board. The method further includes determining a combination of the receiver boards to use in the beamformer based on the number of channels per probe, wherein the receiver boards are capable of being used in at least first and second different combinations that support first and second different numbers of channels per probe.
US08002707B2
An ultrasound diagnosis apparatus including an ultrasound probe, an image processor, a measurement processor, a graph processor, and a display. The ultrasound probe includes a plurality of piezoelectric transducers and is configured to insonify and receive an echo signal resulting from the insonification. The image processor is coupled to the ultrasound probe and is configured to prepare image data based on the echo signal. The measurement processor is coupled to the image processor and is configured to conduct a measurement on the image data with respect to a predetermined parameter. The graph processor is coupled to the measurement processor and is configured to prepare a trend graph based on the measurement when the insonification and the image preparation are conducted more than one time. The display is coupled to the graph processor and is configured to display the trend graph with related information in a time phase on the trend graph.
US08002706B2
A focused ultrasound system includes a transducer array, a controller for providing drive signals to the transducer array, and a switch. The transducer array includes a plurality of “n” transducer elements, and the controller includes a plurality of “m” output channels providing sets of drive signals having respective phase shift values, “m” being less than “n.” The switch is coupled to the output channels of the controller and to the transducer elements, and is configured for connecting the output channels to respective transducer elements. The controller may assign the transducer elements to respective output channels based upon a size and/or shape of a desired focal zone within the target region, to steer or otherwise move a location of the focal zone, and/or to compensate for tissue aberrations caused by tissue between the transducer array and the focal zone, geometric tolerances and/or impedance variations of the transducer elements.
US08002703B2
This invention provides an ultrasonic imaging system that implements imaging by distinguishing sharply and definitely the echo components generated by scattering in a microbubble contrast medium, from the tissue harmonic components generated by nonlinear propagation of a transmitted pulse. This ultrasonic imaging system, constructed to transmit/receive ultrasonic pulses to/from a living body and form a contrast image of the inside of the living body by using the contrast-imaging microbubbles, repeats the transmitting/receiving operations four times in all, under the same transmitting/receiving focus conditions at different phase angles [(a)=0°, (b)=120°, (c)=−120°, (d)=180°] of the carrier of a transmitted pulse wave including a common envelope signal, sums up three time-series receive echo signals associated with (a), (b), (c), forms the contrast image, sums up two time-series receive echo signals associated with (a), (d), forms an image of the living body having a nonlinear pulse propagation property, and makes a superimposed display of the two kinds of images.
US08002700B2
A closed loop system for monitoring drug dose, intake and effectiveness includes a drug delivery device in data communications with at least one implantable medical device. The system is preferably implemented in a web-enabled environment in which a remote data center communicates with the implantable devices (IMDs) in a patient via a programmer or the pill dispenser. A physician, clinician, or other user may access the remote data center to review and monitor the IMDs or the drug delivery regime remotely. The system further provides a dynamic drug management system, compatible with a web-enabled interactive data communication environment that accurately monitors dose and specific drug effectiveness in a patient to enhance patient care.
US08002698B2
With a first endoscope inserted through an overtube, the overtube is orally inserted into an object being examined, and a distal end portion of an insertion tube of the first endoscope is made to advance, within the object, from a jejunum via a jejunum-to-jejunum anastomosed portion and a jejunum-anastomosed bent portion so that the distal end portion is located adjacently to a Vater's papilla of a duodenum. The overtube is then sent to a position which is adjacent to the Vater's papilla along the insertion tube of the first endoscope. After this, the first endoscope is pulled from the overtube. A second endoscope is then inserted into the overtube to make a distal end portion of its insertion tube protrude from the distal end of the overtube and is located adjacently to the Vater's papilla. The second endoscope thus-approached is used to treat the Vater's papilla and the tissue therearound.
US08002695B2
The medical procedure via a natural opening according to the present invention includes: adjusting the patient's body so that a target site on the anterior wall of a hollow organ faces in the direction opposite to the direction of gravitational force; introducing a liquid inflow conduit in the vicinity of the target site, and flowing liquid into the hollow organ via the liquid inflow conduit, to form a liquid holding area and a gas retaining area inside the hollow organ; introducing an observation device into the hollow organ, and confirming the position of the target site from the position of the gas retaining area; and incising while observation the target area.
US08002693B2
A condition for determining that an examination by a capsule endoscope 3 (body insertable device) completes is set in advance. When a predetermined time period has passed since the examination starts, and when received electric-field strength of receiving antennas A1 to An detected during a predetermined time period is not higher than a predetermined value, the examination is determined to have been completed. An examination completion determining unit C1 determines whether the condition is satisfied or not. According to the result of determination, a notification controller C2 makes a notifying unit 15 notify that the examination completes, and a power supply controller C3 stop power supply to a radio unit 2a. Thus, unnecessary power consumption is prevented and the completion of the examination by the body insertable device is recognized.
US08002691B2
A fluid pressure generating means (10) for a heart assist device having blood pumping means. The pressure generating means (10) includes a housing (11), defining an interior volume (18), and having a substantially rigid first housing portion (12), a substantially rigid second housing portion (14), a flexible third housing portion (16) extending between the first (12) and second (14) housing portions and an inlet/outlet port (15) adapted for fluid communication with the blood pumping means. The pressure generating means (10) also includes a fluid filling the housing and a motor (20) disposed within the housing (11) and connected between the first (12) and second (14) housing portions. Actuation of the motor (20) moves the first (12) and second (14) housing portions relative to one another to generate fluid pressure changes at the inlet/outlet port (15). A related heart assist device and method for the treatment of congestive heart failure, myocardial ischemia and like conditions are also disclosed.
US08002690B2
A rotor for a centrifuge (1), wherein the rotor is rotatably driven about a rotation axis and includes two parts, i.e., a central bearing part and a waste collecting part which is provided with a waste collecting area. The waste collecting part is separable from the bearing part for waste disposal or cleaning. The bearing part and waste collecting part are provided with torque transmitting surfaces which interact with each other in a form-fitting and/or adherence manner and are connectable by axially positioning the waste collecting part on the bearing part and disconnectable by axially removing the waste collecting part from the bearing part. The rotor is formed such that the circumferences of the bearing part and the waste collecting part are connectable in a form-fitting manner and arranged in such a way that the waste collecting part circumference is placed or rests on the corresponding circumference of the bearing part already at the initial state of the waste collecting part or as result of the radial expansion thereof produced by a centrifugal force and/or by heating.
US08002687B2
Methods of reinforcing a fibrous roller cladding material, reinforced roller cladding materials and clad lehr rollers wherein the cladding comprises a reinforced fibrous material are disclosed. The roller cladding material, which comprises a fiber board, is reinforced by a method comprising firstly contacting the cladding material with a fluid medium comprising a reinforcing agent whereby fluid is absorbed by the cladding material, and secondly, drying the cladding until the surface of the cladding is dry to the touch, characterized in that the reinforcing agent comprises a compound of phosphorus or a compound of boron. Roller cladding materials reinforced according to the methods disclosed have an improved resistance to cullet damage. The reinforced roller cladding material may be used as the cladding of a clad lehr roller, of the type used for example to convey flat glass in sheet or ribbon form.
US08002685B2
A twisting exerciser includes a base having an arched track arranged along the periphery thereof, two swivel arms each having a front end pivotally connected to a pivot at the top center of the base and a rear end provided with a knee pad and slidably coupled to the arched track of the base, a handlebar detachably fastened to a stem at the front side of the base and having two grips at the distal end and a connection rod for selectively joining the two swivel arms for synchronous movement along the arched track of the base.
US08002679B2
A chest exercise machine has a main frame, a user support frame pivotally associated with the main frame and movable between a start position and an end position during an exercise, a user engagement device movably mounted relative to the frames and having at least one handle for gripping by a user positioned on the user support, and a connecting linkage which translates movement of the user engagement device to movement of the user support frame. The user engagement device provides articulated motion so that the handle moves in a user-defined chest exercise movement path between a start position and an end position. A load resists movement of at least one of the user support, user engagement device, and connecting linkage.
US08002677B2
Aspects of the present invention involve an exercise device configurable to allow a user to perform various exercises. The exercise devices include an adjustable bench assembly connected with a frame supporting adjustable arm and cable-pulley assemblies providing a user interface with a resistance system. In some embodiments of the invention, the adjustable bench assembly includes a bench seat and a pivotal back support supported on an adjustable bench frame. The exercise devices also utilize various configurations of adjustable arm assemblies that are selectively positionable for numerous exercises and to suit a user's particular body size and shape. Other embodiments of the exercise devices include a resistance system with a transmission supporting a plurality of resistance packs. The transmission allows a user to conveniently engage any number of resistance packs to change the resistance level for a particular exercise.
US08002674B2
An exercise device employing side-by-side pivotally supported moving surfaces. In one particular example, an exercise device employs a first belt deployed about a front roller and a rear roller and an adjacent second belt deployed about a front roller and a rear roller. The rear of the belts in the area of the rear rollers are pivotally secured and the front of the belts in the area of the front roller are adapted to reciprocate in an up and down motion during use. In some implementations, the moving surfaces include an interconnection structure such that a generally downward movement of one surface is coordinated with a generally upward movement of the other surface. In other implementations, the moving surfaces are operably associated with one or more resistance elements that effect the amount of force required to pivot or actuate the moving surfaces.
US08002673B2
An exercise device for strengthening the hands, wrists and forearms includes a main body providing a hand grip and an arm member linked to one end of the main body by a ball joint assembly to allow pivoting movement of the hand grip relative to the arm member. A selectively adjustable drag assembly imparts a variable controlled force of resistance to the rotational movement of the hand grip about a central longitudinal axis. The exterior of the main body is formed of a resilient rubber material, such as a spongy foam rubber, and is textured to include segmented ribs to simulate a hand grenade shell. A flexible strap with a releasable fastening mechanism attaches between a distal end of the arm member and the user's wrist to effectively anchor the arm member to the user. While grasping the main body, the user turns his/her hand forwards and backwards in a rotating motion against the resistance of the drag assembly.
US08002651B2
A tennis racquet frame including a handle, a rim and arms connecting the handle and the rim and wherein each arm includes two fingers extending one above and one below the rim when the racquet frame is laid flat on a support surface.
US08002649B2
A blocking sled includes a first main blocking pad reciprocable on a frame between extended and retracted positions. When a lineman hits the main blocking pad, it is moved to the position of retraction and when the lineman releases the pad, it extends back to its original un-retracted position. In association with each main blocking pad, an auxiliary pad is provided that in one position closely overlies and extends forward of the main blocking pad in its extended position. The auxiliary blocking pad is pivotably mounted to the frame and is latched in the position closely overlying and extending forward of the main blocking pad. An actuator facilitates release of a latching mechanism for the auxiliary pad and moves along with a support rod for the main blocking pad. When the rod is reciprocated, eventually it engages the latch of the auxiliary pad and releases that latch causing a biasing means to pivot the auxiliary pad up and forward with respect to its position when latched. In the latched position of the auxiliary pad, it is so positioned that it forces a blocker to lower their center of gravity and bend down and forward to enable them to engage the main blocking pad while passing under the auxiliary pad. Once the main blocking pad has been reciprocated to its retracted position, the auxiliary pad pivots upward and forward of the main blocking pad so the blocker can lift up and complete the block in a manner simulating play in an actual football game.
US08002642B2
Many playsets include one or more tower sections with one or more platform sections supported above the ground or a similar support surface with a support structure or framing. In certain embodiments, a curved wall portion defines one or more panel openings. Subpanels may optionally be mounted into the openings. A balcony floor protrudes outwards with a curved outer edge or face with an interior flat floor edge adjoining an edge of a polygonal platform section floor to enlarge the square footage of the floor area of the platform section.
US08002640B2
A wheel hub/universal joint assembly having an axis of rotationA constant velocity universal joint with an outer joint part, an inner joint part, and torque transmitting ballsThe outer joint part has a first face toothing which engages a second face toothing provided at a collar on a sleeve portion of the wheel. Clamping means axially clamps the wheel hub to the outer joint part 22. The clamping means is axially supported on the wheel hub and the outer joint part 22. The ratio of the axial length BL of the wheel bearing 13 and the mean diameter DV of the face toothing is smaller than 0.63, i.e. BL/DV<0.63.
US08002637B1
A new game cabinet with special top box is disclosed, usable in combination to mount an extended display and associated mounting apparatus (such as a bezel, frame, etc.). This allows a standard base cabinet to be used, without modification, with both standard displays that can be mounted inside the base cabinet, and with extended displays that are too large to be mounted on the base cabinet.
US08002633B2
A game apparatus that includes a CPU and in which a plurality of players participate and play a game on a display screen displayed on a common display device. A display area is divided by the number of participating players, and the divided areas are allotted to each player. In addition, an evaluating value is set according to a superiority or inferiority situation of a play content of each player, a size of the divided areas are changed based on the evaluating value, and the display screen in correspondence with a change of the divided areas is generated and displayed. Furthermore, when there is a player who reaches game-over, the display area is re-divided by the number of remaining players.
US08002625B2
A gaming device including a plurality of reels or cards having several symbols and a plurality of sub-symbols each associated with one of the several symbols. Each sub-symbol has a designated number of complementary sub-symbols that share at least one characteristic or are otherwise related to such sub-symbol. In one embodiment, when at least two complementary sub-symbols are adjacently displayed, the gaming device transforms the symbols associated with the adjacently displayed complementary sub-symbols into a group wild symbol to allow the player an additional opportunity to obtain a winning symbol combination. In another embodiment, when at least two complementary sub-symbols are adjacently displayed, a bonus award is generated. In another embodiment, when at least two complementary sub-symbols are adjacently displayed, the gaming device transforms the symbols associated with the adjacently displayed complementary sub-symbols into a group multiplier to increase the award for certain winning symbol combinations.
US08002624B2
A gaming machine, specifically a slot machine, having a viewing region through which one or more internal reels are visible. The internal reels having a flexible display, mounted on the outer circumferential region of the reel, capable of displaying an infinite number of different indicia to a player of the machine. By allowing an infinite number of indicia to be displayed, the gaming machine may be programmed with a variety of gaming options and payouts.
US08002622B2
Preprinted game tickets, such as instant game lottery tickets, are dispensed from a vending machine. Instead of having a fixed cost and a fixed prize amount, the game tickets may be purchased at different bet levels and credit values, both of which change the cost and prize amount.
US08002615B2
The present invention relates to a blower for a vehicle, which has an auxiliary door formed on the upper end portion of a filter cover to open and close an indoor air inlet, thereby improving a heating performance by allowing some of the indoor air to flow therein in an outdoor air inflow mode regardless of a type of an indoor and outdoor air switching door, improving productivity and reducing manufacturing costs.
US08002613B2
A method for processing meat along a meat processing line. The method includes removing viscera from a carcass, accumulating the carcass along a dead rail stack of the meat processing line, washing the carcass, and inspecting the carcass at an inspection station following the act of washing the carcass.
US08002608B2
This invention is related to the process of polishing the optically critical surface of the front piece as well as the back piece, or non-optical surface, used to make molds used in double-sided molding process to make contact lens for reducing warpage of the mold, radius changes in different cavities and amount of cylindrical distortion. The polishing of both of the front piece and back piece causes the mold material to see a very similar coefficient of friction on both top and bottom surface and provides uniform flow front.
US08002607B2
A polishing apparatus is provided for polishing wafers at a high yield rate even if roll-off exists. The polishing apparatus polishes a wafer by applying a pressure between a polishing member (polishing pad) 201 and the wafer held by a holding member (top ring) 52 and moving the polishing member relative to the wafer. The polishing apparatus includes a top ring 52 for holding the wafer, a pressure adjusting mechanism for adjusting a supporting pressure with which the wafer is supported on a supporting surface by a retainer ring, and a control unit for controlling the pressure adjusting mechanism to bring the supporting pressure to a desired pressure based on a roll off quantity of the wafer. The top ring comprises an air bag 202 for pressing the wafer against the polishing pad, a retainer ring which surrounds the wafer, and an air bag for pressing the retainer ring.
US08002603B2
Described herein are methods of manufacturing an electrode and emitter in a field emission device, and devices formed from the methods. Compositions useful for the manufacture of an electrode and emitter in a field emission device are also described.
US08002600B2
A method of repairing a defective line of an organic light emitting display device which repairs a short defect occurring between a bidirectional line and an adjacent line includes separating a portion where a short defect occurs from the bidirectional line by cutting a portion of the bidirectional line; and applying a signal toward an end of the cut portion from both sides of the bidirectional line.
US08002596B2
An amphibious vehicle capable of high speeds on the water has a buoyant hull with driven tracks on each side of the hull. The tracks are movable between an upper position and a lower position relative to the hull. The tracks propel the vehicle both for land travel and water travel. Water diverter vanes at the aft end of each track divert water being carried forward by the tracks. Water diverter vanes at the forward ends direct water carried on the upper runs in a downward and aft direction. A cavitation plate is located behind each of the tracks while waterborne and below the waterline of the hull. A tiltable transom flap is attached to the transom and extends rearward.
US08002592B2
Disclosed herein is an apparatus. The apparatus includes a first body, a second body, and an electronic circuit. The first body includes a first end, a second end, and a middle section. The first body further includes a first conductor receiving area and a recessed cavity. The first receiving area extends from the first end to the second end. The cavity is at the middle section. The second body is adapted to be removably connected to the first body. The second body includes a first end, a second end, and a second conductor receiving area. The second conductor receiving area extends from the first end to the second end. The apparatus is adapted to receive an electrical conductor between the first receiving area and the second receiving area. The electronic circuit is at the cavity. The electronic circuit is configured to receive reference information corresponding to the electrical conductor.
US08002590B2
A modular jack assembly having a housing and a plug interface contact (PIC) sled subassembly insertable into the housing. The PIC sled subassembly provides an electrical and mechanical interface between PICs and a male-type plug receivable in an opening in the housing. The PIC sled subassembly is defined in part by multiple slots formed in the PIC sled subassembly that receive the PICs. The design of the PICs compensates for independent near-end cross-talk vectors and far-end cross-talk vectors to obtain a desired level of electrical characteristics.
US08002589B1
An electrical connector includes an insulative housing including a rear base portion and a front tongue portion extending from the base portion along the mating direction, a number of first conductive contacts held in the insulative housing, a number of second conductive contacts held in the insulative housing, and a retainer assembled to the tongue portion of the insulative housing. Each first conductive contact includes a nonelastic first mating portion exposed beyond the tongue portion. The retainer includes opposite first and second faces and defines a number of receiving slots recessed from at least one of the first and second faces to receive the nonelastic first mating portions of the first conductive contacts.
US08002586B2
An electrical power supplying device for supplying electrical power to a group of electrical appliances located in an environment. The device includes a power supply cord for plugging into a standard power receptacle by way of a supply power plug, and a base housing portion having a bottom surface and a 3D interior volume. A power-ring subassembly is supported within the base housing portion, and is adapted for supporting a plurality of electrical receptacles and one or more electronic circuits, which are electrically connected to a power supply cord. A power-ring housing portion covers the power-ring subassembly and has a set of plug apertures, aligned with the electrical receptacles, and allows appliance power plugs to plug into the electrical receptacles. A power cord portal allows a group of electrical power cords to enter/exit the 3D interior volume in a bundled manner.
US08002576B1
An electrical connector (100) includes an insulative housing (1) with a mating space (13), a plurality of contacts (21) disposed in the insulative housing (1) with a mating portion (211) protruding into the mating space (13), a metallic shell (4) covering the insulative housing and a pair of LEDs (3) disposed at a corner of the insulative housing (1) and capable of emitting light indicating proper function thereof. Each LED (3) includes a pair of contact legs (31, 32), one of the contact legs (32) has a crank-shaped portion (320) sandwiched between a pair of protruding tubers (125a, 125b) formed by the insulative housing (1).
US08002568B2
A connector frame is provided. The connector frame can be a generally rectangular member having a bore formed therethrough. The rectangular member can be at least partially formed by a first wall, and a second wall, connected by two side walls. The first, second and side walls can form at least a portion of an interior surface and an exterior surface. At least a portion of the interior surface can include a plurality of raised features adapted to detachably attach to a cable connector. A plurality of projections adapted to provide a grip for one or more fingers on each of the two side walls can be disposed on the exterior surface of the two side walls.
US08002567B2
An electrical connector including a housing provided with an opening through which a flat circuit device is inserted into the housing, a plurality of conductive contacts arranged on the housing, and reinforcing mount members provided respectively on end portions of the housing in its longitudinal direction to be used for mounting the housing on a solid circuit board, wherein a holding member is formed in the reinforcing mount member to extend into the housing for engaging with the flat circuit device inserted in the housing to hold the same, a releasing member is formed in the housing to be movable with a first end portion thereof operative to project out of the housing and a second end portion thereof operative to engage with the holding member, and the releasing member is moved so that the second end portion of the releasing member causes the holding member to be released from engagement with the flat circuit device inserted in the housing when the first end portion of the releasing member is pushed toward the inside of the housing under a condition wherein the holding member is put in the engagement with the flat circuit device to hold the same in the housing.
US08002565B2
A waterproof electrical connector for airfield lighting applications has a connector body with a first end and an opposing second end. The first end terminates at a first end cap that has a strain/bend relief feature and a first bore for receiving a cable that extends into the first end. At least one O-Ring extends from the walls of the first bore. The opposing second end terminates at a second end cap and has a second bore extending through the second end cap and into the second end. A sleeve is affixed to an exterior surface of the second end cap. An electrically insulated cable is inserted into the first bore engaging the O-Rings to form a waterproof seal. An electrical contact engages the second end cap and the sleeve folds over the second end cap to engage a surface of this contact forming a waterproof seal.
US08002559B2
Disclosed is a contact element for pressing into a hole of a printed circuit board. The contact element has a rod-shaped press-fit zone having an insertion region and an adjacent deformable region. The width of the deformable region is larger than the diameter of the hole, and the width of the insertion region is smaller than the diameter of the hole. The deformable region has a front region and a rear region that both have a closed opening, the openings being separated by a crossbar extending transversally to the insertion direction of the contact element. The crossbar extends at least in one part at a pointed angle of between 5 and 85 degrees to the insertion direction, and is thus subjected to an elastic force when the limbs are pressed together, creating a steadily increasing compression force for pressing the limbs against the wall of the opening.
US08002552B2
A method and apparatus for toilet training for children or as an aid to urinary function for adults which presents two cues to the person. The first cue is an audible sound of water flowing. The second cue is visual observation of water flowing. The cues are presented in a structure which may be a rotatable hour glass shaped liquid containing device which permits the liquid to flow from one portion of the hour glass to the other when the device is rotated. A sound of flowing water is produced from sound storage means in the device. The liquid may be refilled or it may be pre-sealed at the factory. Two plates are proved at the ends of the hour glass to house a picture in one and a mirror in the other. The structure may be utilized free-standing, or attached to a rotatable base which, in turn, may be fixedly or removably mounted on a surface.
US08002549B2
The present invention is to provide a set of easily arranged artificial teeth in which shapes of abutment surfaces of adjacent artificial teeth are not varied. In the set of artificial teeth, at least two artificial teeth adjacent to each other in a mesial-distal direction respectively have highest contours, one of the highest contours on the adjacent sides is positioned on an occlusal surface side and a buccal surface side relative to the other, and the artificial teeth are abutted with each other at abutment positions between the highest contours of both the artificial teeth in the occlusal direction and the buccolingual direction. Parting lines of molds for forming the artificial teeth respectively pass through the highest contours.
US08002547B2
An implant comprising an internal bore having an opening at one end of the implant is initially fixed within a patient's mouth. A support post on which a final artificial prosthesis will be mounted is attached to the implant by allowing a portion of the post to extend into and attach within the bore of the implant. The post generally extends supragingivally from a base at or beneath the gum surface and contains a retention bulb to assist in registering the axial orientation of an impression cap and the final prosthesis. The impression cap is then placed over the post to assist in taking an impression of the relevant dental region. The impression cap contains means to allow to the retention bulb to snap onto the impression cap. After the impression material is placed to surround the impression cap, post and implant, the impression material and impression cap are removed. A healing cap is placed on the post and acts as a temporary tooth able to last within the patient's mouth for several months.
US08002544B2
An endodontic probe is used to perform disinfection procedures on target tissues within root canal passages and tubules. The endodontic probe can include an electromagnetic radiation emitting fiber optic tip having a distal end and a radiation emitting region disposed proximally of the distal end. According to one aspect, the endodontic probe can include a porous structure that encompasses a region of the fiber optic tip excluding the radiation emitting region and that is loaded with biologically-active particles, cleaning particles, biologically-active agents, or cleaning agents for delivery from the porous structure onto the target tissues. Another aspect can include provision of the endodontic probe with an adjustable channel-depth indicator, which encompasses a region of the fiber optic tip besides the radiation emitting region and which is movable in proximal and distal directions along a surface of the fiber optic tip to facilitate the provision of depth-of-insertion information to users of the endodontic probe.
US08002538B2
A collapsible core device for molding articles around the core device in a mold cavity includes an expansion member, a discontinuous first sleeve and a discontinuous second sleeve. When the expansion member is fitted within the first and second sleeves, the expansion member and the first and second sleeves form a substantially continuous, flush top molding surface with the first and second sleeves.
US08002535B2
The invention relates to the extrusion of tire components with a large change of gauge across their cross-sectional area. It is provided a method and an assembly for extruding such a tire component with an extruder feeding a flow channel with a downstream die opening, whereby a deflector is provided in the flow channel upstream the die opening such that a flow of rubber is slowed down in front of broad portions of the cross-sectional area of the downstream die, avoiding distortion or bending of the extruded tire component.
US08002531B2
Forming equipment having carriages carrying lower molds that can improve the quality of a molded product by fixing a carriage carrying the lower mold at the forming station when forming is carried out. The equipment includes a forming press that molds thermoplastic sheet material H with a upper mold MU and lower molds MR, ML, wherein the equipment has two carriages TR, TL, each carrying a lower mold, which carriages can move to and from a position opposite to the upper mold at a forming station S, a carriage transport mechanism A that transports the two carriages independently by driving motors attached to each carriage, a carriage guide mechanism B having a pair of rails extending perpendicular to a pressing direction of the forming press, and a positioning device C to determine the position of a carriage at the forming station that engages with the carriages.
US08002519B2
A blower is provided with an axial flow impeller 7, a fan motor 8 positioned in a suction side of the axial flow impeller 7, and a motor stay 9 supporting the fan motor 8. The motor stay 9 is substantially formed to have a linear shape and attached in parallel to a rotating surface of the axial flow impeller 7. An impeller blade front edge 17 of the axial flow impeller 7 is positioned in a region X which is closer to the motor stay 9 than a region Y in which an air flow turbulence in a wake flow of the motor stay 9 is expanded, and in which region X a range of the air flow turbulence is reduced. Accordingly, it is possible to inhibit the air flow turbulence in the wake flow of the motor stay 9 from affecting the aerodynamic characteristics and noise characteristics (for example, an increase of an NZ noise) of the axial flow impeller 7.
US08002515B2
Disclosed is a shroud for a turbomachine including at least one support structure and at least one inner shroud disposed at a gas path of a turbomachine. The at least one inner shroud and the at least one support structure have at least one gap therebetween. The at least one gap alternates between at least one restrictive gap and at least one unrestrictive gap and is capable of creating at least one pressure loss mechanism to reduce a hot gas flow in the at least one gap. Further disclosed is a turbomachine and a method for reducing ingestion of hot gas in a turbomachine.
US08002511B2
A batch forming apparatus forms a batch of substrates by combining a plurality of substrates that have been taken out from a plurality of carriers each containing therein the substrates in a stacked manner. The batch forming apparatus includes: a substrate transfer mechanism that takes out the substrates from each carrier and transfer the substrates; a substrate relative positional relationship changing mechanism that rearranges one or more substrates out of the substrates transferred by the substrate transfer mechanism one by one relative to other substrates to change positional relationships of the substrates relative to each other; and a batch forming mechanism that forms a batch of substrates out of the substrates that have been transferred thereto by the substrate transfer mechanism, with positional relationships of the substrates having been changed relative to each other by the substrate relative positional relationship changing mechanism. A substrate processing system includes such a batch forming apparatus, and a substrate processing apparatus that process the batch of substrates formed by the batch forming apparatus.
US08002502B2
The present invention relates to a method for drilling a hole and installing a geothermal transfer apparatus. A sonic drilling apparatus is positioned at a desired location. The sonic drilling apparatus includes a rotating and vibrating apparatus for rotating and vibrating a hollow drill string into the ground, the hollow drill string having an inner space. The hole is drilled to a desired depth by rotating and vibrating the hollow drill string into the ground while discharging fluid into the inner space of the hollow drill string. A geothermal transfer apparatus is lowered into the inner space of the hollow drill string following the drilling of the hole to the desired depth. The drill string is then removed from the ground.
US08002499B2
An electrical power generating system is connected to a sewer for conveying waste water to a sanitary treatment station. Waste water is propelled through the sewer line by pumping equipment which simultaneously pulverizes most large objects carried by the waste water. The waste water drives one or more water-operated turbines. The turbines are operatively connected to electrical power generators for producing electrical power and dispersing the power through an electrical power transmission system.
US08002471B2
Assembly precision in a motor is improved and greater cost reduction is achieved.A fluid dynamic bearing apparatus 1 comprising a housing 7 and bearing sleeve 8 as fixed-side members 2, a shaft member 9 as a rotational-side member 3 having a portion 3c for mounting a rotor magnet 5, and a disk hub 10, the shaft member 9 being supported by the bearing sleeve 8 in the radial direction in a non-contact manner by the hydrodynamic effect of a lubricating oil produced in a radial bearing gap between the inner circumferential surface 8a of the bearing sleeve 8 and the outer circumferential surface 9a of the shaft member while the shaft member 9 is in rotation, the apparatus 1 comprising a disk hub 10 which is fixed on the shaft member 9 and has a portion 3c for mounting the rotor magnet 5, and the disk hub 10 being a molded resin article formed by insert-molding using the shaft member 9 as an insert piece.
US08002467B2
A fastener profile assembly and method of forming a fastener profile assembly is provided. The assembly includes a continuous supply of two interlocking profiles which are sealed at either end with a compression molded segment seal. The compression molded segment seal is formed through the application of heat and pressure to the interlocking profiles, thereby fusing the area and forming one end of the profile. Advancement of the profiles and application of heat and pressure to a second area forms the second end of the profile assembly. Manufacture of a fastener in such a manner allows for highly automated profile production with precise, accurate registration of the fastener profile.
US08002457B2
Disclosed are methods and systems for forming multi-component refrigerant compositions comprising: (a) introducing a first refrigerant component into a vessel at a first flow rate; (b) introducing at least a second refrigerant component into said vessel at a second flow rate, which may be the same as or different than the first flow rate, during at least a portion of said first refrigerant introducing step; and (c) controlling at least one of said first and second flow rates to obtain the desired relative proportions of said first and second refrigerants in the refrigerant composition.
