US08018928B2
A method for processing a packet comprising an ordered sequence of packet parts is disclosed. The method uses a set of hardware processing modules, and the method comprises the steps of broadcasting, in a step the next header field of a received packet part to the set of processing modules, and processing, in a step the received packet part by a sub-set of the modules dependent upon the broadcast next header field.
US08018922B2
A network interface device having a first board to connect with a wired network to provide signal exchange, which is mounted in a network electronic device, a second board to connect with a wireless network to provide signal exchange, and a first and a second link portion provided at the first and the second boards to removably connect the first and the second boards, respectively.
US08018915B2
In a packet communications system, a control apparatus implements routing control of a received packet directed for the mobile terminal. The mobile terminal includes a plurality of network interface cards; a communication manager configured to select at least one network interface card among from the plurality of network interface cards, in accordance with information regarding the network interface card; and an upper layer manager configured to receive the packet transmitted from the control apparatus, with using a selected network interface card.
US08018905B2
In a wireless communication system, a method of authenticating a mobile station is claimed. A first CHAP challenge message is transmitted. A first CHAP response message is received in response to the first CHAP message. An IMSI message corresponding to the received CHAP message is transmited. A plurality of parameters is received in response to the transmitted IMSI message. at least one parameter is then transmitted. A second CHAP response message is received in response to the transmitted parameter. The second CHAP response message is then compared to one of said plurality of parameters.
US08018902B2
A channel quality indicator value is determined on a per transport block basis. A signal-to-interference ratio estimate of a control channel and a channel quality estimate of user-data channel are employed in the determination of the channel quality indicator. The channel quality estimate of the user-data channel can include information about Automatic Retransmission Request (ARQ) processing, and the number of iterations of a Turbo decoder. Additionally, information about the Cyclic Redundancy Check (CRC), which is determined on a per transport block basis, can be employed in the channel quality indicator determination. The determined channel quality indicator is reported to the radio communication system.
US08018900B2
To enable devices to detect L3 roaming users and to take appropriate forwarding actions, L3 knowledge is introduced inside a bridge in a non-intrusive way. In particular, as a client moves from a subnet associated with a first network element to a subnet associated with a second network element, a determination is made regarding whether the client is roaming. This is done by evaluating a source IP address within a L3 packet header within a first frame received at the second network element. If, as a result of the evaluating step, it is determined that the client is roaming, an L2 bridge forwarding table in the second network element is configured to include a source MAC address of the client together with information identifying at least a destination interface for use in directing client data traffic back towards the subnet associated with the first network element. The first frame is then forwarded. In one embodiment, the traffic is directed back towards the subnet associated with the first network element via a GRE encapsulation tunnel, although any convenient tunneling mechanism can be used. According to another feature, given information cached at the foreign access point is used to enable the roaming client to continue to seamlessly receive inbound traffic prior to or during the configuration of the L2 bridge forwarding table (i.e., before any outbound traffic is actually sent from the client).
US08018890B2
Techniques using a hop-by-hop approach for automatic repeat request (ARQ) in wireless relay networks
An embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus, comprising a transceiver adapted for use in a hop by hop (HbH) relay network and configured to enable fast error correction and reduce ARQ overhead by coupling HARQ and ARQ feedback signaling in each hop of the HbH relay network.
US08018889B2
A relay station, including a delay information storage unit to store remaining delay information generated in a path from a target relay node to a destination node; an order determination unit to determine an order of processing service packets with a plurality of quality of service (QoS) levels using the remaining delay information, the service packets being received from a neighbor node; and a processing unit to process the service packets in the determined order.
US08018887B2
A digital broadcasting system and a data processing method are disclosed. A receiving system of the digital broadcasting system comprises a baseband processor, a management processor and a presentation processor. The baseband processor receives a broadcast signal including mobile service data and main service data, wherein the mobile service data configure a Reed-Solomon (RS) frame. The RS frame includes at least one of the mobile service data and notification messages. The notification messages are packetized in accordance with any one of a first transport protocol and a second transport protocol. The management processor decodes the notification messages from the RS frame in accordance with any one of the first transport protocol and the second transport protocol. The presentation processor directly outputs the decoded notification messages to an output unit in accordance with a channel which transmits the decoded notification messages, or outputs the decoded notification messages to the output unit only if a user selects the notification messages.
US08018878B2
The present invention concerns a device comprising a medium access control module for performing functions of a medium access control sublayer, noted MAC module, the device comprising a MAC interface module connected to the MAC module, the MAC interface module being adapted to connect in a first mode with a connector to a second MAC interface module or in a second mode with a connector to a physical interface module, the second MAC interface module being located in a second device comprising a MAC module connected to the second MAC interface module. In the first mode, the device comprises means for communicating in a half-duplex manner with the second device, and means for sending a medium busy signal to the second device.
US08018877B2
A server-based architecture for mobile conferencing is presented. Session-based mobile conferencing is established by transmitting necessary server network address information through page-mode based messaging services to establish connections among the various mobile devices with the server.
US08018875B2
Steering data communications packets among multiple service applications in a link-level data communications switching apparatus that includes a link-level data communications switch and data communications ports coupling the switching apparatus to networks organized into pairs of networks, and ports connected to service applications, the switching apparatus further including rules governing the steering of data communications among service applications and networks, at least one rule that includes a network code that identifies a network pair and a direction of travel between the networks, including receiving data communications packets directed to a destination network, each packet containing a source network address, and steering by the switching apparatus each packet, the steering carried out only in accordance with the rules, using neither the source network address of the packet, the destination network address of the packet, nor the link-level identifier of any service application.
US08018874B1
Described is a distributed network optimization system implementing distributed particle swarm optimization, which allows multiple nodes to cooperate in searching efficiently for a set of parameter values that optimizes overall network performance. The system comprises a multi-dimensional network parameter space with software agents configured to operate as a cooperative swarm to locate an objective function optima. The software agents are individually distributed across multiple nodes in the network, and each node processes a portion of each software agent to obtain information regarding the local performance of the software agent. A global measure of network performance is then computed based on sharing of local performance information between nodes, which each node uses to adjust its parameters accordingly. In this manner, the global utility of the network can be optimized using local processing only. Also described is a method of utilizing the system.
US08018872B2
Embodiments of the invention generally provide a method and apparatus for mitigating layer-2 loops in home networking applications. One embodiment of a method for mitigating layer-2 loops in a network includes detecting a loop between a first terminal in the network and a second terminal in the network, and deactivating at least one active home networking interface at the first terminal.
US08018869B2
A forecast model processes performance data from a site, e.g., a cable modem termination system (CMTS), to obtain a set of concurrency equations for existing speed tiers that is based on an observed subscriber bandwidth for the site. A new set of concurrency equations is obtained for new speed tiers so that a new subscriber bandwidth can be predicted for the new speed tiers. Based on the new subscriber bandwidth, expected subscriber growth, and changes in data consumption, the site is reconfigured with additional ports based on the forecast. This process can be repeated for the other sites. Sites may be grouped together based on the observed subscriber bandwidth. A new subscriber bandwidth may be predicted for the group with the new speed tiers so that additional ports can be configured for each of the sites in the group.
US08018866B1
In general, techniques are described for adaptively applying network acceleration services within an intermediate network device. In particular, the intermediate network device comprises a classifier module that receives network traffic and a servicing engine. The servicing engine applies the network acceleration services to the network traffic in accordance with a service configuration and monitors the application of network acceleration services to determine whether the application of each of the network acceleration services improves the efficiency with which the network traffic is serviced. The servicing engine then dynamically adapts the service configuration to alter the application of the network acceleration services based on the determination. Thereafter, the servicing engine applies the network acceleration services to the network traffic in accordance with the dynamically adapted service configuration to more efficiently service the network traffic.
US08018858B2
A method and system in which upon occurrence of a P-CSCF failure, a network sends an IMS reregistration request message to a UE. An S-CSCF or an AS monitors a P-CSCF to detect occurrence of a failure in the P-CSCF. Upon detecting the occurrence of a P-CSCF failure, the S-CSCF or the AS sends a request message for IMS reregistration to the UEs being served by the failed P-CSCF. In this manner, the UE can continuously receive the service even though a failure occurs in the P-CSCF.
US08018839B2
Exemplary embodiments relate to a network node implementing redundant cards and configured to synchronize sequence numbers, and a related method. The network node may include a fabric configured to route packets towards a destination. Furthermore, the network node may include an active card configured to establish at least one link to a destination node, generate a sequence number for each packet to be sent, and send a messaging packet including at least one sequence number from the active card to inactive cards over a communication channel on a data path in the fabric. Finally, the network node may include an inactive card configured to receive the messaging packet including the at least one sequence number from the active card over the communication channel, extract the at least one sequence number, and synchronize operation of the inactive card to the active card using the at least one sequence number.
US08018838B2
A system supports 50 ms protection switching times independent of network architecture. The system includes multiple protection switch fabrics to perform facility protection switching for the signals and a central switch fabric to switch a subset of the signals in a non-facility protection switching manner among the protection switch fabrics. Linear and ring network configurations are supported by the system. The system has flexibility to perform Linear Automatic Protection Switching (LAPS), Unidirection Path Switched Ring (UPSR) protection switching, and Bidirectional Line Switched Ring (BLSR) protection switching without burdening the central switch fabric with unnecessary or redundant traffic.
US08018819B2
A microelectromechanical device that includes a fixed supporting body, at least one semiconductor body, which is movable with respect to the fixed supporting body, and at least one micromotor for moving the semiconductor body with respect to the fixed supporting body, the micromotor having at least one permanent magnet and a coil, which are coupled together and are movable with respect to one another. A ferromagnetic guide is coupled to the magnet and is shaped so as to concentrate lines of magnetic field generated by the magnet towards the coil.
US08018818B2
Systems and methods for storing and reading data in a data storage system are provided. The data storage system includes a storage medium for storing data. The storage medium stores data as a plurality of topographical features. Further, the data storage system includes one or more transducer. One or more transducer writes data on the storage medium. Additionally, the data storage medium includes one or more gates. A first voltage bias is applied to one or more gates. The data storage system further includes, one or more read heads. One or more read heads include one or more Floating Gate Transistors (FGTs). The first voltage bias creates an electric field between one or more FGTs and one or more gates. A change in the electric field is detected by one or more FGTs.
US08018811B2
A decoding apparatus includes a burst cutting area (BCA) signal interval measuring device which measures a signal interval of a BCA area and which outputs BCA signal interval information, a T converter which obtains T information from the BCA signal interval information, a sequencer which detects a space area based on a first threshold value and which outputs an output enable signal based on the T information and a detecting result, wherein the output enable signal shows that a signal is obtained from a data area of the BCA area, and the space area is a non-signal area of the BCA area, and a channel data converter which converts the T information into channel data based on the output enable signal from the sequencer.
US08018800B2
A magnetic circuit and an optical recording and/or reproducing apparatus employing the magnetic circuit, having: a magnet with first and second magnetic portions adjacent to each other and opposite in polarity, and third and fourth magnetic portions surrounding the first and second magnetic portions, respectively, and have opposite polarities to the first and second magnetic portions, respectively; and at least one of a tracking coil unit or a focus coil unit. The tracking coil unit has first through third tracking coils arranged in a tracking direction so that each tracking coil interacts with two of the first through fourth magnetic portions. The focus coil unit has first through fourth focus coils, two of which are disposed in a focus direction to interact with the first and third magnetic portions, and the remaining two of which are disposed in the focus direction to interact with second and fourth magnetic portions.
US08018788B2
A static memory device includes a bit cell connected to an internal voltage line, and a power supply control circuit connected between the internal voltage line and a power supply voltage, wherein the power supply control circuit is configured to supply the power supply voltage level to the internal voltage line, and the power supply control circuit is configured to perform a write assist function that includes floating the internal voltage line during a write operation on the bit cell, the internal voltage line being floated in response to a signal of a mode control signal group.
US08018786B2
A phase change memory cells including a memory element or a threshold device is read using a read current which does not threshold either the memory element or the threshold device in the case of both a set and a reset memory element. As a result, higher currents may be avoided, increasing read endurance. A sensing circuit includes a charging rate detector coupled to a selected address line and sensing a rate of change of a voltage on the selected address line.
US08018780B2
The present invention provides a thermostatic bias controller for use with a memory array. The thermostatic bias controller includes a temperature sensing circuit configured to sense a temperature associated with the memory array. The thermostatic bias controller also includes a voltage control circuit coupled to the temperature sensing circuit and configured to provide a bias voltage to at least one back-gate of the memory array based on the temperature.
US08018776B2
The present invention provides nonvolatile semiconductor memory devices which operate with low power consumption. In a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device, a plurality of nonvolatile memory elements are connected in series. The plurality of nonvolatile memory elements include a semiconductor layer including a channel forming region and a control gate provided to overlap with the channel forming region. Operations of write, erase, a first read, and a second read in a verify operation of data to the nonvolatile memory elements, are conducted by changing voltage to the control gates of the nonvolatile memory elements. The second read in the verify operation after erase operation is conducted by changing only one of a potential of the control gate of a nonvolatile memory element which are selected from the plurality of nonvolatile memory elements, and as the potential, a potential different from a potential of the first read is used.
US08018766B2
Methods and devices are provided for concurrent intersymbol interference encoding in a solid state memory. In an illustrative embodiment, a write data signal is received as input to a processing component. A channel-effect-corrected encoding of the write data signal is produced, where the channel-effect-corrected encoding is based on the write data signal and a channel effect factor that models concurrent intersymbol interference of the write data signal in a target data storage component in communicative connection with the processing component. An output signal based on the channel-effect-corrected encoding of the write data signal is produced from the processing component.
US08018765B2
Magnetic memories and methods are disclosed. A magnetic memory as described herein includes a plurality of stacked data storage layers to form a three-dimensional magnetic memory. Bits may be written to a data storage layer in the form of magnetic domains. The bits can then be transferred between the stacked data storage layers by heating a neighboring data storage layer, which allows the magnetic fields from the magnetic domains to imprint the magnetic domains in the neighboring data storage layer. By imprinting the magnetic domains into the neighboring data storage layer, the bits are copied from one data storage layer to another.
US08018764B2
A magnetic track includes first and second magnetic domain regions having different lengths and different magnetic domain wall movement speeds. A longer of the first and second magnetic domain regions serves as an information read/write region. An information storage device includes a magnetic track. The magnetic track includes a plurality of magnetic domain regions and a magnetic domain wall region formed between neighboring magnetic domain regions. The plurality of magnetic domain regions includes a first magnetic domain region and at least one second magnetic domain region having a smaller length than the first magnetic domain region. The information storage device further includes a first unit configured to perform at least one of an information recording operation and an information reproducing operation on the first magnetic domain region, and a magnetic domain wall movement unit configured to move a magnetic domain wall of the magnetic domain wall region.
US08018762B2
An information recording and reproducing apparatus, includes: a stacked structure including an electrode layer and a recording layer; a buffer layer added to the electrode layer; and a voltage application unit configured to apply a voltage to the recording layer, produce a phase change in the recording layer, and record information. The recording layer includes a first layer including a first compound having an ilmenite structure represented by AxMyX3 (0.1≦x≦1.1 and 0.75≦y≦1), the A and the M being mutually different elements, at least one selected from the A and the M being a transition element having a d orbit incompletely filled by electrons, the A being an element including at least one selected from the group consisting of Be, Mg, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn, the M being an element including at least one selected from the group consisting of Ti, Ge, Sn, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Nb, Ta, Mo, W, Re, Ru, and Rh, the X being an element including at least one selected from the group consisting of O (oxygen) and N (nitrogen).
US08018751B1
A ternary content addressable memory (TCAM) cell circuit formed in a TCAM memory cell array having cells arranged in rows and columns can include a first storage circuit with first and second data path, a second storage circuit with a third and fourth data path, and a compare circuit. No more than four conductive lines in a column wise direction have a direct electrical connection to the TCAM cell. Such conductive lines can include a first bit line coupled to the first data path and the third data path and a second bit line coupled to the second data path and the fourth data path.
US08018749B2
The disclosed embodiments relate to apparatus and method for reducing power losses in a power supply. There is provided an apparatus comprising means for coupling a first signal (S2) to a reference level (ground) when the coupling means is conductive, means for placing the coupling means in a conductive state during a duration of a portion of a period of a second signal (S3), and means for altering the duration of conduction of the coupling means in response to an amplitude of the second signal.
US08018747B2
Disclosed is a PWM rectifier in which switching losses in a semiconductor device are reduced without degrading the response of a control system. In a PWM overmodulation region, the modulation scheme is set to a three-phase modulation scheme. In other regions, a switchover condition such as the amplitude of an input current is acquired and compared with a switchover level. If the switchover condition equals or exceeds the switchover level, the modulation scheme is switched over to a modified two-phase modulation scheme which reduces the number of switching operations to two thirds for the same PWM frequency.
US08018742B2
The present invention discloses a full-range-duty PWM signal generation method for an AC-to-DC power conversion, comprising the steps of: generating a saw-tooth signal with a predetermined valley voltage; generating a reference signal according to at least one of a current feedback signal and a voltage feedback signal; and generating a PWM signal according to voltage comparison of the saw-tooth signal and the reference signal. Furthermore, the present invention also provides a full-range-duty PWM signal generation apparatus for an AC-to-DC power conversion, and a system using the full-range-duty PWM signal generation apparatus.
US08018741B2
A lower-cost and more precise control methodology of regulating the output voltage of a flyback converter from the primary side is provided, which works accurately in either continuous voltage mode (CCM) and discontinuous mode (DCM), and can be applied to most small, medium and high power applications such cell phone chargers, power management in desktop computers and networking equipment, and, generally, to a wide spectrum of power management applications. Two highly integrated semiconductor chips based on this control methodology are also described that require very few components to build a constant voltage flyback converter.
US08018736B2
Card design with fully buffered memory modules and the use of a chip between two consecutive modules
The invention concerns the use of an AMB component (25) in a memory installation with fully buffered Dimm memory modules connected in series, characterised in that the AMB component (25) is placed on a connecting line (30) from the memory modules (2) to a memory controller (1) of the installation in order to re-amplify the connecting line (30) between two consecutive FBD memory modules (21, 22).The invention also concerns a connection interface that includes such an AMB amplifier component (25) for the connection of a maincard (3) that includes at least one processor, to an auxiliary memory card of the type with a series of memory modules (2), where the maincard has at least one pair of channels connected to the processor. Two series of FBD memory modules (2) are connected to respective FBD channels in the auxiliary memory card using FBD connectors (200) in a daisy-chain arrangement.
US08018728B2
An exemplary patch panel includes a printed circuit board having a plurality of input terminals and output terminals. An amount of the input terminals is equal to an amount of the output terminals. The input terminals are connected to the output terminals respectively. The printed circuit board further includes a plurality of standby terminals. Each of the input terminals is connected to the standby terminals via switches respectively. The standby terminals can be used to selectively replace a number of the input terminals or the output terminals, should they become inoperable, by operating the switches.
US08018726B2
A modular remote control consistent with certain implementations has a first end module having a sliding connector disposed on one end thereof for sliding engagement with a mating sliding connector, wherein one of the sliding connector and the mating sliding connector is designated male and the other is designated female, respectively. A last end module has a mating sliding connector disposed on one end thereof for sliding engagement with a sliding connector. At least one intermediate module has both a sliding connector and a mating sliding connector, wherein, the modular remote control is assembled with the first end module mated by the sliding connection with the at least one intermediate module, and the last end module is mated to the at least one intermediate module by the sliding connection to produce a linear configuration of modules. A powered bus interconnects the first end module with the last end module and the at least one intermediate module via electrical connectors disposed on the sliding connector and the mating sliding connector. This abstract is not to be considered limiting, since other embodiments may deviate from the features described in this abstract.
US08018721B2
An electronic device including a circuit board and a heat dissipating module is provided. The circuit board has a thermal source. The heat dissipating module is disposed on the thermal source and has a heat conducting unit, a first heat dissipating unit and a second heat dissipating unit. The heat conducting unit has a heat conducting plate and a heat pipe. A first surface of the heat conducting plate contacts the thermal source. A first end of the heat pipe is connected to the heat conducting plate. The first heat dissipating unit is connected to a second end of the heat pipe. The second heat dissipating unit is movably disposed on a second surface of the heat conducting plate. The heat dissipating module in the invention can achieve the dual thermal dissipation efficiency via the different cooling modes so as to satisfy the heat dissipating requirement of high speed processors.
US08018707B2
Embodiments of the present invention include a T-body elbow arrestor having an elbow body. A surge arrestor is positioned in one portion of the elbow body extending from an intermediate portion of another portion of the elbow body. An end cap assembly is coupled to the elbow body that is electrically connected to the surge arrestor. A bushing receiving region is positioned in the elbow body extending from the intermediate section towards a first end of the elbow body that is configured to receive a bushing. An insulating plug is positioned in the elbow body extending from the intermediate section towards a second, opposite end of the elbow body. The insulating plug has an end in the intermediate section configured to be coupled to the bushing to secure the T-body elbow arrestor in an assembled condition.
US08018706B2
Circuit arrangement embodiments that use relative groupings of energy pathways that include shielding circuit arrangements that can sustain and condition electrically complementary energy confluences.
US08018689B2
A hard disk drive includes a voice coil motor yoke, a base to support the voice coil motor yoke, and formed of a material different from that of the voice coil motor yoke, and a thermal deformation prevention unit which is formed of a material that is substantially the same as that of the voice coil motor yoke, provided between the voice coil motor yoke and the base, and thereby preventing mechanical deformation due to different thermal expansion coefficients between the voice coil motor yoke and the base.
US08018682B2
A magnetic disk is protected by a bilayer. The bilayer is formed as an adhesion enhancing underlayer and a protective diamond-like carbon (DLC) overlayer. The underlayer is formed of an aluminum or alloyed aluminum oxynitride, having the general formula AlOxNy or MezAlOxNy where Mez symbolizes Tiz, Siz or Crz and where x, y and z can be varied within the formation process. By adjusting the values of x and y the adhesion underlayer contributes to such qualities of the protective bilayer as stress compensation, chemical and mechanical stability and low electrical conductivity. Various methods of forming the underlayer are provided, including reactive ion sputtering, plasma assisted chemical vapor deposition, pulsed laser deposition and plasma immersion ion implantation.
US08018680B2
A vertical magnetic recording head device includes: a magnetic layer that includes a main magnetic pole exposed from a surface facing a recording medium; a return yoke layer that is provided on the magnetic layer with a non-magnetic layer interposed therebetween; and coil layers that apply a recording magnetic field to the magnetic layer and the return yoke layer. In the vertical magnetic recording head device, the return yoke layer includes thick portions that extend in a height direction in edge regions arranged in a track width direction.
US08018675B2
The thin-film magnetic head in accordance with the present invention comprises a magnetic pole, a coil surrounding the magnetic pole, and an insulating layer covering the coil, while the insulating layer is formed from a resin containing a carbon nanotube. Preferably, the resin contains 0.05 to 5 wt % of the carbon nanotube. Preferably, the resin contains a cyclodextrin.
US08018668B2
An exemplary lens module includes a barrel, a holder, and an elastic member. The barrel includes a first cylindrical part and a first threaded part. The first threaded part includes external threads. The barrel further includes a bottom surface facing the image side. The holder includes a second cylindrical part and a second threaded part. The second threaded part includes internal threads. The second cylindrical part includes a collar protruding from the inner cylindrical surface. The collar includes a top surface facing the object side. The barrel is coupled to the holder via the internal threads and the external threads. A fit between the internal threads and the external threads is a clearance fit. The elastic member is sandwiched between the bottom surface of the barrel and the top surface of the collar.
US08018663B2
An image forming lens includes: a first optical system positioned in an object side, a second optical system positioned in an image side, and an aperture stop interposed between the first optical system and the second optical system, wherein the first lens system includes a first F lens group which is positioned in the object side and has at least two negative lenses, and a first R lens group which is positioned in the aperture stop side and has at least one lens, wherein a distance between the first F lens group and the first R lens group is set to be largest, and wherein the second optical system includes a second F lens group in which, in the order from the aperture stop side, a first positive lens, a first negative lens, a second negative lens, and a second positive lens are arranged, and a second R lens group positioned in the aperture stop side and having at least one positive lens.
US08018647B2
Imaging systems and methods are provided. In one embodiment, an image system is disclosed that comprises a Raman gain medium configured to receive an image from a target area and a tunable laser configured to pump light into the Raman gain medium over a plurality of first wavelengths to induce amplification of the image over a plurality of second wavelengths strokes shifted from the plurality of first wavelengths. The image system further comprises an image detector system that receives and processes the amplified image over the plurality of second wavelengths.
US08018646B2
A wavelength conversion element is provided with a substrate including a nonlinear optical single crystal having a periodically poled structure, wherein a visible light transmittance of the substrate is 85% or higher when ultraviolet light is irradiated to the substrate. Further, a laser light having an average output of 1 W or more is outputted by shortening a wavelength of inputted laser light having a wavelength of 640 nm to 2000 nm. By improving visible light transmission characteristics when the ultraviolet light is irradiated in this way, a breakdown of crystal can be prevented and a stabilization of output characteristics at high output can be realized. As a result, an absorption of green light induced by ultraviolet light can also be suppressed and a saturation of output and the breakdown of crystal can be avoided.
US08018645B2
A display-protective plate for an electronic apparatus, is attached to a case 7 of an electronic apparatus 1 to be used, and protects a display surface of a display 4 that is attached so as to be exposed from the case 7 of the electronic apparatus 1. The protective plate is configured by a plate-shaped transparent base member 11, a color half mirror layer 12 placed on a lower side of the transparent base member, a transparency-switching film 13 formed on a lower face of the color half mirror layer 12, for switching between transmitting and non-transmitting modes, a reflection-increasing film layer 20 placed on a lower face of the transparency-switching film 13, and a backing layer 14 formed on a lower face of the reflection-increasing film layer 20 and located on a portion except for an exposed portion of the display, which are successively laminated.
US08018634B2
Ink coalescence in inkjet printing is reduced by printing mutually interstitial images using an arrangement of multiple curing stations in combination with multiple printing heads.
US08018631B2
A line image sensor reads an image of a reading position on a contact glass by a plurality of lines in a main-scanning direction. A replacing unit replaces, when there is a pixel whose read values of read data from a plurality of read lines in a same main scanning period are smaller than a predetermined black threshold and an adjacent pixel whose two arbitrary read values have a difference larger than a predetermined threshold near the pixel, and if the pixel remains at a same pixel position in a predetermined number of continuous main scanning periods, replaces read data of the adjacent pixel and a predetermined number of subsequent pixels with white pixel data.
US08018630B2
A document illuminator comprising a light-transmissive element having nonlinear walls. The walls are shaped in the form of a compound parabolic concentrator with an optically inverted configuration. A diffusive optical source receives light from a side emitting LED embedded therein and redirects it to an aperture along with other light rays that go through total internal reflection from the nonlinear walls. The reflected light rays that are collected at the aperture are in turn transmitted at high power and uniform luminescence to illuminate a document for scanning.
US08018627B2
The present invention discloses a shared image scanning method and picture scanner thereof. The method includes the steps of: sharing a desired scanning document into image areas; constructing images captured from each image area into a whole document sensing image to be used by the scanner. The scanner includes reflecting mirrors, light source modules and image sensing modules in a frame. The reflecting mirrors are installed in the frame with an interval apart from each other and corresponding to the image areas. The light source modules project lights onto the image areas to produce document images which are captured by the corresponding image sensing module and converted into image signals, and processed by an image processing unit to produce a whole document sensing image signal. Thus, the scanner applying the shared image method of the present invention can complete a document scanning quickly.
US08018625B2
New information is added to an information medium and is managed such that the information is not leaked when outputted. An image reading section reads the information medium and inputs images including a unique image and a code image. A detecting section determines the code image and the unique image from inputted images to detect the code image. An extracting section restores the code image to obtain confidential information. Alternatively, the extracting section restores the code image and obtains access information. A control section accesses a management apparatus and requests confidential information related to the information medium. The management apparatus transmits the specified confidential information to an image processing apparatus. The control section combines an image of the information medium and the code image or the confidential information and outputs the result. An image forming section prints the image on a record sheet.
US08018622B2
An image forming apparatus is constituted by a dark color image forming station for forming an image with such a toner of recording materials having the same hue and different lightness as has a lower lightness; a light color image forming station for forming an image with such a toner of the recording materials having the same hue and different lightness as has a higher lightness; and a control portion for effecting control so that an image to be emphasized by partly disappearing or by relatively and partly decreasing in density is formable substantially only with the toner having the higher lightness.
US08018620B2
A method and apparatus to perform a printing job by adjusting color information include updating a predetermined color conversion table stored in an image forming device by inputting color adjustment information from a user, and performing the printing job using the updated color conversion table. Accordingly, the printing job is performed by adjusting color information regardless of whether an emulator of the image forming device supports a color adjustment function, increasing the efficiency of the printing operation. Additionally, when printing jobs are performed by repeatedly adjusting color information using the same color adjustment information, since the color information is converted using the same color conversion table as the color conversion table is updated using the color adjustment information, a waste of time for the color conversion is reduced. Furthermore, a function of the emulator does not have to be changed to perform a printing job, even if a function of an image forming device driver is changed to add a color adjustment function to the image forming device.
US08018617B2
A method is presented of erasing, in a document data processing device, a stored information pattern on a rewritable data carrier that is accessible by a data processing facility of the document data processing device. The document data processing device includes primary processes for processing document data, wherein data may be stored on the data carrier, and secondary processes for erasing stored data, through overwriting a selected storage area of the carrier by a shredding pattern. According to the method, the primary and secondary processes are run asynchronously, e.g., the secondary processes are run in background, in order not to hinder the primary processes. In a particular embodiment, an initial shredding run is made directly after a file is no longer used, and additional shredding runs are made in background.
US08018612B2
An image processing apparatus includes: an image processing section that performs a predetermined image processing on the image; a first performance information acquiring section that acquires a first performance information including information regarding a time for which the image processing section performs the predetermined image processing on the image; a second performance information acquiring section that acquires a second performance information including information regarding a time for which any image processing apparatus other than the image processing apparatus performs the predetermined image processing on the image; a performance comparison section that compares the first performance information acquired by the first performance information acquiring section with the second performance information acquired by the second performance information acquiring section; a processing apparatus selecting section that selects which of the image processing section of the image processing apparatus or the other image processing apparatus performs the predetermined image processing on the image based on the comparison result by the performance comparison section; and a processing control section that causes either the image processing apparatus or the other image processing apparatus which is selected by the image processing apparatus selecting section to perform the predetermined image processing on the image.
US08018607B2
A power management system for a scanner device comprises an onboard power source and an interface port adapted to receive power from a remote host. The system also comprises a power manager accessible by a processor and adapted to automatically determine whether to draw power for an operating-mode from the onboard power source or the remote host.
US08018606B2
There is provided a color page printer including a print engine operable by a color mode for executing color printing and a monochrome mode for executing monochrome printing, and a control unit for controlling the print engine to generate a printed paper having a content corresponding to received print data. The control unit is a unit equipped with a print number output section for outputting numbers of surfaces printed by a color mode and a monochrome mode of the print engine respectively as a number of color prints and a number of monochrome prints in an engine counter mode, numbers of surfaces printed based on print data for which color print is specified and print data for which monochrome print is specified respectively as a number of color prints and a number of monochrome prints in a driver specified counter mode, and a number of printing surfaces whose printed result was color and a number of printing surfaces whose printed result was monochrome respectively as a number of color prints and a number of monochrome prints in a real counter mode.
US08018592B2
A compact optical system for a particle analyzer and particle analyzer using same are provided. The optical system for a particle analyzer of the present invention comprises a light source, an irradiation optical system for irradiating particles passing through a flow cell with light from the light source, a photodetector for receiving the scattered light from the particles, a light shielding member for blocking the direct light from the light source from impinging the photodetector, and a detecting lens for directing the scattered light toward the photodetector, wherein the irradiation optical system forms a first focus that focuses the light from the light source on the particle passing through the flow cell, and forms a second focus that focuses the light from the light source at a position between the detecting lens and photodetector, and disposes the light shielding member at the position of the second focus.
US08018587B2
A garment and system includes a monitoring fabric comprising a first plurality of reflective yarns knitted or woven with a second plurality of stretchable yarns. The fabric exhibits both a light transmission property and a light reflection property. The amount of light transmitted through the fabric relative to the amount of light reflected by the fabric changes when the fabric stretches in response to motion, such as the motion induced by physiological activity (e.g., heart rate). The system includes at least one source of radiation having wavelength(s) in the range of 400 to 2200 nanometers and at least one detector responsive to such incident radiation. The source and detector are associated with the fabric such that the reception of incident radiation by the detector is directly affected by a change in the amount of light transmitted through the fabric relative to the amount of light reflected by the fabric when the fabric stretches. A signal processor converts a signal from the detector into a signal representative of at least one predetermined physiological parameter of a wearer of the garment.
US08018585B2
There is provided a defect inspecting apparatus, which includes an irradiating optical system of irradiating a light beam on a surface of a face plate of a disk mounted on a stage to scan the surface of the face plate, a light-receiving optical system of receiving specular reflection light that has transmitted a shading filter with a shading difference that changes an amount of the specular reflection light from the face plate resulting from the light beam irradiated on the disk, and a processing unit of identifying defects on the surface of the face plate from the change in amount of the specular reflection light that has transmitted a filter, so that a size and a height of the defect can be measured with high accuracy when irregular defects are determined, which is not easily achieved by a conventional lens effect.
US08018581B2
Disclosed are an apparatus and a method for analyzing milk in a field, capable of analyzing the quality of milk by rapidly and easily examining components of milk in a field, other than a laboratory. To manage the quality of milk, a monochromator using an interference filter having different wavelength bands is employed to the apparatus for analyzing milk, and the amount of milk samples used at one time is increased, so components of milk are simultaneously examined. The apparatus for analyzing milk has a portable structure, so the components of milk are simply, rapidly and easily determined in the field, and the apparatus for analyzing milk is inexpensive as compared with existing apparatuses, thereby increasing the productivity.
US08018579B1
A three-dimensional imaging and display system is provided in which user input is optically detected in an imaging volume by measuring the path length of an amplitude modulated scanning beam as a function of the phase shift thereof. Visual image user feedback concerning the detected user input is presented.
US08018572B2
A lithographic apparatus includes a radiation system configured to form a projection beam of radiation. The radiation system includes a radiation source that emits radiation, a filter system for filtering debris particles out of the radiation beam, and an illumination system configured to condition a radiation beam. A projection system is configured to project the projection beam of radiation onto a substrate. The filter system includes a plurality of foils for trapping the debris particles. At least one foil includes at least two parts that have a mutually different orientation and that are connected to each other along a substantially straight connection line. Each of the two parts substantially coincide with a virtual plane that extends through a predetermined position that substantially coincides with the radiation source. The straight connection substantially line coincides with a virtual straight line that also extends through the predetermined position.
US08018571B2
An exposure apparatus includes: a supply port through which a liquid is supplied to an optical path space of exposure light; and a supply passage in which the liquid flows and which is in fluid communication with the supply port. An amount of a predetermined substance mixed into the liquid in the supply passage is set to be not greater than a predetermined value.
US08018559B2
A liquid crystal display apparatus having a plurality of pixels, including: a pair of substrates; a liquid crystal having a negative dielectric anisotropy inserted between the pair of substrates; and first and second electrodes formed on the pair of substrates, respectively. A first alignment control structure is formed linearly on one of the pair of substrates for controlling an alignment of the liquid crystal and a second alignment control structure is formed linearly on the other of the pair of substrates for controlling an alignment of the liquid crystal. The first and second alignment control structures are bent in zigzag fashion and extend parallel with each other. The liquid crystal display apparatus also includes an additional structure for controlling an alignment of the liquid crystal. The additional structure extends from a bent portion of at least one of the first and second alignment control structures.
US08018556B2
A LCD device includes a LC cell including a homogeneously-oriented LC layer and a pair of transparent substrates. A pair of polarizing films sandwiching therebetween the LC cell. A protective layer of the light-emitting-side polarizing film has an optical isotropy, and protective layer of the light-incident-side polarizing film has an thickness-wise retardation of 20 to 90 nm. A biaxial optical anisotropic film is interposed between the light-emitting-side polarizing film and the LC cell, and a second optical anisotropic film for cancelling the wavelength dispersion caused by the biaxial optical anisotropic film is interposed between the light-incident-side polarizing film and the LC cell.The biaxial optical anisotropic film has three-dimensional refractive indexes ns, nf and nz that satisfy therebetween (ns−nz)/(ns−nf)≦0.5%.
US08018552B2
The present invention provides a transmissive liquid crystal display device which is less in display characteristics fluctuations, bright in display images, high in contrast and less in viewing angle dependency and comprises a backlight, a polarizer, a second optically anisotropic layer, a first optically anisotropic layer, a homogeneously aligned liquid crystal cell comprising upper and lower substrates facing each other and a liquid crystal layer sandwiched between the upper and lower substrates, and a polarizer, arranged in piles in this order from the backlight, wherein a liquid crystal film forming the first optically anisotropic layer, a liquid crystal film forming the second optically anisotropic layer and the liquid crystal cell have a predetermined relationship in the wavelength dispersion of birefringence, the first optically anisotropic layer, the second optically anisotropic layer and the liquid crystal cell upon application of an electric voltage for black image display, have a predetermined relationship in retardation, and the first optically anisotropic layer comprises a liquid crystal film with a fixed nematic hybrid orientation.
US08018546B2
The present invention provides a display device which can display characters clearly and display images smoothly. An area gray scale method is adopted and a configuration of one pixel is changed depending on a mode, by selecting one or more display regions in each pixel. When characters are needed to be displayed clearly, one pixel is configured by selecting a stripe arrangement. Thus, clear display can be conducted. When images are needed to be displayed, one pixel is configured by selecting an indented state. Thus, smooth display can be conducted.
US08018544B2
A flat panel display, having an anti-electrostatic configuration, comprising a plurality of gate lines and data lines formed on an insulating substrate having an emission region and a pad portion, an anti-electrostatic wire initially coupling the gate lines, and an anti-electrostatic circuit coupled to a data line. The anti-electrostatic wire between a gate line and an adjacent gate line is subsequently cut by an opening for cutting the anti-electrostatic wire to electrically isolate the respective gate lines.
US08018539B2
A pixel circuit structure applied in an LCD panel, which has a common voltage and includes at least one data line, is provided. The pixel circuit structure includes a first and a second circuit. The first circuit includes a first switch and a first capacitor. The second circuit includes a second switch, a third switch and a second capacitor. One end of the first capacitor receives the common voltage. Two ends of the first switch are respectively coupled to the data line and the other end of the first capacitor. The second and the third switch are coupled serially between the data line and a voltage source. One end of the second capacitor receives the common voltage, and the other end is coupled between the second and the third switch. The potential difference between the two ends of the first capacitor is different from that of the second capacitor.
US08018535B2
An electronic imaging device includes a display unit and a barrier layer. The display unit includes scan lines for transferring select signals, data lines for transferring data signals corresponding to first and second images formed according to one or more input signals, and pixels connected with the scan and data lines. The barrier layer includes first barriers and second barriers corresponding to the first barriers. The first image is displayed during a first period of a unit period during which an image of a single frame is displayed. The second image is displayed during a second period different from the first period. The first barriers are driven according to the first image, the second barriers are driven according to the second image, and a region of the barrier layer corresponding to a mixed region in which the first and second images coexist is a non-transmission region.
US08018533B2
A method and system for adjusting selected colors of an image is presented. A chrominance adjustment system in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, determines whether the color of the current pixel is near a selected color. When the color of the current pixel is near the selected color the chrominance adjustment system calculates a color specific chrominance adjustment factor based on the current color and the selected color and adjusts the color of the current pixel using the color specific chrominance adjustment factor.
US08018530B2
In some embodiments, a method includes receiving a plurality of video signal fields, characterizing at least one portion of at least one of the plurality of video signal fields, determining a value for a pixel using inter-field de-interlacing if the characterization satisfies a first criteria, determining a value for a pixel using motion compensated de-interlacing if the characterization satisfies a second criteria, and determining a value for a pixel using intra-field de-interlacing if the characterization satisfies a third criteria. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a storage medium having stored instructions that when executed by a machine result in the method.
US08018529B2
An exemplary camera module includes a barrel, a holder engaged with the barrel, a first lens received in the barrel, an image sensor received in the holder and a second lens received in the holder. The holder includes an inner chamber. The second lens is mounted on the holder proximate to the image sensor. The second lens is configured for preventing dust accessing into the inner chamber. The second lens includes a main body and an infrared cut film formed on and in contact with an outside surface of the main body or embedded within the main body.
US08018527B2
A digital camera module (100) includes an image capturing apparatus (30) and a connecting structure (40). The image capturing apparatus includes an image sensing module (32) and a flashing module (34). The connecting structure includes a cover (42) configured for receiving the image sensing module therein, and a holding member (44) connected to the cover and configured for fixing the flashing module thereon at a height substantially equal to that of the image sensing module.
US08018521B2
When displaying an image taken as portrait-oriented image in a landscape-oriented display area, a cutout image including a partial area of the portrait-oriented image to be displayed is displayed. At that time, a whole image of the port-oriented image which is rotated based on rotation information thereof may be displayed along with the cutout image.
US08018518B2
A mobile device with an integrated camera responsive to signals from a camera activator. The mobile device includes application programs capable of editing documents. The user triggers the device operating system to switch from an active application program in which the user is editing a document to a camera application by activating the camera activator. The user then captures an image by again triggering the camera activator, whereupon the active application is restored and the image data is inserted within the document. The captured image is directly inserted into an input field within the open document in the active application.
US08018517B2
An image capture apparatus capable of generating a mirror image of a captured image and superimposing character patterns on the mirror image. The image capture apparatus includes an image capture device and a display device. The display device is rotatably coupled to the image capture device such that the display device can rotate between a normal position and self-portrait position. When in the self-portrait position, the display device displays a mirror image of the captured image, a superimposed character pattern, and an operation condition pattern. Furthermore, the image capture apparatus includes operation devices that are inhibited from operating by a user when in the self-portrait mode.
US08018507B2
A camera module 100a of the present invention includes a lens unit 10a which includes a lens 11 and a lens holder 12 holding the lens 11 therein, and an image sensing unit 20a which includes a solid-state image sensor 24 and a transparent lid section 26 which is arranged so as to face the receiving surface of the solid-state image sensor 24, provided with a space S therebetween. The transparent lid section 26 and the lens 11 are independent of each other, and the lens 11 is aligned with respect to the solid-state image sensor 24 by engaging the transparent lid section 26 with the lens holder 12 by mounting the lens 11 on the transparent lid section 26. Thus, it is possible to provide a solid-state image sensing device having high lens alignment precision with respect to a solid-state image sensor.
US08018496B2
The invention described is a method and system for preventing image capture and transmission in a restricted or prohibited zone.
US08018495B2
A method for compensating movement of an image capturing apparatus is applied in a photographing mode whose exposure time is greater than the safe shutter time. The method includes the steps of: capturing a long exposure image under the desired exposure time and a short exposure image with an exposure time smaller than or equal to the safe shutter time, and recording a camera motion signal in the exposure time of the long exposure image. The image-shift signal is used to reconstruct the short exposure image and form a reconstructed image, and an image analyzing algorithm is utilized to extract the reconstructed image and the short exposure image of a different frequency component. Finally, different frequency components of the image are fused according to the specific ratios to produce a clear output image.
US08018491B2
Summarization of video content including football.
US08018483B2
When distortion correction table data held in a memory (140) are registered in table units (131, 132), the registered distortion correction table data are selected. When the distortion correction table data held in the memory are not registered, the distortion correction table data held in the memory (140) are selected, and are registered in the table units (131, 132).
US08018481B2
Disclosed herein is a system and method for storing and transmitting a videoconference system name (identifier) in the languages of double byte character sets. Although described in terms of a videoconferencing system, the techniques described herein have applicability to various other systems that rely upon inter-language compatibility, including telephonic communication such as cell phones or IP phones, as well as various computer network applications in which computers having different default languages are in communication. In a preferred embodiment, the system identifier is stored in a text or ASCII format rather than native (binary) format. Additionally, a system employing a preferred embodiment of the teachings described herein allows a particular system to have multiple site names in multiple different languages. This allows such a system to interface and exchange identifier data with other systems having different language settings during a caller ID exchange.
US08018463B2
A video processor according to the invention is dynamically configurable as to the attributes of the video data upon which the processor operates. Some embodiments dynamically configure the processor via a sequence of instructions, where the instructions include information on the attributes of the current video data. Some embodiments include a dynamically configurable adder array that computes difference functions thereby generating error vectors. Some embodiments include a dynamically configurable adder array that computes filtering functions applied to the video data, e.g. interpolation or decimation of the incoming video prior to motion detection. Some embodiments of the invention provide dynamically configurable hardware searches, for example, for detecting motion. Some embodiments of the invention are implemented using an adaptive computing machines (ACMs). An ACM includes a plurality of heterogeneous computational elements, each coupled to an interconnection network.
US08018454B2
An intersection of a cut plane with a proxy geometry representing a scan volume is determined with a processor. The intersection is simplified, such as identifying a quadrilateral or triangle most closely enclosing the intersection. The vertex processor of a GPU deforms a reference grid and determines Cartesian coordinates and the texture coordinates for grid points of the reference grid as a function of the input intersection. The vertex processor provides coordinates for data for subsets of cut planes. The fragment processor inputs the texture coordinates and retrieves the data from the texture memory. The data is blended. The blended subsets are then blended together in the frame buffer of the GPU.
US08018450B2
An electrooptic device includes a display panel; an illuminating unit; an ambient-light measuring unit; a luminance control unit; a display-mode switching unit; and a storage unit, wherein when the display panel is switched to the transmission display mode by the display-mode switching unit, the gamma value for the transmission display is obtained from the plurality of tables stored in the storage unit, and the gamma value for the transmission display is applied; and when the display panel is switched to the reflection display mode by the display-mode switching unit, the gamma value for the reflection display is obtained from the plurality of tables stored in the storage unit, and the gamma value for the reflection display is applied.
US08018448B2
A display module includes a substrate. The substrate has a plurality of pixels, a signal line, a current supply line, and a data driving circuit. The pixel includes an emitting device and an active device, wherein the emitting device include a first electrode layer, an organic emitting layer formed on the first electrode layer, and a second electrode layer formed on the organic emitting layer, and the data driving circuit is disposed between a display area and a first side of the substrate on which an external terminal is placed. A third electrode layer is provided within a sealing area disposed between the display area and a second side of the substrate, and on a layer below the passivation film, and the second electrode layer is connected to the third electrode layer through a plurality of contact holes formed above the third electrode layer.
US08018440B2
A method for rejecting an unintentional palm touch is disclosed. In at least some embodiments, a touch is detected by a touch-sensitive surface associated with a display. Characteristics of the touch may be used to generate a set of parameters related to the touch. In an embodiment, firmware is used to determine a reliability value for the touch. The reliability value and the location of the touch is provided to a software module. The software module uses the reliability value and an activity context to determine a confidence level of the touch. In an embodiment, the confidence level may include an evaluation of changes in the reliability value over time. If the confidence level for the touch is too low, it may be rejected.
US08018429B2
A surface plasmon display device includes metal particles having a constant size within all of the pixel regions between a first electrode and a second electrode and a dielectric layer corresponding to each of the pixel regions formed on an inner surface of a first substrate, wherein the dielectric layer in each of the pixel regions has physical properties for causing the surface plasmon resonance corresponding to a wavelength designated to the corresponding pixel region.
US08018420B2
A liquid crystal display device has facing substrates, pairs of data lines, gate lines intersecting the data lines to define pixel areas, pixel electrodes formed in the pixel areas, a gate driver, a source driver and a latch circuit. Each pair of data lines includes first and second data lines adjacent each other. The gate driver applies a gate signal to the gate lines, and the source driver outputs data signals to the first and second data lines. The latch circuit stores a data signal output from the source driver and transmits relevant data signals to odd and even pixel electrodes formed between the first and second data lines. During high-speed operation, the data signal from the source driver is bisected and applied as an odd and even data signal to two neighboring data lines at certain time intervals.
US08018418B2
A data synchronization method for a transmitter of a display device includes utilizing a plurality of first signaling line sets to couple the transmitter and a plurality of receivers in a dedicated type manner, transmitting a synchronization signal to the plurality of receivers according to a transistor-to-transistor logic signal form, transmitting a synchronization start-up signal to the plurality of receivers via the plurality of first signaling line sets a first time later after the synchronization signal is transmitted, and then transmitting a data signal to the plurality of receivers via the plurality of first signaling line sets a second time later after the synchronization start-up signal is transmitted. The synchronization signal has a longer effective time than the synchronization start-up signal.
US08018416B2
An exemplary driving circuit (20) includes gate lines (201) that are parallel to each other and that each extend along a first direction; first data lines (202) that are parallel to each other and that each extend along a second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction; thin film transistors (203) provided in the vicinity of intersections of the gate lines and the data lines; a gate driving circuit (210) connected to the gate lines; a data driving circuit (220) connected to the data lines; an access circuit (230) configured for accessing data signals outputted by the data driving circuit; and an output control circuit (240) configured for receiving the data signals accessed by the access circuit and making the time period in which the data signals are applied to the first data lines in accord with the time period during which the thin film transistors are switched on.
US08018413B2
A driving apparatus includes a voltage applying unit, a light irradiation unit and a resistance control unit. The voltage applying unit forms a voltage applying circuit together with a pair of electrode layers of a photo-addressing type display element. The voltage applying unit applies a voltage between the pair of electrode layers. The light irradiation unit irradiates the photo-addressing type display element with addressing light. The resistance control unit controls a resistance to a current which flows in a direction to reduce a potential difference between the pair of electrode layers to be larger than that during a period in which the voltage applying unit is applying the voltage.
US08018407B2
A driver includes a first signal processor adapted to receive clock, input and negative input signals and to output a first output signal to a first node, a second signal processor adapted to receive the first output signal, a negative clock signal, and first and second negative feedback signals and to output a second output signal to a second node, a third signal processor adapted to receive the second output, the input and the clock signals and to output a third output signal to a third node and prevent first and second voltages from being simultaneously applied to the third node, a fourth signal processor adapted to receive the second and third output signals and to output a fourth output signal to a fourth node, and a fifth signal processor adapted to receive the third and fourth output signals and to output a fifth output signal to a fifth node.
US08018404B2
An image display device includes a luminescence element, a first capacitor, a driver having a gate connected to a first electrode of the first capacitor and a source connected to an anode of the luminescence element, and a second capacitor connected to a second electrode of the first capacitor. A power source supplies a reference voltage to the first electrode of the first capacitor via a first switch. A data line supplies a signal voltage to the second electrode of the first capacitor via a second switch. A third switch connects the anode of the luminescence element to the second capacitor. A controller supplies the signal voltage to the first capacitor by switching ON the first and second switches when the third switch is OFF, switches OFF the first and second switches to switch ON the third switch, and causes the second capacitor to hold a source potential of the driver while the third switch is ON.
US08018402B2
An organic light emitting display device and a testing method thereof is provided. The organic light emitting display device may be used to perform a test of a sheet unit for a plurality of organic light emitting display devices formed on a mother substrate. The organic light emitting display device can separately turn off particular organic light emitting display devices. A display region includes a plurality of pixels, which are connected to scan lines and data lines. A scan driver supplies a scan signal to the scan lines. A peripheral region surrounds the display region and includes a first wiring group extending in a first direction and a second wiring group extending in a second direction. A transistor group includes a plurality of transistors, which are coupled with one end of the data lines. An on/off controller is coupled with at least one wiring of the first wiring group and at least one wiring of the second wiring group.
US08018400B2
A plasma display device (PDP) and method of driving it (during an address period) are provided. Such a PDP has an address electrode for receiving an address pulse and a capacitor. Such an address pulse has states including a first voltage and a smaller second voltage smaller. Such a capacitor stores a third voltage that is between the first and third voltages. Such a method includes: coupling the capacitor to the address electrode via the inductor; firstly energizing, via the inductor, the address electrode with the third voltage stored in the capacitor; secondly energizing the address electrode with the first voltage; thirdly energizing, via the inductor, the capacitor with voltage on the address electrode; and fourthly energizing the address electrode with the second voltage. Real power transfer during the first and third energizations is facilitated via reactive power transfer arising from LC resonance.
US08018395B2
An antenna tower structure comprising an essentially vertical elongated tower body with an internal installation shaft provided therein. One or more radio base stations are arranged in the installation shaft in the vicinity of one or more associated antennas at the top of the tower body. The installation shaft is formed to allow personnel access to the radio base station. There is also provided an elevator arrangement for an antenna tower structure.
US08018390B2
A cellular communications antenna including sensors for determining position and/or orientation of the antenna. Position information may be obtained using, for example, a GPS receiver or by triangulation. Orientation information may be obtained using, for example, an electronic compass and/or gyroscope and/or an inclinometer.Position and/or orientation information may be utilised locally to control attributes of the antenna or may be communicated to a central controller which may control attributes of the antenna. Signals may be sent to a central controller to indicate that an attribute of the antenna is outside a desired range.
US08018389B2
An electronic device comprising a first conductive unit and a second conductive unit disposed such that a gap exists between the first component and the second component. The electronic device further includes one or more components disposed along the gap and configured to counteract one or more capacitance effects in the gap, wherein at least one of the first conductive unit and the second conductive unit represents a part of an antenna. By counteracting the capacitance effects in the gap, certain radiation attributes of the antenna, such as radiation efficiency, can be improved. The one or more components are also employed to counteract one or more capacitance effects in a slot of a conductive unit in an electronic device.
US08018384B2
In an illustrative embodiment, an apparatus includes at least one antenna structure located on a first surface of a first substrate; at least one pad located on the first surface of the first substrate; and at least one via traversing the first substrate and thereby connecting the at least one pad located on the first surface of the first substrate to at least one pad located on a second surface. The at least one pad located on the first surface of the first substrate is operatively coupleable to at least one pad located on a surface of an integrated circuit and the at least one pad located on the second surface is operatively coupleable to at least one pad located on a surface of a printed circuit board. The at least one via is thereby operative to couple the at least one pad located on the surface of the integrated circuit and the at least one pad located on the surface of the printed circuit board.
US08018383B1
A signal-of-opportunity location device (SOLD) that may be situated in a complex radio propagation environment with multiple RF signal obstructions receives RF signals from a distant transmitter. The RF signals from the distant transmitter interact with obstructions in the propagation environment local to the SOLD. The local obstructions perturb the RF signals causing the RF signals to exhibit near field behavior in the complex radio propagation environment. The SOLD receives the locally perturbed signals. The SOLD detects signal characteristics of RF signal components of the received signals and compares these signal characteristics with reference data in a reference data store to determine the current location of the SOLD.
US08018379B1
A receiver for receiving both GPS signals and GLONASS signals is provided. This receiver includes an analog front end (AFE), a GPS digital front end (DFE) and a GLONASS DFE for receiving an output of the AFE, and a dual mode interface (DMI) for receiving outputs of the GPS and GLONASS DFEs. Search engines are provided for receiving outputs of the DMI. Notably, certain front-end components of the AFE are configured to process both the GPS signals and the GLONASS signals.
US08018378B2
A satellite navigation receiver having a flexible acquisition and tracking engine architecture. The flexible acquisition engine has a reconfigurable delay line that can be used either as a single entity or divided into different sections. Consequently, it can be configured to search different satellite vehicles, a single Doppler frequency, and full CA code in parallel. When configuring the delay line into different sections, each section is used to search a partial CA code. In this configuration, multiple Doppler mode, multiple satellite vehicles, multiple Doppler frequencies, and partial CA code can be searched in parallel. Furthermore, the different sections of the CA code can be time-multiplexed into a correlator, which can then be over clocked to achieve full CA code correlation. The flexible tracking engine includes a number of parallel tracking channels, whereby each individual channel has a number of taps or fingers, which can be used to lock onto different delays. During tracking, one of the taps can be used to lock on to the center of the peak. This leaves the other taps free to be used to perform other functions, such as determining the shape of the peak, detecting earlier arrivals for line of sight component, and obtaining an estimate of the noise floor. The flexible tracking engine is configurable to help acquisition functions, such as fine acquisition, false trigger detection, and/or fast reacquisition.
US08018374B2
A radar having a high time and high spatial resolution and being capable of performing volume scanning with an inexpensive and simple structure, while enabling reduction is size and weight. A radar (50) is provided with an antenna unit (51) including a radio wave lens antenna device, which has a spherical transmission radio wave lens (2), a spherical reception radio wave lens (3), a primary radiator (4) arranged at a focal point of the radio wave lens (2), and a primary radiator (5) arranged at a focal point of the radio wave lens (3). The primary radiators (4, 5) pivot in an elevation direction about an axis connecting center points of the radio wave lenses (2, 3) and pivot in an azimuthal direction about an axis orthogonal to the axis connecting the center points of the radio wave lenses (2, 3).
US08018372B2
The spread spectrum radar apparatus in the present invention (i) includes: a transmission code generator (110); a reception code generator (121) generating a reception code obtained by delaying a transmission code; a spread modulator (112) spread-modulating a signal generated by a local oscillator (111) using the transmission code; a transmission antenna (113) transmitting the spread-modulated signal; a reception antenna (120) receiving a signal; a spread demodulator (122) demodulating the signal using the reception code to provide a correlation signal; a mixer (123) mixing the correlation signal and the signal generated by the local oscillator (111) to generate a radar signal; a virtual image determining unit (130) determining a virtual image; and a radar signal calculation device (160) calculating the radar signal using a virtual image determination signal, and (ii) adds a calculation and an offset signal for suppressing a peak intensity of the virtual image when the virtual image occurs.
US08018368B2
An analog to digital converter includes: a reference circuit adapted to generate reference voltages; differential amplifiers; normal phase circuits each of which samples a normal phase analog input signal and transfers a comparison voltage, obtained by comparison with a reference voltage generated by the reference circuit, to a first input terminal of one of the differential amplifiers when the input is differential and single-ended; and reversed phase circuits each of which samples a reversed phase analog input signal and transfers a comparison voltage, obtained by comparison with a reference voltage generated by the reference circuit, to a second input terminal of one of the differential amplifiers when the input is differential and which samples a ground level as a reference voltage of the reference circuit and supplies the reference voltage and comparison voltage to the second input terminal of the differential amplifier when the input is single-ended.
US08018361B2
The present invention relates generally to analog-to-digital converters (ADCs). Embodiments of the present invention provide novel ADC architectures directed at reducing the overall ADC area and power consumption. Embodiments of the present invention may be used in pipelined ADCs, cyclic ADCs, and successive approximation (SAR) ADCs, for example. Further, embodiments of the present invention may be implemented using both single-ended and differential configurations.
US08018354B2
An onboard display device has a pickup unit that picks up nighttime environment to acquire a nightview image, a display that can display a nightview image together with a map image, and a display control unit that displays an information-providing image that is different from the map image and the nightview image on the display and controls displays of the map image and the nightview image, when the information-providing image has to be displayed in a state in which the map image and the nightview image are displayed on the display.
US08018351B2
A method providing assistance during the parking maneuver of a vehicle into a parking space situated laterally to the vehicle to be parked, an erroneous length of the parking space being detected with the aid of a sensor system of the vehicle while the vehicle drives past the parking space on a curved trajectory. To determine the actual length of the parking space, a trajectory of the vehicle differing from a straight trajectory of the vehicle is additionally detected while driving past the parking space, for example, on the basis of the steering angle of the vehicle, and a correction value for the detected length of the parking space is ascertained therefrom. The actual length of the parking space is determined with a high degree of accuracy without the need for other measured values to be detected, for example, the orientation of parked vehicles or the depth of the parking space.
US08018348B1
An electrical circuit tracing apparatus wherein uniquely identifiable electrical signals are injected into deenergized electrical circuits at a circuit breaker panel. Once the apparatus is electrically connected to multiple deenergized branch circuits, a user may connect a circuit analysis box to successive electrical outlets. The circuit analysis box contains a readout that indicates the circuit number (i.e., 1-n, where n is the number of branch circuits simultaneously testable by the apparatus to which the particular electrical outlet is connected). If a particular electrical outlet is accidentally connected to more than one branch circuit, all of the circuits to which the analyzer box is connected are identified.
US08018344B2
A wireless communication method utilizing a wireless communication apparatus is provided. The method includes: providing an antenna unit being used by both a first wireless communication circuit and a second wireless communication circuit, using the first wireless communication circuit for RFID communication via the antenna unit in a first mode, and utilizing the second wireless communication circuit for RFID communication via the antenna unit in a second mode.
US08018338B2
Disclosed is a detection process performed in the detector, which is switchable between an active detection mode, where the detector actively monitors the surrounding area, and a passive detection mode. The data obtained by operation in the active detection mode for the first time are temporarily stored to serve as an initial environmental parameter. Subsequently, the detector operates primarily in the passive detection mode to determine whether or not a downstream device is to be activated, while switching intermittently from the passive detection mode to the active detection mode to thereby determine the activation or deactivation of the downstream device based on the result of comparing the detected value with the initial environmental parameter.
US08018337B2
An audio warning monitoring device, system and method including an audio detector, one or more audio screens to determine if monitored sound is an alarm, a processor or logic device to potentially analyze sound data and then instruct a transmitter to send a message with the monitoring device identification and signals representing sound detected by the audio detector to a server. The computer server analyzes the message and authenticates the audio detector, looks up user data associated with the detector, and contacts a user from previously stored user data in order to notify of the alert and then relay the audio signals in an audio file. At the user's option, the server may contact a staffed or automated monitoring center. Here a human operator may listen to the signals in the audio file and take appropriate action, such as calling the location of the alarm for verification or contacting a professional first responder(s).
US08018335B2
One aspect of the present disclosure relates to receiving by at least one mote device a request to provide an impulse-mote-position-indication; and indicating at least partially using the impulse-mote-position-indication of the at least one mote device positional information about the at least one mote device at least partially in response to the request to provide the impulse-mote-position-indication. Another aspect of the disclosure related to receiving by a communication device an impulse-mote-position-indication of at least one mote device; and deriving a geographic location of the at least one mote device at least partially in response to the receiving by the communication device the impulse-mote-position-indication of the at least one mote device.
US08018330B2
Disclosed is a method for automatically detecting the use of a means of transport (10; 16) conveying persons. According to said method, a transmitter emits signals, a receiver receives signals emitted by the transmitter, positional and/or movement-related data of the means of transport are determined, and the use of the means of transport is detected based on an evaluation of the change in intensity of successive signals received by the receiver as well as the positional and/or movement-related data.
US08018325B2
A remote control system includes an information processing apparatus and a remote controller. The remote controller includes a start notification transmitter that transmits a notification for causing the information processing apparatus to start recording an inter-device distance. The information processing apparatus includes a conversion table showing an association between amounts of change in the inter-device distance within predetermined time lengths and operations corresponding to the amounts of change; a start notification receiver; a distance measurement unit that periodically measures the inter-device distance; a measured distance storage unit that stores a measured inter-device distance in association with a measurement sequence; a determination unit that determines whether the amount of change in distance and the time length during which the change has occurred match any of the amounts of change in the conversion table; and an operation executor that executes the associated operation when the match is obtained.
US08018322B2
A console for an RFID edge server can include a graphical interface to receive ALE filer information such that the graphical interface allows the selection ALE filters on an RFID edge server.
US08018319B2
A foil-type switching element comprises a first carrier foil and a second carrier foil arranged at a certain distance from each other by means of a spacer, which comprises one opening (18) defining an active area. An elongate resistive layer (20) is provided on the second carrier foil within the active area while elongate 5 shunt means (22) are arranged on the first miler foil within the active area and facing the resistive layer (20). The form of the opening (18) in the spacer is such that the active area generally tapers in the longitudinal direction of the elongate resistive layer (20), so that when pressure is applied on the switching element, the shunt means (22) shunt a portion of the resistive layer (20) that 10 progressively increases with pressure, from the broad end of the spacer opening (18) towards its narrow end.
US08018308B2
A downward type micro electro mechanical system (EMS) switch and a method of fabricating the same is provided. The downward type MEMS switch includes first and second cavities formed in a substrate, first and second actuators formed on upper portions of the first and second cavities, first and second fixing lines formed on an upper surface of the substrate and not overlapped with the first and second cavities, and a contact pad which is spaced apart at a predetermined distance from surfaces of the first fixing line and the second fixing line but which can be contacted with the first fixing line and the second fixing line when the first actuator and the second actuator are driven. The contact pad, which is actuated downward by piezoelectricity, is fabricated as it shares a layer with a RF signal line, after the RF signal line is fabricated.
US08018304B2
Some embodiments of the invention provide a filter having at least one first filter, each first filter being a band-reject type filter having a first set of filter parameters that are a function of a first material used to fabricate the at least one first filter, and at least one second filter, each second filter having a second set of filter parameters that are a function of a second material used to fabricate the at least one second filter, each second filter being one of a band-reject type filter and a band pass type filter. The at least one first filter and the at least one second filter are then cascaded together to form the filter. The first material and the second material are different materials. The cascaded filter has a new third set of filter parameters that are a function of both the first material and the second material. Other embodiments of the invention include a method for fabricating the filter and a method of filtering using such a cascaded filter.
US08018302B2
A micro-electro-mechanical-system resonator, includes: a substrate; a fixed electrode formed on the substrate; and a movable electrode, arranged facing the fixed electrode and driven by an electrostatic attracting force or an electrostatic repulsion force that acts on a gap between the fixed electrode and the movable electrode. An internal surface of a support beam of the movable electrode facing the fixed electrode has an inclined surface.
US08018297B2
A balanced-unbalanced conversion circuit includes a first coupling line, an unbalanced terminal connected to the first coupling line, a ground terminal connected to the unbalanced terminal through the first coupling line, a second coupling line electromagnetically coupled to the first coupling line, a first balanced terminal connected to the second coupling line, a second balanced terminal connected to the first balanced terminal through the second coupling line, and a band-reject filter serially connected to the first coupling line to remove predetermined-band signals of high frequency signals transmitted through the first coupling line.
US08018290B2
An output terminal 6 is provided at the connecting point 5 between the collector terminal of a transistor 1 and an open-ended stub 4 by connecting the open-ended stub 4 to the collector terminal of the transistor 1, the open-ended stub 4 having a line length equal to a quarter of the wavelength of a signal of frequency 2N·F0 or 2N times the oscillation frequency F0. In addition, an output terminal 9 is provided at a connecting point 8 located at a distance equal to a quarter of the wavelength of a signal of oscillation frequency F0 from the end of an open-ended stub 7 by connecting the open-ended stub 7 to the base terminal of the transistor 1, the open-ended stub 7 having a line length longer than a quarter of the wavelength of the signal of oscillation frequency F0.
US08018287B2
The RF power amplifier apparatus has an RF power amplifier and a power-supply circuit. The power-supply circuit controls the level of a source voltage supplied to the RF power amplifier in response to the level of a power-control signal. A sensing resistance produces a sense signal Vsen corresponding to a source current with respect to a source voltage. The current-control unit controls the source current ILDO in response to the sense signal Vsen. When Vsen coincides with an allowable sense signal level Vsh corresponding to a source current allowable level ILDO(Max), the current-control unit controls the source current ILDO to a limit current smaller than the allowable level ILDO(Max). Preferably, the limit current is a shutdown current when a shutdown switch is in an OFF state. Thus, the draining of the battery of a mobile-phone terminal can be reduced even when an impedance mismatch condition lasts for a long time.
US08018286B2
The present invention relates to an integrated electrical circuit in particular a receiver or driver suitable for broadband communication, such as optical interconnect. The circuit comprises two amplifiers which share current supply wherein the integrated circuit is arranged so that cross talk via this current supply is avoided over a large range of frequencies.
US08018284B2
An output-impedance in a power amplifier is provided. A first transistor QBUF of a buffer stage is connected to a first side of a resistor RF and a second transistor QAMP to a second opposite side of the resistor RF. The first transistor feeds a current IRF to the second resistor QAMP. The current IRF at the second transistor is copied and multiplied by a factor (n) to form an output current IOUT, as (1+n)*IRF. The current IRF is fed back to the first transistor and the output current IOUT is fed to a load resistor R.
US08018281B2
Method and device for performing offset cancellation in an amplifier using floating-gate transistors
An operational amplifier including: a differential pair of transistors coupled to a pair of input signals; and a pair of floating-gate transistors coupled to the differential pair of transistors, wherein the pair of floating-gate transistors are operable for reducing an offset voltage of the operational amplifier.
US08018278B2
A pre-distortion apparatus of a power amplifier includes: a pre-distortion unit configured to generate a pre-distorted signal of an input signal by calculating a magnitude of the input signal and outputting a complex correction coefficient corresponding to the calculated magnitude of the input signal, and provide the generated pre-distorted signal as an input of the power amplifier; and a complex correct coefficient update unit configured to generate an error signal by comparing an output signal of the power amplifier with the input signal and updating the complex correction coefficient to minimize a magnitude of the generated error signal, wherein the pre-distortion unit provides a constant bias value corresponding to the magnitude of the input signal as a bias of the power amplifier while updating the complex correction coefficient.
US08018273B2
A filter circuit that removes high-frequency components from an input signal, comprises: an operational amplifier; a first resistor connected between a non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier and an input signal source; a first capacitor connected to the non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier; a second resistor connected to the non-inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier; a third resistor connected between an inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier and the input signal source; a second capacitor connected between the inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier and an output terminal of the operational amplifier; and a fourth resistor connected to the inverting input terminal of the operational amplifier.
US08018271B2
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes: a first flip-flop, a combined circuit and a second flip-flop that form a critical path; a first delay circuit and a third flip-flop that are provided in the post-stage of the combined circuit; a second delay circuit and a fourth flip-flop that are provided in the post-stage of the combined circuit; a first comparison circuit that compares the output of the second flip-flop with the output of the third flip-flop; a second comparison circuit that compares the output of the second flip-flop with the output of the fourth flip-flop: and a control circuit that controls a source voltage supplied to the combined circuit in accordance with the outputs of the comparison circuits. A delay time by the first delay circuit is different from a delay time by the second delay circuit.
US08018270B2
A charge pump circuit includes a first plurality of capacitors, and a first precharge circuit. The first plurality of capacitors are connected in parallel to each other. The first plurality of capacitors receive clock signals to perform sequentially pumping operations which generate a first higher voltage from a power voltage supplied. The first precharge circuit precharges a predetermined number of capacitors in the first plurality of capacitors at the power voltage. The predetermined number is greater than one.
US08018266B2
A level shifting circuit including a driving circuit, a reset circuit, a coupling circuit and an output-stage circuit is provided. The driving circuit, controlled by the input signal, controls the first driving signal having a high voltage level in the first period and controls the first driving signal having a low reference level in the second period. The reset circuit, controlled by the first driving signal in the first period, resets the second driving signal having the low reference level. The coupling circuit, controlled by the falling edge of the input-inversed signal, controls the second driving signal having a low voltage coupling level in the second period. The output-stage circuit, controlled by the first and the second driving signal, controls the output signal having a high voltage level in the second period and controls the output signal having a low voltage level in the first period.
US08018262B1
A duty cycle correction circuit comprises first and second pulse generators, a clock dividing unit, a detecting unit, and a pulse width control unit. The first pulse generator is configured to generate a first edge of a first pulse signal in synchronization with a first edge of a first clock signal, and the second pulse generator is configured to generate a first edge of a second pulse signal in synchronization with a second edge of the first pulse signal. The clock dividing unit is configured to generate a second clock signal by dividing the frequency of the first clock signal. The detecting unit is configured to generate a detecting signal according to the second clock signal and a time interval between the first edge of the first pulse signal and a second edge of the second pulse signal. In particular, pulse widths of the first and second pulse signals are the same and are adjustable according to a control signal from the pulse width control unit.
US08018261B2
Closed-loop duty-cycle correctors (DCCs), clock generators, memory devices, systems, and methods for generating an output clock signal having a particular duty cycle are provided, such as clock generators configured to generate an output clock signal synchronized with a received input clock signal having a predetermined duty cycle. Embodiments of clock generators include closed-loop duty cycle correctors that receive an already-controlled and corrected output signal. For example, DLL control circuitry and DCC control circuitry may each adjust a delay of a variable delay line. The DLL control circuitry adjusts the delay such that an output clock signal is synchronized with an input clock signal. The DCC control circuitry detects a duty cycle error in the output clock signal and adjusts the delay of the variable delay line to achieve a duty cycle corrected output signal. By detecting the duty cycle error in the output signal, the clock generator may achieve improved performance that can correct accumulated duty cycle error and correct for duty cycle error introduced by the duty cycle corrector itself in some embodiments.
US08018259B2
A method for a phase-locked loop (PLL) in an integrated circuit, wherein the PLL comprises a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO). The method includes, in a training mode: (1) setting a control voltage of the VCO at a first voltage level; (2) increasing the control voltage of the VCO from the first voltage level to a second voltage level, until a loss of the feedback signal is detected; and (3) storing an indicator value corresponding to the second voltage level of the control voltage of the VCO. The method further includes, in a normal mode: (1) monitoring a voltage level of the control voltage of the VCO by generating a monitored indicator value corresponding to the voltage level of the control voltage of the VCO; and (2) asserting the loss of feedback signal based on a comparison of the monitored indicator value and the indicator value.
US08018252B2
Circuit with enhanced mode and normal mode is provided and described. In one embodiment, switches are set to a first switch position to operate the circuit in the enhanced mode. In another embodiment, switches are set to a second switch position to operate the circuit in the normal mode.
US08018240B2
An apparatus includes a current source, a current monitor circuit which monitors a current amount of the current source, and outputs a current amount signal corresponding to the current amount being monitored, a counter circuit which counts a count value based on the current amount signal, the count value corresponding to a period being taken until when the current amount reaches a predetermined value, and a control circuit which modifies an operation parameter for operating a circuit unit according to the count value.
US08018238B2
A system for measuring a capacitor (CSENj) precharges a CDAC (23) in a SAR converter (17) to a reference voltage (VAZ) and also precharges a first terminal (3-j) of the capacitor to another reference voltage (GND). During a measurement phase, the CDAC is coupled between an output and an input of an amplifier (31) and the capacitor also is coupled to the input of the amplifier, so as to redistribute charge between the capacitor and the CDAC. The amplifier generates an output voltage (VAMP) representing the capacitance being measured. The output voltage is stored in the CDAC. The SAR converter converts the output voltage to a digital value representing the capacitance being measured.
US08018235B2
Methods and apparatus to facilitate ground fault detection with a single coil and an oscillator are disclosed. An example ground fault detection device includes a sense coil including a secondary winding surrounding a line conductor and a neutral conductor, the line conductor and the neutral conductor forming a primary winding. The example ground fault detection device also includes a voltage oscillator connected in series with the secondary winding to drive an oscillation component, and at least one of a detector or an amplifier connected in series with the secondary winding to detect at least one of a neutral-to-ground fault or a line-to-ground fault.
US08018233B2
The evaluation method of a separator for a nonaqueous electrolyte battery according to the present invention includes: placing opposite an upper jig 21 serving also as a conductive electrode and a lower jig 23 serving also as a conductive electrode in both sides of the separator sample 22; and measuring the relationship between an applied voltage and a passed current between the upper jig 21 and the lower jig 23 while applying a pressure to between the upper jig 21 and the lower jig 23 to evaluate the separator. At this time, by fitting a foreign material 28 in any shape between the separator sample 22 and one of the upper jig 21 and the lower jig 23, an evaluation of the separator simulating the presence of a foreign material affecting adversely the separator can be performed.
US08018232B2
Gradient coils for generating gradient magnetic fields in a magnetic resonance imaging system are provided. In one embodiment, a gradient coil for a magnetic resonance imaging system may include a plurality of turns formed generally in a figure-eight. The figure-eight may form a first section configured to overly a section of a first adjacent coil, a second section configured to underly another section of the first adjacent coil, a third section configured to overly a section of a second adjacent coil, and a fourth section configured to underly another section of the second adjacent coil.
US08018231B2
The invention relates to methods for analyzing polysaccharides. In particular, compositional and sequence information about the polysaccharides are derived. Some methods use NMR in conjunction with another experimental method, such as, capillary electrophoretic techniques for the analysis.
US08018230B2
The pursuit for ever higher field strengths and faster data acquisitions has led to the construction of coil arrays with high numbers of elements. With the SENSE technique it has been shown, how the sensitivity of those elements can be used for spatial image encoding. A method in accordance with the present invention, largely abstains from using encoding gradients. The resulting sensitivity encoded free induction decay (FID) data is then not used for imaging, but for determining field inhomogeneity distribution. The method has therefore been termed SSH for Sense SHimming.
US08018228B2
Disclosed is a method and an NDT/NDI probe deploying a slit or a flexible joint of probe bending region, preferably between two rows of probe elements to allow free bending between rows of probe elements and along the direction of the rows of elements and to allow two adjacent rows of elements to bend individually along its own natural bending lines perpendicular to the direction of the rows of elements. Also disclosed is the use of protective flexible pads to cover the probe elements and other probe components.
US08018227B2
A device and method for measuring the surface level and/or the presence of a molten metal bath in a cooled container, particularly a crystallizer for a continuous casting process, comprising a source of an electromagnetic field, wherein said source of an electromagnetic field is a transmission coil fed with electrical energy at a predetermined frequency. The information on the level and/or the presence of said surface level is obtained by processing the total impedance (Z), as measured on said transmission coil, in order to calculate the contribution to said impedance (Z) of the currents induced in the walls of the crystallizer, which depend on temperature of the crystallizer and, from it, the value of said surface level and/or the presence of the molten metal bath.
US08018222B2
There is described a position sensor comprising a sensor electromagnetic field generator, a screen arranged to confine the sensor electromagnetic field, and an output. The output is arranged to provide a signal which varies in dependence upon an amount of flux compression of the electromagnetic field resulting from the presence of the screen. The amount of flux compression is related to a position of the screen in relation to the sensor electromagnetic field generator. There is also described a method of detecting a relative position of an electromagnetic field generator and a screen.
US08018214B2
There is provided a regulator with soft-start using a current source. The regulator with soft-start may include: a power switch unit including first and second power switches connected between a power supply terminal and an output terminal; a load capacitor connected between the output terminal and a ground; a voltage detection unit detecting a voltage of the output terminal; a comparison unit comparing a detection voltage and a predetermined reference voltage, and outputting first and second switching signals; a current generating a predetermined constant current; a current control unit switching a connection between a control terminal of the first power switch and the current source unit according to the first switching, and switching a connection between the control terminal of the first power switch and the ground according to the second switching signal; and an error amplification unit amplifying an error voltage between the detection.
US08018212B1
A buck-boost regulator for converting an input voltage to an output voltage which includes an inductor, an error circuit providing an error voltage, buck and boost switching circuits, buck and boost ripple circuits, and buck and boost hysteretic comparator circuits. The buck switching circuit switches a first end of the inductor, the buck ripple circuit replicates ripple current through the inductor based on the buck pulse signal and provides a buck ripple voltage, and the buck hysteretic comparator circuit develops the buck pulse signal based on a buck window voltage range using the error voltage. The boost switching circuit switches a second end of the inductor, the boost ripple circuit replicates ripple current through the inductor based on the boost pulse signal and provides a boost ripple voltage, and the boost hysteretic comparator circuit develops the boost pulse signal based on a boost window voltage range using the error voltage.
US08018209B2
A switching regulator for fixing a frequency which includes a power stage circuit, for receiving an input voltage and outputting an output voltage according to an control signal; a reference voltage generator for generating a reference voltage; a comparator for outputting a comparing result according to the output voltage and the reference voltage; a constant-time trigger circuit for outputting the control signal according to the comparing result and a compensating signal; an a frequency compensator for outputting the compensating signal according to the output voltage and a phase signal; wherein the phase signal is corresponding to the magnitude of the voltage across the lower gate switch of the power stage circuit.
US08018205B2
A multi battery pack system is composed of a plurality of battery packs. The master battery pack receives a total voltage from each slave battery pack and calculates a target total voltage using its total voltage and total voltages of all slave battery pack whenever a predetermined time period passes, sends the calculated target total voltage to each slave battery pack, compares the target total voltage with its total voltage, and then connects or disconnects its cell group and output terminals according to the comparison result. The slave battery packs include at least one slave battery pack, which sends its total voltage according to a request of the master battery pack, receives a target total voltage from the master battery pack, compares the target total voltage with its total voltage, and then connects or disconnects its cell group and output terminals according to the comparison result.
US08018200B2
In the field of battery charging for electronic devices, it is known to employ a number of measures to avoid excessive power dissipation by a pass device in a charging system. However, many of these measures are either incompatible with linear charging regimes or add cost to the adapter and/or charging system. The present invention provides a power dissipation measurement circuit for controlling a control device that acts in series with another, but maximum current limiting, control device to control drive current to the pass device so as to limit the power dissipated by the pass device to a maximum threshold value.
US08018194B2
When application software running on a PC is in the state of being terminated, a switch unit is turned OFF with the control of a CPU and individual motors, and in this state, a light source is not supplied with a motor/lamp-use power source. In this state, however, the CPU and individual I/Fs are supplied with a logic-use power source. Therefore, the switch unit is turned ON when the application software is started, and an initialization process for an individual electrically driven unit is no longer required.
US08018189B2
The present invention provides a motor drive apparatus which improves a trade-off relation between a stable position detection and noise at its driving. A sensorless drive operation circuit calculates by operation a zero cross point (point p) of a voltage of a position detection phase at the next interval, using time information measured based on an output signal from a comparison circuit at the previous interval and the present interval. After the point p has been calculated, points a and b are detected by interrupting a predetermined time drive current.
US08018186B2
An electronic system for controlling a fan motor includes a microcontroller and a drive circuit. The microcontroller draws power from a first voltage source and generates control signals for sending drive current to stator coils of a fan motor via the drive circuit. The electronic system further includes a second voltage source to provide the microcontroller with an amount of energy sufficient to operate for a short period of time when the voltage of the first voltage source drops below a predetermined level. The microcontroller is configured to detect when the voltage level of the first voltage source drops below a given level and generates control signals for the drive circuit to discharge energy in the stator coils of the fan motor to quickly stop operation of the fan motor within a short period of time.
US08018183B2
A speed controller used in a control loop of a motor includes a comparator, a processing device, and an arithmetic logical unit (ALU). The comparator compares a received instruction speed or a received measured speed of the motor with a predetermined speed value, outputs a first signal to the processing device when the received speed is greater than the predetermined speed value, or outputs a second signal to the processing device when the received speed is equal to or less than the predetermined speed value. The processing device receives a speed difference between the instruction speed and the measured speed. The processing device outputs a first proportional value when the first signal is received, or outputs a second proportional value when the second signal is received. The ALU outputs an instruction current to the control loop by calculating the proportional value according to a predetermined calculation rule.
US08018159B2
The present invention provides a relativistic magnetron with axial extraction, or magnetron with diffraction output (MDO), with a mode converter placed directly within the diffraction output of radiation to effectively convert the operating π-mode into a radiated mode of simpler radiation patterns.
US08018157B2
Various embodiments provide an electric high-pressure lamp with a base at one end, with a wattage of at most 100 W and with a discharge vessel which is sealed in a vacuum-tight manner, said discharge vessel being surrounded by an inner bulb and furthermore by an outer bulb, a base with electrical terminals supporting the outer bulb on one side and the inner bulb on the other side, wherein an effective axial length of the inner bulb is defined as the length of said inner bulb without the ends, with the following geometrical relations with respect to the length being maintained: the volume VH of a hollow cylinder extending between the inner bulb and the outer bulb is given by 8 cm3≦VH≦15 cm3; the impact quality IG, defined as the product of the clear width between the inner bulb and the outer bulb and the square of the wall thickness of the outer bulb, in each case calculated in mm, is at least 8 mm3, with the result that the following applies: 8≦IG.
US08018155B2
A short arc type high voltage electrical discharge electrode includes an electrode center spindle made from a refractory metal and having a tip; and an electrode main body made from a refractory metal and disposed at the tip of the electrode center spindle. The electrode center spindle is subjected to final sintering, the electrode main body is subjected to temporary sintering, and the final-sintered electrode center spindle is inserted into a center hole of the temporary-sintered electrode main body so as to form combination which is sintered together.
US08018152B2
When a light-emitting element having an intermediate conductive layer between a plurality of light-emitting layers is formed, the intermediate conductive layer can have transparency; and thus, materials are largely limited and the manufacturing process of an element becomes complicated by a conventional method. A light-emitting element according to the present invention is formed by sequentially stacking a pixel electrode, a first light-emitting layer, an intermediate conductive layer (including an electron injecting layer and a hole-injecting layer, one of which is island-like), a second light-emitting layer and an opposite electrode. Therefore, the present invention can provide a light-emitting element typified by an organic EL element in which a range of choice of materials that can be used as the intermediate conductive layer is broadened extremely, and which can realize a high light-emitting efficiency, a low power consumption and a high reliability, and further a display device using the light-emitting element.
US08018146B2
A manufacturing method for an electronic device, the method including forming a transparent conductive film, including conductive polymers, on a base material, and irradiating ultraviolet light onto a part of the transparent conductive film such that first regions of the transparent conductive film are not irradiated and second regions, adjacent to the first regions, are irradiated, thus forming irradiated portions and non-irradiated portions. The irradiated portions having an electrical resistance value higher than that of the non-irradiated portions. The ultraviolet light includes a wavelength that exhibits an absorbance in an absorption spectrum of the conductive polymers, of the transparent conductive film, two or more times higher than that of a background.
US08018144B2
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) and a method of fabricating the same, in which an intermediate layer is formed between a first hole transport layer (HTL) and a second hole transport layer to facilitate supply of current to an emission layer (EML), thereby increasing the luminance and life span of the OLED. The OLED includes a first electrode, a hole injection layer (HIL) disposed on the first electrode, a first hole transport layer disposed on the hole injection layer, an intermediate layer disposed on the first hole transport layer, a second hole transport layer disposed on the intermediate layer, an emission layer disposed on the second hole transport layer, and a second electrode disposed on the emission layer.
US08018140B2
The present invention provides an organic LED element in which the extraction efficiency is improved up to 80% of emitted light. Further, the invention relates to an electrode-attached translucent substrate having a translucent substrate, a scattering layer formed over the glass substrate and containing a base material having a first refractive index for at least one wavelength of wavelengths of emitted light of an organic LED element and a plurality of scattering materials positioned in the base material and having a second refractive index different from that of the base material, and a translucent electrode formed over the scattering layer and having a third refractive index equal to or lower than the first refractive index, in which distribution of the scattering materials in the scattering layer decreases from the inside of the scattering layer toward the translucent electrode.
US08018135B2
A lighting device comprising at least one non-white light source, at least a first supplemental light emitter and at least a second supplemental light emitter. The non-white light source(s) is outside an area from 0.01 u′v′ above to below the blackbody locus, and within an area defined by curves between saturated light of wavelength 430-480 nm and 560-580 nm and line segments between saturated light of wavelength 430-580 nm and 480-560 nm. The first supplemental light emitter(s) have dominant emission wavelength of 465-540 nm. The second supplemental light emitter(s) have dominant emission wavelength of 600-640 nm.
US08018133B2
A display apparatus according to the present invention has a plurality of electroconductive layers outside of an image display area. Mutually adjacent ones of the electroconductive layers are electrically connected by a resistor. The resistor has a first region, and a second region which is more separated from the image display area than the first region. The area of the second region per unit length in the direction separating from the image display area is smaller than the area of the first region.
US08018127B2
A flexural resonator element includes a base body and a beam with a groove and a through-hole, the beam being extended in a Y direction from the base body and flexurally vibrating in an X direction orthogonal to the Y direction, the groove being formed on a surfaces of the beam perpendicular to a Z direction orthogonal to the X direction and the Y direction, and the through-hole having a smaller width in the X direction than a width of an opening of the groove in the X direction and penetrating from an inner surface of the groove formed on the surface of the beam to a surface of the beam opposite to the surface of the beam having the groove.
US08018126B2
Surface-mounted piezoelectric devices are disclosed that include a package having a base and a lid made of a piezoelectric material or of glass. The package defines an internal cavity containing a tuning-fork type crystal vibrating piece having a pair of vibrating arms. The volume of the cavity is at least twelve times the volume of the pair of vibrating arms. Piezoelectric devices having these characteristics exhibit reduced CI degradation.
US08018125B2
A linear drive ultrasonic motor includes at least an ultrasonic vibrator having a piezoelectric element, a driven member which is driven by a frictional force between the driven member and the ultrasonic vibrator, a pressing member which presses the ultrasonic vibrator such that a frictional force is generated between the ultrasonic vibrator and the driven member, a guiding mechanism which movably supports the driven member, and a case member which accommodates the ultrasonic vibrator, the pressing member, and the guiding means. The case member includes a first opening portion for making the driven member pass through, and a second opening portion which opens in a direction different from a direction in which the first opening portion opens and a direction of pressing by the pressing member.
US08018119B2
An electrostatic induction power generator includes first and second substrates arranged to be opposed to each other, a third substrate arranged between the first and second substrates, first and second electrodes provided on both surfaces of the third substrate respectively, a third electrode provided on a surface of the first substrate; and a fourth electrode provided on a surface of the second substrate.
US08018117B2
An improved design for maintaining separation between electrodes in tunneling, diode, thermionic, thermophotovoltaic and other devices is disclosed. At least one electrode is made from flexible material. A magnetic field is present to combine with the current flowing in the flexible electrode and generate a force that counterbalances the electrostatic force or other attracting forces between the electrodes. The balancing of forces allows separation and parallelism between the electrodes to be maintained at a very small spacing without requiring the use of multiple control systems, actuators, or other manipulating means, or spacers. The shape of one or both electrodes is designed to maintain a constant separation over the entire overlapping area of the electrodes. The end result is an electronic device that maintains two closely spaced parallel electrodes in stable equilibrium with a uniform gap therebetween over a large area in a simple configuration for simplified manufacturability and use to convert heat to electricity or electricity to cooling.
US08018116B2
A motor arrangement between the movable body and the commutation system comprising movable body coils assembling, wherein said movable body coils assembling are energized for short periods of time of an electric cycle in order to initiate a movement at the movable body. The current applied to the coils assembling is stopped during a passive phase in order to complete a rotary motion based primarily to the magnetic relation between the static body and the movable body, more particularly the magnetic relation between the coils assembling and the permanent magnets in order to reduce the heat and energy consumption and therefore increasing the motor life.
US08018114B2
A wedge for use in a generator rotor includes a wedge body having a generally triangular shape with flat surfaces, and such that when the wedge is placed in a generator rotor, the flat surfaces will define circumferential extents of the wedge body relative to a rotational axis of the rotor, and said flat surfaces extending to a radially outermost extent of the wedge body. A wedge and winding combination, a generator rotor, a generator and a method all using the wedges are disclosed and claimed.
US08018111B2
A rotor core has permanent magnets. Magnetic flux of the permanent magnet of an even-numbered rotor magnetic pole part is guided in an axial direction by an axial magnetic path member. Magnetic flux of the permanent magnet of an odd-numbered rotor magnetic pole part is guided into a soft magnetic inner cylindrical part. The axial end faces of the inner cylindrical part and the axial magnetic path member protrude from the rotor core in the axial direction and face a stationary magnetic path member with a small gap therebetween. The amount of magnetic flux of the magnet, which the permanent magnet applies to a stator core is adjusted by an excitation current of an excitation coil wound on the stationary magnetic path member.
US08018110B2
An internal permanent magnet (IPM) machine is provided. The IPM machine includes a stator assembly and a stator core. The stator core also includes multiple stator teeth. The stator assembly is further configured with stator windings to generate a magnetic field when excited with alternating currents and extends along a longitudinal axis with an inner surface defining a cavity. The IPM machine also includes a rotor assembly and a rotor core. The rotor core is disposed inside the cavity and configured to rotate about the longitudinal axis. The rotor assembly further includes a shaft. The shaft further includes multiple protrusions alternately arranged relative to multiple bottom structures provided on the shaft. The rotor assembly also includes multiple stacks of laminations disposed on the protrusions and dovetailed circumferentially around the shaft. The rotor assembly further includes multiple permanent magnets for generating a magnetic field, which interacts with the stator magnetic field to produce torque. The permanent magnets are disposed between the stacks. The rotor assembly also includes multiple bottom wedges disposed on the bottom structures of the shaft and configured to hold the multiple stacks and the multiple permanent magnets.
US08018107B2
A brushless motor includes a substantially flat attachment plate and a circuit board. The attachment plate includes a plurality of motor attachment portions and a base portion arranged to interconnect the motor attachment portions. The circuit board is arranged on an upper surface of the base portion and includes a first area to which electronic parts are attached. The upper surfaces of the motor attachment portions are arranged higher than the upper surface of the base portion. The height of the upper surface of the circuit board in the first area is substantially equal to or greater than the height of the upper surfaces of the motor attachment portions.
US08018105B2
An electromagnetic vibrator for use in a portable communication device includes a housing including a track directed in a first dimension; a coiling including at least one coil turn, oriented in a second dimension essentially perpendicular to the first dimension, coiled around the track and being arranged to receive an electric voltage; a permanent magnet assembly arranged for motion along the track to which the permanent magnet assembly is tightly fitted; and a ferrofluid mixture placed between the track and the permanent magnet assembly allowing motion of the permanent magnet assembly in the first dimension in dependence of the electric voltage as supplied to the coiling.
US08018099B2
The invention is directed to a touch-sensitive paper shredder control system. The touching feature is implemented through a series of electronic circuits, taking input from a conductive touch panel on the shredder feed throat, processing the signal, and through a motor driving circuit, stopping the mechanical parts of the shredder. The system has a touch detection circuit unit, which contains a bioelectricity controlled switching circuit to sense the conductive touch panel. The bioelectricity controlled switching circuit is configured to trigger a ground switching circuit in the touch detection circuit unit which outputs to a multifunction control circuit unit. The control circuit unit then takes care of the remaining protection issues. The touching device for paper shredders protects humans and other living beings including pets from injuries through automatic and real time monitoring. The complete control process is both safe and sensitive.
US08018096B1
An inductive pulse forming network stores electrical energy delivered from an outside prime power supply in the electric field of a low-voltage, high-energy density network capacitor. Through timed actuation of a series of one or more switches, the energy stored in the electric field of the network capacitor is subsequently converted to electrical energy stored in the magnetic field of a network inductor. The energy stored in the network inductor supplies high-current, high-power electrical energy to drive an electromagnetic launcher such as a railgun.
US08018095B2
A power conversion, control, and distribution system includes multiple bulk power regulator (BPR) subassemblies, a bulk power distribution (BPD) subassembly, and a bulk power controller and hub (BPCH) subassembly. The BPR subassemblies are each configured to provide regulated DC power from both AC input power and DC input power. The BPD subassembly is configured to distribute the regulated DC power. The BPCH subassembly is coupled to the multiple BPR subassemblies and the BPD subassembly. The BPCH subassembly is configured to monitor and control the BPR assemblies and the BPD assembly.
US08018089B2
An electrical distribution system is provided for selectively connecting an electrical power source to load devices comprising a plurality of panelboards each having a plurality of load circuit positions. A plurality of pairs of circuit breakers and switching devices are each mounted in one of the load circuit positions. Each pair is electrically connected between an electrical power source and a load device for selectively delivering electrical power to load devices. An I/O controller is mounted in the panelboard for controlling operation of the switching devices. The I/O controller includes a communication circuit. A system controller is connected to each I/O controller communication circuit and comprises a programmed controller for commanding operation of the I/O controllers.
US08018087B2
A vehicular lamp is arranged to save power by not driving a cooling fan when an LED is unlit. The vehicular lamp is capable of reducing cost and stopping a supply of current to the LED even in the case of open wiring in a supply of current to the cooling fan. The vehicular lamp includes LEDs connected in series, a cooling fan connected in series with the LEDs and arranged to cool the LEDs. A current supply circuit receives power supplied from a power source and supplies current to the LEDs and the cooling fan.
US08018084B2
A wave powered electrical generator includes: a floating unit that floats in water and accommodates a power generator therein. The floating unit has a wave power system that includes, a chamber containing fluid, a free-floating mass provided in the chamber that separates the chamber into first and second chambers defined at each side of the mass, a first valve that allows the fluid in the first chamber to be discharged from the first chamber as the free-floating mass moves toward the first chamber, and a second valve that allows the fluid in the second chamber to be discharged from the second chamber as the free-floating mass moves toward the second chamber. The fluid discharged through the first and second valves flows into a pipe that discharges the received fluid from an end thereof against a turbine attached to a power generator.
US08018072B1
A semiconductor device has a substrate. A die is attached to a first surface of the substrate. A heat sink is provided having an approximately planer member and support members extending from the planer member. The support members are attached to the first surface of the substrate to form a cavity over the die with the planer member positioned above the die. An encapsulant is provided for encapsulating the device, wherein an exterior surface of the planer member is exposed. A non-tapered opening is formed in the planer member. The encapsulant is injected through the opening to encapsulate the cavity and the encapsulant will partially fill the non-tapered opening.
US08018067B2
Through-Wafer Interconnections allow for the usage of cost-effective substrates for detector chips. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, detecting element for application in an examination apparatus may be provided, comprising a wafer with a sensitive region and a coaxial through-wafer interconnect structure. This may reduce the susceptibility of the interconnection by providing an effective shielding.
US08018058B2
A method of forming a circuit includes providing a substrate; providing an interconnect region positioned on the substrate; bonding a device structure to a surface of the interconnect region; and processing the device structure to form a first stack of layers on the interconnect region and a second stack of layers on the first stack. The width of the first stack is different than the width of the second stack.
US08018057B2
A semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor substrate that has an integrated circuit and an electrode electrically connected to the integrated circuit; a first resin layer that is formed in a first region overlapping the integrated circuit over a surface of the semiconductor substrate where the electrode is formed; a wiring that is electrically connected to the electrode and is formed on the first resin layer; and a second resin layer that is formed on the surface of the semiconductor substrate in a second region surrounding the first region, is the second resin layer being spaced a distance from the first resin layer.
US08018055B2
A lead frame type of semiconductor apparatus includes a die pad on which a semiconductor chip is mounted; ground terminals which are to be grounded; power supply terminals which are connected to a power supply; inner leads connected to the ground terminals and power supply terminals, in which a pair of adjacent inner leads for power supply terminal and ground terminal are extended inwardly; a chip capacitor mounting pad which is provided at inner ends of the extended inner leads; and a chip capacitor which is mounted on the chip capacitor mounting pad so that a decoupling capacitor is provided.
US08018046B2
A printed wiring board including a core substrate, a build-up layer formed over the core substrate and including a first insulating layer, a conductor layer formed over the first insulating layer, and a second insulating layer formed over the conductor layer, and one or more wiring patterns formed over the first insulating layer. The conductor layer includes conductor portions, and the conductor portions have notched portions, respectively, facing each other across the wiring pattern.
US08018032B2
A semiconductor process is provided. First, a silicon base is provided. Next, a surface of the silicon base is partially exposed and at least a stair structure is formed on the silicon base by etching the surface of the silicon base. The stair structure has a first notch with a first depth and a second notch with a second depth. The first depth is smaller than the second depth, and a diameter of the first notch is larger than a diameter of the second notch. A final insulating layer and a metal seed layer are sequentially formed on the stair structure. A patterned photoresist layer is formed on the metal seed layer. A circuit layer coving exposed portions of the metal seed layer located above the first notch is formed. The patterned photoresist layer and portions of the metal seed layer disposed below the patterned photoresist layer are then removed.
US08018031B2
The invention realizes low on-resistance and high current flow in a semiconductor device in which a current flows in a thickness direction of a semiconductor substrate. A first MOS transistor having first gate electrodes and first source layers is formed on a front surface of a semiconductor substrate, and a second MOS transistor having second gate electrodes and second source layers is formed on a back surface thereof. A drain electrode connected to the semiconductor substrate, a first source electrode connected to the first source layers, a second source electrode connected to the second source layers, and a first penetration hole penetrating the semiconductor substrate are further formed. A first wiring connecting the first source electrode and the second source electrode is formed in the first penetration hole. The semiconductor substrate serves as a common drain region of the first and second MOS transistors.
US08018030B2
A semiconductor device according to the invention is a semiconductor device which includes a low dielectric constant film of which the relative dielectric constant is less than 3.5, is provided with one or more seal rings that are moisture blocking walls in closed loop form in a plan view, and where at least one of the seal rings includes a seal ring protrusion portion in inward protruding form in the vicinity of a chip corner.
US08018029B2
A gallium nitride-based epitaxial wafer for a nitride light-emitting device comprises a gallium nitride substrate having a primary surface, a gallium nitride-based semiconductor film provided on the primary surface, and, an active layer provided on the semiconductor film, the active layer having a quantum well structure. A normal line of the primary surface and a C-axis of the gallium nitride substrate form an off angle with each other. The off angle monotonically increases on the line that extends from one point to another point through a center point of the primary surface. The one point and the other point are on an edge of the primary surface, and indium contents of the well layer defined at n points on the line monotonically decrease in a direction from the one point to the other point. The thickness values of the well layer defined at the n points monotonically increase in the direction.
US08018027B2
A flip-bonded dual-substrate inductor includes a base substrate, a first inductor body portion provided on a surface of the base substrate, a cover substrate, a second inductor body portion provided on a surface of a cover substrate, and a nanoparticle bonding material provided between the base substrate surface and the cover substrate surface to electrically connect the first inductor body portion and the second inductor body portion. A method for fabricating a flip-bonded dual-substrate inductor including forming a first inductor body portion on a surface of a base substrate, forming a second inductor body portion on a surface of a cover substrate, and attaching the base substrate surface to the cover substrate surface using a nanoparticle bonding material that electrically connects the first inductor body portion and the second inductor body portion.
US08018020B2
The invention provides a Schottky barrier diode in which a forward voltage is low, a backward leakage current is small, and a withstanding voltage of an element is high, by improving both the forward voltage VF and the backward leakage current IR. A Schottky barrier diode of the invention includes a semiconductor substrate whose surface is provided with a semiconductor layer of first conduction type, a plurality of semiconductor layers of second conduction type provided as junction barriers at a predetermined depth from the surface of the semiconductor layer of first conduction type, an annular shape guard ring comprised of a semiconductor layer of second conduction type to surround the semiconductor layer of second conduction type on the surface of the semiconductor layer of first conduction type, and a metal layer disposed so as to contact the semiconductor layer of first conduction type and the semiconductor layer of second conduction type. In this Schottky barrier diode, a width of a depletion layer is determined such that an inside of the junction barrier is filled with the depletion layer upon application of a voltage.
US08018017B2
A thermo-mechanical cleavable structure is provided and may be used as a programmable fuse for integrated circuits. As applied to a programmable fuse, the thermo-mechanical cleavable structure includes an electrically conductive cleavable layer adjacent to a thermo-mechanical stressor. As electricity is passed through the cleavable layer, the cleavable layer and the thermo-mechanical stressor are heated and gas evolves from the thermo-mechanical stressor. The gas locally insulates the thermo-mechanical stressor, causing local melting adjacent to the bubbles in the thermo-mechanical stressor and the cleavable structure forming cleaving sites. The melting also interrupts the current flow through the cleavable structure so the cleavable structure cools and contracts. The thermo-mechanical stressor also contracts due to a phase change caused by the evolution of gas therefrom. As the thermo-mechanical cleavable structure cools, the cleaving sites expand causing gaps to be permanently formed therein.
US08018008B2
Semiconductor device including a plurality of chips and method of manufacturing semiconductor device
A semiconductor device includes a first chip and a second chip. The first chip includes a first conductivity type channel power MOSFET. The second chip includes a second conductivity type channel power MOSFET. The first chip and the second chip are integrated in such a manner that a second-surface drain electrode of the first chip and a second-surface drain electrode of the second chip face to each other and are electrically coupled with each other through a conductive material.
US08018005B2
A semiconductor structure. The semiconductor structure includes: a first semiconductor region and a second semiconductor region; a first gate dielectric region on the first semiconductor region; a second gate dielectric region on the second semiconductor region, wherein the second semiconductor region includes a first top surface shared by the second semiconductor region and the second gate dielectric region, and wherein the first top surface defines a reference direction perpendicular to the first top surface and pointing from inside to outside of the second semiconductor region; an electrically conductive layer on the first gate dielectric region; a first poly-silicon region on the electrically conductive layer; a second poly-silicon region on the second gate dielectric region; a first hard mask region on the first poly-silicon region; and a second hard mask region on the second poly-silicon region.
US08018003B2
A field effect transistor includes a source region and a drain region in contact with a channel region. The source and drain regions are formed in insulating pockets that cause the source and drain regions to be electrically isolated from the substrate, thereby minimizing junction capacitance and device crosstalk. The structures that define the insulating pockets can be insulating layers formed in one or more wells in the substrate, or can be a blanket insulating formed over the substrate in which a well is formed to contain the transistor.
US08018002B2
An electrostatic discharge protection device and methodology are provided for protecting semiconductor devices against electrostatic discharge events by temporarily forming during normal (non-ESD) operation two more inversion layers (112, 113) in a first well region (104) that is disposed between anode and cathode regions (105, 106) in response to one or more bias voltages (G1, G2) that are close to Vdd in order to reduce leakage current and capacitance during normal operation (non-ESD) condition. During an electrostatic discharge event, the bias voltages can be removed (e.g., decoupled or set to 0V) to eliminate the inversion layers, thereby forming a semiconductor resistor for shunting the ESD current.
US08017998B1
Gettering contaminants for formation of integrated circuits on a semiconductor-on-insulator structure is described. A semiconductor-on-insulator structure is configured to attract contaminants. Contaminant attractor regions are formed using ion implantation into a semiconductor layer of the semiconductor-on-insulator structure. The semiconductor layer is located above a buried insulator layer of the semiconductor-on-insulator structure. The contaminant attractor regions are spaced away from active regions. Tiles are located on an upper surface of the buried insulator layer. The contaminant attractor regions are formed adjacent to, in close proximity to, or in the tiles. At least one dielectric layer laterally adjacent to the tiles and is disposed on the upper surface of the buried insulator layer. The at least one dielectric layer at least inhibits lateral migration of contaminants to the active regions.
US08017992B2
Disclosed here in is a flash memory device and a method of fabricating the same. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a flash memory device includes first contact plugs formed over a semiconductor substrate between gate patterns. Second contact plugs are formed over the semiconductor substrate between gate patterns and disposed alternately with the first contact plugs. The second contact plugs having a height greater than the first contact plugs. First and second conductive pads are connected to the first contact plugs. First and second pad contact plugs are formed on extended edge portions of the first and second conductive pads. First bit lines are connected to the first and second pad contact plugs, and second bit lines are connected to the second contact plugs.
US08017991B2
Example embodiments provide a non-volatile memory device with increased integration and methods of operating and fabricating the same. A non-volatile memory device may include a plurality of first storage node films and a plurality of first control gate electrodes on a semiconductor substrate. A plurality of second storage node films and a plurality of second control gate electrodes may be recessed into the semiconductor substrate between two adjacent first control gate electrodes and below the bottom of the plurality of first control gate electrodes. A plurality of bit line regions may be on the semiconductor substrate and each may extend across the plurality of first control gate electrodes and the plurality of second control gate electrodes.
US08017988B2
A first plurality of memory cells is in a first plane in a first column of the array. A second plurality of memory cells is in a second plane in the same column. The second plurality of memory cells are coupled to the first plurality of memory cells through a series connection of their source/drain regions.
US08017984B2
A solid-state imaging device with a structure such that an electrode for reading a signal charge is provided on one side of a light-receiving sensor portion constituting a pixel; a predetermined voltage signal V is applied to a light-shielding film formed to cover an image pickup area except the light-receiving sensor portion; a second-conductivity-type semiconductor area is formed in the center on the surface of a first-conductivity-type semiconductor area constituting a photo-electric conversion area of the light-receiving sensor portion; and areas containing a lower impurity concentration than that of the second-conductivity-type semiconductor area is formed on the surface of the first-conductivity-type semiconductor area at the end on the side of the electrode and at the opposite end on the side of a pixel-separation area.
US08017975B2
A semiconductor device and manufacturing method satisfies both of the trade-off characteristic advantages of the HBT and the HFET. The semiconductor device is an HBT and HFET integrated circuit. The HBT includes a sub-collector layer, a GaAs collector layer, a GaAs base layer, and an InGaP emitter layer that are sequentially stacked. The sub-collector layer includes a GaAs external sub-collector region, and a GaAs internal sub-collector region disposed on the GaAs external sub-collector region. A mesa-shaped collector part and a collector electrode are separately formed on the GaAs external sub-collector region. The HFET includes a GaAs cap layer, a source electrode, and a drain electrode. The GaAs cap layer includes a portion of the GaAs external sub-collector region. The source electrode and the drain electrode are formed on the GaAs cap layer.
US08017971B2
An LED light source includes an LED die and a transparent encapsulation. The LED die includes a die emitting surface. The transparent encapsulation includes a reflective surface and an encapsulation emitting surface. The LED die is encapsulated by the transparent encapsulation such that the die emitting surface faces the encapsulation emitting surface. The transparent encapsulation is generally convex albeit having a concave recessed portion. The recessed portion is aligned with the die emitting surface and shaped so as to increase an effect of total internal reflection of light rays generated by the light emitting diode die and incident thereon.
US08017970B2
A semiconductor light-emitting element includes, a first semiconductor layer, a second semiconductor layer, a light-emitting layer provided between the first semiconductor layer and the second semiconductor layer, a first electrode connected to the first semiconductor layer, and a second electrode provided on the second semiconductor layer. A side of the second electrode facing to the second semiconductor layer is composed of at least any one of silver and silver alloy. The second electrode has a void having a width of emission wavelength or less of the light-emitting layer in a plane of the second electrode facing to the second semiconductor layer.
US08017969B2
An LED chip package structure with high-efficiency light emission by rough surfaces includes a substrate unit, a light-emitting unit, and a package colloid unit. The substrate unit has a substrate body, and a positive electrode trace and a negative electrode trace respectively formed on the substrate body. The light-emitting unit has a plurality of LED chips arranged on the substrate body. Each LED chip has a positive electrode side and a negative electrode side respectively and electrically connected with the positive electrode trace and the negative electrode trace of the substrate unit. The package colloid unit has a plurality of package colloids respectively covering the LED chips. Each package colloid has a cambered colloid surface and a light-emitting colloid surface respectively formed on its top surface and a lateral surface thereof.
US08017966B2
A light-emitting module includes a semiconductor light-emitting element with a generally oblong shape, and a planar electrode formed on a surface of the semiconductor light-emitting element. The planar electrode has a generally right triangular electrode portion that is defined by an oblique cut-off line on any one of four corners of the semiconductor light-emitting element. The planar electrode is formed with a wire bonding portion that establishes a current-carrying connection with the generally right triangular electrode portion.
US08017961B2
The present invention relates to a light emitting device comprising a light emitting diode for emitting blue light or ultraviolet rays, and at least one orthosilicate based phosphor for emitting light in a green to yellow region and an alkaline earth metal sulfide based phosphor for emitting light in a red region which are installed above the light emitting diode.According to the light emitting device of the present invention, white light with a continuous spectrum ranging from green to red can be implemented such that more excellent color rendering and color reproducibility can be obtained. Therefore, the light emitting device of the present invention can used in an liquid crystal display backlight unit as well as a general lighting source and flash light source.
US08017955B2
A composite multi-color light emitting diode device includes a first light emitting diode unit and a second light emitting diode unit that is arranged on top of the first light emitting diode unit for emitting two different wavelengths of electromagnetic radiation. A third light emitting diode unit may be arranged on top of the second light emitting diode unit, thereby providing a stack of three light emitting diode units. Alternatively, the third light emitting diode unit may be arranged on the first light emitting diode unit, thereby providing two light emitting diode units side-by-side on top of the first light emitting diode unit.
US08017952B2
Disclosed are an inorganic electroluminescent diode and a method of fabricating the same. Specifically, this invention provides an inorganic electroluminescent diode, which includes a semiconductor nanocrystal layer formed of inorganic material, an electron transport layer or a hole transport layer formed on the semiconductor nanocrystal layer using amorphous inorganic material, and a hole transport layer or an electron transport layer formed beneath the semiconductor nanocrystal layer using inorganic material, and also provides a method of fabricating such an inorganic electroluminescent diode. According to the method of fabricating the inorganic electroluminescent diode of this invention, an inorganic electroluminescent diode can be fabricated while maintaining the properties of luminescent semiconductor material of the semiconductor crystal layer, and also an inorganic electroluminescent diode which is stably operated and has high luminescent efficiency can be provided.
US08017948B2
There is provided an electric device which can prevent a deterioration in a frequency characteristic due to a large electric power external switch connected to an opposite electrode and can prevent a decrease in the number of gradations. The electric device includes a plurality of source signal lines, a plurality of gate signal lines, a plurality of power source supply lines, a plurality of power source control lines, and a plurality of pixels. Each of the plurality of pixels includes a switching TFT, an EL driving TFT, a power source controlling TFT, and an EL element, and the power source controlling TFT controls a potential difference between a cathode and an anode of the EL element.
US08017947B2
A thin film transistor (“TFT”) array panel according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes a substrate, a first storage electrode formed on the substrate, a first TFT formed on the substrate and separated from the first storage electrode, a first insulating layer formed on the first storage electrode and the first TFT and having a first opening disposed on the first storage electrode, a pixel electrode connected to the first TFT and overlapping the first storage electrode in the first opening, and a second insulating layer disposed between the first storage electrode and the pixel electrode in the first opening, wherein at least a portion of the boundary of the pixel electrode overlaps the first storage electrode and is disposed in the first opening. Accordingly, storage appropriate capacitance is ensured and a reduction of the aperture ratio may be decreased.
US08017939B2
The present disclosure relates to an organic memory device and a fabrication method thereof. The organic memory device comprises a first electrode, a second electrode, and an organic memory layer situated between the electrodes, wherein a metallic nanoparticle layer is further situated between the first electrode and the organic memory layer. Since the organic memory device may be operated using only positive voltages, a 1D1R device composed of one diode and one resistor can be realized and a passive matrix can be realized due to the 1D1R structure. Accordingly, the organic memory device enables higher integration, ultrahigh speeds, larger capacities, lower power consumption, and/or lower prices.
US08017937B2
The invention relates to a semiconductor component having a metal-insulator structure (MIS) which contains as basic components a substrate, a layer made of an organic semiconductor material and a dielectric layer as insulator. The substrate and/or the dielectric layer made of an inorganic-organic hybrid polymer is chosen from these basic components. In addition, the invention relates to a method for the production of semiconductor components of this type and also to the use of inorganic-organic hybrid polymers for the production of semiconductor components.
US08017935B2
A method of manufacturing a parallel redundant array of single-electron devices. The method includes (a) providing a mask for diffusing a plurality of n-doped regions defined by a first set of a plurality of active regions, (b) providing a mask for disposing a plurality of polysilicon gates defined by a second set of a plurality of exposed regions, wherein an offset between a first member of the plurality of the exposed region of the first set differs in offset from a second member of the plurality of the exposed region of the second set, and (c) fabricating the parallel redundant array of single-electron devices as a function of the offset.
US08017926B2
A collimator including a housing having disposed therein a shield element surrounding a converter core in which a photon beam is generated from electrons emanating from a linear accelerator. A beam channeler longitudinally adjacent the shield element has a beam aperture therethrough coaxially aligned with, and of the same diameter as, an exit bore of the converter core. A larger entry bore in the converter core is coaxial with, and longitudinally separated from, the exit bore thereof. Systems incorporating the collimator are also disclosed.
US08017915B2
An apparatus comprising a radiation source, coincident positron emission detectors configured to detect coincident positron annihilation emissions originating within a coordinate system, and a controller coupled to the radiation source and the coincident positron emission detectors, the controller configured to identify coincident positron annihilation emission paths intersecting one or more volumes in the coordinate system and align the radiation source along an identified coincident positron annihilation emission path.
US08017904B2
Rotary encoder apparatus is described that comprises an encoder scale or ring and an encoder scale reader. The encoder scale includes an incremental scale and one or more reference marks. The encoder scale reader comprises at least a first readhead and a second readhead that each produce a reference mark signal when passed over a reference mark of the encoder scale. The apparatus also comprises a reference position setter for determining, as the encoder scale reader is rotated relative to the encoder scale, at least one angularly repeatable reference position of the encoder scale relative to the encoder scale reader using a first reference mark signal produced by the first readhead and second reference mark signal subsequently produced by the second readhead.
US08017901B2
A photodetecting device 1 includes a photodiode PDm,n, a switch SWm,n for the photodiode, an integrating circuit 12m, and a noise removing circuit 13m. The integrating circuit 12m accumulates in a capacitor Cfk an electric charge input from the photodiode PDm,n through the switch SWm,n for the photodiode, and outputs a voltage value according to the amount of the accumulated electric charge. The noise removing circuit 13m includes an amplifier A3, five switches SW31 to SW35, four capacitors C31 to C34, and a power supply V3. The noise removing circuit 13m takes in a voltage value that is output from the integrating circuit 12m at a time where the switch SW31 is first turned from a closed state to an open state, and after the time, outputs a voltage value according to a difference between the voltage value that is output from the integrating circuit 12m and the voltage value previously taken in.
US08017895B2
A tracking device for automatically following a moving light source that is detectable in the presence of ambient light. A carrier platform including one or more radiant energy conversion devices and a sensor array is mounted to an upright support column with a universal joint. Three independently-operated, linear actuators are equally angularly spaced about the support column with an upper end connected to the carrier platform with a universal hinge and a lower end connected to a floating base with a spherical hinge. A sensor array carried by the carrier platform includes a primary sensor associated with each actuator. During operation, when a primary sensor is not receiving direct radiant energy, the actuator retracts, and when it is receiving radiant energy directly, the actuator extends. The result is that the platform will directly track the sun across the horizon.
US08017894B2
Systems and methods for imaging a distant light source at an enhanced resolution is provided. An evanescent field generator an evanescent field generator that receives an incident electromagnetic field representing at least one distant light source and restores high spatial frequency components to the incident electromagnetic field, resulting in an evanescent field. A negative refractive index lens assembly focuses the evanescent field onto a focal plane. A photodetector assembly located in the focal plane detects the focused evanescent field as an image of the at least one distant light source.
US08017892B2
An apparatus and method for synthesizing nanostructures. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a reactor having a reaction zone and a conductive susceptor positioned in the reaction zone. The method includes the steps of transporting a gas mixture having an aerosolized catalyst, a feedstock and a carrier gas into the reaction zone of the reactor, inductively heating the reaction zone, and regulating a flow rate of the gas mixture to allow the catalyst to spend a sufficient amount of time in the reaction zone for the growth of nanostructures.
US08017891B2
A plastic material sheet for use in vacuum thermoforming is formed of polymer material. Electrically conductive resistance elements, at least a portion of which are situated within sheet, conduct electrical current to heat the sheet. The elements are generally parallel to each other. They may be straight, have a generally zigzag configuration, a generally serpentine configuration, an arcuate configuration, or a grid-like configuration. The elements may each have a section that extends substantially beyond the edge of the sheet. They may be frangible. They may be embedded deeply within the sheet or may be situated proximate a surface of the sheet.
US08017864B2
An upper frequency-range circuit (160) includes a load element (168) exhibiting a capacitive load impedance. A first matching network (166) includes at least one nano-scale Litz wire (100) inductor. The first matching network (166) exhibits an inductive impedance that nominally matches the capacitive load impedance. An electrical conductor for providing connections for radio-frequency signals includes a plurality of nano-scale conductors (120) that are arranged in the form of a Litz wire (100). In one method of making a Litz wire (142), a plurality of carbon nanotubes (144) is placed on a substrate (146). The carbon nanotubes (144) are woven according to a predefined scheme so as to form a Litz wire (142). An inductor may be formed by manipulating the Litz wire (100) to form a coil (150).
US08017863B2
A photoactive device includes a photoactive region disposed between and electrically connected to two electrodes where the photoactive region includes a first organic photoactive layer comprising a first donor material and a second organic photoactive layer comprising a first acceptor material. The first donor material contains photoactive polymer-wrapped carbon nanotubes and the photoactive region includes one or more additional organic photoactive material layers disposed between the first donor material layer and the acceptor material layer. The photoactive region creates excitons upon absorption of light in the range of about 400 nm to 1450 nm.
US08017861B2
A thin film solar cell including a Group IBIIIAVIA absorber layer on a defect free base including a stainless steel substrate is provided. The stainless steel substrate of the base is surface treated to reduce the surface roughness such as protrusions that cause shunts. In one embodiment, the surface roughness is reduced by coating surface with a thin silicon dioxide which fills the cavities and recesses around the protrusions and thereby reducing the surface roughness. After the silicon dioxide film is formed, a contact layer is formed over the ruthenium layer and the exposed portions of the substrate to complete the base.
US08017855B2
The apparatus for converting an information signal from a time to a variable spectral representation includes a means for windowing the information signal, a means for converting the windowed information signal to a spectral representation, and a means for weighting a set of information signal spectral coefficients with several sets of complex base function coefficients provided from a means for providing the sets of base function coefficients. The sets of base function coefficients are derived from base functions of various frequencies by windowing and transform, wherein several sets of base function coefficients are provided for one and the same base function for base functions of higher frequencies, wherein the windows for providing these sets are related to various time portions of the base function. The variable spectral representation exhibits variable bandwidth of the variable spectral coefficients, which are efficient and accurate to calculate and especially suited for music analysis purposes.
US08017834B2
The invention provides methods for enhancing maize silk exsertion under stress conditions and compositions relating to such methods, including nucleic acids and proteins. The invention further provides recombinant expression cassettes, host cells, and transgenic plants.
US08017832B2
The present invention relates to a plant cell which is genetically modified, the genetic modification leading to the reduction of the activity of one or more SSIII proteins which occur endogenously in the plant cell and to the reduction of the activity of one or more BEI proteins which occur endogenously in the plant cell and to the reduction of the activity of one or more BEII proteins which occur endogenously in the plant cell in comparison with corresponding plant cells, of wild-type plants, which have not been genetically modified. Further aspects of the invention relate to plants containing such plant cells, to a method for generating the plant cells and plants, and to the starch obtainable from them.
US08017831B2
The present disclosure concerns methods and compositions relating to UXS polypeptides and/or nucleic acids encoding UXS polypeptides. In certain claims, the methods and compositions are of use to improve digestibility and/or ease of grain processing. Such improvements relate to a modulation in arabinoxylan and/or hemicellulose content in transgenic plants. Such plants can, for example, comprise one or more nucleic acid sequences that inhibit expression of one or more UDP-Xylose Synthase (UXS) genes.
US08017819B2
A triglyceride or a triglyceride/hydrocarbon combination can be heated to produce thermally treated feeds. The thermally treated feeds can then be contacted with a hydrotreating catalyst in a reaction zone.
US08017813B2
The present inventions are (A) a solvent comprising at least one cycloalkyl alkyl ether (1) represented by the general formula: R1—O—R2 (wherein R1 is cyclopentyl or the like; and R2 is C1-10 alkyl or the like); (B) a method of preparations the ethers (1) characterized by reacting an alicyclic olefin with an alcohol in the presence of an acid ion-exchange resin having a water content of 5 wt % or less. The solvent is useful as cleaning solvent for electronic components, precision machinery components or the like, reaction solvent using various chemical reactions, extraction solvent for extracting objective organic substances, solvent or remover for electronic and electrical materials, and so on. The process enables industrially advantageous production of the objective cycloalkyl alkyl ethers (1).
US08017810B2
A hydroformylation process for the production of alcohols comprising reacting, in a reactor system comprising one or more feed streams, a reaction environment and an output stream, a feedstock composition comprising a compound having at least one olefinic carbon-to-carbon bond with hydrogen and carbon monoxide in the presence of an organophosphine modified cobalt hydroformylation catalyst, wherein the hydroformylation process is carried out in the reaction environment which comprises at least two reaction zones, comprising a first reaction zone, a second reaction zone and, optionally, one or more later reaction zones, wherein the molar ratio of hydrogen to carbon monoxide entering the first reaction zone is in the range of from 0.5 to 1.65, and wherein water is added into the reactor system.
US08017808B2
A process for preparing an amine by reacting an aldehyde and/or ketone with hydrogen and a nitrogen compound selected from the group of primary and secondary amines in the presence of a heterogeneous catalyst, wherein the catalyst is a coated catalyst which comprises at least one metal of group VIII of the Periodic Table of the Elements as a hydrogenating metal and additionally a promoter on an oxidic support, at least 80% of the metal of group VIII of the Periodic Table of the Elements being present in a layer between the surface of the catalyst and a penetration depth which is not more than 80% of the radius of the catalyst, calculated from the surface of the catalyst.
US08017806B2
The invention comprises lubricating compositions and hydraulic fluids containing N,N′-diaryl-p-phenylene diamine compounds that impart good levels of oxidation inhibition in the lubricants and hydraulic fluids.
US08017805B2
Diaromatic amine compounds or an isomer or isomeric mixture thereof is provided having the general formula: wherein n, m, R, R1, R2, R3, R4 and R5 are as defined herein are provided. Lubricating oil compositions and stabilizer-containing compositions containing the diaromatic amine compounds are also provided.
US08017796B2
The present invention relates to devices and methods for selectively removing contaminants from a crude product mixture. In an embodiment the invention includes a method for removing organic acids from a crude product mixture including contacting the crude product mixture with a metal oxide substrate, wherein free organic acids in the crude product mixture bind to the metal oxide substrate, thereby removing free organic acids and forming a refined product mixture; separating the refined product mixture from the metal oxide substrate; and removing the organic acids bound to the metal oxide substrate by contacting the metal oxide substrate with an alkyl ester composition at a temperature of greater than about 100 degrees Celsius. Other embodiments are also described herein.
US08017794B2
A process for the preparation of alkylene oxide, which process involves mixing fresh feed containing organic hydroperoxide and alkene with a recycle stream to obtain a reaction mixture containing of from 5 to 80% wt of alcohol, based on total amount of reaction mixture,contacting the reaction mixture with a heterogeneous epoxidation catalyst to obtain a stream containing alkylene oxide and alcohol, and recycling of from 30 to 95% wt of the stream obtained in step (ii) to step (i).
US08017792B2
The present invention provides a 1-thio-D-glucitol compound of the following formula, which shows the action of inhibiting the activity of SGLT2, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the compound, or a hydrate of the compound or the salt; and a pharmaceutical comprising such a compound as an active ingredient, especially, a pharmaceutical for preventing or treating diabetes, diabetes-related disease, or diabetic complication. The invention also provides a method for producing the 1-thio-D-glucitol compound and its intermediate.
US08017789B2
A preparation method using as an intermediate 6-(halomethyl)-1,2-benzisoxazol-3(2H)-one derivative represented by general formula wherein R5 is a methyl group that is substituted with one or more optionally substituted phenyl groups, or an optionally substituted oxygen-containing heterocyclic group; X represents a halogen atom, can be used as a method for safely and easily preparing 3-{5-[4-(cyclopentyloxy)-2-hydroxybenzoyl]-2-[(3-hydroxy-1,2-benzisoxazol-6-yl)methoxy]phenyl}propionic acid, which is useful as an antirheumatic agent, with a high yield.
US08017785B2
Phosphoric acid, edisylic acid (1,2-ethanedisulfonic acid), citric acid, orotic acid (uracil-6-carboxylic acid), R-mandelic acid, sulfuric acid, 1,5-naphthalenedisulfonic acid, D-aspartic acid, and lysine monohydrochloride salts of (2S)-(4E)-N-methyl-5-[3-(5-isopropoxypyridin)yl]-4-penten-2-amine, and methods for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions comprising said salts, and use, are disclosed. The salts can be administered to patients susceptible to or suffering from conditions and disorders, such as central nervous system disorders, to treat and/or prevent such disorders.
US08017776B2
Disclosed herein are methods for synthesizing 1-(acyloxy)-alkyl prodrug derivatives of drugs through oxidation of 1-acyl-alkyl derivatives of drugs under anhydrous reaction conditions. The methods typically proceed stereospecifically, in high yield, do not require the use of activated intermediates and/or toxic compounds and are readily amenable to scale-up.
US08017772B2
Substituted tetrahydropyrrolopyrazine compounds corresponding to the formula I: processes for their preparation, pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds and the use of these compounds for the treatment and/or inhibition of pain and other disorders or disease states at least partly mediated by KCNQ2/3 K+ channels.
US08017769B2
Benzazole substituted aminobenzenesulfonate derivatives of formula (A) (wherein X, Q and M are as defined in the specification) are useful as components of water-soluble fluorescent inks and dyes invisible in day-light. Novel intermediates for the above compounds are also disclosed.
US08017762B2
The invention relates to iRNA agents, which preferably include a monomer in which the ribose moiety has been replaced by a moiety other than ribose that further includes a tether having one or more linking groups, in which at least one of the linking groups is a cleavable linking group. The tether in turn can be connected to a selected moiety, e.g., a ligand, e.g., a targeting or delivery moiety, or a moiety which alters a physical property. The cleavable linking group is one which is sufficiently stable outside the cell such that it allows targeting of a therapeutically beneficial amount of an iRNA agent (e.g., a single stranded or double stranded iRNA agent), coupled by way of the cleavable linking group to a targeting agent—to targets cells, but which upon entry into a target cell is cleaved to release the iRNA agent from the targeting agent.The inclusion of such a monomer can allow for modulation of a property of the iRNA agent into which it is incorporated, e.g., by using the non-ribose moiety as a point to which a ligand or other entity, e.g., a lipophilic moiety. e.g., cholesterol, is directly, or indirectly, tethered. The invention also relates to methods of making and using such modified iRNA agents.
US08017758B2
This invention is related to novel PNA probes, probe sets, methods and kits pertaining to the determination of Bacillus anthracis.
US08017751B2
Functional assays that detect the effect of a particular compound or compounds on the activation of at least one human T2R polypeptide are provided. These assays include e.g., assays which detect the effect of said compound on intracellular calcium, second messengers such as cAMP, cGMP, current e.g., by use of voltage-clamp or patch-clamp, techniques, fluorescence polarization or FRET assays, and the like. These assays are useful in identifying compounds that putatively elicit or modulate (inhibit or enhance) bitter taste in human subjects, e.g. bitter taste blockers. The effect of identified compounds on taste may be further evaluated in human or animal taste tests.
US08017745B2
The subject invention provides novel Plasmodium falciparum antigens and novel polynucleotides encoding these antigens. Also provided by the subject invention are methods of using these antigens and polynucleotides.
US08017743B2
Method for detecting and identifying unknown bioagents, including bacteria, viruses and the like, by a combination of nucleic acid amplification and molecular weight determination using primers which hybridize to conserved sequence regions of nucleic acids derived from a bioagent and which bracket variable sequence regions that uniquely identify the bioagent. The result is a “base composition signature” (BCS) which is then matched against a database of base composition signatures, by which the bioagent is identified.
US08017737B2
The present invention concerns antibodies specific for the C-terminus of human hepcidin, and related methods and kits for diagnosing and/or treating a disease condition characterized by non-physiological levels of hepcidin protein, including prohepcidin and fragments thereof, comprising obtaining a tissue or fluid sample from a subject; contacting the sample with an antibody or fragment thereof that specifically binds to a polypeptide corresponding to the amino acid sequence between and including amino acids 60 and 84, or, in another embodiment, amino acids 74 and 81, as aligned with the human pre-pro-hepcidin precursor protein, and quantifying the pro-hepcidin and/or mature hepcidin level using an assay based on binding of the antibody and the polypeptide; wherein the non-physiological level of prohepcidin/mature hepcidin is indicative of the disease condition. The present invention also concerns diagnostic methods and kits for applications in genetic technological approaches, such as for overexpressing or downregulating hepcidin.
US08017734B2
The present invention relates to a method of predicting pre-eclampsia (PE). The present invention also relates to a diagnostic kit for performing a method of predicting PE. In particular, the method determining the level of two or more markers selected from placenta growth factor (PlGF), plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), plasminogen activator inhibitor-2 (PAI-2) and leptin.
US08017732B2
A novel protein and a fragment thereof useful as a tumor marker of pancreatic cancer are disclosed. This protein or a fragment thereof is a modified α-fibrinogen protein containing an oxidized amino acid residue(s) or a fragment thereof containing said oxidized amino acid residue(s). The oxidized amino acid residue(s) is one or more amino acid residues selected from the group consisting of (a) a proline residue corresponding to the proline residue at the position of 530 in SEQ ID NO: 2, and (b) a proline residue corresponding to the proline residue at the position of 565 in SEQ ID NO: 2.
US08017731B2
The inventors succeeded in isolating a novel hemopoietin receptor gene (NR10) using a sequence predicted from the extracted motif conserved in the amino acid sequences of known hemopoietin receptors. It was expected that two forms of NR10 exists, a transmembrane type and soluble form. Expression of the former type was detected in tissues containing hematopoietic cells. Thus, NR10 is a novel hemopoietin receptor molecule implicated in the regulation of the immune system and hematopoiesis in vivo. These novel receptors are useful in screening for novel hematopoietic factors capable of functionally binding to the receptor, or developing medicines to treat diseases related with the immune system or hematopoietic system.
US08017730B2
The present invention provides isolated T cell receptors (TCRs) having the property of specifically binding to the VYGFVRACL (SEQ ID NO:1)-HLA-A24 peptide-MHC. Such TCRs are useful, either alone or associated with a therapeutic agent, for targeting cancerous cells presenting the complex.
US08017712B2
The present invention relates generally to a novel process for making a solid solventless MQ resin comprising the steps of (1)(A) feeding at least one MQ resin dispersed in a volatile solvent into an extrusion device, (2) removing the volatile solvent to form a solid solventless MQ resin; and (3) recovering the solid solventless MQ resin, provided steps (1) to (3) are completed without the addition of a linear silicone fluid.
US08017708B2
A modified Ziegler-Natta catalyst system, a method for preparing the catalyst system, and a process for polymerizing an olefin in the presence of the catalyst system are disclosed. The catalyst system comprises a titanium compound, an aluminum compound, and a nitroso compound. Improved polyolefin properties, such as high molecular weight, are obtained.
US08017702B2
Olefin polymerisation process in which a slurry of olefin polymer is produced within a polymerisation zone, followed by withdrawing a polymer slurry stream from the polymerisation zone, and passing the polymer slurry stream through a transfer line to a centrifugal concentrating device which separates the polymer slurry stream into a solids-lean stream or streams each having a solids concentration less than that of the polymer slurry stream entering the concentrating device and a solids-rich stream or streams each having a solids concentration greater than that of the polymer slurry stream entering the concentrating device. At least part of the solids-rich stream or streams is recycled back into the polymer slurry stream upstream of the concentrating device and downstream of the polymerisation zone, and 2-60 vol % of the solids-rich slurry stream is recycled back into the polymer slurry stream upstream of the concentrating device.
US08017701B2
A manufacturing process for producing polyolefin, having a feed system, a reactor system including at least one polymerization reactor, a diluent/monomer recovery system, a fractionation system, and an extrusion/loadout system having an extruder. The manufacturing process is configured to consume less than 325 kilowatt-hours of electricity per metric ton of polyolefin produced.
US08017700B2
A polycarbosilane has a main chain in which silicon atoms and carbon atoms are alternately repeated, and includes a structural unit shown by the following general formula (1), a structural unit shown by the following general formula (2), a structural unit shown by the following general formula (3), and a structural unit shown by the following general formula (4).
US08017693B2
A telechelic polyolefin represented by the following general formula (I): X—P—Y (1) wherein X and Y are each a group containing at least one element selected from oxygen, sulfur, nitrogen, phosphorus and halogens, X and Y may be the same or different, P represents a chain made mainly of an olefin composed only of carbon and hydrogen atoms, and X and Y are bonded to both terminals of P, wherein the molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) obtained by gel permeation chromatography (GPC) is from 1.0 to 1.5, is useful for various purposes.
US08017687B2
There is provided herein, in one specific embodiment, silicone composition(s) comprising unique combination(s) of silicone polymer and alkyltrisiloxane(s) which can produce silicone composition(s) with lower solids content than silicone compositions that use other than alkyltrisiloxane(s); while still maintaining a desirable viscosity.
US08017685B2
Provided is an aqueous polyurethane emulsion composition having a urethane-urea bond, which is obtained by reacting a polyisocyanate, a polyester polyol and an ionic compound to prepare a polyurethane prepolymer, neutralizing it with an alkali or trialkylamine, dispersing it in water and reacting it with an amine, which is a chain extender. Polyurethane gloves manufactured with the aqueous polyurethane emulsion composition of the present invention have superior antistatic property, which is maintained even after washing, and wearing comfort similar to that of gloves made of natural latex and do not cause allergic reactions.
US08017682B2
Linear acrylamide copolymer compounds which can comprise monomeric components comprising at least one N-substituted moiety capable of physical cross-linking, and related compositions and methods of use.
US08017668B2
The present invention provides a plain bearing having improved bearing properties, especially anti-seizure property, initial conformability and cavitation resistance. According to the present invention, a sliding layer is provided on a surface of a bearing alloy layer comprising of a copper-based or aluminum-based alloy, thereby the sliding layer is so structured that, to a polyamide-imide resin of a main constituent, a polyamide resin is added and mixed under a high shear force to form a polymer-alloyed resin binder, in which 1 to 75% by mass of a solid lubricant is dispersed. The sliding layer can have high toughness and strength, as well as improved anti-seizure property, initial conformability and cavitation resistance.
US08017666B2
The invention relates to a composition comprising a prepolymer as component (A), wherein the prepolymer comprises aziridino groups and is characterized by an equivalent weight EW1, a crosslinker as component (B), wherein the crosslinker has a structure being different from the structure of the prepolymer and comprises at least three 2-alkyl-substituted aziridino groups and is characterized by an equivalent weight EW2, an initiator as component (C) being able to start curing of the composition, optionally filler(s) as component (D) and optionally additive(s) as component (E), wherein equivalent weight is defined as (molecular mass of the molecule)/(number of aziridino groups present in the molecule) and wherein EW1>EW2. The invention also relates to the use of the composition for coating, sealing, molding, adhering, making impressions, producing a dental material.
US08017658B2
A method of: introducing hydrogen and a feed gas containing at least 50 vol % carbon dioxide into a reactor containing a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst; and heating the hydrogen and carbon dioxide to a temperature of at least about 190° C. to produce hydrocarbons in the reactor. An apparatus having: a reaction vessel for containing a Fischer-Tropsch catalyst, capable of heating gases to at least about 190° C.; a hydrogen delivery system feeding into the reaction vessel; a carbon dioxide delivery system for delivering a feed gas containing at least 50 vol % carbon dioxide feeding into the reaction vessel; and a trap for collecting hydrocarbons generated in the reaction vessel.
US08017657B1
A composition and method for pain relief and the treatment and prevention of endothelial dysfunction the cause of atherosclerosis, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and stroke in mammals comprising a therapeutically effective amount of anti-inflammatory agents comprising; NSAIDs, an amino sugar and a zinc compound combined with dietary supplements that may enhance longevity.
US08017646B2
The present patent application concerns new compounds of formula (I) with R1 and R2 taken together with the nitrogen atom to which they are attached, form a saturated nitrogen-containing ring, A is a saturated C1-4 alkylene and B a C3-4 alkylene or alkenylene chain; their preparation and their use as a H3 receptor ligand for treating e.g. CNS disorders like Alzheimer's disease.
US08017633B2
The invention relates to the use of Roflumilast and/or Roflumilast N-Oxide for the treatment of diabetes mellitus and accompanying disorders thereof. The invention additionally relates to combinations of Roflumilast and/or Roflumilast N-Oxide with other active agents for the treatment of diabetes mellitus.
US08017628B2
Sulfonyl hydrazide compounds according to formula I geometrical isomers thereof, optically active enantiomers thereof, diastereomers thereof, racemates thereof, and/or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof are useful in method for treating a neuronal disorder, an autoimmune disease, a cardiovascular disease, or cancer in a patient in need of such treatment.
US08017626B2
This invention relates to new quinolone based compounds that exhibit prolyl hydroxylase inhibitory activity. This invention also relates to methods of increasing HIF levels or activity in a subject or treating a condition associated with HIF levels or activity in a subject by administering to the subject at least one quinolone based compound. This invention further involves assays for the detection of a hydroxyproline residue in a HIF molecule.
US08017624B2
The present invention is directed to novel substituted fused aminopiperidines which are inhibitors of the dipeptidyl peptidase-IV enzyme (“DPP-IV inhibitors”) and which are useful in the treatment or prevention of diseases in which the dipeptidyl peptidase-IV enzyme is involved, such as diabetes and particularly Type 2 diabetes. 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 the dipeptidyl peptidase-IV enzyme is involved.
US08017622B2
The present invention relates to opioid and opioid-like compounds, and pharmaceutical formulations thereof, and use thereof for prevention and treatment of disorders such as septic shock and organ damage.
US08017620B2
Deoxyuridine derivatives of the formula where R1 is H or various substituents; D is —NHCO—, —CONH—, —O—, —C(═O)—, —CH═CH, —C≡C—, —NR5—; R4 is hydrogen or various substituents; R5 is H, C1-C4 alkyl, C1-C4 alkanoyl; E is Si or C; R6, R7 and R8 are independently selected from C1-C8 alkyl, C2-C8 alkenyl, C2-C8 alkynyl or a stable monocyclic, bicyclic or tricyclic ring system; G is —O—, —S—, —CHR10—, —C(═O)—; J is —CH2—, or when G is CHR10 may also be —O— or —NH—; R10 is H, F, —CH3, —CH2NH2, —CH2OH, —OH; R11 is H, F, —CH3, —CH2NH2, —CH2OH, CH(OH)CH3, CH(NH2)CH3; or R10 and R11 together define an olefinic bond, or together form a —CH2-group, thereby defining a cis or trans cyclopropyl group; have utility in the prophylaxis or treatment of protozoal diseases such as malaria.
US08017616B2
The present application discloses a compound, or enantiomers, stereoisomers, rotamers, tautomers, racemates or prodrug of said compound, or pharmaceutically acceptable salts, solvates or esters of said compound, or of said prodrug, said compound having the general structure shown in Formula 1: or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, solvate or ester thereof. Also disclosed is a method of treating chemokine mediated diseases, such as, palliative therapy, curative therapy, prophylactic therapy of certain diseases and conditions such as inflammatory diseases (non-limiting example(s) include, psoriasis), autoimmune diseases (non-limiting example(s) include, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis), graft rejection (non-limiting example(s) include, allograft rejection, xenograft rejection), infectious diseases (e.g, tuberculoid leprosy), fixed drug eruptions, cutaneous delayed-type hypersensitivity responses, ophthalmic inflammation, type I diabetes, viral meningitis and tumors using a compound of Formula 1.
US08017613B2
The present invention relates to new compounds, ligands of the beta-3 adrenergic receptor, their preparation and their use in therapy or as research tools for said receptor; the invention also relates to a process for the preparation of the compounds of the invention and the use of inverse agonists of the beta-3 adrenergic receptor as medicaments.
US08017609B2
A method for the prevention of thrombotic, embolic and/or hemorrhagic disorders, such as cerebral infarction (stroke) or myocardial infarction, by administering levosimendan or its metabolite (II) or any of their pharmaceutically acceptable salts to a mammal in need of such prevention.
US08017601B2
Selected compounds are effective for prophylaxis and treatment of diseases, such as HGF mediated diseases. The invention encompasses novel compounds, analogs, prodrugs and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, pharmaceutical compositions and methods for prophylaxis and treatment of diseases and other maladies or conditions involving, cancer and the like. The subject invention also relates to processes for making such compounds as well as to intermediates useful in such processes.
US08017585B2
Peptides, their amides, esters or salts, which have CXCR4 antagonistic action, have therapeutic effects for cancer and chronic rheumatoid arthritis.
US08017577B2
Counterions of polycations used to compact nucleic acids profoundly affect shape and stability of particles formed. Shape is associated with differential serum nuclease resistance and colloidal stability. A surrogate for determining such properties that is easy to measure is the turbidity parameter. Shape also affects the suitability and efficacy of compacted nucleic acid complexes for transfecting cells by various routes into a mammalian body. Moreover, counterions such as acetate can protect compacted nucleic acid complexes from adverse effects of lyophilization.
US08017572B2
Disclosed are peptides having SEQ ID NOs: 1 to 24 that induce superoxide generation by human monocytes or neutrophils; that induce an intracellular calcium increase by human peripheral blood monocytes or neutrophils; binds to formyl peptide receptor or formyl peptide receptor-like 1; that induce chemotactic migration of human monocytes or neutrophils in vitro; that induce degranulation in formyl peptide receptor expressing cells or formyl peptide receptor-like 1 expressing cells; that stimulate extracellular signal regulated protein kinase phosphorylation via activation of formyl peptide receptor or formyl peptide receptor-like 1; or that stimulate Akt phosphorylation via activation of formyl peptide receptor or formyl peptide receptor-like 1.
US08017568B2
Supercritical carbon dioxide may be utilized to remove resistant residues such as those residues left when etching dielectrics in fluorine-based plasma gases. The supercritical carbon dioxide may include an oxidizer in one embodiment.
US08017565B2
Intake valve deposits in a direct injection internal combustion engine are reduced by lubricating the engine with a lubricant that is substantially free of ashless organic friction modifiers and whose base oil has a Noack volatility of less than 12 mass %.
US08017564B2
The present invention concerns a method for a location and/or time-dependent alteration of the friction coefficient and/or adhesion force between two bodies, which includes irradiation of one or both contact surfaces between the bodies with radiation, use of the method according to the invention for location and/or time-dependent alteration of the friction coefficient and/or adhesion force between to bodies, a system that includes two bodies in which the friction coefficient and/or the adhesion force between the bodies can be temporarily or permanently altered, and a device for location and/or time-dependent regulation of the friction coefficient and/or adhesion force which includes the system according to the invention and a control unit.
US08017563B2
A method of treating a well that includes selectively emplacing a fluid loss pill into the well, wherein the fluid loss pill includes at least one of diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, and tetraethylene glycol, and wherein the at least one of diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, and tetraethylene glycol reacts with a calcium brine present in the well to form a plug is disclosed.
US08017552B2
A heat-sensitive transfer sheet having on a support at least one thermal transfer layer of a yellow color, at least one thermal transfer layer of a magenta color, at least one thermal transfer layer of a cyan color and at least one releasable, thermally-transferable protective layer, wherein the thermal transfer layer of each color contains a release agent and contents of the release agent in the thermal transfer layers are reduced in a frame-sequential mode.
US08017551B2
A heat-sensitive transfer image-receiving sheet, containing, on a support, a receptor layer containing at least one of vinyl chloride polymers, and an intermediate layer containing hollow polymer particles between the support and the receptor layer.
US08017545B2
The present invention relates to a method of making a chemical compound comprising nickel, aluminum, oxygen and sulfur having a general formula Ni2xAl2O2x+3−zSz, wherein 0.5≦x≦3 and 0≦z≦2x. The material is effective for the removal of S-compounds from gaseous streams, effective for catalyzing a water gas shift reaction and suppresses the formation of carbon monoxide and hydrogen under conditions where a water gas shift reaction is catalyzed.
US08017539B2
A regeneration process for olefin cracking reactor is presented. The process utilizes the nitrogen waste stream from an air separation plant and the partially combusted effluent stream from the olefin cracking reactor is used to heat the nitrogen waste stream. The control of the heating of the nitrogen waste stream can be achieved through redirection of a portion of the heat from combustion to generate steam.
US08017531B2
A composite material comprising a substrate having an ionic charge which is coated with a coating having essentially the same ionic charge and a metallic component adhered on one or both sides of the coated substrate. The coating consists essentially of a filler material comprising clay and a binder material. The substrate is preferably fiberglass, the filler material may further comprise at least one additional filler selected from the group consisting of decabromodiphenyloxide, antimony trioxide, fly ash, charged calcium carbonate, mica, glass microspheres and ceramic microspheres and mixtures thereof and the binder material is preferably acrylic latex. The metallic component is preferably aluminum foil. The composite material has heat insulating and fire resistant characteristics.
US08017529B1
A multilayered composite fabric, the composite fabric comprising a first fabric comprising first and second non-woven unidirectionally oriented fiber layers. Each of the fiber layers is in a resin matrix and the fibers comprise high tenacity fibers. The fibers in the two fiber layers are disposed at an angle with respect to each other. The composite fabric includes a second fabric comprising multi-directionally oriented fibers optionally in a resin matrix. The second fabric also comprises high tenacity fibers. The first and second fabrics are bonded together to form the composite fabric, which has improved ballistic resistant properties. Plastic films may be adhered to one or both outer surfaces of the first fabric and can serve as the bonding agent between the two fabrics. Also described is a method of making a composite fabric.
US08017512B2
Efficient power management method in integrated circuit through a nanotube structure is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method includes patterning a nanotube structure adjacent to a transistor layer of an integrated circuit. The transistor layer may be above a semiconductor substrate. The transistor layer above the semiconductor substrate may comprise a plurality of transistors. The method also includes supplying power to the plurality of transistors through one or more power sources. In addition, the method includes coupling the plurality of transistors in the transistor layer to the one or more power sources based on a state of the nanotube structure.
US08017506B2
A thin film transistor device reduced substantially in resistance between the source and the drain by incorporating a silicide film, which is fabricated by a process comprising forming a gate insulator film and a gate contact on a silicon substrate, anodically oxidizing the gate contact, covering an exposed surface of the silicon semiconductor with a metal and irradiating an intense light such as a laser beam to the metal film either from the upper side or from an insulator substrate side to allow the metal coating to react with silicon to obtain a silicide film. The metal silicide layer may be obtained otherwise by tightly adhering a metal coating to the exposed source and drain regions using an insulator formed into an approximately triangular shape, preferably 1 μm or less in width, and allowing the metal to react with silicon.
US08017503B2
A manufacturing method includes forming a semi-cured insulation layer made of a photosensitive material on a supporting body; forming an opening part in the insulation layer by a photolithography method, the opening part being configured to expose the supporting body; arranging a semiconductor chip on the insulation layer so that a position of an electrode of the semiconductor chip is consistent with a position of the opening part, and curing the insulation layer; forming sealing resin on a surface of the insulation layer at the semiconductor chip side, the sealing resin being configured to seal the semiconductor chip; removing the supporting body; and providing a wiring layer on a surface of the insulation layer opposite to the semiconductor chip side, the wiring layer being electrically connected to the electrode exposed in the opening part, so that a wiring structural body including the insulation layer and the wiring layer is formed.
US08017496B2
In a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device, a mask pattern is formed on an active region of a substrate. An exposed portion of the substrate is removed to form a trench in the substrate. A preliminary first insulation layer is formed on a bottom and sidewalls of the trench and the mask pattern. A plasma treatment is performed on the preliminary first insulation layer using fluorine-containing plasma to form a first insulation layer including fluorine. A second insulation layer is formed on the first insulation layer to fill the trench. A thickness of a gate insulation layer adjacent to an upper edge of the trench may be selectively increased, and generation of leakage current may be reduced.
US08017492B2
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device according to the present invention is a method for fabricating a semiconductor device including a substrate layer including a plurality of first regions each having an active region and a plurality of second regions each being provided between adjacent ones of the first region. The fabrication method includes an isolation insulation film formation step of forming an isolation insulation film in each of the second regions so that a surface of the isolation insulation film becomes at the same height as that of a surface of a gate oxide film covering the active region, a peeling layer formation step of forming a peeling layer by ion-implanting hydrogen into the substrate layer after the isolation insulation film formation step, and a separation step of separating part of the substrate layer along the peeling layer.
US08017483B2
The present invention provides a method of forming asymmetric field-effect-transistors. The method includes forming at least a first and a second gate-mask stack on top of a semiconductor substrate, wherein the first and second gate-mask stacks include at least, respectively, a first and a second gate conductor of a first and a second transistor and have, respectively, a top surface, a first side, and a second side with the second side being opposite to the first side; performing a first halo implantation from the first side of the first and second gate-mask stacks at a first angle while applying the first gate-mask stack in preventing the first halo implantation from reaching a first source/drain region of the second transistor, wherein the first angle is equal to or larger than a predetermined value; and performing a second halo implantation from the second side of the first and second gate-mask stacks at a second angle, thereby creating halo implant in a second source/drain region of the second transistor, wherein the first and second angles are measured against a normal to the substrate.
US08017482B2
The invention provides a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device at low cost in which the gate insulation film having a trench structure is not damaged by arsenic ions when the emitter layer or the like is formed and the insulation breakdown voltage is enhanced. A gate electrode made of polysilicon formed in a trench is thermally oxidized in a high temperature furnace or the like to form a thick polysilicon thermal oxide film on the gate electrode. Impurity ions are then ion-implanted to form an N type semiconductor layer that is to be an emitter layer or the like. At this time, the polysilicon thermal oxide film is formed thicker than the projected range Rp of impurity ions in the silicon oxide film for forming the N type semiconductor layer as the emitter layer or the like by ion implantation. This prevents a gate insulation film between the gate electrode and the N type semiconductor layer from being damaged by the impurity ions.
US08017475B1
A method of fabricating a high-performance capacitor that may be incorporated into a standard CMOS fabrication process suitable for submicron devices is described. The parameters used in the standard CMOS process may be maintained, particularly for the definition and etch of the lower electrode layer. To reduce variation in critical dimension width, an Anti-Reflective Layer (ARL) is used, such as a Plasma Enhanced chemical vapor deposition Anti-Reflective Layer (PEARL) or other Anti-Reflective Coatings (ARCS), such as a conductive film like TiN. This ARL formation occurs after the capacitor specific process steps, but prior to the masking used for defining the lower electrodes. A Rapid Thermal Oxidation (RTO) is performed subsequent to removing the unwanted capacitor dielectric layer from the transistor poly outside of the capacitor regions, but prior to the PEARL deposition. Another embodiment instead eliminates the capacitor dielectric removal step, which is then replaced by a step to form an additional layer that is later etched away to leave spacers on the capacitor sides, thereby eliminating any undercutting of the dielectric.
US08017474B2
A process of forming an electronic device can include forming a capacitor dielectric layer over a base region, wherein the base region includes a base semiconductor material, forming a gate dielectric layer over a substrate, forming a capacitor electrode over the capacitor dielectric layer, forming a gate electrode over the gate dielectric layer, and forming an input terminal and an output terminal to the capacitor electrode. The input terminal and the output terminal can be spaced apart from each other and are connected to different components within the electronic device. A filter can include the base region, the capacitor dielectric layer, and the capacitor electrode. A transistor structure can include the gate dielectric layer and the gate electrode. An electronic device can include a low-pass filter and a transistor structure, such as an n-channel transistor or a p-channel transistor.
US08017473B2
A semiconductor structure comprising an SRAM/inverter cell and a method for forming the same are provided, wherein the SRAM/inverter cell has an improved write margin. The SRAM/inverter cell includes a pull-up PMOS device comprising a gate dielectric over the semiconductor substrate, a gate electrode on the gate dielectric wherein the gate electrode comprises a p-type impurity and an n-type impurity, and a stressor formed in a source/drain region. The device drive current of the pull-up PMOS device is reduced due to the counter-doping of the gate electrode.
US08017460B2
The present invention relates to a method for manufacturing a flat panel display. Herein, the same mask is used to form contact holes and pixel electrodes in the display substrate. Hence, the number of masks needed for manufacturing the flat panel display can be reduced to decrease the manufacturing cost.
US08017443B2
A light transmissive cover for a device comprising: a cover member of light transmissive material; and a junction member joined to the cover member, the junction member being a member used to be joined to the body of the device and having a light interrupting film on the inner surface thereof. A device provided with a light transmissive cover, the device being provided with a cover member of light transmissive material joined to the body of device via a junction member so as to cover at least a part of the device, and having a light interrupting film on the inner surface of the junction member is also disclosed. In addition, methods for manufacturing them disclosed.
US08017441B2
An IC tag inlet (100) is configured by: an upper side antenna (102) and a lower side antenna (103) sandwiching a semiconductor chip (101) that includes an upper electrode (132) and a lower electrode (133) from both upper and lower directions; and a support resin (104) covering the semiconductor chip (101). The semiconductor chip (101) is a micro chip having an outer size of 0.15 mm square or smaller, and a thickness of 10 μm or smaller. In a manufacturing process of the IC tag inlet (100), in order to make the handling of the semiconductor chip (101) easy, prior to a step of sandwiching the semiconductor chip (101) between the upper side antenna (102) and the lower side antenna (103), the whole surface of the semiconductor chip (101) is covered by the support resin (104), so that an effective volume is made large.
US08017434B2
Various methods and apparatus for holding a semiconductor chip package are disclosed. In one aspect, a method of manufacturing is provided that includes forming a first plate adapted to hold a semiconductor chip package. The semiconductor chip package includes a carrier substrate and at least one semiconductor chip coupled to the carrier substrate. A second plate is formed with a first opening defining an interior peripheral surface adapted to compress an outer edge of the carrier substrate between the first plate and the second plate without engaging the at least one semiconductor chip.
US08017430B2
A battery can be fabricated from a substrate including silicon. This allows the battery to be produced as an integrated unit. The battery includes an anode formed from an array of spaced elongated structures, such as pillars, which include silicon and which can be fabricated on the substrate. The battery also includes a cathode which can include lithium.
US08017426B2
A backside illuminated image sensor includes a sensor layer comprising photosensitive elements of the pixel array, an epitaxial layer formed on a frontside surface of the sensor layer, and a color filter array formed on a backside surface of the sensor layer. The epitaxial layer comprises polysilicon color filter array alignment marks formed in locations corresponding to respective color filter array alignment mark openings in the frontside surface of the sensor layer. The color filter array is aligned to the color filter array alignment marks of the epitaxial layer. The image sensor may be implemented in a digital camera or other type of digital imaging device.
US08017424B2
An apparatus for measuring the relative positions of frontside and backside alignment marks located on opposite sides of a substrate is disclosed. The apparatus includes upper and lower optical systems that allow for simultaneous imaging of frontside and backside alignment marks. The frontside and backside alignment mark images are processed to determine the relative position of the marks, as a measurement of the alignment and/or overlay performance of the tool that formed the marks on the substrate.
US08017414B2
A method for manufacturing a light emitting device includes preparing a substrate where a crystal growth surface has an a-plane or an m-plane; forming a buffer layer on the substrate; forming a semiconductor layer on the buffer layer; and separating the semiconductor layer from the substrate by removing the buffer layer.
US08017411B2
A method and an apparatus for dynamically adjusting a sampling rate relating to wafer examination. A process step is performed upon a plurality of workpieces associated with a lot. A sample rate for acquiring metrology data relating to at least one of the processed workpiece is determined. A dynamic sampling rate adjustment process is performed to adaptively modify the sample rate. The dynamic sampling rate adjustment process includes comparing a predicted process outcome and an actual process outcome and modifying the sampling rate based upon the comparison.
US08017405B2
The present invention provides a method for analyzing gases such as carbon dioxide, and includes passing a gas stream containing impurities into a gas adsorption means for a length of time at ambient or higher temperatures to adsorb the impurities therein, stopping the flow of the gas stream, and desorbing and analyzing the impurities using a detector.
US08017402B2
The fluidic system of the preferred embodiment includes a sheath pump to pump sheath fluid from a sheath container into an interrogation zone and a waste pump to pump waste fluid from the interrogation zone into a waste container. The sheath pump and/or the waste pump draw sample fluid from a sample container into the interrogation zone. The fluidic system also includes a controller to adjust the flow rate of the sample fluid from the sample container into the interrogation zone. The fluidic system is preferably incorporated into a flow cytometer with a flow cell that includes the interrogation zone.
US08017401B2
A method for identifying the redox activity of a subject compound is disclosed. The method can be performed aerobically and can include forming a mixture comprising a free-radical precursor and a compound to be tested, and converting the free-radical precursor into a free-radical anion and a free-radical cation. After the free radical cation and the free radical anion have been formed, the relative redox activity of the subject compound may cause a difference in the rate of photo-bleaching of the mixture and/or the rate of superoxide generation. These differences can be quantified and used to identify the redox activity of the subject compound. This sensitive technique for measuring redox activity can be used to screen compounds for various biological applications. Drugs also can be developed based on the relationship between redox activity and biological activity for particular biological applications.
US08017400B2
Transformed cells are efficiently selected using a mutant ALS gene having high specificity to PC herbicides. The transformation method comprises the steps of: transforming a host cell with a recombination vector containing a gene of interest and a gene coding for a mutant acetolactate synthase having mutation of glycine corresponds to position 95 of the amino acid sequence of a wild-type acetolactate synthase derived from rice to alanine; culturing the transformed cell obtained in the former step in the presence of a pyrimidinyl carboxy herbicide; and wherein the gene coding for the mutant acetolactate synthase is used as a selection marker.
US08017388B2
The present invention relates to a cell line selected from the group consisting of (a) a cell line denominated NM-F9 having the DSMZ accession number DSM ACC2606; (b) a cell line denominated NM-D4 having the DSMZ accession number DSM ACC2605; and subclones of (a) or (b). Additionally, the present invention provides a lysate of the cell lines or a molecule or mixture of molecules obtained from these cell lines as well as dendritic cells loaded with said lysate, co-cultivated or fused with cells from the cell lines, or a molecule or mixture of molecules obtained from these cell lines of the present invention. Moreover compositions, preferably pharmaceutical or vaccine compositions are provided which comprise the cell lines, lysate, molecules, mixture of molecules or dendritic cells of the present invention. In another aspect the present invention relates to methods for producing the aforementioned compositions. Furthermore, methods and uses for vaccination against or treatment or prevention of cancers and/or tumourous diseases are provided.
US08017377B1
A method to produce high density microalgae having high lipid concentration in mass culture including the steps of inoculating a vessel with microalgae at mid-log phase to a depth greater than 25 cm. Then culturing the microalgae to a preselected target density threshold, bringing the microalgae to stationary phase, manipulating growth parameters to maximize lipid concentration and harvesting the vessel.
US08017371B2
The inventors realized that the diversity generated by conventional methods may be limited by steric hindrance between amino acid residues in the three-dimensional structures of the resulting polypeptides. The steric hindrance may occur between amino acid residues at widely different positions in the amino acid sequences, e.g. between residues in two different domains of the 3D structure, and resulting polypeptides which include such steric hindrance may never be observed in the conventional recombination methods because they may be expressed in poor yields or may have poor activity or stability. The inventors developed a method to identify and alleviate such steric hindrance in the resulting polypeptides. In an alignment of the three-dimensional structures, steric hindrance is indicated when residues from two different structures are located within a certain distance. Pairs of residues at corresponding positions in the amino acid sequences are not considered, and residues close to the surface (high solvent accessibility) are considered to be less prone to steric hindrance.
US08017370B2
The present invention relates to nucleic acid fragments encoding amino acid sequences for organic acid biosynthetic enzymes in plants, and the use thereof for the modification of, for example, organic acid biosynthesis and secretion in plants. In particularly preferred embodiments, the invention relates to the combinatorial expression of citrate synthase (CS) and/or malate dehydrogenase (MDH) and/or phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PEPC) in plants to modify, for example, organic acid synthesis and secretion.
US08017369B2
Methods and devices are described for the regulation of bone morphogenetic protein gene expression in bone cells via the application of fields generated by specific and selective electric and electromagnetic signals in the treatment of diseased or injured bone. By gene expression is meant the up-regulation or down-regulation of the process whereby specific portions (genes) of the human genome (DNA) are transcribed into mRNA and subsequently translated into protein. Methods and devices are provided for the targeted treatment of injured or diseased bone tissue that include generating specific and selective electric and electromagnetic signals that generate fields optimized for increase of bone morphogenetic protein gene expression and exposing bone to the fields generated by specific and selective signals so as to regulate bone morphogenetic protein gene expression in such bone tissue. The resulting methods and devices are useful for the targeted treatment of bone fractures, fractures at risk, delayed unions, nonunion of fractures, bone defects, spine fusions, osteonecrosis or avascular necrosis, as an adjunct to other therapies in the treatment of one or all of the above, and in the treatment of osteoporosis.
US08017367B2
The introduction of genetic material or molecules of biological interest into cells is a procedure with an increasing interest both for experimental and application purposes, so that electroporation is a widely used technique, but the electroporation of single adhering cells is still impaired.The present application describes an apparatus for the electroporation of any kind of cell adhering to a substrate at any stage of development, where an electrical signal can be driven and applied to a single adhering cell in culture in order to obtain its electroporation. The method to electroporate a single adhering cell with the apparatus of the invention is also described.
US08017362B2
The present invention provides a method for producing L-methionine by culturing a microorganism in a medium to produce and accumulate L-methionine in the medium, and collecting the L-methionine from the medium, where the microorganism is deficient in a repressor of L-methionine biosynthesis system and has L-methionine productivity.
US08017360B2
Methods for detecting and optionally quantitating one or more target nucleic acids are provided, in which a surrogate nucleic acid is captured to each target nucleic acid, amplified, and detected. Compositions, kit, and systems related to the methods are also described.
US08017345B2
The object of the present invention is to find out another tumor marker which is useful for early diagnosis of melanoma, and provide a diagnostic kit and diagnostic method for malignant melanoma using such marker. The present invention provides a diagnostic kit for malignant melanoma, which comprises an antibody against SPARC and an antibody against GPC3.
US08017340B2
The present invention relates to methods for the extraction of nucleic acids from cells, the amplification of segments of nucleic acid and the detection of nucleic acids, all in a convenient and portable manner. In one embodiment, a sample comprising cells containing nucleic acid is exposed to an aqueous mixture comprising a lytic reagent and one or more beads capable of binding the nucleic acid released from said cells to form a nucleic acid-bead complex. The nucleic acid-bead complex is passed through an immiscible liquid layer to separate the nucleic acid from the aqueous mixture. The one or more beads are magnetic, and the nucleic acid-bead complex is passed through and separated from the immiscible liquid layer with an applied magnetic field. The invention is particularly suited for use in point-of-care medical diagnostics testing.
US08017333B2
A method for detecting a Chinese diabetic subject suffering from, at risk for developing, or suspected of suffering from a nephropathy. The method includes determining whether a sample from the subject has at least one of the following polymorphic sequences: an I/D genotype of an ACE gene, an M235T genotype of an AGT gene, a (CA)n-5′(z−2) genotype of an ALR2 gene, an C106T genotype of an ALR2 gene in the promoter region, a G-308A genotype of a TNF-α gene, or a complement thereof, provided that the ALR2 gene cannot be used alone, in which the presence of the polymorphic sequence indicates the subject suffering from, at risk for suffering from a nephropathy. An array for detecting a Chinese diabetic subject suffering from, or at risk for suffering from, a nephropathy.
US08017324B1
The present invention is directed to a method for determining if a subject is at increased risk to develop obesity or pathology related to obesity by determining the presence of a haplotype comprising three specific SNPs in a DNA or RNA sample of this subject and/or an elevated serum ENPP1 protein concentration. The present invention also relates to a kit and to an isolated nucleic sequence, vector or recombinant cell comprises said ENPP1 gene haplotype. The invention further comprises a method for selecting a compound for the treatment or the prevention of obesity or pathology related to obesity and a method for determining the efficacy of a drug to reduce the risk of obesity or pathology related to obesity in a patient.
US08017322B2
Method for detecting and identifying unknown bioagents, including bacteria, viruses and the like, by a combination of nucleic acid amplification and molecular weight determination using primers which hybridize to conserved sequence regions of nucleic acids derived from a bioagent and which bracket variable sequence regions that uniquely identify the bioagent. The result is a “base composition signature” (BCS) which is then matched against a database of base composition signatures, by which the bioagent is identified.
US08017315B2
The invention provides methods of identifying and making compounds that inhibit the interaction between MUC1 and either or both of HSP70 and HSP90. Also embraced by the invention are in vivo and in vitro methods of inhibiting such an interaction.
US08017309B2
A method of manufacturing a wiring circuit board includes: preparing an insulating layer; forming conductive thin films on the upper surface and the side end surface of the insulating layer; covering the conductive thin films formed on the upper surface and the side end surface of the insulating layer with photoresists; arranging a photomask so that an end portion and a portion to be provided with a conductive layer in the conductive thin film formed on the upper surface of the insulating layer are shaded and exposing the photoresist covering the conductive thin film formed on the upper surface of the insulating layer from above through the photomask; exposing the photoresist covering the conductive thin film formed on the side end surface of the insulating layer from below; forming plating resists by removing unexposed portions of the photoresists so as to form exposed portions into patterns; forming an end portion conductive layer on the end portion of the conductive thin film formed on the upper surface of the insulating layer, and forming the conductive layer on the conductive thin film formed on the upper surface of the insulating thin film at the same time, on the conductive thin films exposed from the plating resists; removing the plating resists; and removing the conductive thin films having been covered with the plating resists.
US08017308B2
A pattern is formed on a non-planar surface by forming a layer of photoresist on a part having a surface comprising a non-planar surface area. A deformable mask is aligned over at least a portion of the non-planar surface area of the part such that the deformable mask substantially deforms in a manner corresponding to at least a portion of the non-planar surface area of the part. The photoresist on the part is exposed through the mask so as to transfer a desired pattern onto the part while the deformable mask is maintained in a deformed state.
US08017303B2
Polymers comprising a first methacrylate monomer having a pendent spacer between the polymer backbone and an acid-liable acetal group, a second methacrylate monomer having a pendent group including a fluorinated alkyl group and a third methacrylate monomer having a pendent hydrocarbon group. Photoresist formulations include the polymers, a photoacid generator and a casting solvent. Methods of patterning photoresist films formed from the photoresist formulations are characterized by post-exposure bakes at temperatures of about 60° C. or less.
US08017300B2
Disclosed are a compound that can be used for a resist composition, a positive resist composition that includes the compound, and a method for forming a resist pattern.Specifically disclosed is a compound represented by a formula (A-1). In the formula (A-1), R11 to R17 each represents an alkyl group or an aromatic hydrocarbon group; g and j each represents an integer of 1 or greater, and k and q each represents an integer of 0 or greater, provided that g+j+k+q is not greater than 5; b represents an integer of 1 or greater, and l and m each represents an integer of 0 or greater, provided that b+l+m is not greater than 4; c represents an integer of 1 or greater, and n and o each represents an integer of 0 or greater, provided that c+n+o is not greater than 4; A represents a trivalent aromatic cyclic group, alkyl group or aliphatic cyclic group, or a trivalent organic group having an aromatic cyclic group or an aliphatic cyclic group; and Z represents a group represented by a formula (z1). In the formula (z1), Y represents an alkylene group, a divalent aromatic hydrocarbon group or aliphatic cyclic group, or a divalent organic group having an aromatic hydrocarbon group or an aliphatic cyclic group; and R′ represents an acid dissociable, dissolution inhibiting group.
US08017299B2
A positive resist composition for electron beam, X-ray or EUV exposure, including (A) a resin capable of decomposing by the action of an acid to increase the solubility in an alkali developer; and (B) a compound capable of generating a sulfonic acid upon irradiation with an actinic ray or radiation, wherein the resin (A) is a resin having a phenolic hydroxyl group and having a weight average molecular weight of 1,500 to 3,500, the positive resist composition has a property of decomposing by the action of an acid and causing the dissolution rate in an aqueous 2.38 wt % tetramethylammonium hydroxide solution at 23° C. under normal pressure to increase in a range of 200 to 5,000 times, and the positive resist composition has a solid content concentration of from 2.5 to 4.5 mass %.
US08017295B2
A laser induced thermal imaging (LITI) apparatus, an LITI method, and an organic light emitting display (OLED) device. An LITI apparatus for forming a light emitting layer of an OLED device includes a substrate stage adapted to receive an accepter substrate and a donor film to be laminated, the accepter substrate having a pixel area of the OLED device and a magnet, the donor film having the light emitting layer transferred to the pixel area; a laser oscillator for radiating a laser to the donor film; a contact frame adapted to be placed between the substrate stage and the laser oscillator, the contact frame having at least one transmission portion corresponding to the light emitting layer transferred to the acceptor substrate and having a magnet for forming a magnetic force with the accepter substrate; and a contact frame transferring mechanism for moving the contact frame toward the substrate stage.
US08017288B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device using a photomask and optical lithography is disclosed, wherein circular patterns on the semiconductor wafer are formed by using circular patterns on the photomask, which is manufactured using a charged particle beam writer. In one embodiment, circular patterns of varying sizes have been formed on the photomask using a single character projection (CP) character, by varying the charged particle beam dosage. A method for fracturing circular patterns is also disclosed, either using circular CP characters or using VSB shots wherein the union of the plurality of VSB shots is different than the set of desired patterns.
US08017285B2
The invention provides a masking process using photoresist, comprising: attaching a compress mask plate to a substrate; coating photoresist in a mask pattern of the compress mask plate; baking the photoresist from the substrate side; removing the compress mask plate from the substrate to form a desired photoresist pattern on the substrate. The inventive method simplifies the photolithography process, thereby the process time is shortened and the yield is increased.
US08017277B2
An object is to provide a fuel cell system capable of suitably avoiding damage to the equipment caused by abnormally high pressure of fuel gas and appropriately discharge fuel gas at a safe concentration to the outside. The fuel cell system (1) includes a fuel gas passage (38) that feeds fuel gas to a fuel cell (2), a relief valve (57) that is provided in the fuel gas passage (38) and discharges fuel gas to the outside when fuel gas in the fuel gas passage (38) is pressurized to a predetermined pressure or higher, an external discharge passage (59) that is provided on the gas discharge side of the relief valve (57), and a gas processing device (19) that is provided in the external discharge passage (59) and reduces the concentration of fuel gas discharged from the relief valve (57).
US08017275B2
An ejector is provided with a first fluid chamber into which hydrogen gas is introduced; a rod-shaped needle; a nozzle exhausting hydrogen gas introduced into the first fluid chamber from an exhaust port; a second fluid chamber into which hydrogen off-gas is introduced; a diffuser provided at the exhaust port of the nozzle; and a third fluid chamber into which air is introduced. The first fluid chamber is provided between the second fluid chamber and the third fluid chamber. The first diaphragm 65 separates the first fluid chamber and the second fluid chamber and the second diaphragm separates the first chamber and the third fluid chamber. Then, the needle and the nozzle moves to approach each other by the pressure of air introduced into the third fluid chamber and isolate each other by the pressure of hydrogen off-gas introduced into the second fluid chamber.
US08017271B2
An electrochemical cell with a blended zinc powder is disclosed. The blended zinc powder includes selected portions of a first zinc powder and a second zinc powder. In a preferred embodiment, the first and second powders are divided into groups based on ranges in their particle size distribution. Particle characteristics such as roughness and elongation are used to selected groups of both powders that are combined to produce the blended zinc powder. The blended zinc powders enable battery manufacturers to maximize the cell's run time while minimizing the cost of the zinc.
US08017269B2
An anode active material is provided. The anode active material includes a silicon thin film containing crystalline silicon having a Raman shift in a Raman spectrum ranging from about 490 to about 500 cm−1 and a full width at half maximum (FWHM) ranging from about 10 to about 30 cm−1. The volume of the anode active material does not change significantly during charging and discharging. Thus, a lithium battery employing the anode active material has an excellent capacity retention rate and a longer cycle lifetime.
US08017264B2
A lithium secondary battery capable of preventing explosion or firing caused by the increase of inner pressure due to misusage is disclosed. The lithium secondary battery includes an electrode assembly having an anode plate, a cathode plate and a separator, a package having a receiving portion for receiving the electrode assembly and sealed and filled with electrolyte together with the electrode assembly, and an adhesive layer at least partially formed on an outer surface of the package. The lithium secondary battery functions as an explosion-proof safety device for preventing the package from exploding due to abrupt breakage of the package when the package is expanded due to the increase of inner pressure of the battery over a critical value.
US08017260B2
A secondary battery in which temperature rise (heat generation) can be measured accurately at the time of quick charge/discharge, and a battery which can be configured readily using the secondary batteries while realizing low resistance. Separately from the positive and negative electrode terminals of a flat laminate film secondary battery, a third terminal is fixed perpendicularly thereto. The third terminal is connected with the electrode current collecting parts of a power generating element body constituting the secondary battery (1) and imparted with a potential equal to that of any one of the positive and negative electrode terminals. Inner temperature of the secondary battery is determined by measuring the temperature of the third terminal and a cell balancer circuit, or the like, is connected with the third terminal. The battery is configured by connecting the positive and negative electrode terminals directly in series.
US08017259B2
Disclosed herein is a battery management system for controlling the operation of a middle- or large-sized battery pack, the battery management system comprising: a battery management system printed circuit board (BMS PCB) comprising a circuit and elements for controlling the operation of the battery pack; a connector attached to one side of the BMS PCB; a housing including a housing body for receiving the BMS PCB while partially exposing the connector and a cover for covering the housing body, the cover is coupled to the housing body while the cover is disposed on the housing body; and a waterproofing member interposed between the housing body and the cover, constituting the housing, such that the waterproofing member is in tight contact with the interface between the housing body and the cover, the waterproofing member being constructed in a structure to be coupled at coupling regions of the housing body and the cover. The battery management system according to the present invention is constructed in a structure in which moisture is prevented from permeation into the housing of the battery management system in a high-temperature, high-humidity environment. Consequently, the present invention has the effect of preventing the damage to and the corrosion of the BMS PCB, and therefore, improving the reliability of the battery pack and increasing the service life of the battery pack.
US08017258B2
Enhanced safety is provided in the event of an information handling system catastrophic battery failure by extending a flame container outward from the battery to vent flammable gases through holes having a quenching distance that retards transfer of flames from the battery. For example, telescoping cylinder sections disposed proximate the casing of a battery cell are forced outward as a telescoping assembly when pressure within the casing exceeds a predetermined safety threshold. The flame container vents flammable gases away from other cells of the battery and may direct the vented gases to the exterior of an information handling system housing or to the interior of the housing.
US08017257B2
A polymer electrolyte membrane made of a polymer having a low electrical resistance, high heat resistance and is strong against repeats of swelling and shrinkage. Thus, a membrane/electrode assembly for polymer electrolyte fuel cells having high power generation performance and excellent in durability can be provided. The polymer has repeating units represented by the following formula (U1 ) and repeating units represented by the following formula (U2):
US08017250B2
Conventionally, cavities and cracks are filled with a solder metal which forms brittle phases with a subsequently applied coating, which have a negative effect on the mechanical properties. According to the invention, the components which form brittle phases are removed from the solder metal. The above is achieved, whereby a second material is applied which reacts with said component and which is removed again with the brittle phases, before the coating.
US08017233B2
Fibers having excellent responsiveness to magnetic field and conductivity, made of a polymer having fiber forming functions which contains magnetic material particles in spherical form having a saturation magnetic flux density of no less than 0.5 tesla. The fibers can include: (a) the average particle diameter is no greater than 5 μm, (b) the coercive force is no greater than 1000 A/m, and (c) the fibers are complex fibers which are made of magnetic layers that contain 20 wt % to 90 wt % of magnetic material particles, and protective layers where the content of the magnetic material particles is less than 20 wt %.
US08017232B2
Provided is a pressure-sensitive adhesive composition for a plasma display in which a moire phenomenon can be prevented without disposing an anti-glare film and the like in order to decrease a thickness of an optical filter in a plasma display, improve a productivity of the optical filter and reduce a cost thereof and an adhesive sheet prepared by forming the same.The pressure-sensitive adhesive composition used for an optical filter of a plasma display comprises (A) a (meth)acrylic ester base copolymer having a cross-linkable functional group in a molecule, (B) a cross-linking agent and (C) an organic fine particle in which a difference in a refractive index from that of the above (meth)acrylic ester base copolymer is 0.03 or more and which has an average particle diameter of 1 to 15 μm and an adhesive sheet prepared by forming the same.
US08017220B2
Disclosed is an electronic device comprising a glass, glass ceramic, or ceramic sheet having a thickness less than about 0.4 mm and wherein a minimum strength of the inorganic substrate is greater than about 500 MPa. Also disclosed is a method of making an electronic device including drawing a viscous inorganic material to form an inorganic ribbon having opposing as-formed edges along a length of the ribbon, separating the ribbon to form a substrate sheet of inorganic material comprising two as-formed edges and forming a device element on the inorganic substrate.
US08017218B2
The invention relates to an elastomeric device (105), wherein the elastomeric device contains a relief structure with indentations with respect to the base (110), (102) and wherein selected ones of said indentations comprise at least two indentation depths (112), (108) and indentation widths (101), (107). It also relates to a method of making a master for construction of said elastomeric device comprising a procedure to provide a pattern on a substrate of a suitable material. One step in. the construction of said elastomeric device comprises a molding procedure of an elastomer. Methods of using the elastomeric device in printing, fluidic control, sorting, lab-on-a-chip devices are also disclosed.
US08017217B1
A material of variable emissivity includes a first metallic layer having a first aperture, a second metallic layer having a second aperture, and a variable dielectric layer interposed between the first metallic layer and the second metallic layer.
US08017214B2
A method for producing a honeycomb structure is provided, where a body containing a forming formulation composed of a cordierite forming material and an organic binder is formed into a honeycomb shape to prepare a honeycomb shaped article, and the honeycomb shaped article is fired to obtain a honeycomb structure. The forming formulation includes two or more types of magnesium-containing materials containing at least talc, and a magnesium-containing material except talc has an average particle diameter of 4 μm or less.
US08017209B2
To provide an optical recording medium in which error-causing short marks are produced in numbers small enough excellent high-recording characteristics and in which amorphous marks are uniform in shape. The optical recording medium includes: a first protective layer; a recording layer containing Sb as a main ingredient; a second protective layer; and a reflective layer, the first protective layer, the recording layer, the second protective layer and the reflective layer being provided in the order in which light passes through the medium for recording and reproduction of information, wherein the first protective layer and/or the second protective layer, both of which are in contact with the recording layer, are/is formed of a crystalline oxide.
US08017205B2
A packaged aqueous carbonated beverage comprising a container which replaces at least a portion of CO2 that permeates through the container or closure. The container comprises a polyester composition including a polyester suitable for packaging aqueous carbonated beverages and a carbonating agent. The aqueous carbonated beverage is disposed in the container such that the aqueous carbonated beverage has direct contact with the container and a closure seals the beverage in the container. The carbonating agent reacts with water in the carbonated beverage forming CO2 for replacing at least a portion of CO2 that permeates through the container or closure. A corresponding method of packaging an aqueous carbonated beverage is disclosed.
US08017203B2
The present invention relates to methods for preventing and/or reducing the occurrence of corrosion in a variety of articles including, but not limited to, tanks (e.g., storage tanks, septic tanks, fuel tanks, etc.); containers (e.g., shipping containers, storage containers, etc.); semi-closed systems (e.g., fuel systems, septic systems, reservoirs, etc.); and/or closed systems (e.g., waste disposal systems, waste disposal drums or containers, etc.). In another embodiment, the methods of the present invention may be utilized to reduce and/or prevent corrosion in a variety of pipelines (e.g., gas/oil pipelines, water pipelines, sewage lines, etc.). More specifically, the present invention relates to methods for preventing and/or reducing the occurrence of corrosion in a variety of articles including, but not limited to, metallic tanks; metallic containers; pipelines; semi-closed systems; and/or closed systems which are constructed partially or totally from metal. (e.g., steel, iron, copper, brass, aluminum, etc.).
US08017192B2
The present disclosure relates to the use of radiation cured coatings that may be used in a device within an image forming apparatus. The coating composition may include a reactive oligomer capable of radiation curing having a number average molecular weight (Mn) of greater than 1500. A reactive diluent may then be combined with the reactive oligomer, which diluent is also capable of radiation curing and which has a Mn of less than or equal to 1500. The reactive diluent may be present at a level of less than fifty percent by weight of the coating composition. The coating composition may be present at a solids level of 90-100%.
US08017177B2
A method and device for automatically marking an article are provided, by which the deterioration in the yield can be prevented from occurring and a color of a mark to be formed on the article can be easily changed. A device 1 for automatically marking an electric wire as a device for automatically marking an article marks an outer surface 3a of an electric wire 3. The device 1 includes first and second spouting means 311, 321, encoder 33 and control device 34. The first spouting means 311 spouts a specific amount of a first coloring agent toward the outer surface 3a of the electric wire 3. The second spouting means 312 spouts a specific amount of a second coloring agent toward the outer surface 3a of the electric wire 3. The encoder 33 detects a transfer speed of the electric wire 2 which is transferred in a direction of arrow K. The control device 34 makes the first and second spouting means 311, 312 spout the coloring agent according to a pattern predetermined in advance in response to the transfer speed of the wire 3 detected by the encoder 33.
US08017173B1
Dehydrated potato pellets are made by preparing an aqueous mixture of dried potato pieces, an emulsifier, and oil, and, optionally, a freshly cooked potato, homogenizing the mixture to produce a pumpable, flowable aqueous dispersion, mixing the dispersion with more dried potato pieces and, optionally, freshly cooked potatoes, forming the mixture into pellets, and drying them.
US08017169B2
Shelf stable cheeses, especially shredded cheeses, and the manufacture thereof. Cheeses of the invention have good melting properties, are microbiologically safe and resistant to the growth of mold and pathogens when stored at room temperature, and can maintain physical integrity when subjected to temperature abuse. The cheese may be comprised of a mixture of salts (e.g., sodium chloride, disodium phosphate, sodium hexametophosphate, sodium alginate, titanium dioxide, sorbic acid, and the like), starch (e.g., waxy maize and the like), water, cheese, and cheese for manufacture.
US08017154B2
Use of a polyamino acid as an adjuvant; an application of a polyamino acid as an adjuvant in the production of a vaccine; a vaccine comprising a polyamino acid as an adjuvant; a biodegradable nanoparticle having a virus antigen immobilized thereon; and a vaccine comprising the biodegradable nanoparticle.
US08017153B2
A method for enhancing gastrointestinal motility in humans and other mammals comprises administering a therapeutically effective amount of a composition having one or more long chain (C24-C36) primary alcohols as policosanols dispersed in one or more food-grade fats or oils, wherein the particle sizes of the alcohols are substantially less than 10 microns.
US08017146B2
A device for the transdermal delivery of a pharmacologically active substance has first and second superimposed mutually contacting adhesive layers (2, 3). The first layer (3) is in use brought into contact with the skin. The active substance is dissolved in both layers, the affinity of the first layer for the active substance being between about 1.15 and about 10 times lower than that of the second layer. The percent saturation of the active substance in both the layers is the same and is less than 100%. The first layer has a greater thickness than the second layer. The device is simple and can provide stable delivery over a long period.
US08017144B2
The present invention is directed to an improved system for controlled release of a bone growth promoting compound and to a flowable composition for its formation. The flowable composition is composed of a bone growth promoting compound, a thermoplastic polymer and an organic solvent. The flowable composition is capable of forming a biodegradable and/or bioerodible microporous, solid polymer matrix. The matrix is useful as an implant in patients (humans and animals) for delivery of a bone growth promoting compound to certain tissues.
US08017139B2
The present invention provides blend water-swellable materials and hydrogels suitable for use in biomedical or other applications. The blend water swellable materials and hydrogels have at least one hydrophilic polymer and at least one other polymer or oligomer having both hydrophobic and hydrophilic recurring units where the blend phase separates and is opaque and immiscible in the presence of water. Methods of making these blend water-swellable materials and hydrogels are also described.
US08017138B2
A method for the topical treatment of skin aging and acne and the improvement of skin appearance is disclosed. Compositions for use in this method and a kit containing such compositions are also disclosed. In some of the embodiments of the invention, either one, or both, of the acid composition and neutralizing composition useful in the method for the topical treatment of skin aging and acne and the improvement of skin appearance are of low viscosity. The compositions and methods are effective but gentle enough to be suitable for daily home use by the consumer.
US08017137B2
Methods for customizing products at a retail point of sale. A user interface is provided at the point of sale for selection of the desired product. Based upon the selection, ingredients are dispensed for making the personalized consumer product.
US08017132B2
The invention relates to mutant CyaA/E570Q+K860 polypeptides suitable for use as proteinaceous vectors for delivering one or more molecules of interest into a cell, in particular into a cell expressing the CD11b receptor. The invention further relates to polypeptide derivatives suitable for eliciting an immune response in a host.The invention is more particularly directed to polypeptides derived from an adenylate cyclase protein (CyaA) either under the form of a toxin or of a toxoid, which are mutant polypeptides. Said mutant polypeptides are capable of retaining the binding activity of native CyaA to a target cell and preferably of also retaining the translocating activity of native CyaA through its N-terminal domain into target cells and furthermore have a pore-forming activity which is reduced or suppressed as compared to that of the native CyaA toxin.
US08017131B2
Agents for treating pain, methods for producing the agents and methods for treating pain by administration to a patient of a therapeutically effective amount of the agent. The agent can include a clostridial neurotoxin, or a component or fragment or derivative thereof, attached to a targeting moiety, wherein the targeting moiety is selected from a group consisting of transmission compounds which can be released from neurons upon the transmission of pain signals by the neurons, and compounds substantially similar to the transmission compounds.
US08017130B2
The present invention relates to genetic vaccines for stimulating cellular and humoral immune responses in humans and other hosts, and, in particular, relates to recombinant viruses that express heterologous antigens of pathogenic viruses, in single dose form.
US08017129B2
It is described the use of thymosin alpha in combination with dacarbazine and optionally with Interferon alpha, for preparing a medicament for the treatment of malignant melanoma on stage IV characterized by distant unresectable metastases.
US08017120B2
The invention is directed to a method of inhibiting bone resorption. The method comprises administering to a human an amount of sclerostin inhibitor that reduces a bone resorption marker level for at least 2 weeks. The invention also provides a method of monitoring anti-sclerostin therapy comprising measuring one or more bone resorption marker levels, administering a sclerostin binding agent, then measuring the bone resorption marker levels. Also provided is a method of increasing bone mineral density; a method of ameliorating the effects of an osteoclast-related disorder; a method of treating a bone-related disorder by maintaining bone density; and a method of treating a bone-related disorder in a human suffering from or at risk of hypocalcemia or hypercalcemia, a human in which treatment with a parathyroid hormone or analog thereof is contraindicated, or a human in which treatment with a bisphosphonate is contraindicated.
US08017117B2
This invention relates to the diagnosis and treatment of cancerous diseases, particularly to the mediation of cytotoxicity of tumor cells; and most particularly to the use of cancerous disease modifying antibodies (CDMAB), optionally in combination with one or more chemotherapeutic agents, as a means for initiating the cytotoxic response. The invention further relates to binding assays which utilize the CDMAB of the instant invention.
US08017111B2
A method of introducing a symbiotic fungus producing one chanoclavine as a final metabolic product into a plant, includes the steps of isolating symbiotic fungi from naturally existing plants, artificially cultivating the isolated symbiotic fungi, introducing the cultivated symbiotic fungi into target plants, infecting the target plants with the introduced symbiotic fungi, determining whether the introduced symbiotic fungi infecting the target plants produce the chanoclavine as the final metabolic product, and selecting the target plants which produce the chanoclavine as the final metabolic product.
US08017103B2
The present invention provides methods and compositions for diagnosing Trichomonas infection by detecting an antibody that specifically binds a Trichomonas α-actinin protein in a sample from a subject.
US08017100B2
The invention provides a system for converting urea into reactants useful for removing NOX from industrial emissions. The system includes a urea inlet, a steam inlet, and a reactor in fluid communication with the urea inlet and the steam inlet. The reactor is configured and adapted to inject urea from the urea inlet into a steam flow from the steam inlet to convert the urea into at least one reactant for NOX reduction within a substantially gaseous mixture. The invention also provides a method of converting urea into reactants for reducing NOX out of industrial emissions. The method includes injecting urea into a steam flow to convert the urea into at least one reactant for NOX reduction within a substantially gaseous mixture.
US08017089B2
A method and apparatus for conducting supercritical wet oxidation reactions wherein any precipitated solids do not contact the solid side walls of the containment vessel so as to prevent any of these precipitated solids from adhering to or corrode the vessel walls is provided. To do this, a controlled, continuous flow of clean fluid, preferably under supercritical conditions, is introduced to the process so as to form a film-like, clean fluid surface between the physical containment vessel walls and the supercritical wet oxidation reactants.
US08017075B2
An oxygenator that inhibits or prevents bubbles in blood from exiting through a blood outlet includes an oxygenator part which performs gas exchange on blood and a heat exchanging part which performs heat exchange on the blood. The oxygenators part has a housing that is generally in a rectangular parallelepiped form, with a hollow fiber membrane bundle positioned in the housing. The hollow fiber membrane bundle is formed by a multiplicity of hollow fiber membranes adapted to perform gas exchange. Blood flows along a blood passage comprised of gaps between the hollow fiber membranes and contacts the surface of the hollow fiber membranes where gas exchange occurs with gas flowing through the lumens of the hollow fiber membranes. In addition, a filter member is arranged on a downstream side of the hollow fiber membrane bundle so that bubbles present in the blood are caught by the filter member.
US08017072B2
An improved L12 aluminum alloy having magnesium or nickel; at least one of scandium, erbium, thulium, ytterbium, and lutetium; at least one of gadolinium, yttrium, zirconium, titanium, hafnium, and niobium; and at least one ceramic reinforcement. Aluminum oxide, silicon carbide, aluminum nitride, titanium boride, titanium diboride and titanium carbide are suitable ceramic reinforcement particles. These alloys derive strengthening from mechanisms based on dislocation-particle interaction and load transfer to stiffen reinforcements.
US08017071B2
A corrosion resistant, martensitic steel alloy having very good cold formability is described. The alloy has the following weight percent composition. Carbon0.10-0.40 Manganese0.01-2.0 Silicon 2.0 max. Phosphorus 0.2 max. Sulfur0.030 max. Chromium10-15 Nickel 0.5 max. Molybdenum0.75-4.0 Nitrogen0.02-0.15 Copper1.5-4.0 Titanium0.01 max. Aluminum0.01 max. Niobium + Tantalum0.10 max. Vanadium0.20 max. Zirconiumless than 0.001 Calciumless than 0.001 The balance of the alloy is essentially iron. Nickel and copper are balanced in the alloy such that the ratio Ni/Cu is less than 0.2. A second embodiment of the alloy contains at least about 0.005% sulfur, selenium, or a combination thereof to provide good machinability.
US08017070B2
A method of sintering a 17-4PH alloy powder and a sintered 17-4PH sintered part are disclosed. The part is formed by selective laser sintering a 17-4PH alloy powder and binder mixture to form a green part that is sintered to form a part having a substantially pure martensitic structure. The metal powder includes boron. The sintered part may be further processed by shot peening to improve crack resistance.
US08017063B2
This invention relates to methods and apparatus for making articles made of polyester, preferably polyethylene terephthalate (PET), having coated directly to at least one of the surfaces thereof one or more layers of thermoplastic material with good gas-barrier characteristics. In one preferred method and apparatus, preforms are injection molded, barrier-coated immediately thereafter, and remain on a mold portion for a time to speed cooling of the completed preform. Preferably the barrier-coated articles take the form of preforms coated by at least one layer of barrier material and the containers are blow-molded therefrom. Such barrier-coated containers are preferably of the type to hold beverages such as soft drinks, beer or juice. The preferred barrier materials have a lower permeability to oxygen and carbon dioxide than PET as well as key physical properties similar to PET. The materials and methods provide that the barrier layers have good adherence to PET, even during and after the blow molding process to form containers from preforms. Preferred barrier coating materials include poly(hydroxyamino ethers).
US08017057B2
The present invention is a process for producing molded parts from a polymeric powder or metallic powder, wherein the molded part has a separation or a void. The separation or void is formed by inserting a separator or void-forming material into the die cavity before, during or after filling the die cavity with the powdered molding material that is to form the pressed part. After the pressed part is formed the separator or void-forming material is removed to provide the separation or void.
US08017055B2
A three-dimensional printer uses inkjet-type printheads to rapidly prototype, or print, a three-dimensional model. A powder feeder includes a conveyor system and a metering system to deliver powder to a build area in measured quantities. The powder feeder also includes a vacuum system for loading powder into a feed reservoir or chamber. The vacuum system can also be used to cleanup excess powder. Other powder control features include powder gutters and magnetic powder plows. During printing, a cleaning system operates to remove powder from the printheads. In the event of a printhead or jet failure, the failure can be detected and corrective measures taken automatically. After printing, the model can be depowdered and infiltrated in an enclosure.
US08017043B2
A conductive pattern forming ink for forming a conductive pattern on a substrate by a droplet discharge method includes: metal particles; an aqueous dispersion medium in which the metal particles are dispersed; xylitol; and a polyglycerol compound having a polyglycerol skeleton. H shown in the following formula (I) is 0.10 to 0.70, and H = OH ( A ) Mw ( A ) X ( A ) + OH ( B ) Mw ( B ) X ( B ) Formula ( I ) OH(A) represents an average number of hydroxyl groups in one molecule of the polyglycerol compound, Mw(A) represents a weight-average molecular weight of the polyglycerol compound, X(A) represents a content of the polyglycerol compound in the conductive pattern forming ink in weight percent; and OH(B) represents the number of hydroxyl groups in one molecule of the xylitol, Mw(B) represents a molecular weight of the xylitol, and X(B) represents a content of the xylitol in the conductive pattern forming ink in weight percent.
US08017039B2
Provided is a fluorescent body for use in a near-ultraviolet excitation light-emitting element, comprising the compound given by formula (1), having part of element M1 and/or M2 therein replaced by an activation element (M3). M1aM2bPcO15(1) (Here, M1 represents one or more elements chosen from the group comprising Ca, Sr, and Ba; M2 represents one or more elements chosen from the group comprising Mg and Zn; a is a number between 1.5 and 2.5, inclusive; b is a number between 2.5 and 3.5, inclusive; and c is a number between 3.5 and 4.5, inclusive.) A fluorescent body in which M1 is Sr and M2 is Mg, and a fluorescent body in which M3 is Eu are preferable. Also provided are a fluorescent paste having the fluorescent body, and a near-ultraviolet excitation light-emitting element having the fluorescent body and having a high luminescent intensity.
US08017035B2
Novel phosphor systems are disclosed having the formula A2SiO4:Eu2+D, where A is at least one of a divalent metal selected from the group consisting of Sr, Ca, Ba, Mg, Zn, and Cd; and D is a dopant selected from the group consisting of F, Cl, Br, I, P, S, N, and B. In one embodiment, the novel phosphor has the formula (Sr1−x−yBaxMy)2SiO4:Eu2+F (where M is one of Ca, Mg, Zn, or Cd in an amount ranging from 0
US08017024B2
There is provided a method for continual preparation of granular polycrystalline silicon using a fluidized bed reactor, enabling a stable, long-term operation of the reactor by effective removal of silicon deposit accumulated on the inner wall of the reactor tube. The method comprises (i) a silicon particle preparation step, wherein silicon deposition occurs on the surface of the silicon particles, while silicon deposit is accumulated on the inner wall of the reactor tube encompassing the reaction zone; (ii) a silicon particle partial discharging step, wherein a part of the silicon particles remaining inside the reactor tube is discharged out of the fluidized bed reactor so that the height of the bed of the silicon particles does not exceed the height of the reaction gas outlet; and (iii) a silicon deposit removal step, wherein the silicon deposit is removed by supplying an etching gas into the reaction zone.
US08017023B2
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.
US08017022B2
In some embodiments, selective electroless plating for electronic substrates is presented. In this regard, a method is introduced including forming a film on a surface of a substrate, the film designed to prevent the seeding of an electroless plating catalyst, laser ablating the surface of the substrate through the film to form trenches, and seeding the surface of the substrate with an electroless plating catalyst. Other embodiments are also disclosed and claimed.
US08017020B2
It has been discovered that jet fuel containing enhanced thermal stability additives and water can be delivered with a final water content of 15 ppm or less via existing jet fuel distribution system by controlling the fuel flow rate through the fuel delivery system comprising one or more filter coalescers and separator systems, said controlled fuel flow rate being determined by passing a sample of actual fuel through a sample of the fuel filter at various fuel flow rates to identify the flowrate at which the fuel effluent contains 15 ppm or less.
US08017019B2
Improved fluidized bed precipitators (20, 46, 62, 74, 108, 112, 134, 168) especially useful for the treatment of waste waters containing soluble phosphorus are provided, having upright, primary fluidized bed sections (22, 48, 64, 76, 110, 114, 136) and obliquely oriented solids settling sections (28, 54, 68, 120, 144) which enhance the settling of small particles (166) and return thereof to the fluidized bed sections (22, 48, 64, 76, 110, 114, 136). The precipitators (20, 46, 62, 74, 108, 112, 134, 168) may also be equipped with a solids detection/withdrawal assembly (178) made up of one or more pressure transducers (180, 182) operable to determine the pressures within the fluidized bed sections 22, 48, 64, 76, 110, 114, 136) as a measure of bed densities, along with a selectively operable valve (172) which may be opened to periodically remove solids without clogging. The precipitators (20, 46, 62, 74, 108, 112, 134, 168) may be used to control soluble phosphorus levels in single- or multiple lagoon (184, 186) waste water systems.
US08017018B2
A phosphorus removal system is operable to remove phosphorus from an influent. The system includes a first section receiving the influent and discharging a first flow. A first coagulant inlet is positioned upstream of the first section and is in fluid communication with the influent to introduce a first coagulant selected to precipitate phosphorus. A second section receives the first flow and discharges a second flow, and a third section receives the second flow and discharges an effluent. A second coagulant inlet is positioned downstream of the first section and upstream of the third section to introduce a second coagulant selected to precipitate phosphorus.
US08017011B2
A filter coalescer element for oil based industrial fuels includes a rigid, porous support tube, and a hydrophobic drainage layer covering the outer surface of the same. A single phase, dual function combination water coalescer and particle filter pleat block is positioned in the support tube, and is formed from a multilayer material having a first porous support layer, a synthetic microfiber layer, a synthetic fiber media layer and a second porous support layer. As the fluid passes through the pleat block, solid particles are physically filtered therefrom, and water is coalesced into droplets which pass from the pleats directly through the support tube and directly into the drainage layer, where the droplets grow into a size sufficient that they fall under gravity to the bottom of the element for collection.
US08017009B2
The present invention relates to a fuel filter having a filter element and connections for the fuel inlet and the fuel outlet. In order to permit a more compact design, the fuel filter employs flat, block-shaped filter element.
US08016996B2
A method is provided, which includes moving a mobile floor cleaning machine along a floor. Onboard the mobile floor cleaning machine, a liquid is sparged by electrolysis. The sparged liquid is dispensed from the mobile floor cleaning machine.
US08016992B2
Disclosed herein is a reference electrode including an electrolyte containing an optically-active material, including: an electrode body provided at an end thereof with an electrolyte separation membrane and charged therein with an optically-active material and an electrolyte solution; an inner electrode disposed in the electrode body to be immersed in the electrolyte solution; and an absorbance measurement probe for transmitting light to the electrolyte solution and collecting reflected light waves, which is disposed in the electrode body to be immersed in the electrolyte solution. Since the concentration of an electrode reaction material, such as Cl−, in the electrolyte is calculated using the absorbance of the electrolyte solution containing the optically-active material, the change in potential of the reference electrode can be properly corrected even when the reference electrode is exposed to a test environment for a long period of time and thus the concentration of the electrolyte changes. Thus, the functions of the reference electrode can be maintained for a long period of time, thereby rapidly monitoring the abnormal states caused by damage to the reference electrode.
US08016990B2
A gas sensor comprises a cylindrical metallic housing, a sensor element having at a front end thereof a sensing portion and disposed axially in the housing with the sensing portion protruded from a front end of the housing, a sensor terminal fitted to a rear end of the sensor element to produce a signal output from the sensing portion, a first protective cover attached to a front end portion of the housing to cover the sensing portion and a second protective cover attached to a rear end portion of the housing to cover the sensor terminal. The first and second protective covers includes attachment portions attached around the front and rear end portions of the housing, respectively. At least one of the attachment portions of the first and second protective covers has a lower hardness than a remaining portion of the protective cover.
US08016989B2
An exhaust gas sensor inhibits a detecting part of an exhaust gas sensor from being exposed to water and has high detection accuracy and high durability. The exhaust gas sensor has a sensor body and a protective cover. The sensor body has an outer housing. The outer housing has a plurality of gas inlets. A gas detection element for detecting a component of the exhaust gas (e.g., oxygen) disposed within the outer housing. The protective cover has a cylindrical shape and has a plurality of protrusions at its opposing ends. The protrusions provide a tight fit with the outer housing. The protective cover is attached to the outer periphery of the outer housing without closing gas inlets formed through the outer cylinder by press-fitting the outer cylinder into the protective cover.
US08016988B2
A gas sensor is provided. The gas sensor includes a post, an ion conductive layer, a first sensing portion and a second sensing portion. The post includes a first end, a second end, a side surface and a groove, wherein the groove is formed on the side surface of the post, and an opening is formed on the first end connecting with the groove. The ion conductive layer is formed on the side surface of the post, including a first surface and a second surface, wherein the first surface is opposite to the second surface, and the ion conductive layer and the groove compose a chamber. The first sensing portion is formed on the first surface. The second sensing portion is formed on the second surface corresponding to the first sensing portion, wherein the first sensing portion is located in the chamber.
US08016973B2
A film bonding method of bonding a die bond film without causing any breakage. The die bond film is pressed against a wafer having a surface protective tape bonded thereto using a film-setting roller and a film-bonding roller, and a laser beam having a predetermined shape is irradiated to an area between the rollers. While rotationally moving the film-setting roller and the film-bonding roller, the laser beam is scanned on the wafer in accordance with their motion, and a portion of the die bond film, melted by the laser beam, is pressed against the wafer by the film-bonding roller following the film-setting roller to bond the die bond film to the wafer. Since the die bond film is bonded to the wafer by melting the same by the laser beam, even if the wafer is thin and reduced in its strength, it is possible to avoid the wafer from being damaged e.g. by thermal contraction of the surface protective tape.
US08016972B2
The present invention provides a process wherein a rotary knife or die, with one or more cutting edges, turns against and in coordination with a corresponding cylinder to create preferably trapezoidal ears. Ear material is slit into two lanes, one for a left side of a diaper and the other for a right side of a diaper. Fastening tapes are applied to both the right and the left ear webs. The ear material is then die cut with a nested pattern on a synchronized vacuum anvil. The resulting discrete ear pieces however, due to the trapezoidal pattern of the ears, alternate between a correct orientation and an incorrect (reversed) orientation. The reversed ear is required to be rotated 180° into the correct orientation such that the ears and associated tape present a left ear and a right ear on the diaper.
US08016958B2
High strength aluminum alloy sheet having superior surface roughening and formability suitable for home electrical appliances and automobile outer panels and other structural materials and a method of production of the same are provided. High strength aluminum alloy sheet having a chemical composition containing Mg: 2.0 to 3.3 mass %, Mn: 0.1 to 0.5 mass %, and Fe: 0.2 to 1.0 mass %, having a balance of unavoidable impurities and Al, and having an Si among the unavoidable impurities of less than 0.20 mass % and having an average circle equivalent diameter of intermetallic compounds of 1 μm or less, having an area ratio of intermetallic compounds of 1.2% or more, having an average diameter of recrystallized grains of 10 μm or less, and having a tensile strength of 220 MPa or more. This is obtained by pouring an aluminum alloy melt having the above chemical composition in a twin belt caster, continuously casting a thin slab of a thickness of 6 to 15 mm at a cooling rate at a position of ¼ the slab thickness of 50 to 200° C./sec and winding it up into a coil, then cold rolling it at a cold reduction of 60 to 98%, final annealing it by a continuous annealing furnace at a heating rate of 100° C./min or more, at a holding temperature of 400 to 520° C. for a holding time of within 5 minutes.
US08016957B2
The grain size of magnesium alloys is effectively refined and made smaller by the addition of a small amount of titanium. The effect of the reduction of grain size is often an improvement in the strength and processability of a cast magnesium alloy. Often less than about 0.1% by weight of titanium need be used. It may be preferred to incorporate the titanium with another alloying constituent (such as aluminum) for addition to a melt of a magnesium base alloy.
US08016951B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a grain-oriented electrical steel sheet with low core loss and low magnetostriction and a method for producing the same. The grain-oriented electrical steel sheet is excellent in reduced core loss and magnetostriction while under a high flux density of 1.9 T, comprises a refined magnetic domain comprising a laser irradiated portion which has melted and resolidified to form a solidified layer, wherein the thickness of the solidified layer is 4 μm or less. The grain-oriented electrical steel sheet may further comprise a laser irradiated portion where a surface roughness Rz is small and a cross section viewed from a transverse direction has a concave portion having a width of 200 μm or less and a depth of 10 μm or less for further improvement.
US08016949B2
In particular a porous substrate (FS) like a fabric. Process to clean a substrate, comprising a step of subjecting the substrate to an air-water spray (SPR), generated using a spraying means (N) comprising an air passage (OPA) and a water passage (OPW), wherein air is greater than 90% by volume of the spray, the air velocity is greater than 80 m/s and wherein said air passage does not coaxially surround said water passage. Device to clean soiled fabric (FS) comprising a feed water container (CW) and an air compressor (AC) in fluid communication with a spray nozzle (N) comprising an air passage and a water passage, said device being capable of generating an air pressure in the range of 1 to 3 bar (absolute) and an air velocity greater than 80 m/s at the exit of said nozzle; and the air is greater than 90% volume of said spray, and wherein said air passage does not coaxially surround said water passage. An external mix spray nozzle is especially preferred in the device.
US08016948B2
Disclosed herein is a cleaning method useful in removing contaminants from a surface of a coating which comprises an oxide or fluoride of a Group III B metal. Typically the coating overlies an aluminum substrate which is present as part of a semiconductor processing apparatus. The coating typically comprises an oxide or a fluoride of Y, Sc, La, Ce, Eu, Dy, or the like, or yttrium-aluminum-garnet (YAG). The coating may further comprise about 20 volume % or less of Al2O3.
US08016940B2
The short-pulse laser light 9 emitted from the short-pulse laser light source 1 is focused on and caused to irradiate an organic crystal 8 contained in a sample container 6 via a shutter 2, intensity adjusting element 3, irradiation position control mechanism 4, and focusing optical system 5. The sample container 6 is carried on a stage 7, and can be moved in three dimensions along the x axis, y axis and z axis in an x-y-z orthogonal coordinate system with the direction of the optical axis being taken as the z axis; furthermore, the sample container 6 can be rotated about the z axis. Working of the organic crystal 8 is performed by means of short-pulse laser light that is focused on and caused to irradiate the surface of the organic crystal 8. Prior to working, nitrogen is caused to jet onto the sample container 6 by a low-temperature gas jet device C that is a cooling device; consequently, the organic crystal 8 is cooled to −150° C. or below. As a result, it is possible to work the object of working in a fixed state, and to increase the working efficiency by means of the short-pulse laser light that is used.
US08016938B2
Concrete structures and components with improved strength and toughness. A uniform mix of first constituents comprises: cement of Blaine fineness of 280-360 m2/kg; sand at a mass ratio of 0.75-1.25 of the cement; silica fume at a mass ratio of 0.15-0.4 of the cement; silica flour at a mass ratio of 0.15-0.3 of the cement; and microinclusions at a mass ratio up to 0.35 of the cement. This is then mixed with a blend of second constituents comprising a specified amount of an HRWRA and an amount of water at a mass ratio of 0.2-0.35 of the cement. This is mixed sufficiently to form a uniform cement-based paste to which an amount of macrofibers at a mass ratio of up to 0.35 of the cement is added to yield a uniform product. Nanoinclusions may be added to improve crack resistance and increase density.
US08016937B2
Cementitious compositions in which the cementitious properties of fly-ash are carefully controlled. The cementitious compositions may be substantially free harsh acids and bases such as citric acids (≈pH 2.2) and alkali metal activators including alkali hydroxides (≈pH 12-14) and metal carbonates (≈pH 11.6). The use of these harsh chemicals creates acid base reactions during use of the products. Instead of these harsh chemicals, a citric salt, for example potassium citrate, may be used as a reaction accelerator. Boric compounds may be used as a retarder in the compositions.
US08016936B2
Disclosed herein is a method of calcining particulate material, such as kaolin. The method comprises providing a feed mixture comprising a particulate material, such as hydrous kaolin, wherein at least a portion of the particulate feed is coated with a liquid fuel. The method further comprises heating the particulate feed mixture to calcine the particulate feed and burn the liquid fuel to form a calcined product. The liquid fuel coating can act as a secondary, indirect heat source for calcining. The overall calcining temperatures and/or times can be reduced as a result of adding the liquid fuel.
US08016933B2
This invention relates to a non-sulfurous statuary material and a method of manufacturing the same, and particularly, to a novel statuary material containing no sulfur, which is capable of substituting for a conventional statuary material containing sulfur as a component of a statuary filling composition, in particular, an industrial statuary material, and to a method of manufacturing the same. In the case where the statuary material according to this invention is used, because it contains no sulfur, unlike conventional statuary material, environmental contamination and the generation of offensive odors due to sulfur are avoided, and furthermore, the use of material having a specific gravity lower than that of sulfur facilitates modeling. The claimed material includes micro wax, petroleum jelly, zinc stearate and starch.
US08016930B2
This invention provides a magenta ink composition that, when recorded, is excellent in color development, graininess, and gloss, is less likely to cause clogging in an ink jet recording head, and is excellent in color reproduction in a high-chroma and high-lightness red region. The magenta ink composition has an L* value of not less than 60 and a b* value of not more than −17 when the a* value in CIE standard calculated from a visible absorption spectrum in a not more than 10000-fold diluted aqueous solution is 80.
US08016927B2
A computing device having a cooling fan, a heat exchanger, and a filter disposed between the heat exchanger and the cooling fan.
US08016921B2
An assembly of structural components for supporting an air filtration member is disclosed. The assembly may include an air filtration member and a framework designed to provide support to the filtration member. The framework may include a first structural component forming a lower base of the framework for supporting the filtration member and a second structural component forming an upper base of the framework for supporting the filtration member. The framework may also have an arm that is slidable within and attachable to the framework, and may be configured to provide an adjustment mechanism for the framework, such that the framework and the filtration member can be located within a number of differently sized forced air heating or air conditioning ducts.
US08016918B2
Pressure swing adsorption process for producing oxygen comprising (a) providing at least one adsorber vessel having a first layer of adsorbent adjacent the feed end of the vessel and a second layer of adsorbent adjacent the first layer, wherein the surface area to volume ratio of the first layer is in the range of about 0.75 to about 1.8 cm−1; (b) introducing a pressurized feed gas comprising at least oxygen, nitrogen, and water into the feed end, adsorbing at least a portion of the water in the adsorbent in the first layer, and adsorbing at least a portion of the nitrogen in the adsorbent in the second layer, wherein the superficial contact time of the pressurized feed gas in the first layer is between about 0.08 and about 0.50 sec; and (c) withdrawing a product gas enriched in oxygen from the product end of the adsorber vessel.
US08016917B2
A method of improve the removal of particulate matter, heavy metals, neutralizing acid, and kill microorganism pollutants, known to be in contaminated air volumes of occupied confined spaces, when exposed in close contact under pressure to a mixture of alkaline sorbent materials, having a known synergism between said pollutants using a self propelled fluidized bed reactor and packed bed filter apparatus system to optimize the contact collection efficiency of submicron particles and organic compounds.
US08016915B2
A method and system for degassing a resin is provided. A degassing trough retains the resin, and an ultrasonic energy source applies ultrasonic energy to the degassing trough and resin. The application of ultrasonic energy to the resin reduces the amount of trapped gas bubbles contained within the resin.
US08016910B2
A method for producing liquid pig iron or liquid steel intermediate products from fine-particled material containing iron oxide. The fine-particled material is prereduced in at least one prereduction stage and reduced in a final reduction stage to sponge iron. The sponge iron is melted in a melt-down gasification zone, with carbon carriers and oxygen-containing gas supplied. A CO- and H2-containing reduction gas is generated and introduced into the final reduction stage, is converted there, is drawn off and introduced into at least one prereduction stage, converted there and drawn off. A first quantity fraction of the fine-particled material containing iron oxide is introduced into a melt-down gasification zone via at least one prereduction stage and one final reduction stage, and a further quantity fraction of the fine-particled material containing iron oxide is introduced into the melt-down gasification zone directly or together with the carbon carriers and the oxygen-containing gas.
US08016903B2
A filter cartridge for use in an air cleaner is provided. The filter cartridge comprises a media pack having a flow end with a framework arrangement thereon. The preferred framework arrangement comprises a frame piece that includes: a seal support; a handle arrangement; and a force transfer arrangement thereon. The seal member is positioned on the framework. An air cleaner arrangement for use with the cartridge is shown. Methods of assembly and service are described.
US08016899B2
Composite fuels for hydrogen generation include materials that endothermically release hydrogen, materials that exothermically release hydrogen, and additives to promote endothermic reaction and to inhibit exothermic reaction.
US08016897B2
An aviation 100LL fuel additive formulation for lead scavenging which mitigates the detrimental effects of lead, cleans up the combustion chamber and also allows shipping and distribution by common carrier, such as UPS or FedEx. A fuel additive composition is described for aviation 100 octane Low Lead fuel, containing: (1) glycol ether 10 to 90% by volume; (2) tricresyl phosphate 5 to 10% by volume; and, (3) Polyetheramine 15 to 30% by volume. The described composition has a flash point above 141 degrees F. to enable safe shipping by common carrier. The described composition also contains polyetheramine to create a mixture which is shown to be effective in preventing plug fouling by lead and be effective in reducing combustion chamber deposits, thus providing a smooth running engine during ground operations.
US08016896B2
A separator for an electrochemical cell, comprising (A) a flexible perforate support, (B) a porous first ceramic material which fills the perforations in the support and which (i) has a pore structure which is characterized by an average pore size, and (ii) is suitable for receiving an ion-conducting electrolyte, wherein (C) the electrolyte-contactable pore surface of the first porous ceramic material is covered with fine particles of a further material to extend the use life, the average size of the fine particles being in the range from 0.5 to 30% and preferably in the range from 1 to 15% of the average pore size of the ceramic material.
US08016895B2
wherein D is a chromophore; L is a linking group selected from SO2, NHCO, and NHSO2; Q is a hydrogen or halogen atom; and R is selected from C1-C4 alkyl, (CH2)nCOOH, (CH2)nCONH2, (CH2)nSO3H, (CH2)nCOOM, (CH2)nPO3H, (CH2)nOH, (CH2)nSSO3″, (CH2)nNR12, (CH2)nN+R1H2, (CH2)nNHCOR1, PhSSO3″, PhSO3H, PhPO3H, PhNR12, PhN+R13, (CH2)2CH(SH)R1(CH2)3COOH, and n is an integer in the range of 1 to 4 wherein within the same molecule each n is not necessarily the same integer; M is a cation of an alkaline earth metal, alkali metal, NH4+ or NR13+; and R1 is C1-C4 alkyl.
US08016892B2
A prosthetic device and prosthetic assembly operative to evacuate an interior of a prosthetic socket, and control systems for use therewith. The prosthetic device and prosthetic assembly employ evacuation devices for evacuating the socket. The evacuation devices preferably include at least an electrically powered vacuum pump and a power source, and are adapted for mounting to a universal adapter that is installed to the distal end of a prosthetic socket. Associated control systems may be of various design and may employ wired or wireless communication. When wireless communication is employed, a hand held controller may be used to remotely control operation of the evacuation device.
US08016891B2
An orthopedic augment member and connection to an implant is disclosed. The connection may be formed between the implant, comprising a recess with a ledge formed therein, and the augment member by utilizing a fastener, and a connector, which may be configured and dimensioned to snap-fit into the recess formed in the implant forming an interference fit therebetween. The fastener may further comprise a body member with threads located thereon for matingly engaging a threaded wall defining a recess formed in the augment member, thereby securing the augment member to the recess of the implant.
US08016886B2
An intervertebral stabilizer includes: a first member operable to engage an endplate of a vertebral bone of a spine, the first member having top and bottom surfaces defining a thickness therebetween; a second member spaced apart from the first member and operable to engage an endplate of an adjacent vertebral bone of the spine; a connecting element located substantially between and connecting the first and second members; and the first member having at least one slot extending through a portion thereof through its entire thickness and top and bottom surfaces, creating first and second portions of the first member, wherein the slot imparts compressibility and/or expandability to the intervertebral disc replacement device.
US08016885B2
A system of reconstruction for a spinal joint is directed to a modular implant assembly that includes an upper part and a lower part. The upper and lower parts each comprise a unitary body having an approximately ninety degree bend defining vertical and horizontal components. Each vertical component has a fastener hole for attaching it to a bone segment using a bone fastener. The horizontal sections each have a complementary contact surfaces in order to transmit compressive load therebetween and to accommodate sliding and pivoting relative movement therebetween. The vertical sections of each of the upper and lower part are offset with respect to a vertical centerline so that successive assemblies bridging more than one adjacent vertebral space can have an upper part and a lower part according to the present invention coexist on a single vertebra in a space-efficient manner wherein the vertical sections nest spatially.
US08016884B2
A prosthetic device for use as an artificial meniscus is disclosed. The prosthetic device restores shock absorption, stability, and function to the knee joint after removal of the damaged natural meniscus. In some embodiments, the prosthetic device is pre-tensioned to improve the fit of the prosthetic device within the knee joint and, thereby, maximize the contact area of the load-bearing surfaces to distribute loading through the prosthetic device in a manner substantially similar to that of a healthy natural meniscus. In some embodiments, the pre-tensioned prosthetic device is smaller, or scaled-down, relative to the size of a healthy natural meniscus.
US08016883B2
Interposition and augmentation devices for tendon and ligament repair, including rotator cuff repair, have been developed as well as methods for their delivery using arthroscopic methods. The devices are preferably derived from biocompatible polyhydroxyalkanoates, and preferably from copolymers or homopolymers of 4-hydroxybutyrate. The devices may be delivered arthroscopically, and offer additional benefits such as support for the surgical repair, high initial strength, prolonged strength retention in vivo, flexibility, anti-adhesion properties, improved biocompatibility, an ability to remodel in vivo to healthy tissue, minimal risk for disease transmission or to potentiate infection, options for fixation including sufficiently high strength to prevent suture pull out or other detachment of the implanted device, eventual absorption eliminating future risk of foreign body reactions or interference with subsequent procedures, competitive cost, and long-term mechanical stability. The devices are also particularly suitable for use in pediatric populations where their eventual absorption should not hinder growth.
US08016880B2
A drug delivery stent is formed by a metallic or polymeric tubular strut which is shaped into a generally cylindrical configuration, the tubular strut having a central lumen for containing a therapeutic substance or drug therein. The tubular strut has a continuous channel extending from the inside surface of the strut to the outside surface of the strut positioned spirally about or in a corkscrew fashion around a circumference of the tubular strut for delivering the therapeutic substance or drug to a stenotic lesion. The spiral or corkscrew channel width may be varied along the length of the strut to control elution rate and/or flexibility of the stent. The pitch of the spiral or corkscrew channel may also be varied along the length of the strut to control flexibility of the stent. The stent may be carried on a balloon of a balloon catheter to a site of a stenotic lesion where the stent is implanted.
US08016879B2
Disclosed is a stent comprising a bioabsorbable polymeric scaffolding; and a plurality of depots in at least a portion of the scaffolding, wherein the plurality of depots comprise a bioabsorbable material, wherein the degradation rate of all or substantially all of the bioabsorbable polymer of the scaffolding is faster than the degradation rate of all or substantially all of the bioabsorbable material of the depots.
US08016874B2
A stent is disclosed that generates an elevated degree of scaffolding to a bodily vessel while retaining a highly flexible structure. In one embodiment, a stent includes an essentially tubular body formed by a web structure that is configured to expand from a contracted delivery configuration to an expanded deployed configuration and that is composed of a plurality of longitudinally adjacent web rings. Those web rings are formed by a plurality of web elements disposed circumferentially around the longitudinal axis of the stent and adjoined one to the other with a junction bend. Each junction bend in a first web ring is coupled to another junction bend in a neighboring ring with as-shaped connector, and the coupled junction bends are not longitudinally aligned but are instead laterally offset.
US08016869B2
The invention provides an atraumatic, low profile device for the delivery of one or more implants into tubular organs or open regions of the body. The implant delivery device may simultaneously or independently release portions of the implant, e.g., the proximal and distal ends of the implant. This independent release feature allows better implant positioning at the target site. Upon deployment, the implants may be placed at the target site without a sheath.
US08016865B2
A method of replacing an ACL with a graft. The method provides for the drilling bone tunnels in a femur and a tibia. A replacement graft is provided having first and second ends. A biodegradable composite screw is provided. The screw is made from a biodegradable polymer and a bioceramic or a bioglass. At least one end of the graft is secured in a bone tunnel using the biodegradable composite screw.
US08016861B2
Versatile polyaxial connector assemblies are provided for a dynamic stabilization system which supports the spine while providing for the preservation of spinal motion. Embodiments of the dynamic stabilization system include versatile polyaxial connectors in addition to bone anchors, a deflection system and a vertical rod system. The bone anchors connect the construct to the spinal anatomy. The deflection system provides dynamic stabilization while reducing the stress exerted upon the bone anchors and spinal anatomy. The vertical rod system spans different levels of the construct. The versatile polyaxial connectors include connectors mounted coaxially and/or offset with the bone anchors to adjustably connect the deflection system, vertical rod system and bone anchors allowing for safe, effective and efficient placement of the construct relative to the spine.
US08016856B2
A removable and replaceable handle for a medical device includes a main body with a distal end, a proximal end, and a longitudinal axis between the distal and proximal ends and a slider disposed within the main body that is translatable along the longitudinal axis between the distal and proximal ends. A first gripper is disposed within the slider and a second gripper is disposed within the main body, which are capable of retaining a control portion of the medical device when the slider is in the first position with a working portion of the medical device in a biased position, and allows the medical device to be removed from or inserted into the handle when the slider is in the second position.
US08016855B2
A surgical device includes a first jaw and a second jaw in opposed correspondence with the first jaw. A first driver is configured to cause relative movement of the first jaw and the second jaw in a plane. The first driver is configured to engage a drive shaft rotatable about a rotation axis arranged in non-parallel, e.g., perpendicular, correspondence to the plane. The device may also include a surgical member, e.g., a cutting and stapling element, disposed within the first jaw. A second driver is configured to cause relative movement of the surgical member in a direction parallel to the plane. The second driver is configured to engage a drive shaft rotatable about a rotation axis arranged in non-parallel correspondence to the plane.
US08016844B2
A handheld biopsy device is provided for the collection of soft tissue samples from a surgical patient. In a preferred embodiment, the biopsy device comprises a handpiece, a fluid collection system, and a power transmission source. The handpiece is configured for grasping by a single hand, and being independently manipulatable by hand for movement of the instrument toward and away from the patient. An elongated piercer extends from the distal end of the handpiece. The piercer has a sharpened distal end for entering the tissue and a port located proximal to the sharpened distal end for receiving a portion of tissue mass. An elongated cutter is disposed coaxially relative to a piercer lumen of the piercer. A distal blade of the cutter slides distally past the port of the piercer to severe the tissue portion drawn into the port by vacuum. The cutter is retracted to a most proximal position for removal of the tissue portion from a cutter lumen of the cutter. The handpiece further comprises a holster for detachably connecting a cutter rotational transmission and a cutter axial transmission to the power transmission source.
US08016840B2
An endoscopic treatment device is used with an endoscope. This treatment device includes a transmission member with a flexible structure having a distal end portion to be inserted into a body and can be operated outside the body, a push rod coupled to the distal end portion, and first and second connecting members rotatably coupled to the push rod. The treatment device further includes first and second arm members rotatably coupled to the distal end portion of the connecting member, a holding member rotatably holding the respective arm at a predetermined interval therebetween, and first and second actuating members integrally formed with the arm members and can open/close when the transmission member actuates the first and second connecting members and the first and second arm members through the push rod. This device also includes a needle mounted on at least one of the first and second actuating members.
US08016837B2
The invention relates to an apparatus for displacing tissue within the body, wherein the apparatus includes two or more attachment members selectively displaceable with respect to each other via a driving member. The driving member preferably is rotatable and is caused to rotate by a magnetic actuator that can be activated by a magnetic field from outside the body.
US08016814B2
Methods, systems and devices for delivering a diagnostic or therapeutic treatment, substance or device to a target area located within the body of a human or animal subject. A tissue penetrating catheter is positioned within a body lumen near the target area. A hollow penetrator is then advanced from the tissue penetrating catheter and penetrated from the body lumen in which the penetrating catheter is positioned into tissue in the direction of the target area. Thereafter, an elongate optical device (e.g., an optically equipped guidewire or catheter) is advanced through the hollow penetrator and continues to advance through tissue, in the direction of the target area. The elongate optical device is connected to an optical processing device (e.g., a spectrometer) which provides optically determined data (e.g., spectral reflectance, pH, oxygen concentration, temperature) indicating when the elongate optical device has entered the target area. The elongate optical device is then used to facilitate delivery of a diagnostic or therapeutic modality, substance or device into the target area.
US08016812B2
An exemplary method includes acquiring cardiac electrical activity information, detecting a T wave and, based on the detecting, calling for delivery of matter to the heart where the matter may include one or more of stem cells, progenitor cells, nutrients and drugs. Another exemplary method includes calling for delivery of electrical energy to cells destined for implantation in the body or cells already implanted in the body. Such delivery may be timed according to cardiac electrical activity and/or delivered at an energy level below a capture threshold of neighboring tissue. Various other exemplary technologies are also disclosed.
US08016809B2
Liquid drug delivery device includes a housing with a syringe port for sealingly receiving a syringe having a syringe tip ending at a widened distal tip, a vial adapter port with a vial adapter for snap fit receiving a vial, and a drug administration port for administering a liquid drug. The vial adapter is intended to be rotationally detached after a mixing procedure for discarding together with a spent vial. The syringe port additionally includes a single use locking mechanism for securing the syringe to preclude inadvertent syringe detachment under normal use including agitation for reconstitution purposes. The drug administration port has a distal tip preferably similar to a syringe's widened distal tip for the same purpose of preventing conventional needles with a female Luer connector being slidingly mounted thereon.
US08016800B2
Test methods for assessing irritation of portions of skin and/or assessing inhibition and/or reduction of such irritation are provided.
US08016799B2
A catheter is disclosed that has a detachable tip for delivery of a therapeutic substance to a chronic total occlusion (CTO) within a body vessel. The tip is made from a biodegradable material and includes an active agent dispersed therethrough. The detachable tip pierces into the calcified lesion, detaches from the catheter, and remains embedded within the lesion as the tip degrades, thereby releasing the active agent. The active agent is a therapeutic substance effective to treat of a CTO. The active agent may be a drug, an enzyme, bacteria, or a parasite that degrades or softens the calcified lesion.
US08016797B2
A needle protection device for use with an injection device, the needle protection device including a moveable needle protection element which moves through a release course of movement into a locking engagement position as a result of an elastic force, the locking engagement position being achieved when the needle protection element moves from a starting position to a triggering position, when the needle protection element moves over a small portion of the release course, and being maintained when the needle protection element is no longer subjected to an external force in the triggering position.
US08016795B2
An assembly for oral administration of a medicinal product to be reconstituted from an active principle in dry or liquid form and from a diluent, A device including a prefilled syringe with said diluent, able by itself to receive a parenteral injection member is provided. A support including a body of elongate form is fastened to the syringe, the support includes a device for fixing to the syringe and, at its distal end a device for preventing the connecting of the needle to the tip of the syringe. A bottle including the active principle and a system for transferring the diluent to the active principle, then the reconstituted medicinal product from the bottle to the syringe, the transfer system being separate from the support.
US08016791B2
A valve body formed from an elastic member in the form of an elliptical or circular film (disk shape) has upper and lower surfaces. A first concave portion is formed on the upper surface side of the valve body. The valve body further has an opening and closing section which is opened and closed in response to insertion and pulling out of a dilator and is formed from a first slit, a second slit, a second concave portion and two third concave portions. The second concave portion is formed at a portion of the concave surface side of the valve body corresponding to an intersecting portion, and the third concave portions are formed at the opposite end portions of the first slit. The second concave portion extends, in a thickness wise direction of the valve body, to an intermediate portion of the first slit but not to the second slit.
US08016787B2
Self-disabling or self-locking single-use syringe of the passive type, i.e., one that is self-locked after first use of the syringe, in such a way that any attempted reuse is prevented, and is characterised in that it comprises at least two rings provided on the internal face of the barrel and having the general shape of a circular crown with a variable internal radius, and in that each of the longitudinal fins of the piston has a height which is different from that of at least one of the other fins, in such a way that the plunger can be inserted tightly through the space defined by the variable internal radius of the barrel rings. In this way resistance to the passage of the piston is minimised, thereby reducing the risk of causing bruises, and with a manufacturing cost substantially similar to that of conventional syringes.
US08016782B2
Methods are disclosed for the providing oxygenated blood to venous circulation. Embodiments include a femoral access approach to the creation of an Aorta-caval fistula at the bifurcation of the Aorta and the Inferior Vena Cava; an apparatus for the creation, modification and maintenance of a fistula; and a method of supplying oxygenated blood to the venous circulation of a patient. The devices, systems and methods can be used to treat patients with one or more numerous ailments including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, congestive heart failure, hypertension, hypotension, respiratory failure, pulmonary arterial hypertension, lung fibrosis and adult respiratory distress syndrome.
US08016779B2
A compression device has improved cooling capability. The device includes a wicking layer adapted to move moisture. A portion of the wicking layer is exposed from under bladder material defining a bladder. In use, the wicking layer wicks moisture from the patient's limb and the wicked moisture is able to evaporate through the device at the portion of the wicking layer that is exposed.
US08016777B1
A hand-held probe is configured for a prostate cancer screening test and includes a pressure sensor array, a test progression indicator, a display, and an electronic circuit for processing pressure data. The test progression indicator is configured to guide the operator during the test as to the proper position of the probe about the prostate and the progress of collecting and accumulating test data. Data quality thresholds are used to accept or reject readings from the pressure sensor array. The results are presented as either a high or low probability of prostate cancer. The probe is adapted for easy use in an office of a general practitioner.
US08016773B2
The present invention provides a lancing apparatus (A) which includes a lancet (3) which is movable to advance in a first direction from a deeper portion in a housing (2) toward a front end of a cylindrical member (8) and an analysis component (4) disposed in the cylindrical member (8). The analysis component (4) is movable in a second direction opposite to the first direction upon receiving a force in the second direction. When skin (S) bulges, the analysis component (4) moves in the second direction following the bulging of the skin, whereby blood (b) bleeding from the skin (S) is properly introduced to the analysis component (4).
US08016770B2
A cognitive function training unit including an eye-target showing unit for showing a movable eye-target on a display disposed in front of the subject's eye, an eye movement measuring unit for measuring a position and/or movement of the subject's eye, and a judgment unit for judging whether or not the subject can fixedly look at or follow the eye-target based on the position and/or the movement of the eye-target shown on the display and the position and/or the movement of the subject's eye measured by the eye movement measuring unit, and the eye-target showing unit shows the eye-target repeatedly while changing the position and/or the movement of the eye-target according to a judgment result of the judgment unit. Therefore, it is possible to show a suitable eye-target according to a symptom of a patient, whereby it is possible to conduct training efficiently.
US08016768B2
The present invention relates to a hand sensory assessment device capable of point localization, two-point discrimination, vibration, and texture discrimination for assessing and training patients. The device possesses multiples of pins serving as contacting points that are capable of treating multiples points on a patients hand.
US08016767B2
A surgical access system including a tissue distraction assembly and a tissue retraction assembly, both of which may be equipped with one or more electrodes for use in detecting the existence of (and optionally the distance and/or direction to) neural structures before, during, and after the establishment of an operative corridor to a surgical target site.
US08016753B2
An endoscope including an inserted portion, which is adapted to be inserted into an organ, having a distal portion with a distal surface, a liquid outlet, which is formed in the distal portion, and is adapted to eject liquid therefrom toward an object located in vicinity to the distal portion, and a flow attracting member, which is adapted to attract a flow of the liquid ejected from the liquid outlet, is provided. The flow of the liquid ejected from the liquid outlet is angled by the flow attracting member so that the liquid is directed at a predetermined portion of the object.
US08016751B2
An optical instrument has an outer shank (15) with a viewing window (31) arranged near the free shank end and a handle part (1) at the other end of the outer shank. An opto-electrical a transducer (26) is rotatably arranged within the outer shank, and is attached on an inner shank (12) which is rotatably mounted within the outer shank. Actuation means (10) for rotating the transducer (26) are provided in the outer shank. An axial bearing is provided between the outer shank and the inner shank (12). Moreover, a spring element impinging the inner shank (12) with force in the direction of the axial bearing is provided.
US08016750B2
Flexible tubular liner coating systems are described herein. A method for coating and forming the flexible tubular inner liner may comprise, in one example, coating at least a first surface of a flexible elongate strip having a first and a second edge and then bringing the first and second edges of the flexible elongate strip into proximity of one another. Once the edges are brought towards one another, they may be joined such that a flexible tubular liner is formed having the coated first surface formed as an inner surface of the flexible tubular liner. Flexible tubular liner coating systems are described herein. A method for coating and forming the flexible tubular inner liner may comprise, in one example, coating at least a first surface of a flexible elongate strip having a first and a second edge and then bringing the first and second edges of the flexible elongate strip into proximity of one another. Once the edges are brought towards one another, they may be joined such that a flexible tubular liner is formed having the coated first surface formed as an inner surface of the flexible tubular liner.
US08016746B2
A body implantable penile prosthetic assembly includes a pump and a release mechanism. The pump is connectable to a pressure reservoir and a penile implant, where the pressure reservoir contains a pressurized liquid at a first pressure when implanted. The release mechanism is connectable between the pressure reservoir and the penile implant and is configured to release the pressurized liquid from the pressure reservoir to inflate the penile implant to a second pressure that is less than the first pressure. The pump is operable to transfer the pressurized liquid from the penile implant to the pressure reservoir to deflate the penile implant, and pressurize the pressurized liquid in the pressure reservoir from the second pressure to at least the first pressure.
US08016739B2
An apparatus and method for use in assisting a human heart are disclosed. The apparatus comprises an aortic compression means which may be fully implanatable, a fluid reservoir and a pump means adapted to pump a fluid from the reservoir to the aortic compression means so as to actuate the aortic compression means at least partly in counterpulsation with the patient's heart. In addition, the device is adapted to be wholly positioned within the right chest cavity of the patient. The aortic compression means of the device may be curved along its length so as to substantially replicate the curve of the ascending aorta.
US08016733B2
A novel paint roller “cage” having improved tracking and ease of use is adapted for receiving different length axle shafts of various sizes of paint roller frames. An outer tubular support, upon which a paint roller cover or other paint absorbing material may be mounted, contains a pair of support bearings secured at either end of an inner tubular chassis, with one support bearing at a first end of the outer tubular support, and the other support bearing at approximately its mid point. The two support bearings are connected by an inner tubular chassis, which both maintains the two bearings at a desired axial spacing and also holds the walls and radial bearing surfaces of a bushing chamber that is integrally molded with each support bearing in proper position about a tubular bushing that is adapted to be frictionally secured to the axle shaft. In one embodiment, the outer tubular support has a diameter of about 1″ and a length of about 9″, and can be used with both 6.5″ and 9″ roller frames. The nominal axial clearance between the tubular bushing and the adjacent radial bearing surfaces of the bushing chamber is less than about 0.005″.
US08016732B2
An exercise device for exercising the human body; said device including a first lower platform supported on rolling elements for omni-directional movement over a supporting surface; said device further including a second upper platform rotatably mounted to said first lower platform; said exercise device adapted for support of at least one portion of the body of a user; a further at least one portion of the body of said user in contact with said supporting surface.
US08016729B2
A weight exercise machine may include an exercise member, one or more weights, and one or more weight selectors. When using the machine to exercise, the user exerts an exercise force against the exercise member. A weight selector may be rotated, pivoted, or otherwise moved to operably couple the exercise member to at least one of the weights such that displacement of the exercise member causes at least one of the weights to displace, thus providing resistance to displacement of the exercise member. The weights may include main weights and add-on weights for operative coupling to the exercise member via a movable frame. The one or more weight selectors allow for selection of different combinations of weights for providing resistance to displacement of the exercise member.
US08016726B2
Disclosed is a portable exercise device for enabling a user to perform sit-up exercises. Also disclosed is a portable exercise system that comprises the portable exercise device, and a mat for supporting a back portion of the user while performing the sit-up exercises. The portable exercise device comprises a base member having a pair of base portions foldably coupled to each other and a pair of pedal portions configured on the pair base portions, a pair of strap members coupled to the pair of pedal portions, a pair of support members removably coupled at end portions of the pair of pedal portions, and a counting unit movably mounted on the base member. The counting unit comprises a timer adapted to determine a period of the sit-up exercises, at least one pressure, and a counter operatively coupled to the at one pressure sensor to determine a number of the sit-up exercises.
US08016725B2
A method and apparatus for providing variable resistance in connection with exercise equipment uses multiple weight plates that are selected by selector assemblies. A series of actuators that are not directly connected to the selector assemblies actuate the selector assemblies to engage and disengage the weight plates. The actuators are in communication with a controller, which is connected to a user interface console. The user interface console accepts input from a user and instructs the controller to adjust the amount of weight engaged by the selector assemblies based on input from the user and various sensors.
US08016724B2
A drive train of a motor vehicle, with a drive engine, a torque converter, an additional brake, a retarder, a manual actuator device for a power control element, a manually operated preselector element for an operating range of the torque converter, a manually operated preselector element for selecting braking resistance of the additional brake, a manual control element for actuating a brake that decelerates the motor vehicle and an electronic control unit for exchanging and processing signals and data of the drive train and/or of the motor vehicle. The preselector element for the additional brake is connected to the electronic control unit such that starting from a zero position “0”, it can be actuated in a direction “I” for signaling the selection of a braking resistance of the additional brake, and also in another direction “II” for signaling the activation of a drive-power-off rolling or coasting operation mode.
US08016723B2
A vehicle engine control apparatus provides rotational speed synchronization control during a shift operation. A shift operation detecting component detects a shift position resulting from a manual shift operation of a manual transmission connected to an engine. A vehicle speed detecting component detects a vehicle speed. The computing component computes an input side transmission rotational speed value based on the vehicle speed and a gear ratio. A driving intent determining component determines a driver's driving intention. A rotational speed synchronization control component performs rotational speed synchronization based on a first target engine rotational speed value that is smaller than the input side transmission rotational speed value when a clutch is disconnected and a deceleration intention exists by the driver, and based on a second target engine rotational speed value that is equal to the input side transmission rotational speed value when the clutch is disconnected without the deceleration intention.
US08016720B2
A method is provided for operating a hold function for temporarily holding an operationally ready motor vehicle in a stationary state by use of a service brake. The service brake is actuated by electrohydraulic, electropneumatic or electromechanical mechanisms. The service brake can be activated within the framework of the hold function, when the speed of the vehicle is less than a preset first speed threshold, and the presence of the driver in the driver's seat is detected. The presence of the driver in the driver's seat is detected as a function of the signal of a flap sensor for detecting an opened or closed position of the flap, assigned to this flap sensor.
US08016717B2
In a drive train of a motor vehicle comprising an internal combustion engine, at least one electrical machine which can be operated at least as a motor or as a generator, and a stepped automated manual transmission and at least one control device for controlling the internal combustion engine, the at least one electrical machine (P1, P2) and the stepped automated manual transmission and a method of operating the drive train, a braking torque on the driven wheels is kept approximately constant before, during and after a gear-shifting operation to a gear with a higher transmission ratio so as to avoid any jerks during such down shifting procedure.
US08016710B2
A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, four planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices are clutches and a brake.
US08016709B2
A transmission is provided having an input member, an output member, three planetary gear sets, a plurality of coupling members and a plurality of torque transmitting devices. Each of the planetary gear sets includes first, second and third members. The torque transmitting devices include clutches and brakes.
US08016703B1
An archery projectile insert is provided with a rigid hollow tube having a collar at one end and an internally threaded bushing at an opposite end wherein the collar and bushing are cemented within the rigid tube; and wherein the three piece insert, formed into a unitary structure, is inserted into the hollow end of an archery shaft and cemented in place. A projectile tip having a shank and a threaded extension threadedly engages the internally threaded bushing to secure the tip in place to the projectile shaft.
US08016694B2
A golf club head of the wood-type, including: a body defining an interior cavity and including a ball-striking face, a sole, a crown, and a ribbon extending rearwardly from the face; an elongated groove that extends along a portion of the ribbon; a weight slidably disposed in the elongated grove; and a fastener affixed to the weight capable of selectively fixing a location of the weight. Other aspects, features, and embodiments are also claimed and described.
US08016690B2
A golf training device having a foot plate, an upright support extending from the foot plate, and a brace associated with the upright support, wherein a golfer may stand upon the foot plate with his buttocks against the brace to provide visual and tactical indication of a departure from the brace during the golfer's swing. In some embodiments of the training device, the brace may be resilient and/or the upright support may rotate. In such cases, the device may include a measurement device to measure the movement of the brace during the golfer's swing. The training device may also include an outrigger with elastic cord for attachment to a golfer to correct a “sway” or “slide” condition. The device may also include indicators to indicate a departure from correct positioning during a golf swing.
US08016688B2
A method and apparatus for measuring ball launch conditions is disclosed. Specifically, the accuracy of the calculations used to determine the kinematic characteristics may be increased. A background image of a field of view, without a golf ball present, may be acquired. Two or more images of a golf ball in motion are then be acquired based on positive or negative imaging. The background image is subtracted from each of the two or more images of the golf ball. After subtracting the background image, the two or more images of the golf ball are analyzed to determine the location of the circular perimeter of the golf ball. Based on the location of the circular perimeter of the golf ball, the location of the center of the golf ball may be calculated. Knowing the location of the center of the golf ball increases the accuracy of measurements of kinematic characteristics such as sidespin, backspin, velocity, and launch angle.
US08016680B1
A massively multiplayer educational online game presents a computer generated gameplay world where acquiring and demonstrating mastery of educational skills is a requirement for survival and advancement of a learner's game character. The game provides a method for effectively teaching a set of target educational skills by motivating the learner to improved understanding of the skills by having to demonstrate the skills as part of the game. The skills become immediately meaningful and relevant to the learner within the game itself, as feedback on skill understanding is provided directly, indirectly, or both directly and indirectly through game performance, motivating the learner to improve understanding of the skills.
US08016670B2
Various virtual glasses for providing visual and audio displays in a gaming machine are disclosed. Such virtual glasses may replace traditional gaming machine displays such as silk-screened glasses and secondary video screens. A virtual glass system comprises at least a host adapted to provide video content, a host storage unit adapted to store video content for the host, and a virtual glass in communication with the host. A standard virtual glass comprises at least a logic device, a storage unit, and a video display device. Multiples of each item may be present in each virtual glass system and/or virtual glass. In particular, the combined capacity of all virtual glass storage units is substantially less than the combined video content capacity of the host storage units. Additional devices can include remote hosts, remote virtual glasses, multiple hosts, networked systems and advanced logic devices capable of providing prioritization and increased functionality.
US08016667B2
Systems and methods for verifying the eligibility of players attempting to participate in gaming events are disclosed. Communication objects having RFID tags and closed electrical circuits are individually assigned to and worn by players within a gaming player verification system, which can be administered by a casino desk, hotel concierge, or other operating entity. These RFID tags are adapted to communicate with associated player tracking units attached to gaming machines and other devices via radio frequency waves, and each communication object is adapted to alter its communication pattern in response to any break of its closed electrical circuit. Bracelets, wristwatches or collars can be used as communication objects, such that the removal of such an object from a player cannot be accomplished without breaking the closed electrical circuit contained therein, thereby disabling or de-authenticating the device. A computer server having a player verification program and database may also be used.
US08016652B2
An airflow diffuser (diffuser fan) comprises: a blade wheel formed of blade members 30, spoke members 40 and a hub member 50; a shaft member 20 forming an axis of rotation of the blade wheel; and a suspension member 10 suspending the shaft member 20 from a ceiling surface. This airflow diffuser (diffuser fan) is located so that air blown out from the air outlets of an air conditioner comes in contact with and rotates the blade members. Also, the rotating blade members receive the blown air in succession, and by deflecting the air, diffuse the blown air throughout the entire air-conditioned space.
US08016650B2
An aircraft air distribution system includes a base and first and second arrays of nozzle air transfer ports in the base. An adjustable flow plate is positioned over the nozzle air transfer ports. A compressible member is located between the base and the adjustable flow plate and between the first and second arrays. First and second air ejector regions are located, respectively, on the sides of the compressible member between the base and the adjustable flow plate to connect to the first and second arrays, and direct air from the first and second arrays from the sides of the base. Fasteners moveably connect the adjustable flow plate to the base and are adjustable to change a size of different sections of the first and second air ejector regions to change an amount of airflow originating from the different sections of these regions.
US08016647B2
A polishing pad and fabricating method thereof includes a polishing pad body and at least a compressibility-aiding stripe. The compressibility-aiding stripe is buried in the polishing pad body and has a larger compressibility than that of the polishing pad body.
US08016645B2
A chamfering apparatus is used to chamfer a peripheral edge of a glass substrate. The chamfering apparatus includes a grindstone having a cylindrical hollow end portion; a grindstone driving unit that rotates the grindstone around an axis of the cylindrical hollow end portion; a substrate rotation-driving unit that rotates the glass substrate around either one of an axis of the outer periphery and an axis of the center circular hole; and a pressing unit that presses the grindstone to the glass substrate such that an annular end surface of the grindstone contacts with an edge of either one of the outer periphery and the inner periphery of the glass substrate while the cylindrical hollow end portion of the grindstone faces with one of the outer periphery and the inner periphery of the glass substrate.
US08016644B2
An apparatus and method for micro-machining a surface of a workpiece having a complex surface profile including desired profile features and finer undesired profile features to be removed, including shaping a formable polishing tool using either the workpiece itself or a replica of the workpiece to have at least said desired profile features, and using said formable polishing tool to micro-machine said surface to remove said finer undesired profile features while maintaining said desired profile features. The formable polishing tool can be shaped to have at least said desired profile features by pressing the formable polishing tool against either the workpiece itself or the replica of the workpiece when the formable polishing tool is in a formable state, and the formable polishing tool can be used for micro-machining when the formable polishing tool is in a solid state.
US08016640B2
The invention relates to a breast support apparatus for use with any garment. The sling or wrap of material is elasticated or “stretchable” and non-slip, for example, being of cotton/polyester. The sling or wrap of material has been shaped as shown with the ends being narrowed to the width of elasticated, connecting strap, the ends being joined to the strap and to one another, for example, by appropriate stitching. The ends of the strap are passed through an opening in metal connecting buckle of the connecting strap. The connecting strap may be used to connect or hook the breast apparatus to an appropriate location on an outer garment.
US08016635B2
Disclosed is a built-up type toy having plural parts 10a of polyhedron shape equipped with joining surfaces 11a that are joined with other joining surfaces 11b of other parts 10b. The built-up type toy of the present invention has the parts respectively having magnet portions 100a on the joining surfaces 11a thereof, wherein the magnet portion 100a of the part 10a and the magnet portion 100b on the joining surface 11b of the parts 10b are joined with each other by magnetic force thereof.The built-up type toy of the present invention provides the effects that it is easy to assemble and disassemble, the assemble state is not likely to be demolished easily, and it is helpful to develop the initiative of infant as it can be assemble to various shapes.
US08016622B2
The present invention relates to a mains-power electrical connector. The connector includes a core defining passages for receiving respective cables, and apertures for receiving fasteners to fasten the cables within the passages. Windows terminate the passages. A light penetrable cover is provided for covering the core and the windows. The fasteners may be in the form of shear bolts.
US08016620B1
An electrical connector includes a connector body having an electrically insulative base block with a front vertical stop wall and a locating notch on the middle of front vertical stop wall, an electrically insulative front extension portion forwardly extended from the electrically insulative base block and conducting terminals mounted in the electrically insulative base block and the electrically insulative front extension portion, and a metal shielding shell surrounding the connector body and having a positioning block downwardly protruded from the top wall thereof and engaged into the locating notch of the electrically insulative base block of the connector body to assure connection stability between the connector body and the metal shielding shell and positive contact between the conducting terminals and an inserted external electrical connector.
US08016616B2
High-speed backplane connectors systems for mounting a substrate that are capable of operating at speeds of up to at least 25 Gbps, while in some implementations also providing pin densities of at least 50 pairs of electrical connectors per inch are disclosed. Implementations of the high-speed connector systems may provide ground shields and/or other ground structures that substantially encapsulate electrical connector pairs, which may be differential electrical connector pairs, in a three-dimensional manner throughout a backplane footprint, a backplane connector, and a daughtercard footprint. These encapsulating ground shields and/or ground structures prevent undesirable propagation of non-traverse, longitudinal, and higher-order modes when the high-speed backplane connector systems operates at frequencies up to at least 30 GHz.
US08016615B2
A phone plug connector device having a preassembled three conductive phone plug and connector, wherein the phone plug includes a conductive tip and a stem, wherein the connector connects the phone plug to a triaxial cable, wherein the triaxial cable comprises a center conductor surrounded by a first dielectric, the first dielectric being surrounded by a first conductive sheath, and the first conductive sheath surrounded by a protective outer jacket, wherein the connector connects the triaxial cable to the phone plug mechanically and electrically by compression.
US08016601B2
A cap which is made difficult to come off a connector by suppressing deformation of the cap. The cap includes an insertion portion that has a hollow cylindrical shape and is inserted in a shell body of a shell of a receptacle connector, and a cover portion which is continuous with the insertion portion and covers an opening of the shell body. Ribs are formed inside the insertion portion, for suppressing deformation of the insertion portion.
US08016599B1
A magnetic jumper for bypassing electrical circuits. The jumper includes a magnet at each end of a wire. Each magnet can be attached to a terminal of a low voltage electrical circuit in order to bypass that circuit for testing and troubleshooting purposes. The magnetic jumper works with almost any terminal that has steel screws.
