US08023386B2
An optical pickup apparatus for reproducing information from an optical disk, includes: a semiconductor laser applying a beam to an optical disk having two recording layers through an objective lens; and a light receiving device to which light reflected from the optical disk is directed through the objective lens and a beam splitting device, wherein: the beam splitting device has two first light receiving areas for detecting a push-pull signal and a second light receiving area for detecting a focus error signal, and a configuration is provided such that the center of the optical axis of the reflected light in the beam splitting device is made to lie within the second light receiving area for detecting the focus error signal.
US08023379B2
Provided are a disk defect inspection method and apparatus. The defect inspection method includes; determining an independent recording density value for disk defect detection in relation to disk drive component factors excepting a disk of the disk drive, and performing a disk defect inspection using the independent recording density value for disk defect detection.
US08023378B2
A method of recording data, as embodied, includes creating and temporarily storing first management information for the data recorded before a recording failure occurs, when the recording failure occurs during recording of the data on a recording medium; continuously recording the data starting from a subsequent available recording location; and creating second management information for the data recorded after the occurrence of the recording failure, and recording the second management information on the recording medium in connection with the temporarily stored first management information when recording is completed.
US08023377B2
An optical disc device and tracking control method capable of stable tracking control even for inferior optical discs with tracks decentered by a large amount. The optical disc device and tracking control method includes: obtaining a rotation angle at which the degree of displacement of the track due to the eccentricity of the optical disc becomes maximum on the inner circumference side and the outer circumference side, and detecting the eccentricity amount of the optical disc; and performing track pull-in at the rotation angle, at which the degree of displacement of the track due to the eccentricity of the optical disc becomes maximum, detecting a displacement direction of the optical disc at the time of the pull-in, and moving the slider in the detected displacement direction for a distance equal to or almost equal to the eccentricity amount of the optical disc.
US08023361B2
In order to make it possible to set up an alarm method which is rich in variation, a mobile phone is configured so that a plurality of alarm times are related to the same group, the group to which a plurality of alarm times are related is set to activation or cancellation, and when there comes any one of a plurality of alarm times which are related to the group being set to activation, an alarm is raised. Since setting to raise an alarm at a plurality of alarm times, or cancellation of the setting can be made, an alarm method rich in variation can be configured.
US08023352B2
In a 4F2 memory cell designed using an SGT as a vertical transistor, a bit line has a high resistance because it is comprised of a diffusion layer underneath a pillar-shaped silicon layer, which causes a problem of slowdown in memory operation speed. The present invention provides a semiconductor storage device comprising an SGT-based 4F2 memory cell, wherein a bit line-backing cell having the same structure as that of a memory cell is inserted into a memory cell array to allow a first bit line composed of a diffusion layer to be backed with a low-resistance second bit line through the bit line backing cell, so as to provide a substantially low-resistance bit line, while suppressing an increase in area of the memory cell array.
US08023349B2
A memory test system is disclosed. The memory system includes a memory device, a tester generating a clock signal and a test signal for testing the memory device, and an optical splitting module. The optical splitting module comprises an electrical-optical signal converting unit which converts each of the clock signal and the test signal into an optical signal to output the clock signal and the test signal as an optical clock signal and an optical test signal. The optical splitting unit further comprises an optical signal splitting unit which splits each of the optical clock signal and the optical test signal into n signals (n being at least two), and an optical-electrical signal converting unit which receives the split optical clock signal and the split optical test signal to convert the split optical clock signal and the split optical test signal into electrical signals used in the memory device.
US08023344B2
Various data protection techniques are provided. In one embodiment, a memory device is provided. The memory device may initiate a security measure upon occurrence of one or more triggering events. The one or more triggering events may include receipt of a command signal. Various additional methods, devices, and systems are also provided.
US08023343B2
Embodiments of the present invention include circuitry for issuing address and data signals to a memory array using a system clock and a write clock. A locked loop may be used to compensate for additional delay experienced by the system clock relative to write clock and ensure synchronization of the clock signals. A write latch enable block may be used to develop a write latch enable signal for issuance along with a corresponding address signal. The write latch enable signal can be timed such that it arrives at an appropriate time to issue the data corresponding to the issued address.
US08023341B2
A semiconductor device includes a CAM cell array that stores the operation setting information as to the semiconductor device, a controller that controls read and write of the CAM cell array, a row decoder, and a column decoder. With this structure, different row addresses are allocated to respective functions of the operation setting information. Accordingly, stress is not caused in the CAM cell array of the unselected functions at the time of programming.
US08023333B2
A reading method for a multi-level cell (MLC) memory includes the following steps. A number of word line voltages are sequentially provided to an MLC memory cell. A number of bit line voltages corresponding to the word line voltages are sequentially provided to the MLC memory cell. One of the word line voltages is higher than another one of the word line voltages, and one of the bit line voltages corresponding to the one of the word line voltages is lower than another one of the bit line voltages corresponding to the another one of the word line voltages.
US08023314B2
A circuit which accurately controls the word line (pass transistor gate) driving voltage to a voltage which is both controlled and is not significantly greater than is needed to drive the word line. The circuit eliminates the need for a double-boot-strapping circuit, and ensures that no voltages exceed that necessary to fully turn on a memory cell access transistor. Voltages in excess of that which would reduce reliability are avoided, and accurate driving voltages are obtained. A DRAM includes word lines, memory cells having enable inputs connected to the word lines, a gate receiving word line selecting signals at first logic levels Vss and Vdd, and for providing a select signal at levels Vss and Vdd, a high voltage supply source Vpp which is higher in voltage than Vdd, a circuit for translating the select signals at levels Vss and Vdd to levels Vss and Vpp and for applying it directly to the word lines whereby an above Vdd voltage level word line is achieved without the use of double boot-strap circuits.
US08023311B2
A Resistance based Random Access Memory (ReRAM) can include a sense amplifier circuit that includes a first input coupled to a bit line of a reference cell in a first block of the ReRAM responsive to a read operation to a second block.
US08023308B1
A non-volatile memory cell and related system utilize ferroelectric capacitors as data storage elements. Circuitry is provided for writing to a single ferroelectric capacitor storage element, as well as to dual storage elements operating inversely. The storage elements are read by use of a sense amplifier in a configuration which automatically restores the original data states, thereby eliminating the need for a subsequent restore operation. Memory systems are described which include circuitry for driving bit lines, word lines and drive lines to accomplish both the write and read operations.
US08023305B2
A magnetic domain wall memory apparatus with write/read capability includes a plurality of coplanar shift register structures each comprising an elongated track formed from a ferromagnetic material having a plurality of magnetic domains therein, the shift register structures further having a plurality of discontinuities therein to facilitate domain wall location; a magnetic read element associated with each of the shift register structures; and a magnetic write element associated with each of the shift register structures, the magnetic write element further comprising a single write wire having a longitudinal axis substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of each of the coplanar shift register structures.
US08023303B2
A semiconductor memory device includes: first and second memory mats; first and second local input output lines coupled to the first memory mat via a first amplifier circuit; third and fourth local input output lines different from the first and second local input output lines, third and fourth local input output lines coupled to the second memory mat via a second amplifier circuit; a third amplifier circuit coupled between the first local input output line and a first main input output line; a fourth amplifier circuit coupled between the third local input output line and a second main input output line different from the first main input output line; and a first switch coupled between the second and third local input output lines and connecting the second local input output line to the fourth amplifier circuit when the first memory mat is activated and the second memory mat is not activated.
US08023296B2
A high voltage, high speed, and high repetition rate pulse generator solves the high pulse repetition rate limitations associated with RF power amplifiers. The pulse generator employs resonant techniques to provide current limiting features that allow for continued high voltage, high speed, and high repetition pulse rate operation of the pulse generator without impairment of the pulse generator during both short circuit and open circuit load conditions.
US08023294B2
We describe a switch mode power supply having a power input, a switch, a transformer, and a power output. The transformer has a primary winding coupled to said power input via said switch, and a secondary winding coupled to said power output. The transformer further comprises an auxiliary winding and a coupling structure capacitatively coupled to said secondary winding of said transformer; wherein said coupling structure does not comprise a shield or screen between said primary and secondary windings. The switch mode power supply further comprises a coupling capacitor connected between said coupling structure and said auxiliary winding to provide a noise suppression voltage from said auxiliary winding to said secondary winding to at least partially cancel a common mode noise voltage on said secondary winding from unshielded coupling from said primary winding.
US08023289B2
A synchronous rectifier of a resonant switching power converter is provided to improve efficiency. The synchronous rectifier includes a power transistor and a diode connected to a transformer and an output of the resonant switching power converter for ratifications. A controller generates a drive signal to control the power transistor in response to an on signal and an off signal. A causal circuit is developed to generate the off signal in accordance with the on signal. The on signal is enabled once the diode is forward biased. The on signal is coupled to enable the drive signal for switching on the power transistor. The off signal is coupled to disable the drive signal for switching off the power transistor. The off signal is enabled before the on signal is disabled.
US08023276B2
A circuit arrangement for buck converters has a multiplicity of half bridges (10, 11). Each half bridge (10, 11) contains a first chip (HS1, HS2, HS3, HS4) and a second chip (LS1, LS2, LS3, LS4) , the first chip (HS1, HS2, HS3, HS4) and the second chip (LS1, LS2, LS3, LS4) in each case having a vertical power transistor. The load paths of the power transistor of the first chip (HS1, HS2, HS3, HS4) and of the power transistor of the second chip (LS1, LS2, LS3, LS4) are connected in series. The control inputs (G1, . . . , G8) of the power transistors can be driven individually. The half bridges (10, 11) are jointly accommodated in a semiconductor package and the first chip (HS1, HS2, HS3, HS4) and the second chip (LS1, LS2, LS3, LS4) lie above one another in each half bridge (10, 11).
US08023272B2
To perform the temporary mounting of an electronic component housing unit, a clamp is inserted into a clamp hole formed in the load bearing face of a vehicle body. Then, a screw through hole in a grounding terminal is aligned with a screw hole formed in the load bearing face, and a screw is inserted therein and tightened to secure the earth portion of the grounding terminal to the load bearing face. At this time, rotational torque generated by tightening the screw is absorbed by the clamp that is directly fixed to the grounding terminal. Since the clamp is fixed directly to the grounding terminal, turning of the electronic component housing unit bearing the grounding terminal can be prevented, without stress being transmitted to a case and to other constituents.
US08023267B2
An avionics chassis comprises a housing having opposing walls, a pair of spaced card rails with one rail mounted to each of the opposing walls where each rail has a channel to define an effective slot between the rails, a circuit card assembly comprising a PCB and a thermal plane in overlying relationship with the PCB, with the PCB defining a first primary plane, and the thermal plane defining a second primary plane and the spatial relationship between them is such that the planes are located within the slot when the circuit card assembly is mounted to the card rails and the thermal plane is conductively coupled to a rail to form a first conductive path from the thermal plane to one of the walls and the PCB is conductively coupled to a rail to form a second conductive path from the PCB to one of the walls.
US08023264B2
A battery cover latch mechanism (10) used in portable electronic device (100) is described including a cover member (113), a housing member (111), a latch member (1137), a pressing member (15), and a releasing member (17). The latch member is used to latch the cover member to the housing member. The releasing member can be elastic deformed such that the pressing member moves and deforms the releasing member to release the cover member from the housing member.
US08023262B2
In one exemplary embodiment, a portable computer having a display assembly coupled to a base assembly to alternate between a closed position and an open position. An input device disposed on the base assembly senses a contact with a portion of the display assembly to detect the display assembly in the closed position.
US08023259B2
The invention discloses a hard disk securing apparatus including an upper housing, a lower housing, and a securing module. The lower housing is fixed in an electronic apparatus and includes a block part. An accommodation space is formed between the upper housing and the lower housing and used for accommodating a hard disk of the electronic apparatus. The securing module is disposed on the upper housing, and includes a ring-shape elastic body and a clasp member extending from the ring-shape elastic body. The clasp member detachably clasps the block part of the lower housing.
US08023258B2
A computer enclosure includes a case comprising a drive bracket housing a number of compact disc drives and a storage device module mounted in the drive bracket in the absence of installed disk drives. The storage device module includes a supporting frame fixed in the drive bracket, a backboard, and a number of data storage devices arranged in the supporting frame. The backboard provides connection of the data storage devices to a motherboard of the case.
US08023255B2
A display device is provided. The display device is adapted for a notebook computer. The display device includes a display panel, a bezel, a back shell, and a reinforced glass plate. The bezel includes a receiving recess and an opening. The display panel is disposed in the receiving recess. The bezel exposes a part of the display panel from the opening. The back shell is assembled with the bezel. The back shell and the bezel cooperatively define an accommodating space. The display panel is accommodated in the accommodating space. The reinforced glass plate is assembled to the bezel for covering the part of the display panel exposed by the opening of the bezel.
US08023253B1
An enclosure and operable storage system for efficiently utilizing a toy, literature item, or other novelty item in conjunction with a personal computer. The enclosure and operable storage system generally includes an enclosure, wherein the enclosure is comprised of a portable configuration and playful configuration, or comprised of a book. A computer system including a memory device, at least one network adapter, and optionally a processing unit are positioned within the enclosure. At least one virtual application or virtual operating system is installed upon the memory device to be run by the processing unit of the host computer. Additionally, at least one external peripheral connector is connected to the computer system to connect to at least one peripheral device of a host computer.
US08023251B2
A hybrid energy storage device includes at least one cell comprising at least one positive electrode, at least one negative electrode, a separator placed between said at least one positive and said at least one negative electrode, and an electrolyte. The at least one positive electrode comprises an active material comprising lead and a tab extending from a side of the at least one positive electrode. The at least one negative electrode comprises an activated carbon material, a tab extending from a side of the at least one negative electrode, and a lead lug encapsulating said tab. A first cast-on lead strap is on the tab extending from said at least one positive electrode. A second cast-on lead strap is on the lead lug of the at least one negative electrode.
US08023250B2
A porous substrate for use in a wide variety of applications, such as wet capacitors, is provided. The substrate is formed by subjecting a metal substrate to a voltage while in solution to initiate anodic formation of an oxide film. Contrary to conventional anodization processes, however, the newly created oxide quickly breaks down to once again expose the metal surface to the electrolytic solution. This may be accomplished in a variety of ways, such as by raising the voltage of the solution above a critical level known as the “breakdown voltage”, employing a corrosive acid in the solution that dissolves the oxide, etc. Regardless of the mechanism employed, the nearly simultaneous process of oxide growth/breakdown results in the formation of a structure having pores arranged at substantially regular intervals. The resulting structure is highly porous and can exhibit excellent adhesion to electrochemically-active materials and stability in aqueous electrolytes.
US08023245B2
A lightning mitigation system for use on an aircraft employs parasitic capacitance associated with a motor/generator to dissipate voltage provided as a result of a lightning strike. The motor/generator includes a set of windings defined by an outer periphery and a case that surrounds the set of windings. A parasitic capacitance is defined by the airgap separating the windings of the motor/generator from the case. A motor controller is electrically connected to the set of windings and includes a filter circuit. The filter circuit includes an equivalent capacitance that is selected based on the parasitic capacitance associated with the motor/generator such that a lightning strike results in a large portion of the voltage being dissipated by the parasitic capacitance of the motor/generator.
US08023243B2
The switching valve of a quick-operating slider system is an electrically operated stop valve. In the case of a required rapid shutoff, the coil (19) must be de-energized in a very short period of time in order to allow the switching valve (18) to open. For this purpose, a voltage-dependent resistor (33) is provided between the voltage source (25) and the coil (19), said resistor (33) having a high resistance below a switching voltage (Us), but a negligibly small resistance above the switching voltage. An auxiliary voltage source (35) is connected in parallel to the coil (19), the voltage of said auxiliary voltage source (35) being opposite to that of the voltage source (25). In this manner, the switching valve is rapidly opened both when a corresponding signal is received and in the case of power failure.
US08023242B2
The invention is directed to a circuit array with a relay (K1; K12) incorporating a field coil (E) as well as a switch contact (1a, 1b), said switch contact (1a, 1b) being provided as a switch point between a grid, in particular a mains supply (N), and an inverter (WR) fed by a direct voltage source, in particular by a photovoltaic generator (PVG), said relay (K1; K12) being configured to be a bistable relay.
US08023239B2
A control module with interrupt function for an electric circuit breaker has a voltage input for a control voltage, an output carrying the control voltage to which output an interrupter for the circuit breaker can be connected, an input for the control voltage fed back from the interrupter, a terminal for the circuit breaker, said terminal being connected to the input, and a measuring unit for measuring current and/or voltage at the input and at the output. An electric protection system has an electric circuit breaker, an interrupter and a control module. In a method for operating a control module, the circuit breaker is supplied during its operation with voltage and current via the terminal, the measuring unit determines currents and/or voltages at the input and the output, the control module transmits currents and/or voltages to an evaluating unit for determining a characteristic value which correlates to the quality of the interrupter, the evaluating unit determines, from currents and/or voltages, a characteristic value which correlates to the quality of the interrupter.
US08023231B2
Improved writability and a substantial reduction in adjacent track erasure are achieved by incorporating a composite shield structure in a PMR writer. There is a trailing shield formed a certain distance above the top surface of a write pole, a leading shield formed a certain distance below the bottom surface of the write pole, and a partial side shield having a side shield section formed on each side of the write pole. The partial side shield thickness is less than that of the write pole. Each partial side shield section has a side that is parallel to the nearest write pole side and a top surface that is offset from the write pole top surface by 0 to 0.15 microns. A plurality of magnetic connections between two or more shield elements is employed to ensure correct magnetic potential. The large write pole has a flare angle of 45 to 75 degrees.
US08023223B2
A weighted combining scheme exploits information from two servo channels operating in parallel. A timing-based servo module comprises two synchronous servo channels coupled respectively to receive two digital servo signals read from a data tape. Both channels have outputs for an unweighted parameter estimate and for a measure of the channel reliability. A weight computation module provides first and second weight signals using the measures of channel reliability from the servo channels. An offset computation module provides first and second offset terms which are summed with the unweighted parameter estimates. Multiplying nodes receive the unweighted parameter estimates and the weight signals and outputs offset weighted parameter estimates. A summing node receives the offset weighted parameter estimates and outputs a combined offset weighted parameter estimate to a servomechanism.
US08023190B2
A diffusing plate has a surface including a plurality of fine concave/convex portions regularly arranged within a cycle equal to or smaller than a predetermined wavelength. The surface has a larger surface roughness than the predetermined wavelength. An average value for an angle between a normal vector of the tangent plane of a roughness shape of the surface and a normal vector of a reference plane of the surface is 5 degrees or more.
US08023189B2
Two types of layers are simultaneously formed on a substrate and another substrate under the same layer forming condition, the heights of which are equal to a half height of an intended retardation compensation layer. Physical properties of the respective two types of layers formed on the substrates are identical to each other, and if deviations are produced in retardation distribution characteristics for azimuth angles of incident light, these deviations are commonly provided in the respective two types of layers. When one substrate is superposed with the other substrate and these superposed substrates are integrated with each other in order to make a single sheet of retardation compensation element, after one of these substrates is rotated by an angle of 90 degrees with respect to the other substrate, these substrates are stuck to each other by an adhesive agent.
US08023188B2
In a method of transforming light, an optical film for performing the method and a display device having the optical film, an optical film includes an anisotropic film, an isotropic film, a λ/4 phase difference film and a λ/2 phase difference film. The anisotropic film having a first refractive index with respect to a first ray and a second refractive index with respect to a second ray. A refractive index of the isotropic film is substantially identical to the first refractive index. The λ/4 phase difference film delays wavelengths of the first and second rays by about λ/4. The λ/2 phase difference film delays the wavelength of the second ray by about λ/2.
US08023186B2
A screen that reflects light from a projection apparatus to present a projected image includes: a screen substrate; and a plurality of spherical microlenses disposed on the front side of the screen substrate, wherein the microlenses are arranged along a predetermined first direction on the screen substrate to form lens rows, and adjacent microlenses in each of the lens rows have different radii of curvature.
US08023185B2
A transmission type screen for stereoscopic images having a transmission layer includes an incident surface having a gloss surface, a transmission layer having a refractive index less than 1.55, a transmissivity more than 60%, and an imaging surface having surface particle sizes of 40 to 400 mesh that avoids a hot spot. The imaging surface is formed on the final surface through which images are transmitted, so that the components operate in an organic fashion with respect to each other. The polarization degree of stereoscopic images is maximized thereby increasing the three-dimensional effect and the transmissivity, and enables viewers to view images clearly several times better than with a conventional screen.
US08023184B2
A device for high-intensity uniform illumination with minimal light reflection for use in reflective-type microscopes has a light source with a uniform emission and the following components, arranged in succession in the emission direction: a lens combination with a short focal length, the focal length of the lens combination being adjusted in such a way that the light source is projected to infinity; a rectangular diaphragm aperture, which is located on the rear focal plane of the lens combination, the Fourier plane of the lens combination being situated on the plane; an additional lens with a focal length, through which the rectangular diaphragm aperture is projected onto the intermediate image plane of the microscope; and a circular diaphragm, onto which the light source is projected in sharp focus and which is located on the rear focal plane of the additional lens.
US08023172B2
A mirror device, comprising: a mirror; an electrode which is placed on a substrate and on which surface a cavity is formed; and a hinge placed between the mirror and electrode, wherein the hinge is connected to the cavity of the electrode.
US08023171B2
Electrically active, cathodically coloring electrochromic polymers are blended with a non-electrochromic, non-electrically conductive binder polymer to provide an electrochomic composition with greatly enhanced performance in an electrochromic device over time. It is also found that blending an electrochromic polymer with a non-coloring electroactive material allows for greater design in preparing electrochromic devices as it enables the use of a higher amount of typically low coloring anodic materials due to increased need for charge balancing.
US08023144B2
A method for generating transposed image data for use in an imaging apparatus having access to a memory includes (a) generating a set of data blocks corresponding to at least a portion of image data representing an image to be printed; (b) performing a combined format and transpose operation on the set of data blocks; and (c) storing a result of the combined format and transpose operation in the memory.
US08023139B2
An image processing apparatus for transmitting input image data to another image processing apparatus and causing the other image processing apparatus to process the image data. The image processing apparatus transmits a request to acquire first restriction information about a user in using the image processing apparatus in accordance with input of authentication information to specify the user. A request to acquire second restriction information about the user in using the other image processing apparatus is transmitted in accordance with the input. The user's login to the image processing apparatus is completed in accordance with acquisition of the first restriction information regardless of acquisition of the second restriction information.
US08023132B2
A method for a computer system includes receiving a first transmission from a user, wherein the first transmission includes a digitized representation of a first document transmitted using a first transmission format, processing the digitized representation of the first document with an optical character recognition process to determine a first electronic destination, wherein the first electronic destination need not be known by the computer system before receiving the first transmission, reformatting at least a portion of the digitized representation of the first document from the first transmission format into a storage format; determining advertisement data in response to the first transmission, and sending an electronic transmission to the first electronic destination, wherein the electronic transmission includes the advertisement data and the portion of the digitized representation of the first document in the storage format.
US08023131B2
A method for a computer system includes receiving a first facsimile transmission from a user, wherein the first facsimile transmission includes a digitized representation of a first document transmitted using a facsimile transmission format, processing the digitized representation of the first document with an optical character recognition process to determine a first destination e-mail address, wherein the first destination e-mail address need not be known to the computer system a priori, reformatting at least a portion of the digitized representation of the first document into an e-mail attachment format, determining advertisement data in response to the first facsimile transmission, forming an e-mail message addressed to the destination e-mail address, wherein the e-mail message includes a body portion and an attachment portion, wherein the body portion comprises the advertisement data, and wherein the attachment portion comprises the portion of the digitized representation of the first document in the e-mail attachment format.
US08023129B2
A server acquires the total number of pages printed per hour and the number of pages printed per hour by each user on each printer in a network printing system in order to find printers whose hourly number of printed pages exceeds a load limit. The server also looks for printers having few printed pages per hour that do not exceed the load limit and issues a notification advising the user who is printing the largest volume on a printer exceeding the load limit to switch to a printer that prints few pages. Accordingly, a high concentration of printing found on a few printers can be moderated, reducing user wait time and excessive printer load.
US08023122B2
A method and system are presented for determining a line profile in a patterned structure, aimed at controlling a process of manufacture of the structure. The patterned structure comprises a plurality of different layers, the pattern in the structure being formed by patterned regions and un-patterned regions. At least first and second measurements are carried out, each utilizing illumination of the structure with a broad wavelengths band of incident light directed on the structure at a certain angle of incidence, detection of spectral characteristics of light returned from the structure, and generation of measured data representative thereof. The measured data obtained with the first measurement is analyzed, and at least one parameter of the structure is thereby determined. Then, this determined parameter is utilized, while analyzing the measured data obtained with the second measurements enabling the determination of the profile of the structure.
US08023117B2
A multi-aperture interferometric optical system collects light propagating from a source of light and develops overlapping diffraction patterns on an optical detector that produces output signals for processing to automatically focus the optical system and form an image corresponding to the diffraction patterns. A preferred embodiment of the invention is a large aperture orbiting, earth-watching ring interferometric optical system configured such that there is no macro-structure pointing. Four mirror-ring structures direct incoming light to a multi-spectral primary optical detector that acquires light-pattern information to focus the optical system and derive an image.
US08023115B2
A sensor is an optical resonator constituted by: a first reflecting body that exhibits semi transmissivity/semi reflectivity; a transparent body; and a second reflecting body that exhibits one of reflectivity and semi transmissivity/semi reflectivity, provided in this order from the light incident side. The sensor is configured such that the absorption peak of the measuring light beam by resonance in the optical resonator matches the absorption peak of the measuring light beam by local plasmon resonance generated at the surface and/or within the optical resonator. The sensor has absorption properties such that light of specific wavelengths are absorbed depending the mean complex refractive indices of the first and second reflecting bodies and the thickness of the transparent body. An emitted light beam is output from the first reflecting body. The physical properties of the emitted light beam that change according to the absorption properties are detected.
US08023104B2
Microlithographic projection exposure apparatuses, as well as related components, subsystems and methods are disclosed.
US08023102B2
Methods, systems and apparatus for monitoring the state of a reticle by providing a reticle having a device exposure region in an imaging tool, defining one or more image fields across the device exposure region, and transmitting energy through the device exposure region. A detector detects the energy in the image field(s) at one or more testing intervals and a system control generates a transmission profile of average energy transmissions for each image field. Using this transmission profile, the state of the reticle is then determined at each testing interval followed by taking action based on the reticle state. The state of the reticle identifies whether the device exposure region has been deleteriously degraded, and as such, the reticle is no longer suitable for use. This is accomplished by determining if any average energy transmission of any image field across the reticle exceeds an allowable energy transmission threshold.
US08023096B2
A manufacturing method of the liquid crystal display panel and a liquid crystal dripping device for the liquid crystal dripping and panel pasting method, by which residual moisture, gas constituents, and foreign substances mixed in the liquid crystal can be removed assuredly, and an occurrence of display fault can be suppressed, and can also improve display quality and a yield of the liquid crystal display panel, is provided. In this manufacturing method, prior to drip the liquid crystal on the substrate, pre-treatments, which combines suitably vacuum treatment which removes residual moisture and gas constituents from the liquid crystal maintaining the liquid crystal in a reduced pressure environment, filtration treatment which removes foreign substances from the liquid crystal, and heat treatment which heats the liquid crystal as required for carrying out distributed removal of the organic substances, are performed.
US08023092B2
Disclosed herein is a liquid crystal display device including, a liquid crystal layer, a first substrate and a second substrate which face each other through the liquid crystal layer therebetween, and a plurality of columnar spacers holding a gap between the first substrate and the second substrate, wherein the plurality of columnar spacers include a first columnar spacer and a second columnar spacer which are formed to be substantially equal in height, and a substrate surface of one of the first substrate and the second substrate is provided with a recess in at least one of a part where to dispose the first columnar spacer and a part where to dispose the second columnar spacer.
US08023080B2
A high transmittance brightness enhanced optical element for backlight modules and liquid crystal display device is disclosed. The brightness enhanced polarizing optical element comprises a reflective polarizer film, a phase retardation film, and a polarization enhancement film. The reflective polarizer film provides a function of selectively reflecting right-handness circularly polarized light or left-handness circularly polarized light and will transmit the other one of them. The one was selectively reflected will be recombined with the light source or the backlight and re-direct toward the reflective polarizer. The portions of the reflective light will be recombined with the fresh light from the light source as above and the processes repeatedly. As a result, almost all of the light transmit the reflective polarizer and in the same circular polarization. The light is then transmitted the phase retardation film and converted to a polarized light with another optical axis.
US08023072B2
A color filter substrate is used in a display device including pixels arranged in columns and rows to define a matrix pattern. The color filter substrate includes a transparent substrate and coloring layers, including a first color filter layer, a second color filter layer and an light shielding layer, provided on the transparent substrate. The first and second color filter layers include a first color filter column and a second color filter column, respectively, each of which is arranged for an associated column of pixels. The light shielding layer includes an light shielding column, which is provided for a gap between two adjacent columns of pixels. In a gap between two pixels that are adjacent in a row direction, an intercolumnar overlap area, in which the light shielding column and at least one of the first and second color filter columns overlap each other, and an intercolumnar non-overlap area, in which the light shielding column is overlapped by neither the first nor the second color filter column, are defined, and the intercolumnar non-overlap area is defined so as to extend continuously in the row direction through the gap between the two adjacent pixels.
US08023065B2
An illumination light unit has at least one light source that generates illumination light. The unit also includes a reflecting cavity having one or more reflectors and a controlled transmission mirror disposed at an output of the reflecting cavity. The controlled transmission mirror includes an input coupling element, an output coupling element and a first multilayer reflector disposed between the input and output coupling elements. At least some of the illumination light is reflected within the reflecting cavity by the one or more reflectors and is transmitted out of the reflecting cavity through the controlled transmission mirror. The illumination light unit may be used for generating light for space lighting, or for illuminating a display. For example, the unit may be used in a backlight to illuminate a lightguide placed behind a display panel.
US08023064B2
A LCD device includes a backlight unit, a shield front, and a display panel disposed between the backlight unit and the display panel. A flexible seal member is provided on the mounting surface of the backlight unit. After attachment of the shield front onto the mounting surface, the flexible seal member is deformed to press the edge surface of the display panel in the in-plane direction of the display panel.
US08023058B2
A panel assembly for a display device and a display device having the panel assembly are provided. The panel assembly for a display device includes a display region including a plurality of pixels and most of display signal lines connected to the pixels, a plurality of repair lines disposed in a shape of a ring in a peripheral region outside of the display region, and first to third auxiliary repair lines disposed in the peripheral region in parallel to data lines. An additional auxiliary repair line is provided at a right side of each of the data driving IC regions. By doing so, occurrence of disconnection and success in repairing the disconnected data lines of a display penal which is mounted in a COG scheme is tested by using a TCP type of test unit, so that it is possible to greatly reduce production costs involved in the COG type test unit.
US08023049B2
Interference between a television main body and an obstacle can be suppressed when the main body is turned in horizontal directions, and damage of the television main body and the obstacle can be prevented.Operating bars are provided for corner portions on both sides of the television main body in a longitudinal direction, bosses having a collar portion on the inside thereof are formed from the operating bar toward hole portion formed in the corner portions on both sides of the television main body in a protruded manner, a plate-shaped portion bridging the corner portions is provided on the back side of the hole portion of the television main body, a spring that energizes the boss toward the outside is arranged between the plate-shaped portion and the collar portion of the boss, a sensor is provided for at least one area in the vertical directions of the operating bar, in which the sensor is constituted by contact terminals provided on both sides of the boss of the operating bar, contact terminals provided on the pore wall of the hole portions of the television main body so as to face the contact terminals, a contact terminal provided at the tip of the boss, and a contact terminal provided for the plate-shaped portion so as to face the contact terminal.
US08023036B2
In a focus demand connected to a lens unit of a television camera, a joystick for designating the direction of movement of an AF area is disposed. A direction change switch for reversing the direction of movement of the AF area with respect to the direction of operation of the joystick is also provided. The focus demand is reversed in vertical and horizontal directions between the case of being mounted to be operated by the right hand and the case of being mounted to be operated by the left hand.
US08023032B2
A table is allocated indexes corresponding to display positions on a monitor screen, respectively, and data indicating an unexposed part at each of the display positions is stored in each index of the table. Focal position information is acquired from Exif header information on image data of an image, and a location of one of the indexes in the table at which no image data is registered is searched in an ascending order of the indexes. According to the table, the images are arranged so that the focal position of each image differs from the unexposed part at the display position of the image.
US08023025B2
A photoelectric conversion apparatus includes photoelectric conversion elements configured to convert incident light to electric carriers, amplifier sections configured to read signals based on the electric carriers generated in the photoelectric conversion elements, transfer sections configured to transfer electric carriers in the photoelectric conversion elements to input units of the amplifier sections, and voltage supply sections configured to set potentials of the input units, arranged in a two-dimensional array. The photoelectric conversion apparatus further includes output lines configured to read signals from the amplifier sections and voltage supply lines configured to supply voltages to the voltage supply sections. Out of the output lines and the voltage supply lines, only one output line and one voltage supply line related to a first photoelectric conversion element are disposed between the first photoelectric conversion element and an adjacent second photoelectric conversion element.
US08023021B2
A global shutter compatible pixel circuit comprising a reset gate (RG) transistor is provided in which a dynamic voltage is applied to the drain of the reset gate transistor in order to reduce a floating diffusion (FD) leakage therethrough during signal hold time. The drain voltage of the reset gate transistor is held at a lower voltage than a circuit supply voltage to minimize the off-state leakage through the RG transistor, thus reducing the change in the voltage at the floating diffusion during the signal hold time. In addition, a design structure for such a circuit providing a dynamic voltage to the drain of a reset gate of a pixel circuit is also provided.
US08023012B2
An image capture device provided with a first memory unit, which memorizes position information of non-continuous defective pixels of a solid-state image capture component, and a second memory unit with a higher access rate than the first memory unit, which memorizes position information of continuous defective pixels. When a continuous photography mode or a video photography mode is set, defective pixel correction processing is carried out on image data corresponding to each of defective pixels according to the defective pixel position information stored at the second memory unit. Alternatively, when a still photography mode is set, image data corresponding to all defective pixels is corrected, based on both the defective pixel position information stored at the first memory unit and the defective pixel position information stored at the second memory unit. As a result, it is possible to correct defective pixels with high efficiency in accordance with conditions of photography.
US08023004B2
An imaging apparatus includes an imaging unit capable of selectively executing an imaging operation in a normal imaging mode that outputs a normal exposure image signal in a unit period and an imaging operation in a combined imaging mode that outputs a long-time-exposure image signal and a short-time-exposure image signal, a pre-processing unit that performs gain processing on the normal exposure image signal, or the signals, a signal processing unit that, by combining the image signals, generates a combined image signal, and a control unit that performs control in which, by switching a reference gain setting value in the gain processing in the pre-processing unit in accordance with the normal or combined imaging mode, when the imaging unit is in the combined imaging mode, the reference gain setting value is set to be greater than the reference gain setting value when the imaging unit is in the normal imaging mode.
US08022990B2
Certain embodiments of the present invention provide methods and systems for calibration of an imaging camera or other image acquisition device. Certain embodiments include characterizing a transformation from a coordinate system of an imager to a coordinate system of a first sensor positioned with respect to the imager using a first off-line calibration. Certain embodiments also include characterizing a transformation from a coordinate system of an imaging camera source to a coordinate system of a second sensor positioned with respect to the imaging camera source using a second off-line calibration. Additionally, certain embodiments include quantifying intrinsic parameters of the imaging camera source based on a transformation from the coordinate system of the imager to the coordinate system of the imaging camera source based on the first and second off-line calibrations and information from the first and second sensors and a transmitter positioned with respect to an object being imaged.
US08022983B2
A borehole imaging tool for use in a wellbore penetrating an earth formation includes a pad hingedly connected to a collar, a sensor array carried by the pad, and an urging assembly in connection between the pad and the collar for extending the pad toward a wall of the wellbore. The imaging tool is compatible with both oil-based and water-based drilling fluids.
US08022973B2
An inward deformation of one side wall of a main body is corrected, since a shaft serving as a rotatable shaft of a door is in contact with ribs of a side wall. Additionally, an inward deformation of another side wall of the main body is corrected, since ribs of a side wall of door are in contact with side wall.
US08022972B2
An automatic coarseness setting method in a video display apparatus is provided. According to the automatic coarseness setting method, when an automatic adjustment command is input or when a new mode video signal is received to the video display apparatus, a pixel clock of an input video signal is detected, and a coarseness value is automatically set based on the detected pixel clock. Accordingly, it is possible to provide optimum video display using a coarseness value most suitable for the input video signal.
US08022966B2
A video, audio and graphics system uses multiple transport processors to receive in-band and out-of-band MPEG Transport streams, to perform PID and section filtering as well as DVB and DES decryption and to de-multiplex them. The system processes the PES into digital audio, MPEG video and message data. The system is capable of decoding multiple MPEG SLICEs concurrently. Graphics windows are blended in parallel, and blended with video using alpha blending. During graphics processing, a single-port SRAM is used equivalently as a dual-port SRAM. The video may include both analog video, e.g., NTSC/PAL/SECAM/S-video, and digital video, e.g., MPEG-2 video in SDTV or HDTV format. The system has a reduced memory mode in which video images are reduced in half in horizontal direction only during decoding. The system is capable of receiving and processing digital audio signals such as MPEG Layer 1 and Layer 2 audio and Dolby AC-3 audio, as well as PCM audio signals. The system includes a memory controller. The system includes a system bridge controller to interface a CPU with devices internal to the system as well as peripheral devices including PCI devices and I/O devices such as RAM, ROM and flash memory devices. The system is capable of displaying video and graphics in both the high definition (HD) mode and the standard definition (SD) mode. The system may output an HDTV video while converting the HDTV video and providing as another output having an SDTV format or another HDTV format.
US08022961B2
The system control section 50 displays the entire original image as a display image, or scrolls a display image with a part of the original image being the display image, depending on relationship between the aspect ratios of the original image and the display area.
US08022956B2
In a device comprising at least two graphics processors, a determination is made that the device has switched from a first or current graphics processor to a second or target graphics processor. At least a portion of settings corresponding to the first graphics processor are identified for application to the second graphics processor, and settings of the second graphics processor are updated based on these transferable settings. The transferable settings may be identified based on a change indicator(s) that signals which settings corresponding to the first graphics processor have been changed. Where necessary, certain ones of the transferable settings may have a translation or transformation applied thereto. Subsequent transitions in the active graphics processor may cause a similar transfer of settings to occur. In one embodiment, transitions between graphics processors may be caused by a change in power condition of the device.
US08022952B2
To visualize and analyze data, selection of at least one focus area in a visualization of a data set is received. Based on characteristics of the selected at least one focus area, using at least one analytic technique to mine relationships between data items and at least one attribute in the selected at least one focus area and data items and at least one attribute in remaining portions of the data set. At least one visual representation is generated to show mining results produced from selected data items and one or more attributes in the selected at least one focus area and the remaining portions of the data set, where the generated visual representation is composed to have an order and layout to represent the mined results.
US08022949B2
Provided are a system and method for extracting a curvature adapted mesh from a three dimensional implicit function data. The system includes an initial mesh generation module, a curvature geometry module, a space division module, and a final mesh extraction module. The initial mesh generation module generates an initial mesh by receiving implicit function data. The curvature geometry module receives the initial mesh from the initial mesh generation module, calculates a directional curvature of a curved surface, generates a Delaunay vertex set used for Delaunay triangulation, and recalculates an implicit function. The space division module generates Delaunay triangulation information by performing Delaunay triangulation based on the generated Delaunay vertex set from the curvature geometry module, and the final mesh extraction module receives the generated Delaunay triangulation information from the space division module and the three dimensional implicit function data updated at the curvature geometry module, and extracts a final mesh the received three dimensional implicit function data.
US08022940B2
A capacitive touch system uses at least two integrated circuits to simultaneously scan a touch panel, each scanning only a portion of traces of the touch panel, and a second integrated circuit to receive sensed data from the first integrated circuits. The sensed data contains parameters representing a sum of the sensed values of all traces in a direction that one of the first integrated circuits is in charge of scanning, a sum of products obtained by multiplying the sensed value of each trace in the direction that the one of the first integrated circuits scans by the order number of that trace, a number of fingers in the direction detected by the one of the first integrated circuits, and whether or not the sensed values of the first and last traces in the direction that the one of the first integrated circuits scans are zero.
US08022934B2
A handheld electronic device includes a reduced QWERTY keyboard and is enabled with disambiguation software. The device provides output in the form of a default output and a number of variants. The output is based largely upon the frequency, i.e., the likelihood that a user is likely to have intended a particular output, but various features of the device provide additional variants that are not based solely on frequency and rather are provided by various logic structures resident on the device. The device provides a learning function that allows the disambiguation function to adapt to provide a customized experience for the user. The learning function is disabled, however, when the relevant words are found to be in a special category for which frequency learning, i.e., frequency revision, is not employed.
US08022931B2
A self-calibrating optical feedback system for an optical navigation device. The self-calibrating optical feedback system includes a light source, an illumination lens, a beam splitter, and an optical feedback device. The illumination lens is coupled relative to the light source. The light source emits light based on a programming current. The illumination lens directs the light towards a beam splitter. The beam splitter partially reflects the light directed from the illumination lens. The optical feedback device detects the partially reflected light from the beam splitter and generates a feedback signal to modify an intensity of the light emitted by the light source. Embodiments of the self-calibrating optical feedback system maintain the output intensity of a laser driven optical navigation device below an eye-safety level.
US08022927B1
The invention provides a graphic input device which has uniform sensitivity and is free of keystone distortion but which is lighter and less expensive to manufacture than the prior art, particularly for large drawing surfaces. It uses Fresnel optics to reduce the cost, thickness, and weight of the prism or collimator or both. Means are provided to mitigate the effects of lens flare from the Fresnel optics, minimize the thickness of the device, and to correct any remaining distortion in the camera's image using software executing on a standard computer.
US08022919B2
A liquid crystal display device includes a liquid crystal display panel having a number of gate lines, a gate driver having a number of gate channels, wherein the number of gate channels is different than the number of gate lines, and a timing controller to apply a gate shift clock signal to the gate driver, the gate shift clock signal having at least one dummy shift clock signal.
US08022907B2
An organic light emitting display includes a brightness controller that restricts the total brightness of a pixel unit when the number of pixels that emit bright light is greater than a predetermined level.
US08022902B2
An organic light emitting display device includes: a display area including a plurality of pixels coupled to scan, light emission control, and data lines; a scan driver electrically coupled to the display area through the scan lines and the light emission control lines; a data driver electrically coupled to the display area through the data lines; an optical sensor for generating an optical sensor signal corresponding to a brightness of an ambient light; a first luminance control unit for outputting a first luminance control signal for controlling a gamma-corrected gray level voltage of a data signal in accordance with the optical sensor signal, and a second luminance control unit for outputting a second luminance control signal for controlling a width of a light emission control signal in accordance with data of one frame of an image. The first luminance control unit turns the second luminance control unit on and off.
US08022899B2
A precharge voltage Vp is applied in period A. The precharge voltage Vp is generated by applying a constant current Iw to a pixel driving transistor of a display panel and using gate terminal voltage of the driving transistor which passes the constant current Iw. The gate terminal potential is held in memory. When displaying images on a display panel, the gate terminal potential is read out of memory, and used as the precharge voltage Vp after arithmetic processing. By the application of the precharge voltage Vp, a source signal line is charged and discharged quickly so that an almost target tone current will flow through the driving transistor. Furthermore, a more accurate program current is written into the pixel during period B.
US08022897B2
Disclosed is a method for driving a plasma display panel in which a plurality of first electrodes and second electrodes are arranged parallel to each other, a plurality of third electrodes are arranged to cross the first and second electrodes, and discharge cells defined with areas in which the electrodes cross mutually are arranged in the form of a matrix.According to the driving method, a reset period is a period during which the distribution of wall charges in the plurality of discharge cells is uniformed. An addressing period is a period during which wall charges are produced in the discharge cells according to display data. A sustain discharge period is a period during which sustain discharge is induced in the discharge cells in which wall charges are produced during the addressing period. The driving method in accordance with the present invention comprises a step of applying a first pulse in which an applied voltage varies with time so as to induce first discharge in the lines defined by the first and second electrodes, and a step of applying a second pulse in which an applied voltage varies with time so as to induce second discharge as erase discharge in the lines defined by the first and second electrodes. These steps are carried out during the reset period.
US08022896B2
A MEMS (Microelectromechanical system) device is described. The device includes an array of MEMS elements with addressing lines and MEMS switches configured to selectively connect the addressing lines to a ground or other potential in the event of an over-voltage, such as during an ESD event. The arrangement is particularly advantageous for protecting the array, because the MEMS switches can be formed using substantially the same processing steps which are used to form the array.
US08022894B2
A screen synchronous control apparatus includes a reference timing transmitting unit 3 for transmitting a reference timing signal about display of a plurality of display screens 11, 12, and 13 at predetermined intervals, a display control unit 1 for transmitting a drawing instruction for displaying display data on the plurality of display screens 11, 12, and 13, and a plurality of display processing units 101, 201, and 301 each for receiving the drawing instruction transmitted from the display control unit 1, for executing the drawing instruction according to the reference timing signal transmitted from the reference timing transmitting unit 3, and for displaying the display data on the corresponding one of the display screens 11, 12, or 13.
US08022884B2
The invention relates to an antenna that produces a radiation pattern that is axisymmetric about a geometrical axis (X) and exhibits a radiation maximum in a plane perpendicular to the direction of said X axis that includes a feed wire extending along said axis (X) from a first end situated level with a conducting surface forming an earth plane of the antenna to a second end that feeds a set of N radiating strands, N being an integer, characterized in that it also includes at least one earth return rod for the strands, said rod linking one of the radiating strands of the set to the earth plane.
US08022883B2
In an automobile rear windowpane antenna apparatus including a defogger disposed on a rear windowpane plate at a lower portion thereof an antenna pattern is disposed above the defogger on the rear windowpane plate at an upper portion thereof and is disposed so as to extend between near a right end edge of a window frame and near a left end edge thereof. A feeding point is disposed inside the antenna pattern.
US08022880B2
A coupling device for transmitting a wireless signal is provided. The coupling device includes a substrate, a ground layer and a feed conductor. The substrate includes a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The ground layer is disposed on the second surface having a circular opening, and the circular opening has an opening edge and an opening center. The feed conductor extends on the first surface, including a conductive portion and a feed portion connected thereto. The feed portion corresponds to the circular opening, wherein the opening center is on a base line, a radial line is formed between the opening center and the opening edge, a radial distance is formed on the radial line between the opening edge and the feed portion, and a length of the radial distance varies with an angle between the radial line and the base line.
US08022871B2
A slice set for a specific period of time is acquired from a storage area of a memory which is a ring buffer while changing the read position, and the signal strength total value of each slice set is calculated. The signal strengths of the slices included in the maximum strength slice set and the signal strengths of the slices preceding or subsequent to the maximum strength slice set are calculated, and the final signal read position is determined based on a read offset of the maximum strength slice. A GPS satellite signal is acquired and tracked based on the slice read from the determined signal read position, and a specific positioning process is performed.
US08022865B2
A terminal device includes a plurality of search channel sections which search for a positioning satellite, a candidate reception frequency calculation section which calculates a candidate reception frequency of a first acquisition target satellite by causing the search channel sections to perform the correlation accumulation process for a first accumulation time, a candidate frequency confirmation section which confirms reliability of the candidate reception frequency by causing the search channel sections to perform the correlation accumulation process for a second accumulation time longer than the first accumulation time, a final frequency calculation section which calculates a final frequency by causing the search channel sections to perform the correlation accumulation process for a third accumulation time longer than the second accumulation time, and a first difference calculation section which calculates a difference between an estimated synchronization frequency corresponding to each first acquisition target satellite and the final frequency.
US08022864B2
Signal processing is used to detect transient signals in the presence of noise. Two embodiments are disclosed. In both embodiments, the time series from a remote sensor is broken into a number of short time series. The power spectrum of each short time series are then calculated along with the mean noise level. The moments of each peak in every power spectrum are calculated and the peak with the largest power selected from each power spectrum. A histogram of the moments from these selected peaks is generated and normalized to become a measured PDF. In addition, a pre-determined PDF is derived, in the same method as above, from theoretically calculated noise, numerically simulated noise, or measured noise. Comparison between the measured and pre-determined PDF's establish the detection of a transient signal. The first embodiment compares the area between the measured and pre-determined PDF's against a threshold to determine detection. In a second embodiment, the differences between the measured and pre-determined PDF's are weighted and summed to form a score. This score is compared to a threshold to determine detection.
US08022860B1
An Advanced Focal Plane Array (“AFPA”) for parabolic dish antennas that exploits spatial diversity to achieve better channel equalization performance in the presence of multipath (better than temporal equalization alone), and which is capable of receiving from two or more sources within a field-of-view in the presence of multipath. The AFPA uses a focal plane array of receiving elements plus a spatio-temporal filter that keeps information on the adaptive FIR filter weights, relative amplitudes and phases of the incoming signals, and which employs an Interference Cancelling Constant Modulus Algorithm (IC-CMA) that resolves multiple telemetry streams simultaneously from the respective aero-nautical platforms. This data is sent to an angle estimator to calculate the target's angular position, and then on to Kalman filters FOR smoothing and time series prediction. The resulting velocity and acceleration estimates from the time series data are sent to an antenna control unit (ACU) to be used for pointing control.
US08022851B2
A current-steered DAC has first and second differential outputs for providing an analog output signal under control of a digital input signal. In operational use of the DAC, the output signal has a differential component, which is representative of the digital input signal, and also has a first common-mode component. The DAC has circuitry operative to add an extra common-mode component to both the first and second differential outputs so as to make a sum of the first common-mode component and the extra common-mode component substantially independent of a state change of the digital input signal.
US08022841B2
A system for detection of foreign objects on an aircraft travel surface and ascription of the foreign objects present on the aircraft travel surface to foreign object sources, the system including a foreign object detection subsystem operative to detect foreign objects on an aircraft travel surface, a potential foreign object source identifier subsystem operative to indicate the presence of potential foreign object sources at or near the aircraft travel surface and a foreign object to foreign object source correlator operative to receive inputs from the foreign object detection subsystem and from the foreign object source identifier subsystem indicating at least a time relationship between sensed presence of the potential foreign object sources on the aircraft travel surface and detection of the foreign objects and to provide an ascription output indicating the origin of at least some of the foreign objects detected by the foreign object detection subsystem.
US08022836B2
An in-vehicle image display apparatus for use in a vehicle is provided which includes a state detecting device that detects a state of surroundings of the vehicle; a shape detecting device that detects a three-dimensional shape of an object to be detected in the surroundings of the vehicle; a display device that is provided at least in front window section of the vehicle and capable of displaying information over the window section; an image generating device that generates image data for displaying a three-dimensional image representing the state of the surroundings of the vehicle on the display device based on detection results from the state detecting device and the shape detecting device; and a display control device that makes the display device display a three-dimensional image represented by the image data generated by the image generating device.
US08022834B2
An occupant detection system for a vehicle includes an antenna arrangement of a capacitance-based occupant detection device in particular provided beneath the seat surface of a vehicle seat for the generation of a first occupation signal in the event of occupation of the vehicle seat by a person based on a radiation of predetermined minimum strength starting from the antenna arrangement and passing through the person, based on at least one switch arrangement of a weight-based occupant detection device which is provided beneath the seat surface of the vehicle seat and can be actuated in dependence on the pressure acting on it in order to generate a second occupation signal in the event of occupation of the vehicle seat by a person, in particular an adult, as well as a controller that generates an occupation detection signal in the event that both the first occupation signal of the capacitance-based occupant detection device and the second occupation signal of the weight-based occupant detection device are present and which generates an error signal in the event that only the second occupation signal of the weight-based occupant detection device of the two occupation signals is present.
US08022831B1
Systems and methods of detecting fatigue and drowsy conditions of vehicle drivers without initially using any disruptive visual and sound alarms, and instead immediately interacting with the driver as to their condition and providing information on rest stops through onboard GPS (global positioning satellite) systems, as well as alerting acquaintances and friends of the driver through telephones such as a cellular phone. The systems and methods can interact with the driver through touch type screens, and/or audible feedback to alert the driver of their condition and to temporarily take the driver off the roads.
US08022823B2
A system and method for soliciting repairs to an electromechanical device are disclosed. The system includes a signaling device for signaling a need for a repair of an associated electromechanical device. A repair mediator receives information related to an addressable fault with the electromechanical device and causes the signaling device to provide a signal indicating, to a candidate repairer passing by the device, a need for a repair to the device for which a reward is available for performing the repair. The repair mediator provides the reward for a completed repair.
US08022815B2
A magnetic coupler arrangement that includes two quarter wave length strip patches, an input signal source, a signal splitter that splits an input signal from the input signal source into two signals and phase-shifts one of the two signals, wherein the phase-shifted signal and the non-phase-shifted signal are fed into the patches of the coupler to achieve a balanced signal configuration.
US08022814B2
Systems and methods for inventory round slot classification are described. The method includes transmitting, to zero or more RFID tags, a message during a slot of an inventory round and receiving a response from at least some of the zero or more RFID tags. The method also includes analyzing a received response for the presence of the pilot tone and classifying a respective slot in response to the analysis.
US08022813B2
In a method of inventorizing a plurality of data carriers (2) with the aid of a communication station (1) communicating in a contact-free way with the data carriers (2), a set (TS(1), TS(2), . . . TS(N), TS(N+1), . . . (TS(K)) of transmission parameters, preferably of time slots (TS) is available, which set comprises a first subset (TS(1) . . . TS(N)) and a second subset (TS(N+1) . . . (TS(K)) wherein inventorizing procedures (MP1, MP2, MP3, . . . ) are performed consecutively and wherein uninventorized data carriers (2) transmit their identification data (ID) to the communication station (1) for the purpose of inventorization only using transmission parameters contained in the first subset and wherein already inventorized data carriers (2) transmit their identification data (ID) to the communication station (1) only using transmission parameters contained in the second subset.
US08022807B2
Techniques are described for establishing a two-way voice communication session with an alarm system. The alarm system may establish a two-way voice communication session with an operator associated with a monitoring service that provides monitoring services for alarm events detected by the alarm system. The alarm system also may establish a two-way voice communication session with a notification recipient that is interested in receiving notifications associated with events detected by the alarm system.
US08022798B2
A coil comprises a set of windings with a generally annular shape and formed by a plurality of series-connected partial windings made of a superconductor with a high critical temperature, in which these partial windings are arranged next to each other in stratified form, and at least one cooling sheet which is made of thermally conductive material and arranged in contact with this set of windings and which is designed to be connected in a thermally conductive manner to a cryogenic cooling system.
US08022780B2
Techniques for compensating for the effects of temperature change on voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) frequency are disclosed. In an embodiment, an auxiliary varactor is coupled to an LC tank of the VCO. The auxiliary varactor has a capacitance controlled by a temperature-dependant control voltage to minimize the overall change in VCO frequency with temperature. Techniques for generating the control voltage using digital and analog means are further disclosed.
US08022779B2
An integrated circuit oscillator includes a microelectromechanical (MEM) resonator having input and output terminals. An oscillation sustaining circuit is provided. The oscillation sustaining circuit is electrically coupled between the input and output terminals of the microelectromechanical resonator. The oscillation sustaining circuit includes a sustaining amplifier and a negative impedance circuit electrically coupled to the sustaining amplifier. The negative impedance circuit is configured to increase a tuning range of the oscillator by at least partially cancelling a parasitic shunt capacitance associated with the microelectromechanical resonator.
US08022773B2
A wireless base station (11) includes a wireless communication unit (17) and a clock signal generation unit (20). The clock signal generation unit (20) includes a voltage-controlled oscillation unit (21) that outputs a clock signal of an oscillating frequency according to an inputted control voltage, a time information generation unit (22) that generates time information based on the clock signal, a time information comparison unit (23) that compares the time information with reference time information; and a control voltage instruction unit (24) that instructs a control voltage according to the comparison result to the voltage-controlled oscillation unit (21). Accordingly, the oscillating frequency of the clock signal can be kept easily and highly precisely.
US08022770B1
A system for preventing power amplifier supply voltage saturation includes a multiple stage voltage regulator configured to provide a regulated voltage, a power amplifier configured to receive the regulated voltage, and a saturation protection circuit configured to apply a current into a first stage of the multiple stage voltage regulator when the regulated voltage reaches a reference voltage, the applied current causing a subsequent stage of the multiple stage voltage regulator to prevent the regulated voltage from exceeding the reference voltage.
US08022767B2
A multi-stage Class AB amplifier system includes a first Class AB amplifier circuit configured to receive an input signal. A bias circuit is configured to receive an output of the first Class AB amplifier circuit. A second Class AB amplifier circuit is in communication with the bias circuit. The second Class AB amplifier circuit is configured to generate an output signal. A current mirror circuit is arranged between the first Class AB amplifier circuit and the bias circuit. A common-mode feedback circuit is configured to generate a feedback signal based on the output signal.
US08022764B2
A differential amplifier unit and a feedback unit are provided. The differential amplifier unit includes first and second transistors and first to fourth loads. Each of the first and second transistors is provided with a current input end, a current output end connected to a lower potential power source and a control end. The first and second loads are cascade connected between a higher potential power source and the current input end of the first transistor. The third and fourth loads are cascade connected between the higher potential power source and the current input end of the second transistor. The feedback unit generates first and second feedback currents based on first and second output voltages. The feedback unit inputs the first and second feedback currents to a third node connecting the first and second loads and a fourth node connecting the third and fourth loads.
US08022755B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for automatic amplifier gain profile control, including a method for automatically configuring a variable gain profile amplifier according to received input and a variable gain profile amplification system. Further, embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for increased gain profile accuracy, including methods and systems to reduce the effects of temperature and/or process variations on the gain profile of an amplifier.
US08022754B2
A demodulation circuit, including: an input terminal (IN) inputting a current amplitude modulated signal; a first transistor (101) connected to the input terminal; a capacitance (105) connected to a control terminal of the first transistor; a diode (102) connected between the input terminal and the control terminal of the first transistor; and a first current source (104) applying a current of the input terminal, is provided.
US08022753B2
A semiconductor integrated circuit that carries out intermittent operation, includes a processor block; an logical operation block other than a processor; a first switch part configured to supply a normal operation voltage to the logical operation block other than a processor; a second switch part configured to supply the normal operation voltage to the processor block; a third switch part configured to supply a data holding voltage lower than the normal operation voltage to the processor block; and a fourth switch part configured to be turned on, when the second switch means is turned off and the third switch means is turned on, and supply the data holding voltage to the processor block.
US08022750B2
A boost circuit includes: first transistors connected in series between a voltage input node and a voltage output node to constitute a charge transfer circuit; and first capacitors, one ends of which are coupled to the respective connection nodes between the first transistors, the other ends thereof being applied with clocks with plural phases, wherein a gate of a certain stage transistor corresponding to one of the first transistors in the charge transfer circuit is coupled to a drain of another stage transistor corresponding to another one of the first transistors, which is disposed nearer to the voltage output node than the certain stage transistor and driven by the same phase clock as that of the certain stage transistor, the certain stage transistor being disposed nearer to the voltage output node than an initial stage transistor.
US08022746B1
The invention relates to an apparatus and method for driving high-side switching devices in an H-Bridge circuit. The apparatus includes first and second N-Channel high-side switching devices. Each of the high-side switching devices is associated with, and is selectively driven by, a driver circuit. Each of the driver circuits is associated with, and is powered from, a bootstrap capacitor. The apparatus further includes a cross-couple circuit that is arranged to charge each of the bootstrap capacitors based, at least in part, on whether the low-side switching device that is associated with the other bootstrap capacitor is open or closed.
US08022743B2
A pulse width modulation circuit includes: a reference signal generator which generates a plurality of mutually differing reference signals; a comparator which compares the reference signals and an input signal with respect to magnitude, and outputs results of the comparison as a plurality of comparison signals with mutually differing phases; and a synthesizer which, using a logical operation, outputs the plurality of comparison signals output from the comparator as a pulse width modulated signal configured of one or more binary signals.
US08022732B2
A universal logic gate apparatus is disclosed, which include a plurality of self-assembling chains of nanoparticles having a plurality of resistive connections, wherein the plurality of self-assembling chains of nanoparticles comprise resistive connects utilized to create A plasticity mechanism is also provided, which is based on a plasticity rule for creating stable connections from the plurality of self-assembling chains of nanoparticles for use with the universal, reconfigurable logic gate. The plasticity mechanism can be based, for example, on a 2-dimensional binary input data stream, depending upon design considerations. A circuit is also associated with the plurality of self-assembling chains of nanoparticles, wherein the circuit provides a logic bypass that implements a flip-cycle for second-level logic. Additionally, an extractor logic gate is associated with the plurality of self-assembling chains of nanoparticles, wherein the extractor logic gate provides logic functionalities.
US08022731B2
An advanced repeater with duty cycle adjustment. In accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, an advanced repeater includes an output stage for driving an output signal line responsive to an input signal and a plurality of active devices for selectably adjusting a duty cycle of the signal. The advanced repeater may further include circuitry for producing a delayed version of the signal.
US08022727B2
An electronic clamp is provided for an integrated circuit having a first voltage island (1) to which an output signal (clamp out) of the clamp is applied and a second voltage island (2) operative to produce an input signal (clamp in) to the clamp, where power to the second voltage island can be switched off to save power. The clamp comprises a latch (22) which stores or retains the clamp value (0 or 1) of the input signal (clamp in) during a reset period and clamps the output signal (clamp out) to the stored or retained value in response to a clamp enable signal, (clamp in) in order to protect the first voltage island from a non-stabilised input signal.
US08022724B1
Approaches for secure configuration of a programmable logic integrated circuit (IC). In one approach, a method includes programming configuration memory of the programmable logic IC with a first configuration bitstream. At least a portion of a second configuration bitstream is encrypted using values stored in a portion of the configuration memory as a key. The second configuration bitstream is input to the programmable logic IC, and the encrypted portion of the second configuration bitstream is decrypted using the values stored in the portion of the configuration memory. The configuration memory is then programmed with each decrypted portion of the second bitstream.
US08022722B1
Systems and methods are provided for performing a quantum gate operation. A first classical control parameter, configured to tune an associated frequency of a first qubit, is adjusted from a first value to a second value. The first value is selected such that the first qubit is tuned far from a characteristic frequency of an associated resonator, and the second value is selected such that the first qubit is tuned near to the characteristic frequency of the resonator. A second classical control parameter, configured to tune an associated frequency of a second qubit, is adjusted from a third value to a fourth value. The third value is selected such that the second qubit is tuned far from the characteristic frequency of the resonator. The first classical control parameter is returned to the first value. The second classical control parameter is returned to the third value.
US08022721B2
A conveyor-stack test system has motherboards that test memory modules. The motherboards are not stationary but are placed inside movable trays that move along conveyors. A loader-unloader removes tested memory modules from test sockets on the motherboards and inserts untested memory modules into the motherboards using a robotic arm. A conveyor carries the motherboards from the loader-unloader to an elevator. The elevator raises or lowers the motherboards to different levels in a conveyor stack with multiple levels of conveyors each with many test stations. The motherboards move along conveyors in the conveyor stack until reaching test stations. A retractable connector from the test station extends to make contact with a motherboard connector to power up the motherboard, which then tests the memory modules. Test results are communicated from the test station to a host controller, which instructs the loader-unloader to sort the tested memory modules once the motherboard returns.
US08022718B2
A method of inspecting an electrostatic chuck (ESC) is provided. The ESC has a dielectric support surface for a semiconductor wafer. The dielectric support surface is scanned with a Kelvin probe to obtain a surface potential map. The surface potential map is compared with a reference Kelvin probe surface potential map to determine if the ESC passes inspection.
US08022717B2
There is described a method to change the value of a thermally-trimmable resistor in a non-permanent way by raising the temperature of the thermally-trimmable resistor to a level that is somewhere between room temperature and trimming temperature. By doing this, the trimming range that is available via true thermal trimming may be explored without actually trimming the value of the resistor. This is possible when the thermally-trimmable resistor, or a portion thereof, has an essentially non-zero temperature coefficient of resistance (TCR).
US08022715B2
A sensor system for measuring a clearance parameter between a stationary component and a rotating component of a rotating machine is provided. The system includes a clearance sensor to output a clearance measurement signal. A sensor memory is attached to the sensor for storing a first sensor information. A second sensor information is stored in a electronics interface memory. The first and the second sensor information are read and the clearance sensor is matched with a respective plurality of calibration data by an electronic interface based on the first and the second sensor information.
US08022707B2
Methods and apparatus for determining a presence of a non-conductive coating on electrodes in fluid resistivity measurement devices are described. An example method of determining a presence of a non-conductive coating on electrodes of a fluid resistivity measurement device involves obtaining a first electrical potential value associated with a substantially uncoated condition of first and second electrodes of a fluid resistivity measurement device. The example method also involves measuring a second electrical potential value at a location between the first and second electrodes, comparing the first and second electrical potential values, and determining the presence of a non-conductive coating on at least one of the first and second electrodes based on the comparison.
US08022704B2
A method for producing a magnetic resonance image using an ultra-short echo time. The method includes applying a pulse sequence to an object, detecting a spirally encoded and phase encoded magnetic resonance signal associated with the object, and reconstructing the magnetic resonance image based on the spirally encoded and phase encoded magnetic resonance signal. The pulse sequence includes a slab-selective radiofrequency pulse, a slab-selective gradient pulse, a plurality of variable duration slice encoding gradient pulses, a plurality of first spiral encoding gradient pulses, and a plurality of second spiral encoding gradient pulses. The detection of the spirally encoded and phase encoded magnetic resonance signal occurs concurrently with the application of one of the plurality of first spiral encoding gradient pulses and with the application of one of the plurality of second spiral encoding gradient pulses.
US08022696B2
A magnetic field sensing element includes a pair of electrodes; a dielectric polymer layer separating the electrodes; and a network of magnetic nanoparticles in the insulating layer forming a current flow path between the electrodes; where the network of magnetic nanoparticles includes_at least one magnetic tunnel junction involving two neighbouring nanoparticles of different coercivity.
US08022677B2
An electrical device having a generator, e.g., for use in the vehicle electrical system of a motor vehicle, includes a controller for controlling the generator voltage. In the device, an area is provided in which a voltage control is carried out, and other areas are provided in which a torque control is carried out.
US08022675B2
A method and a circuit for detecting the state of supply of a load by a variable voltage, including measuring the difference between values representative of the variable supply voltage and of a voltage across the load.
US08022671B2
A battery includes a cell and a battery management unit coupled to the cell. The battery management unit is operable to determine whether a battery controller is operating when the cell is coupled to an information handling system that includes the battery controller. In response to determining that the battery controller is not operating, the battery management unit is operable to determine whether the cell comprises a battery voltage that is below a predetermined voltage level.
US08022666B2
The present invention relates to an electric public transit system, comprising electric driven buses with a cassette battery set and bus-mounted control system, a charge station and a loading and unloading apparatus. When said bus needs change the cassette battery set, said loading and unloading apparatus takes said cassette battery set from said bus and then replace with a charged cassette battery set. Both said charge station and said loading and unloading apparatus are equipped with their control systems, respectively, which can intercommunicate with said bus-mounted control system. In the present invention, the cassette battery sets are charged during power consumption valleys of the power grid, and therefore, the transit system can save energy and benefit the environment. Additionally it is also fast and accurate for loading and unloading the cassette battery set in the system of the present invention, which can also guarantee the bus operating online continuously and greatly enhance the usage ratio of the bus.
US08022662B2
An auxiliary power supply (150) includes an auxiliary battery (152), power supply circuitry (154), and a connector (108b). The power supply circuitry (154) supplies an output which provides electrical energy for powering the electrical circuitry (102) of a battery powered device (100) and for recharging a battery (104) associated therewith. In one embodiment, the power supply circuitry (154) supplies an output current which is a function of the charge state of the auxiliary battery (152) and a load current presented by the electrical circuitry (102).
US08022659B2
A control apparatus for a rotary machine, comprising a variable-voltage variable frequency (VVVF) inverter for driving the rotary machine, a voltage detector for detecting a DC voltage at the inverter's input, current detectors for detecting phase currents of the rotary machine, an inverter-electric-power command unit for determining an inverter-electric-power command value, an actual-inverter-electric-power calculation unit for calculating an actual inverter-electric-power value, a secondary-magnetic-flux command calculation unit for calculating a secondary-magnetic-flux command value, a predetermined-secondary-magnetic-flux command unit for outputting a predetermined secondary-magnetic-flux command value, and a secondary-magnetic-flux command changeover unit for selecting either one of the secondary-magnetic-flux command value and the predetermined secondary-magnetic-flux command value as a secondary-magnetic-flux command value which is used to control the rotary machine.
US08022655B2
A robot controller including a control unit and a portable device (TPU) for teaching and manually operating the robot. The TPU includes safety equipment, a safety TPU-part having a first communication unit and a main TPU-part having a third communication unit. The control unit includes a safety control part having a second communication unit and a main control part having a forth communication unit. The first and second communication units form a first communication channel for transferring data from the TPU to the control unit. The third and fourth communication units form a second communication channel for transferring data between the TPU and the control unit. Each of the main TPU-part, safety TPU-part, main control part, and safety control part includes a processor for generating and/or handling the data. Each communication unit is connected to a network and forms a node in the network.
US08022653B2
Disclosed is a circuit arrangement for electrically controlling and/or regulating the movement of an electrically driven unit (2), especially a window lifter or sliding roof of a motor vehicle, and to a method for operating said circuit arrangement. According to the invention, a jamming protection System is characterized in that a correlation variable (K) for the adjusting force of the unit (2) is measured and the adjusting movement is stopped or reversed in order to prevent jamming if the correlation variable (K) for the adjusting force exceeds a threshold value that corresponding to a predetermined jamming force. A filter (140) is used for temporally filtering the correlation variable (K) for the adjusting force of the unit. The invention is characterized in that the filter parameters (142, 143), especially the cutoff frequency (fg) and/or the order of the filter (140), can be controlled.
US08022641B2
In an embodiment of the present invention, a light emitting diode (LED) recessed down light fixture comprises a housing, a reflector assembly mounted to the housing, and an LED circuit board attached to the housing over the reflector assembly. The LED circuit board includes a plurality of resistors electrically connected to the LED circuit board, a bridge rectifier, and a plurality of at least 80 miniature LEDs electrically connected to the LED circuit board and configured to provide light. The plurality of miniature LEDs are separated into a plurality of LED clusters. Each cluster is electrically connected to at least one resistor. Further, the plurality of miniature LEDs are arranged in a configuration such that a voltage differential across any two proximate LEDs is less than 36 volts. The down light fixture further comprises a lens cover attached to the top end of the reflector assembly.
US08022638B2
Disclosed is a liquid crystal display (LCD) backlight inverter. The LCD backlight inverter includes a lamp open detection unit outputting a first open detection voltage for a preset time period when it is determined that a predetermined lamp is open, based on a current voltage corresponding to the current of the predetermined lamp of a plurality of lamps, a first open determination unit outputting an open detection signal when the first open detection voltage is input, a second open determination unit outputting a protection signal when it is determined that all of the plurality of lamps are open based on detection voltages of the plurality of lamps, a temporary protection determination unit outputting a frequency change signal when both the open detection signal and the protection signal are input, and an operating frequency control unit changing an operating frequency to a preset protective frequency according to the frequency change.
US08022636B2
Control of delivery of current through one or more discharge lamps. Methods include alternately switching on and off switching elements that control a fluorescent lamp, in response to receiving input, until the brightness of the lamp decreases to a threshold. Further, methods include providing control signals at complementary duty cycles to further decrease the brightness and alternating the duty cycles of the signals applied to the filaments of the fluorescent lamp.
US08022633B2
In the case where the number of pixels is increased in a display device making use of electron source elements, a period, in which one pixel is caused to continue to emit light, shortened, and so there is caused a need of applying a high voltage between upper and lower electrodes of an electron source element in a short period. Therefore, there is caused a problem that a drive circuit is made severe in operating condition and so the display device is degraded in reliability. Two TFTs are arranged on each of pixels. Also, a time gradation system is used, in which one frame period is divided into a plurality of sub-frame periods, a light emitting or non-emitting state of each of the pixels is selected in the respective sub-frame periods, and gradation is represented by adding up periods, in which the light emitting state is selected in the respective sub-frame periods. Thus it is possible to provide a display device having a high reliability and a method of driving the same.
US08022632B2
The invention relates to a color-controlled illumination device (1) with a number of light emitters, for example LEDs (L1, L2, L3, L4), of different primary colors. Photosensors (D1, D2, D3) consisting of a photodiode (20) covered with different dielectric filter layers (21) measure the light output of the light emitters (L1, L2, L3, L4) with distinct oscillating sensitivity curves that extend over the whole relevant spectral range. In a control unit (14), the actual color point of the illumination device (1) is calculated and the emissions of the light emitters (L1, L2, L3, L4) are individually adapted in order to match a target color point ((X,Y,Z)target) given with e.g. CIE tri-stimulus values.
US08022625B2
There is provided an electro-luminescence device in which a display base substrate including a display body layer having a switching element disposed in the shape of a matrix and a light emitting element having a light emitting state controlled by the switching element and a sealing layer having a gas barrier layer that is formed on the display body layer and has at least a function for blocking water vapor and a protection substrate made of a translucent material and having a surface on which at least two types of gap control layers made of different materials are stacked are bonded such that a gap control layer, disposed on the uppermost layer, of the gap control layers and the gas barrier layer are brought into contact with each other, wherein the gap control layer disposed on the uppermost layer has a Young's modulus lower than the gas barrier layer.
US08022621B2
Provided is an organic light emitting display device. The organic light emitting display device comprises a first substrate, a second substrate facing the first substrate, a transistor on the first substrate, a first contact electrode disposed on the transistor and connected to a source or a drain of the transistor, a subpixel on the second substrate, and a first spacer projected to make an upper electrode included in the subpixel to be in contact with the first contact electrode. An upper surface area of the first spacer is about 0.5% to 20% of an upper surface area of the subpixel.
US08022619B2
In order to improve the decoupling efficiency in a top-emitting OLED a top-emitting electroluminescent component (100) is suggested comprising a substrate, a first electrode (120) nearest to the substrate, a second electrode (14) located at a distance from the substrate, and at least one light-emitting organic layer (130) arranged between both electrodes, the emitted light being transmitted through the second electrode. The component in accordance with the invention is distinguished by an additional layer (150) facing away from the at least one organic layer is arranged on the side of the second electrode, which additional layer comprises optically effective light-emitting heterogeneities (151, 152, 153), especially in the form of scatter centers, the degree of transmission of the additional layer of the emitted light being greater than 0.6. This additional layer can be applied by various wet-chemical processes and vacuum methods, the inhomogeneities being introduced into and/or applied onto the decoupling additional layer during or after the application process. Furthermore, the invention also relates to a method for producing such a component.
US08022611B2
There is provided a light emitter substrate which can suppress halation by forming a rib between adjacent light-emitting members of respectively different light emitting colors, and at the same time can withdraw a potential difference when a discharge occurs between adjacent metal backs, thereby achieving a desired discharging current suppressing capability. For that purpose, the plural parallel ribs protruding from a substrate are formed, a phosphor is provided between the adjacent ribs, plural divided metal backs are disposed respectively on the phosphors in the direction along the ribs, the metal back is connected to a feeding resistor on the rib by means of a connection conductor, and the feeding resistor is covered by a high-resistance cover member.
US08022604B2
The invention provides a (Li, Na, K)(Nb, Ta)O3 type piezoelectric/electrostrictive ceramic composition capable of being sintered at a low temperature and providing good electric field-induced strain at the time of high electric field application at a temperature for practical use. The piezoelectric/electrostrictive ceramic composition has an ABO3 type composition formula wherein lithium, sodium, and potassium are contained as first elements; niobium and tantalum are contained as second elements; oxygen (O) is contained as a third element; A/B ratio is higher than 1; and the ratio of the number of Ta atoms to the total number of atoms of the second elements is 10 mol % or more and 50 mol % or less, and comprises a perovskite type oxide wherein the first elements are A site composing elements and the second elements are B site composing elements.
US08022598B2
A piezoelectric multilayer component includes a stack of piezoceramic layers, which are arranged one on top of the other, and electrode layers. The stack has a first area and a second area. The second area contains a disturbance material, which is used to make the second area less mechanically robust than the first area.
US08022596B2
An electromechanical actuator arrangement (50) comprises an electromechanical motor (10) and a rail arrangement (35). The rail arrangement (35) has a rail (30) relative which the electromechanical motor drives in a main displacement direction (3). The electromechanical motor has electromechanically active actuators attached to a motor block (20) and are arranged to provide an actuating action against the rail. The rail arrangement has further at least one guide member (31) provided parallel to the main displacement direction. The guide members have a guiding surface (36) facing the motor block. The motor block in turn has guidance surfaces (37) facing the guiding surface of the guide members. The guiding surface or the guidance surface has a tangent line parallel to the main displacement direction. The other one of the guiding surface and the guidance surface has a tangent surface in a second plane parallel to the first plane
US08022595B2
A composite acoustic wave device provides improved protection from environmental factors while maintaining high electrical characteristics and dynamic range is provided. The device comprises a rigid protector plate having high quality acoustical characteristics and a thickness which is a multiple of half wavelength of the resonant frequency. A piezoelectric plate is coupled to the protector plate, is supported therefrom, and forms an energy interface therewith. The piezoelectric and protector plates are dimensioned such that a wave of resonant frequency traveling between the excitation face and the loaded/sensing face, forms a substantially continuous-phase wave, at substantially peak amplitude, at the energy interface. By doing so the device decouples the electrical thickness of the wave device from the mechanical thickness thereof.
US08022593B2
An axial flux electrical machine is provided. The machine includes a plurality of rotors, each sandwiched between a respective pair of stator parts. The plurality of rotors, together with their respective stators, are axially-stacked to form a multistage machine. Heat exchangers are provided adjacent each stator to provide cooling. Each rotor disc is a composite rotor disc in which permanent magnets are embedded. The magnets are embedded in apertures through each disc so that surfaces of the magnets are flush with surfaces of the respective rotor disc.
US08022592B2
Each coil fixing member is placed between a stator coil and at least one end surface of a stator core in an electric rotary machine in order to suppress a displacement between the stator core and the stator coil. The coil fixing member consists of a spacer and a bolt. The bolt and a corresponding screw hole formed on an end surface of the stator core are used to fix the stator core in the electric rotary machine. The spacer consists of a main body part and a bolt fixing part. The bolt fixing part has a bolt hole. The main body part has a tapered shape. The main body part is placed between the end surface of the stator core and connection parts of windings of the stator coil, and fixed to the stator core by the bolt through the bolt hole of the bolt fixing part.
US08022580B2
A plastics injection-molding machine is to be equipped with a more compact drive that undergoes less wear. For this purpose, it is envisaged to integrate the direct rotational drive into the direct linear drive. Accordingly, the electric linear motor has a pot-shaped external rotor (13), in the inner space of which the main part of a hollow-cylindrical stator (16) of the linear motor is arranged and which is firmly connected to the output shaft (10). The rotary drive has a stator (18), which is mounted on the inner wall of the hollow-cylindrical stator (16) of the linear motor, and a rotor, which is firmly coupled to the output shaft (10) within the stator (18) of the rotary electric motor. This direct drive produces a very compact type of construction and it is possible to dispense with easily wearing threaded spindles.
US08022577B2
A three-way or four-way switching circuit for lighting, and the like, is described. One three-way switch is replaced with an electronic switch. Both legs of the switching circuit are powered all the time and current is sensed in the legs to determine when one of the three-way or four-way switches has been switched. This information is used to turn the light on and off.
US08022572B2
A power generating system having a variable speed genset is provided. The variable speed genset includes an engine and a variable speed generator. The variable speed generator is mechanically coupled to the engine and is configured to generate electrical power. The power generating system further includes an energy storage device, which is charged or discharged during transient load conditions of a power grid. The power generating system includes a controller to generate a speed control signal to select a speed for the genset. The speed control signal is selected based upon stored energy in the energy storage device and power generating system conditions, power grid conditions or combinations thereof.
US08022570B2
Systems and methods for illuminating flight deck devices are disclosed. In one embodiment, a flight deck panel illumination system includes at least one illuminated panel having at least one illumination source, and a power supply coupled to the at least one illumination source and to an electrical energy source that is configured to selectively provide a suitable power conversion mode in response to an applied signal. A processor is coupled to the power supply to generate the applied signal.
US08022567B2
An apparatus is disclosed for a turbine for generating electrical power from water or air flow comprising at least one rotor disk having a plurality of hydrofoil blades, guide vanes, a cylindrical housing, and a generator means. A rim generator comprising a magnet race rotor rim and fixed stator coils in the housing is used. The apparatus is fitted with a screen to stop the ingress of debris and marine life, and a skirt augmenter device to reduce the Betz effect. The apparatus is preferably for sub-sea deployment and driven by tidal currents, but may be powered by river current or wave driven air or by wind. The apparatus may be deployed on at least one telescoping pole, tethered to the sea-bed and kept buoyant by buoyant concrete in the housing, or inserted in a dam, under a barge or in a tidal power array.
US08022550B2
Interconnections are formed over an interlayer insulating film which covers MISFETQ1 formed on the principal surface of a semiconductor substrate, while dummy interconnections are disposed in a region spaced from such interconnections. Dummy interconnections are disposed also in a scribing area. Dummy interconnections are not formed at the peripheries of a bonding pad and a marker. In addition, a gate electrode of a MISFET and a dummy gate interconnection formed of the same layer are disposed. Furthermore, dummy regions are disposed in a shallow trench element-isolation region. After such dummy members are disposed, an insulating film is planarized by the CMP method.
US08022549B2
This invention prevents a break in a signal wire disposed between wire ends due to attenuation and improves production yields of devices. In a standard cell, a first signal wire extends in a first direction. Second and third signal wires extend in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction and are facing each other across the first signal wire. The second and third signal wires have the widths larger than the width of the first signal wire.
US08022548B2
A method of forming one or more capacitors on or in a substrate and a capacitor structure resulting therefrom is disclosed. The method includes forming a trench in the substrate, lining the trench with a first copper-barrier layer, and substantially filling the trench with a first copper layer. The first copper layer is substantially chemically isolated from the substrate by the first copper-barrier layer. A second copper-barrier layer is formed over the first copper layer and a first dielectric layer is formed over the second copper-barrier layer. The dielectric layer is substantially chemically isolated from the first copper layer by the second copper-barrier layer. A third copper-barrier layer is formed over the dielectric layer and a second copper layer is formed over the third copper-barrier layer. The second copper layer is formed in a non-damascene process.
US08022547B2
A non-volatile memory cell that includes a first electrode; a second electrode; and an electrical contact region that electrically connects the first electrode and the second electrode, the electrical contact region has a end portion and a continuous side portion, and together, the end portion and the continuous side portion form an open cavity, wherein the memory cell has a high resistance state and a low resistance state that can be switched by applying a voltage across the first electrode and the second electrode.
US08022537B2
The present invention provides a semiconductor device comprising a semiconductor substrate, and transistors formed on the semiconductor substrate, wherein control electrode terminals constituting external electrode terminals of the transistors, and first electrode terminals which transmit output signals, are provided on a main surface of the semiconductor substrate, wherein the control electrode terminals are provided at least one, and a plurality of the first electrode terminals are arranged on one side and a plurality of the first electrode terminals are arranged on the other side with the control electrode terminals being interposed therebetween, wherein a portion including the control electrode terminals and a plurality of the first electrode terminals located on one side of the control electrode terminals constitute a first transistor portion, and wherein a portion including the control electrode terminals and a plurality of the first electrode terminals located on the other side of the control electrode terminals constitute a second transistor portion. The semiconductor device is quadrangular.
US08022532B2
An interposer and a semiconductor device including the interposer, which can prevent thermal warpage of an insulative substrate. The interposer is provided with a semiconductor chip in a semiconductor device and may be disposed between the semiconductor chip and a mount board. The interposer includes: a substrate of an insulative resin; an island on one surface of the substrate to be bonded to a rear surface of the chip; a thermal pad on the other surface opposite the one surface opposed to the island with the intervention of the substrate; and a thermal via extending through the substrate from the one surface to the other surface to thermally connect the island to the thermal pad.
US08022522B1
A semiconductor package is provided and methods for bonding wires in the semiconductor package. In one implementation, the semiconductor package includes a lead frame including a first die pad and a second die pad; each die pad is supported by one or more supports and isolated from another; at least first and second dice, a first die being disposed on the first die pad and a second die being disposed on the second die pad; wire bonds in communication with the first and second dice; and an encapsulant adapted to encapsulate the die pads, the dice, the lead frame and the wire bonds.
US08022520B2
A system for hermetically sealing devices. The system includes a substrate, which includes a plurality of individual chips. Each of the chips includes a plurality of devices and each of the chips are arranged in a spatial manner as a first array. The system also includes a transparent member of a predetermined thickness, which includes a plurality of recessed regions arranged in a spatial manner as a second array and each of the recessed regions are bordered by a standoff region. The substrate and the transparent member are aligned in a manner to couple each of the plurality of recessed regions to a respective one of said plurality of chips. Each of the chips within one of the respective recessed regions is hermetically sealed by contacting the standoff region of the transparent member to the plurality of first street regions and second street regions using at least a bonding process to isolate each of the chips within one of the recessed regions.
US08022518B2
A novel semiconductor device high in both heat dissipating property and connection reliability in mounting is to be provided. The semiconductor device comprises a semiconductor chip, a resin sealing member for sealing the semiconductor chip, a first conductive member connected to a first electrode formed on a first main surface of the semiconductor chip, and a second conductive member connected to a second electrode formed on a second main surface opposite to the first main surface of the semiconductor chip, the first conductive member being exposed from a first main surface of the resin sealing member, and the second conductive member being exposed from a second main surface opposite to the first main surface of the resin sealing member and also from side faces of the resin sealing member.
US08022509B2
A crack stopping structure is disclosed. The crack stopping structure includes a semiconductor substrate having a die region, a die seal ring region, and a scribe line region; a metal interconnect structure disposed on the semiconductor substrate of the scribe line region; and a plurality of dielectric layers disposed on the semiconductor substrate of the die region, the die seal ring region, and the scribe line region. The dielectric layers include a first opening exposing the surface of the metal interconnect structure of the scribe line region and a second opening exposing the dielectric layer adjacent to the metal interconnect structure such that the metal interconnect structure and the exposed portion of the dielectric layer form a step.
US08022507B2
An improved varactor diode is obtained by providing a substrate having a first surface and in which are formed a first N region having a first peak dopant concentration located at a first depth beneath the surface, and a first P region having a second peak dopant concentration greater than the first peak dopant concentration located at a second depth beneath the surface less than the first depth, and a second P region having a third peak dopant concentration greater than the second peak dopant concentration and located at a third depth at or beneath the surface less than the second depth, so that the first P region provides a retrograde doping profile whose impurity concentration increases with distance from the inward edge of the second P region up to the second peak dopant concentration.
US08022498B1
Apparatus, systems, and methods may include managing electrostatic discharge events by using a semiconductor device having a non-aligned gate to implement a snap-back voltage protection mechanism. Such devices may be formed by doping a semiconductor substrate to form a first conductive region as a well, forming one of a source region and a drain region in the well, depositing a layer of polysilicon on the substrate to establish a gating area that does not overlap the one of the source region and the drain region, and forming an integrated circuit supported by the substrate to couple to the one of the source region and the drain region to provide snap-back voltage operation at a node between the integrated circuit and the source or drain region. Additional apparatus, systems, and methods are disclosed.
US08022489B2
An air tunnel floating gate memory cell includes an air tunnel defined over a substrate. A first polysilicon layer (floating gate) is defined over the air tunnel. An oxide layer is disposed over the first polysilicon layer such that the oxide layer caps the first polysilicon layer and defines the sidewalls of the air tunnel. A second polysilicon layer, functioning as a word line, is defined over the oxide layer. A method for making an air tunnel floating gate memory cell is also disclosed. A sacrificial layer is formed over a substrate. A first polysilicon layer is formed over the sacrificial layer. An oxide layer is deposited over the first polysilicon layer such that the oxide layer caps the first polysilicon layer and defines the sidewalls of the sacrificial layer. A hot phosphoric acid (H3PO4) dip is used to etch away the sacrificial layer to form an air tunnel.
US08022487B2
Techniques and structures for increasing body dopant uniformity in multi-gate transistor devices are generally described. In one example, an electronic device includes a semiconductor substrate, a multi-gate fin coupled with the semiconductor substrate, the multi-gate fin comprising a source region, a drain region, and a gate region wherein the gate region is disposed between the source region and the drain region, the gate region being body-doped after a sacrificial gate structure is removed from the multi-gate fin and before a subsequent gate structure is formed, a dielectric material coupled with the source region and the drain region of the multi-gate fin, and the subsequent gate structure coupled to the gate region of the multi-gate fin.
US08022478B2
Disclosed are embodiments of an improved multi-gated field effect transistor (MUGFET) structure and method of forming the MUGFET structure so that it exhibits a more tailored drive current. Specifically, the MUGFET incorporates multiple semiconductor fins in order to increase effective channel width of the device and, thereby, to increase the drive current of the device. Additionally, the MUGFET incorporates a gate structure having different sections with different physical dimensions relative to the semiconductor fins in order to more finely tune device drive current (i.e., to achieve a specific drive current). Optionally, the MUGFET also incorporates semiconductor fins with differing widths in order to minimize leakage current caused by increases in drive current.
US08022475B2
An ON resistance of a trench gate type transistor and a withstand voltage of a planar type transistor are optimized at the same time. Each of first and second regions of a semiconductor layer is formed by epitaxial growth on each of first and second regions of a semiconductor substrate, respectively. A first buried layer is formed between the first region of the semiconductor substrate and the first region of the semiconductor layer, while a second buried layer is formed between the second region of the semiconductor substrate and the second region of the semiconductor layer. The first buried layer is formed of an N+ type first impurity-doped layer and an N type second impurity-doped layer that extends beyond the fist impurity-doped layer. The second buried layer is formed of an N+ type impurity-doped layer only. In the first region of the semiconductor layer, an impurity is diffused from a surface of the semiconductor layer deep into the semiconductor layer to form an N type third impurity-doped layer. The trench gate type transistor is formed in the first region of the semiconductor layer and the planar type transistor is formed in the second region of the semiconductor layer.
US08022459B2
The invention is directed to a device for regulating the flow of electric current with high dielectric constant gate insulating layer and a source and/or drain forming a Schottky contact or Schottky-like region with a substrate and its fabrication method. In one aspect, the gate insulating layer has a dielectric constant greater than the dielectric constant of silicon. In another aspect, the current regulating device may be a MOSFET device, optionally a planar P-type or N-type MOSFET, having any orientation. In another aspect, the source and/or drain may consist partially or fully of a silicide.
US08022455B2
In a method of fabricating a semiconductor device capable of reducing parasitic capacitance between bit lines and a semiconductor device fabricated by the method, the semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate having buried contact landing pads and direct contact landing pads. A lower interlayer insulating layer is disposed on the semiconductor substrate. A plurality of parallel bit line patterns are disposed on the lower interlayer insulating layer to fill the direct contact holes. A passivation layer that conformally covers the lower interlayer insulating layer and the bit line patterns is formed. An upper interlayer insulating layer for covering the semiconductor substrate having the passivation layer is formed. Buried contact plugs are disposed in the upper interlayer insulating layer between the bit line patterns and extended to contact the respective buried contact landing pads through the passivation layer and the lower interlayer insulating layer. Voids are formed in the upper interlayer insulating layer between the bit line patterns and between the buried contact plugs.
US08022451B2
A radiation detector comprises a voltage applying electrode, a photo-conductor layer, and a charge collecting electrode, which are overlaid one upon another. A selective charge transporting layer is located between the voltage applying electrode and the photo-conductor layer, the selective charge transporting layer having characteristics such that the selective charge transporting layer blocks electric charges having a polarity identical with the polarity of the voltage applying electrode and transports electric charges having a polarity opposite to the polarity of the voltage applying electrode. The selective charge transporting layer takes on the form of a thick film at a position corresponding to an edge region of the voltage applying electrode.
US08022438B2
Technology of making freestanding gallium nitride (GaN) wafers has been matured at length. Gallium nitride is rigid but fragile. Chamfering of a periphery of a GaN wafer is difficult. At present edges are chamfered by a rotary whetstone of gross granules with weak pressure. Minimum roughness of the chamfered edges is still about Ra 10 μm to Ra 6 μm. The large edge roughness causes scratches, cracks, splits or breaks in transferring process or wafer process. A wafer of the present invention is bevelled by fixing the wafer to a chuck of a rotor, bringing an edge of the wafer into contact with an elastic whetting material having a soft matrix and granules implanted on the soft matrix, rotating the wafer and feeding the whetting material. Favorably, several times of chamfering edges by changing the whetting materials of smaller granules are given to the wafer. The chamfering can realize small roughness of Ra 10 nm and Ra 5 μm at edges of wafers.
US08022435B2
Disclosed is a semiconductor light emitting device. The semiconductor light emitting device includes a light emitting structure including a plurality of compound semiconductor layers including a first conductive semiconductor layer, an active layer and a second conductive semiconductor layer; an electrode layer on the plurality of compound semiconductor layers; and a channel layer including protrusion and formed along a peripheral portion of an upper surface of the plurality of compound semiconductor layers.
US08022434B2
Disclosed is an improved light-emitting diode, which can be a PLCC or SMD type light-emitting diode. The light-emitting diode includes a package body, at least one pair of conductive terminals, and an optic lens. The package body has an end surface, a circumferential surface extending from the end surface, and a receptacle for accommodating a light-emitting chip. The pair of conductive terminals is fixed to the package body. The optic lens covers the end surface of the package body and is even expanded to cover the circumferential surface of the package body. In this way, effects of improved bonding strength, improved optic advantages, being easy to adjust to a desired angle with the optic lens, and alleviation of troubles caused by overflow of adhesive can be realized.
US08022433B2
Provided is a semiconductor sensor device which is manufactured by an MEMS technology wherein machining technology and/or material technology is combined with semiconductor technology for detecting and measuring various physical quantities. In the semiconductor sensor device, cracks which generate in a cap chip and a molding resin are eliminated and air-tightness between a semiconductor sensor chip and the cap chip is ensured. The cracks due to vibration applied when being cut can be eliminated by having the circumference side surface of the cap chip as a wet-etched surface. Furthermore, insulation is ensured by coating the cap chip side surface with an insulating protection film.
US08022431B2
An illuminating apparatus has a reduced number of mounting spots by soldering or the like to permit an increased yield rate and a reduced cost. The illuminating apparatus has light emitting diodes, lead frames, and a transparent sealer. N light emitting diodes, N sets of lead frames mounted with the N light emitting diodes, and one set or more of lead frames each not mounted with a light emitting diode are sealed by the transparent sealer for integration into a modular illuminating apparatus. Also provided are a method for fabricating the illuminating apparatus, and a display apparatus using the illuminating apparatus.
US08022430B2
A nitride-based compound semiconductor light-emitting device comprising a holding electrode partially formed on a first main surface of a semiconductor laminate including nitride-based compound semiconductor layers including at an emission layer. A method of fabricating a nitride-based compound semiconductor light-emitting device, comprising steps of forming a semiconductor laminate by stacking nitride-based compound semiconductor layers at least partially on a substrate to include an emission layer, forming a holding electrode partially on a main surface of the semiconductor laminate located oppositely to the substrate and removing the substrate. Thus, a nitride-based compound semiconductor light-emitting device having high external luminous efficiency with no wafer breakage or cracking and a method of fabricating the same can be proposed.
US08022424B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device capable of largely increasing the yield and a semiconductor device manufactured by using the method is provided. After a semiconductor layer is formed on a substrate, as one group, a plurality of functional portions with at least one parameter value different from each other is formed in the semiconductor layer for every unit chip area. Then, a subject that is changed depending on the parameter value is measured and evaluated and after that, the substrate is divided for every chip area so that a functional portion corresponding with a given criterion as a result of the evaluation is not broken. Thereby, at least one functional portion corresponding with a given criterion can be formed by every chip area by appropriately adjusting each parameter value.
US08022416B2
A functional block for assembly includes at least one element and a patterned magnetic film comprising at least one magnetic region attached to the element. A wafer includes a host substrate comprising a number of elements. The wafer further includes a patterned magnetic film attached to the elements and comprising a number of magnetic regions. The magnetic regions are attached to respective ones of the elements. A method of manufacture includes forming a number of magnetic regions on a host substrate having an array of elements. The forming step provides at least one of the magnetic regions for a respective group comprising at least one of the elements.
US08022413B2
A Group-III nitride semiconductor substrate having a flat surface with a dangling bond density of higher than 14.0 nm−2 is produced by cleaning the surface having a dangling bond density of higher than 14.0 nm−2 with a cleaning agent containing an ammonium salt.
US08022405B2
It is an object to provide a light-emitting device including a thin film transistor with high electric characteristics and high reliability, and a method for manufacturing the light-emitting device with high productivity. As for a light-emitting device including an inverted staggered thin film transistor of a channel stop type, the inverted staggered thin film transistor includes a gate electrode, a gate insulating film over the gate electrode, a microcrystalline semiconductor film including a channel formation region over the gate insulating film, a buffer layer over the microcrystalline semiconductor film, a channel protective layer which is provided over the buffer layer so as to overlap with the channel formation region of the microcrystalline semiconductor film, a source region and a drain region over the channel protective layer and the buffer layer, and a source electrode and a drain electrode over the source region and the drain region.
US08022404B2
In the case where a material containing an alkaline-earth metal in a cathode, is used, there is a fear of the diffusion of an impurity ion (such as alkaline-earth metal ion) from the EL element to the TFT being generated and causing the variation of characteristics of the TFT. Therefore, as the insulating film provided between TFT and EL element, a film containing a material for not only blocking the diffusion of an impurity ion such as an alkaline-earth metal ion but also aggressively absorbing an impurity ion such as an alkaline-earth metal ion is used.
US08022401B2
An organic thin film transistor including a substrate having thereon at least three terminals of a gate electrode, a source electrode and a drain electrode, an insulator layer and an organic semiconductor layer, with a current between a source and a drain being controlled upon application of a voltage to the gate electrode, wherein the organic semiconductor layer includes a specified organic compound having a divalent aromatic hydrocarbon group having a phenanthrene structure in the center thereof; and an organic thin film light emitting transistor utilizing an organic thin film transistor, wherein the organic thin film transistor is one in which light emission is obtained utilizing a current flowing between the source and the drain, and the light emission is controlled upon application of a voltage to the gate electrode, and is made high with respect to the response speed and has a large ON/OFF ratio, are provided.
US08022398B2
A thin film transistor (TFT), a method of forming the same and a flat panel display device having the same are disclosed. The TFT includes a buffer layer and a semiconductor layer which are sequentially disposed on a substrate, a gate pattern including an insulating pattern and a gate electrode pattern which are sequentially disposed on the semiconductor layer, source and drain regions defining a portion of the semiconductor layer below the gate pattern as a channel area, formed by doping the semiconductor layer disposed at both sides of the gate pattern with impurities, and extending from both sides of the channel area, a passivation layer which covers the entire surface of the substrate having the gate pattern, a first metal electrode which penetrates a portion of the passivation layer disposed on the source area and a portion of the source region below the portion of the passivation layer to be electrically connected with the source region, and a second metal electrode which penetrates a portion of the passivation layer disposed on the drain area and a portion of the drain region below the portion of the passivation layer to be electrically connected with the drain region. According to the present invention, a metal is infiltrated into source and drain regions to disperse an electric current when a TFT operates, and thus charge mobility is improved, and damage of a drain region caused by the excessive current density is prevented, leading to the long lifespan and excellent performance.
US08022390B1
A photodetector for detecting infrared light in a wavelength range of 3-25 μm is disclosed. The photodetector has a mesa structure formed from semiconductor layers which include a type-II superlattice formed of alternating layers of InAs and InxGa1-xSb with 0≦x≦0.5. Impurity doped regions are formed on sidewalls of the mesa structure to provide for a lateral conduction of photo-generated carriers which can provide an increased carrier mobility and a reduced surface recombination. An optional bias electrode can be used in the photodetector to control and vary a cut-off wavelength or a depletion width therein. The photodetector can be formed as a single-color or multi-color device, and can also be used to form a focal plane array which is compatible with conventional read-out integrated circuits.
US08022383B2
A two-terminal resistance switching element, wherein two silicon films each doped with an impurity are arranged with a gap width in the order of nanometers. The gap width is in the range of from 0.1 nm to 100 nm. A semiconductor device can be obtained by providing the two-terminal resistance switching element in a memory, a storage device or other device.
US08022376B2
A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device or a photomask by exposing a pattern while scanning a plurality of deflection regions determined depending on a deflection width of an exposure device on an exposure target with electron beams, enables a computer to execute a step of extracting a first pattern that exists near the boundary of the deflection region and in a first deflection region, a step of searching a second pattern that is adjacent to the first pattern and in a second deflection region different from the first deflection region, and a step of performing data processing of exposure data in accordance with a width of the first pattern so as to minimize the change in distance between the extracted first pattern and the searched second pattern due to positional deviation of the deflection region.
US08022375B2
An apparatus, system and method for verifying the achievement of a desired sterility assurance level (SAL) for components manipulated within a low-energy electron beam sterilization chamber. The components are preferably pre-sterilized and connected together in an assembly fashion which creates and maintains the sterility of the connection by subjecting the components to low-energy (less than 300 KeV) electron beam radiation. The verification is completed by measuring the sterilization dose delivered to a sensor, also known as a dosimeter, positioned within the sterilization process to simulate the components.
US08022369B2
A detector (100) for detecting neutrons includes a neutron reactive material (102) adapted to interact with neutrons to be detected and release ionizing radiation reaction products in relation to the interactions with neutrons. The detector also includes a first semiconductor element (101) being coupled with the neutron reactive material (102) and adapted to interact with the ionizing radiation reaction products and provide electrical charges proportional to the energy of the ionizing radiation reaction products. In addition electrodes are arranged in connection with the first semiconductor element (101) for providing charge collecting areas (106) for collecting the electrical charges and to provide electrically readable signal proportional to the collected electrical charges. The thickness of the first semiconductor element (101) is adapted to be electrically and/or physically so thin that it is essentially/practically transparent for incident photons, such as background gamma photons.
US08022363B2
While applying a square wave voltage to the ion electrode (21) so that ions already captured in the ion trap (20) do not disperse, the frequency of the square wave voltage is temporarily increased at the timing when the ions generated in response to the short time irradiation of a laser light reach the ion inlet (25). This decreases the Mathieu parameter qz, and the potential well becomes shallow, which makes it easy for ions to enter the ion trap (20). Although the ions that have been already captured become more likely to disperse, the frequency of the square wave voltage is decreased before they deviate from the stable orbit. Thus, the dispersion of the ions can also be avoided. Accordingly, while the number of captured ions is not decreased, new ions are further added, and thereby the amount of ions can be increased. By performing a mass separation and detection after that, the signal intensity in one mass analysis can be increased. Thereby, the number of repetition of the mass analysis for summing up the mass profiles can be decreased, and the signal intensity can be increased while decreasing the measuring time.
US08022358B2
An ion trap mass analyser (1) is disclosed comprising a segmented rod set. Ions are trapped radially within the mass analyser by a radial pseudo-potential well. The ions are also confined axially within the ion trap by an axial electric field. The axial electric field is substantially linear across the central section of the iøn trap, but the electric field is distorted across both ends of the ion trap. A supplemental AC voltage or potential is applied to the electrodes comprising the ion trap mass analyser (1) in order to excite resonantly ions within the ion trap (1). The distortions in the electric field at the ends of the ion trap cause the resonant frequency of ions within the ion trap to shift to either a higher or lower frequency. If the frequency of the supplemental AC voltage or potential is scanned appropriately then ions are ejected from the ion trap in a shorter period of time leading to an improvement in mass resolution.
US08022339B2
The electric cartridge type heater has a continuous central fitting hole (2) for receiving a cylindrical body to be healed in a gap-free manner, an inner metal jacket (1), an outer metal jacket (3) and a healing conductor wound on the circumference of a coil form (8), which is inserted in an annular chamber (4). The coil form has a cylinder wall with holes (10) or ducts (11/1) for receiving ends (12, 13, 15, 16) of the heating wire winding (9). The connecting conductors (18, 19) are led radially to the outside through an opening (20, 20/1) of the outer metal jacket (3) in an axial area which is located away from the two axial ends of the annular chamber (4) and is located between two heating wire windings (9/1, 9/2) or two winding sections (9a, 9b) of the same heating wire winding (9).
US08022338B2
The invention relates to a heating element for a filter press, that can be supplied with a fluid heating medium and comprises at least one heating plate consisting of a heat-conducting material and extending essentially over a plane. Said heating plate is fixed to a base body of the heating element, exclusively in a continuous partial region, the surface of the continuous partial region being smaller than the remaining surface of the heating plate. The invention also relates to a heating element for a filter press, comprising two heating plates which are interconnected by means of spacers, outside the lateral expansion of the base body. The entire base body can be freely displaced between the heating plates, in relation thereto, at least in such a way that a thermal expansion of the heating plates and a different thermal expansion of the base body can take place.
US08022337B2
An improved ignitor plug for igniting fuel in a combustion chamber and a smart fuel supply system for ignitor plug applications.
US08022335B2
A rapid warm-up and cool-down pressure roll assembly is provided and includes (a) a rotatable pressure roll including a cylindrical sleeve having an outer surface, and an inner surface defining a hollow interior to the rotatable pressure roll; (b) a thermoelectric assembly sheet positioned within the hollow interior and having a first substrate facing the inner surface of the cylindrical sleeve, a second substrate, an electric current flow path therethrough, and electric current input and output terminals associated with the electric current flow path; and (c) an electric current input switching device connected to the electric current input and output terminals for enabling selective reversing of a direction of electric current flow through the electric current flow path, thereby reversing which of the first substrate and the second substrate of the thermoelectric assembly sheet is hot and which is cold, and therefore selectively enabling a rapid warm-up or rapid cool-down of the cylindrical sleeve of the pressure roll.
US08022333B2
The invention is aimed at a substrate, in particular window pane, with an electrically conducting and heatable coating, at least one communication window made in the latter in the form of an interruption of said coating, the window being able to allow communication radiation used as signal carrying information to be transmitted therethrough and whose wavelength lies in a span of wavelengths that can be reflected or absorbed by the coating, and another electrically conducting element in contact with at least one part of edges of the window and in contact with the coating, characterized in that the communication window is provided with an electrically conducting covering and linked electrically to the other electrically conducting element.
US08022329B2
A sorting system accepts a group of mail pieces at a loading station, sorts them, and then moves them to an unloading station. The system includes a reader for retrieving delivery information associated with each mail piece, and also includes clamps dimensioned for receipt of a mail piece into each clamp. The system has a device for creating an association between the retrieved delivery information of each mail piece and its respective clamp. The system also has a sorter for moving the clamps holding the mail pieces, based upon the association of each clamp with the retrieved delivery information, so that the mail pieces held by the clamps are sorted according to a desired delivery sequence. Additionally, the system includes a mechanism for opening the sorted clamps to release the mail pieces at the unloading station.
US08022323B2
The present invention aims at achieving the object of keeping a contact housing portion liquid tight sealed and to improve the durability of a switch apparatus. A switch apparatus according to the present embodiment includes: a switch case 3 including a contact housing portion 25 therein and a shaft hole 27; a rod 5 whose outer flange portion 33 is capable of axially abutting on and engaging with a periphery portion 121a of a detecting plate; a first return spring 37 biasing the rod 5 in the direction opposite to protruding direction; a fixed contact 9 in the switch case 3 and a movable contact 7 which can reciprocally move between a position touching the fixed contact 9 and a non-touching position; a diaphragm 11 separating the shaft hole 27 from the contact housing portion 25 and being formed of rubber; a movable base 39 supporting the movable contact 7 and abutting on the diaphragm 11; a second return spring 2 bringing the movable contact 7 into contact with the fixed contact 9; and a retention member 13 interposed between the diaphragm 11 and the rod 5, including an abutting portion 41 for abutting on the rod 5, and axially movably, but not rotatably supported with respect to the switch case 3.
US08022315B2
An extension tube for an electrical floor box that includes a first section and a second section. Each section has a curved wall with an interior surface and an exterior surface, a top portion, a bottom portion and first and second side edges. The bottom portion is offset radially outwardly from the top portion by a ledge and the side edges have connecting mechanisms which join the two sections together to form the extension tube. The extension tube includes a top portion and a belled bottom portion which are formed so that the top portion of one extension tube can be inserted into the bottom portion of another extension tube.
US08022314B2
A printed wiring board including a wiring substrate provided with at least one conductor circuit, a solder resist layer provided on the surface of the wiring substrate, at least one conductor pad formed from a part of the conductor circuit exposed from an opening provided in the solder resist layer, and at least one solder bump for mounting electronic parts on the conductor pad. In the printed wiring board, since the at least one conductor pad is aligned at a pitch of about 200 μm or less, and a ratio (W/D) of a diameter W of the solder bump to an opening diameter D of the opening formed in the solder resist layer is about 1.05 to about 1.7, connection reliability and insulation reliability can be easily improved.
US08022312B2
A substrate structure capable of miniaturizing and thinning a housing of a portable terminal is provided.A substrate structure 10 comprises a substrate 11, plural electronic components 12 mounted along one mounting surface 11A in the substrate 11, and a resin part 13 for making close contact with the mounting surface 11A of the substrate 11while each of the electronic components 12 is covered with a resin 13A. In the substrate structure 10, a through hole 14 extending through the substrate 11 in a thickness direction is disposed and also the side of the mounting surface 11A in the through hole 14 is closed by a lid member 15. A rising part 21 is disposed in a peripheral part of this lid member 15.
US08022309B2
An exemplary FPCB includes a signal layer having a differential pair consisting of two transmission lines arranged therein, a ground layer, and a dielectric layer lying between the signal layer and the ground layer. Two sheets made of conductive materials are respectively arranged at opposite sides of the differential pair, and both connected to ground. The sheets are apart from and parallel to the transmission lines. The ground layer has a void defined therein, and the void is located under the two transmission lines.
US08022298B2
A weatherproof outlet includes a base plate for coupling to an electrical box and a hinged cover. The base plate has at least one opening for accessing an electrical wiring device such as an electrical receptacle mounted in the electrical box. The top surface of the base plate includes an inner rim and an outer rim having a dimension to shed water away from the access opening and the wiring device. A weatherproof gasket is attached to the top surface of the base plate within the confines of the inner wall and overlying the access opening. The gasket includes a plurality of slits for receiving the prongs of a plug and to form a waterproof seal around the prongs when inserted into the slots of an electrical receptacle.
US08022290B2
A piezo electric element generates a vibrating voltage in response to a striking force on a pad. The piezo electric element is connected across a series connection of a linear resistor and a nonlinear resistance network. The voltage appearing across the nonlinear resistance network is taken as an output voltage. The nonlinear resistance network is comprised of a parallel connection of a first and a second resistance circuitry. The first resistance circuitry is a series connection of a resister and two diodes connected in parallel in an opposite polarity to each other. The second resistance circuitry is a series connection of another resister and two Zener diodes connected in series in an opposite polarity to each other.
US08022288B2
A musical device is disclosed that performs a variety of user defined or user controlled activities. These activities include but are not limited to producing musical notes, determining, influencing or changing the sound, quality, voice, volume or other characteristics of a note, activating and coordinating the replay of stored loops, recording, editing and playing user created pieces previously produced and controlling peripheral devices such as lighting. The musical device uses a combination of strings and frets to locate notes on a fingerboard that a user may activate. As a result, the invention includes a system to generate a sound corresponding to a note selected and activated according to preselected parameters such as the voice (e.g., trumpet, violin). A user's intent to play a particular note can be confirmed by a system of sensors corresponding to each note position.
US08022287B2
An apparatus that allows a musical piece to be recomposed by reflecting, for example, the mood, preference, and ambient environment of a listening user in the musical piece in real time. The apparatus includes a rhythm master unit and a rhythm slave unit. The rhythm master unit generates synchronization signals containing a signal having a period corresponding to a measure of a musical piece and a signal having a period corresponding to a beat of the musical piece and also generates musical-piece recomposition information in synchronization with the synchronization signals. The rhythm slave unit recomposes musical-piece data of input music content in accordance with the synchronization signals and the musical-piece recomposition information, generates output musical-piece data, and outputs the musical-piece data to the rhythm slave unit.
US08022274B2
Polynucleotides incorporated into nucleic acid constructs have been introduced into plants and were ectopically expressed. The encoded polypeptides of the invention have been shown to confer at least one regulatory activity and confer earlier flowering, longer floral organ retention, increased cold tolerance, greater tolerance to water deprivation, altered carbon-nitrogen balance sensing, increased low nitrogen tolerance, and/or increased tolerance to hyperosmotic stress as compared to a control plant.
US08022273B2
Isolated polynucleotides and polypeptides encoded thereby are described, together with the use of those products for making transgenic plants with increased tolerance to abiotic stress (e.g., high or low temperature, drought, flood).
US08022269B2
The present invention relates to methods for increasing the yield of a compound produced by an organism. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods for increasing the total or soluble carbohydrate content or sweetness or increasing the content of an endogenous carbohydrate of a plant tissue by producing a sugar-metabolizing enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of an endogenous sugar (one that is normally produced in the plant) to an alien sugar (one that is not normally produced in the plant at the same developmental stage). The invention also relates to plants and plant parts that produce a sugar-metabolizing enzyme to yield an alien sugar, with the consequence of higher total fermentable carbohydrate content, and to fermentable carbohydrates and other products derived therefrom.
US08022264B2
Carbon monoxide is removed from streams by adsorption on an adsorption composition which comprises copper and zirconium oxides but no zinc oxide, which comprises from 70 to 99.8% by weight of copper oxide and from 0.2 to 30% by weight of zirconium oxide, based on the total amount of the adsorption composition.
US08022262B1
A new family of crystalline aluminosilicate zeolitic compositions, UZM-35 compositions, has been synthesized. These zeolitic compositions are represented by the empirical formula. Mmn+Rr+Al(1-x)ExSiyOz where M represents a combination of potassium and sodium exchangeable cations, R is a singly charged organoammonium cation such as the dimethyldipropylammonium cation and E is a framework element such as gallium. These compositions comprise a MSE zeolite, a MFI zeolite and an ERI zeolite. The compositions are similar to MCM-68 but are characterized by unique x-ray diffraction patterns and have catalytic properties for carrying out various hydrocarbon conversion processes.
US08022252B2
Novel spatially-defined macrocyclic compounds containing specific conformational control elements are disclosed. Libraries of these macrocycles are then used to select one or more macrocycle species that exhibit a specific interaction with a particular biological target. In particular, compounds according to the invention are disclosed as agonists or antagonists of a mammalian motilin receptor and a mammalian ghrelin receptor.
US08022247B2
The invention provides a process for production of 2,3,4-trifluoro-5-(iodo or bromo)benzoic acid, the process comprising a halogenation step in which direct iodination or bromination of 2,3,4-trifluorobenzoic acid is performed with an iodinating agent or brominating agent in a reaction solvent in the presence of an oxidizing agent. According to the invention, there is provided a process for convenient production of 2,3,4-trifluoro-5-(iodo or bromo)benzoic acid in high yield and high purity in a highly regioselective manner.
US08022244B2
A process for preparing benzoic esters whose alkoxy groups have from 7 to 13 carbon atoms by reacting benzoic acid with at least one alcohol having from 7 to 13 carbon atoms, the water of reaction formed being removed during the esterification reaction by distillation, and the alcohol not converted in the esterification reaction being removed after the esterification reaction, in which the reaction takes place in the presence of a tin(II) compound as catalyst and, without treatment with a base, the catalyst and/or its derivatives is/are separated off by filtering or by centrifuging from the reaction mixture which remains after the unconverted alcohol has been separated off.
US08022243B1
Disclosed herein are a class of low odor oligomeric photoinitiators produced from the poly-condensation of dimethyl dicarboxylates and diols of a photo-active moiety. The disclosed oligomeric photoinitiators exhibited comparable photo-curing speed and much lower odor and extractability to its analogue of small molecular weight photoinitiators. Also disclosed are the preparation methods of the photoinitiators, and their applications in photopolymerizable compositions.
US08022242B2
The present invention relates to a process for preparing highly pure alkali metal or alkaline earth metal tricyanomethanides.
US08022237B2
A process or method for forming silane esters that is substantially free of oligomers. The process includes reacting an anhydrous salt of a carboxylic acid with a silane in a two phase reaction system. The silane comprises a halo-alkyl substituent. The two phase reaction system comprises a first solvent and a second solvent, wherein the second solvent is a solvent that is substantially non-miscible in the first solvent. An imaging member produced utilizing the silane esters so formed are also produced herein.
US08022233B2
An efficient process for producing glycidyl 2-hydroxyisobutyrate useful as a reactive diluent is provided. When glycidyl 2-hydroxyisobutyrate is produced by reacting allyl 2-hydroxyisobutyrate with hydrogen peroxide, a solution in which allyl 2-hydroxyisobutyrate is dissolved in an aliphatic ester as a solvent is reacted with hydrogen peroxide in the presence of a crystalline titanosilicate catalyst. Thus, a production process of glycidyl 2-hydroxyisobutyrate, which is small in degradation of purity and yield due to generation of peroxides or the like, and products thereof are provided.
US08022229B2
A method of manufacturing esters of dicarboxyimidolevulinic acid and alkyl trans-4-oxo-2-pentenoate. This method includes two reaction steps, wherein the first step of said two reaction steps is a bromination of alkyl-levulinate, to obtain alkyl-(3 and 5)-bromolevulinate, and the second step of said two reaction steps is a synthesis of esters of dicarboxyimidolevulinic acid and alkyl trans-4-oxo-2-pentenoate, by reacting the alkyl-(3 and 5)-bromolevulinate obtained in said first step with dicarboxyimide anion.
US08022220B2
The present invention discloses a process for preparing the piperidine derivative compound 4-[4-[4-hydroxydiphenylmethyl)-1-piperidinyl]-1-hydroxybutyl]-α,α-dimethylphenylacetic acid of formula comprising the sequential steps of: (1) reacting 4-bromo-α,α-dimethyl-α-(4,4-dimethylisoxazolin-2-yl)toluene with 4-chlorobutyryl chloride to provide 4-(4-chloro-1-oxobutyl)-α,α-dimethyl-α-(4,4-dimethylisoxazolin-2-yl)toluene; (2) hydrolyzing said 4-(4-chloro-1-oxobutyl)-α,α-dimethyl-α-(4,4-dimethylisoxazolin-2-yl)toluene to provide 4-(4-chloro-1-oxobutyl)-α,α-dimethylphenylacetic acid; (3) reacting said 4-(4-chloro-1 -oxobutyl)-α,α-dimethylphenylacetic acid with methanol to provide methyl 4-(4-chloro-1 -oxobutyl)-α,α-dimethylphenylacetate; (4) reacting said methyl 4-(4-chloro-1-oxobutyl)-α,α-dimethylphenylacetate with 4-(α,α-diphenyl)piperidinemethanol to provide methyl 4-[4-[4-(hydroxydiphenylmethyl)-1-piperidinyl]-1-oxobutyl]-α,α-dimethylphenylacetate; (5) reducing said methyl 4-[4-[4-(hydroxydiphenylmethyl)-1-piperidinyl]-1-oxobutyl]-α,α-dimethylphenylacetate to provide methyl 4-[4-[4-(hydroxydiphenylmethyl)-1-piperidinyl]-1-hydroxybutyl]-α,α-dimethylphenylacetate; and (6) hydrolyzing said methyl 4-[4-[4 -(hydroxydiphenylmethyl)-1-piperidinyl]-1-hydroxybutyl]-α,α-dimethylphenylacetate to provide said 4-[4-[4-hydroxydiphenylmethyl)-1-piperidinyl]-1-hydroxybutyl]-α,α-dimethylphenylacetic acid.
US08022217B2
Disclosed herein in the embodiments of the present invention are the compounds suitable as modulators of HDL having general formula (1), novel intermediates involved in their synthesis, their pharmaceutically acceptable salts and pharmaceutical compositions containing them. The present invention also relates to a process of preparing compounds of general formula (1), their tautomeric forms, their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, pharmaceutical compositions containing them, and novel intermediates involved in their synthesis.
US08022216B2
The present invention relates to maleate salt forms of (E)-N-{4-[3-chloro-4-(2-pyridinylmethoxy)anilino]-3-cyano-7-ethoxy-6-quinolinyl}-4-(dimethylamino)-2-butenamide, methods of preparing crystalline maleate salt forms, the associated compounds, and pharmaceutical compositions containing the same. The maleate salts are useful in treating cancers, particularly those affected by kinases of the epidermal growth factor receptor family.
US08022213B2
Present invention is concerned with novel indol-2-yl-carbonyl-spiro-piperidine derivatives as V1a receptor antagonists, their manufacture, pharmaceutical compositions containing them. The active compounds of the present invention are useful in the treatment of anxiety and depressive disorders and other diseases. The compounds of present invention have the general formula (I) wherein R1 to R11 and X are as defined in the description.
US08022201B2
The present invention is directed to a process for preparing amides. In particular, the process is directed to a process performable on the industrial scale, in which a ketoxime can be converted to a cyclic or acyclic amide by means of a Beckmann rearrangement using 2,4,6-trichloro-1,3,5-triazine as a catalyst in a nonpolar organic solvent.
US08022188B2
The present invention relates among other things to antibodies that immunospecifically bind to at least one agent of interest (e.g., an immunosuppressive agent), methods for producing such antibodies, and immunoassays that employ said antibodies. Additionally, the present invention also relates to methods for selecting an antibody for use in a diagnostic immunoassay and methods for selecting an antigen for use in a diagnostic immunoassay. The present invention further relates to the improvement of antibody recognition of an active parent drug in the presence of one or more of its major metabolites.
US08022181B2
The present invention provides a composition and a method for cleaving a peptide from a solid support resin. Hydrochloric acid in an organic water miscible solvent is used to cleave the peptide-resin attachment. Optionally, trifluoroethanol or hexafluoroisopropanol may be added to the cleavage composition to improve results. When using the present cleavage composition, an evaporation or other step to remove carboxylic byproducts is not necessary following the cleavage reaction. After the resin is filtered out of the cleavage mixture, the peptide may be immediately precipitated with water.
US08022178B2
The present invention provides a self-assembling peptide comprising: (a) a first amino acid domain that mediates self-assembly, wherein the domain comprises alternating hydrophobic and hydrophilic amino acids that are complementary and structurally compatible and self-assemble into a macroscopic structure when present in unmodified form; and (b) a second amino acid domain that does not mediate self-assembly in isolated form, wherein the second amino acid domain comprises at least one minimal biologically active sequence. Such self-assembling peptides are described herein as “modified self-assemblingpeptides.” The present invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions, kits and matrices comprising a modified self-assembling peptide, and methods of using and making such compositions, kits and matrices.
US08022176B2
Exocyclic peptide mimetics that disable Fas were developed. A three dimensional model of the Fas receptor-ligand complex was constructed and structurally predicted regions of the receptor that were relevant to binding ligand were used to create constrained peptide mimetics. Exocyclic anti-Fas peptide mimetics were identified that block Fas receptor-ligand interactions, and modulate Fas biological activity both in vitro and in vivo. The mimetics are useful, e.g., for treating Fas-related pathologies.
US08022161B2
A perfluoropolyether-polyorganosiloxane copolymer comprising at least one perfluoropolyether block, at least one polyorganosiloxane block which may has a silalkylene group, and two monovalent groups represented by the following formula (1), each one at both ends of the copolymer, wherein X is a hydrolyzable group, R1 is an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms or a phenyl group, y is an integer of from 1 to 5, and a is an integer of 2 or 3, said copolymer having a number average molecular weight, reduced to polystyrene, of from 7,000 to 25,000.
US08022160B2
The invention relates to a process for making a monofilament-like product from a precursor containing at least one strand of fibers made from ultra-high molar mass polyethylene, comprising a) exposing the precursor to a temperature within the melting point range of the polyethylene for a time sufficient to at least partly fuse adjacent fibers and b) simultaneously stretching the precursor, wherein the precursor is mechanically compressed during fusing. The monofilament-like product thus made has a smoother surface appearance, and improved abrasion resistance, for example a reduced tendency to pilling during use as fishing line, than known similar products; making it very suitable for use as fishing line and the like. The invention further relates to a monofilament-like product obtainable by said process, and to semi-finished and end-use products comprising said monofilament-like product.
US08022157B2
Disclosed herein is a surface functionalized poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) and methods for making the same. The surface functionalized poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) disclosed herein is applicable in the general field of microfluidics, bioMEMS (bio-microelectromechanical systems), soft lithography and other related biotechnology fields.
US08022153B2
A method for producing a polyethylene or polypropylene polymer, or co-polymer thereof, comprises contacting a monomer-containing medium with polymerization catalyst particles in at least one high shear mixing device to form a nanodispersion, wherein the particles have a mean diameter less than 1 micron. The monomer is selected from the group consisting of ethylene, propylene, and combinations thereof. The method further includes subjecting the nanodispersion to polymerization conditions comprising pressure in the range of about 203 kPa to about 6080 kPa (about 2 atm to about 60 atm) and temperature in the range of about 20° C. to about 230° C., whereby at least a portion of the monomer is polymerized. A system for carrying out the method is also disclosed.
US08022147B2
Zwitterionic block copolymers having oppositely charged or chargeable terminal groups, and methods of making and using the same, are disclosed. The zwitterionic block copolymers can undergo microphase separation.
US08022146B2
A thermoplastic copolymer prepared from acrylonitrile and para-alpha-dimethylstyrene via bulk or solution polymerization has an improved heat distortion temperature and can be used together with graft copolymers and further components for the preparation of thermoplastic moldings.
US08022145B2
Provided is a single layer adhesive that provides the appropriate balance of adhesion and clean release required for a wafer dicing function and also provides the necessary bond required in a subsequent die attach step. The adhesive composition comprises an acrylate ester polymer having a functional group, a multi-functional thermosetting resin, wherein the acrylate ester polymer and the thermosetting resin are capable of reacting with each other, a multi-functional acrylate ester, an acrylate ester polymerization catalyst or curing agent, a thermally-latent catalyst suitable for curing the multi-functional thermosetting resin, and an acrylic acid salt.
US08022129B2
A conjugated diolefin copolymer rubber is produced by copolymerization of a conjugated diolefin and an aromatic vinyl compound and has a primary amino group and an alkoxysilyl group bonded to the copolymer chain. The conjugated diolefin copolymer rubber contains the aromatic vinyl compound in an amount of 5 to 60 wt %. The aromatic vinyl compound is densely distributed in one terminal of the copolymer chain, and is scarcely distributed in the other terminal. The conjugated diolefin copolymer rubber has a temperature difference (ΔTg) of 25° C. or more. The conjugated diolefin copolymer rubber has low hysteresis loss properties as well as improved abrasion resistance, rupture characteristics, and road grip characteristics without impairing wet skid characteristics. A method for producing the conjugated diolefin copolymer rubber is also disclosed.
US08022124B2
Process for preparation of ethylene homopolymers or copolymers, comprising the steps of a) polymerization of ethylene or of ethylene with one or more other 1-olefins in the presence of a chromium catalyst at temperatures of from 20 to 200° C. and at pressures of from 0.1 to 20 MPa, where the chromium catalyst can be prepared via application of one or more chromium compounds to a silicate support and subsequent thermal activation under oxidative conditions at temperatures of from 620 to 900° C.; b) mixing of the polyethylene in the melt in the presence of from 1000 to 2000 ppm of an antioxidant comprising at least one sterically hindered phenol and comprising at least one phosphite in a mixing ratio of from 1:5 to 5:1, with specific energy input of at least 0.17 kWh/kg.
US08022123B2
Clays and organoclays which are treated with resorcinol diphosphate and/or bisphenol diphosphate as general nanoparticle particle dispersants and replacements for quaternary amines. The two compounds are used as self activating and self dispersing nanoparticles by localizing themselves on the particle surface in a polymer matrix and acting as a nanoparticle dispersants in general, as well as resulting in exfoliation of clays. The exfoliate clays may be used in polymers in lieu of other organic treatments.
US08022119B2
Oligomers and polymers containing epoxide groups and silane groups and preparable by reacting (A) at least one low molecular mass, oligomeric or polymeric compound containing at least two epoxide groups (a1) with (B) at least one silane containing (b1) at least one at least divalent organic radical which per se is not hydrolyzable, (b2) at least one cyclic dicarboxylic anhydride group and (b3) at least one silane group containing at least one hydrolyzable group (b31), the cyclic dicarboxylic anhydride groups (b2) being attached to the silane groups (b3) via the radicals (b1), the equivalent ratio of epoxide groups (a1) to dicarboxylic anhydride groups (b2) being 0.7 to 100; processes for preparing them, and their use for preparing anhydrous curable compositions.
US08022115B2
It has now been surprisingly and unexpectedly discovered that a combination of polychlorophenoxyphenol, a silver-containing biocide, and an organopolysiloxane, when added to UHMWPE, renders the UHMWPE resistant to both soft and hard fouling. The polychlorophenoxy phenol is preferably 2.4.4′-trichloro-2′-hydroxy-diphenylether and the metal-containing biocide is preferably a silver zeolite.
US08022114B2
Two-part and one-part self-etching dental adhesives containing polymerizable acidic monomers. Methods include one-coat application without need for tooth etching.
US08022105B2
Aspirin (ASA) triggers a switch in the biosynthesis of lipid mediators, inhibiting prostanoid production and initiating 15-epi-lipoxin generation, through the acetylation of cyclooxygenase II.
US08022104B2
Disclosed are formulations of ladostigil tartrate, including pharmaceutical compositions, process for the manufacture, and use thereof.
US08022100B2
This invention relates to novel whitening agents for cellulosic substrates. The whitening agents are comprised of at least two components: at least one chromophore component and at least one polymeric component. Suitable chromophore components generally fluoresce blue, red, violet, or purple color when exposed to ultraviolet light, or they may absorb light to reflect these same shades. The whitening agents are further characterized by having a dispersion component value of the Hansen Solubility Parameter of less than or equal to about 17 MPa0.5. This invention also relates to laundry care compositions including but not limited to liquid and/or powder laundry detergent formulations and rinse added fabric softening (RAFS) compositions that comprise such whitening agents.
US08022097B2
Aamantane dipyrromethane derivatives are obtained by reacting adamantane carbonyl derivatives with pyrrole or pyrrole derivative, in the presence of acid. Adamantane-dipyrromethanes are used to bind anions of the group consisting of: F—, Cl—, Br—, acetate, HSO4-NO3-, and H2PO4-, and particularly F—.
US08022095B2
The invention is directed to methods and compositions that can be used in the treatment of headaches. In particular, methods and compositions are described involving the combination of a long-acting NSAID and a 5-HT1B/1D agonist.
US08022090B2
The present invention relates to a composition containing vitamin C. The composition according to the present invention includes cationic material and anionic material as a primary stabilizing agent of the vitamin C; and a caffeic acid derivative as a secondary stabilizing agent of the vitamin C. The caffeic acid derivative is water-soluble and, preferably, a new caffiec acid derivative as denoted by the chemical formula 1 below is used. According to the present invention, the cationic material and the anionic material generate an electrical double layer to stabilize the vitamin C primarily; water-soluble caffeic acid derivative stabilizes the vitamin C secondarily. Accordingly, the vitamin C is stabilized double so that the vitamin C is protected from being oxidized by air, heat and moisture.
US08022084B2
The present invention is directed to novel polymorphic forms of the compound 4,5,6,7-tetrahydroisoxazolo[5,4-c]pyridin-3-ol hydrate (gaboxadol monohydrate). The invention is further concerned with pharmaceutical compositions containing the polymorphic forms as an active ingredient, methods for treatment of disorders susceptible to amelioration by GABAA receptor agonism with the polymorphic forms, and processes for the preparation of the polymorphic forms.
US08022076B2
This invention relates to novel compound of formula (I) or pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof. The invention is also directed to the uses of compounds having formula (I) in the treatment or prevention of diseases or disorders which requires potassium channel inhibition to an animal, mammal or human in need thereof. The invention is also directed to the use of compounds having formula (I) in the treatment or prevention of arrhythmia to an animal, mammal or human in need thereof.
US08022071B2
The present invention relates to nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof which have inhibitory activity on the phosphorylation of kinases, which inhibits the activity of such kinases. The invention is also related to a method of inhibiting kinases and treating disease states in a mammal by inhibiting the phosphorylation of kinases. In a particular aspect the present invention provides nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof which inhibit phosphorylation of a PDGF receptor to hinder abnormal cell growth and cell wandering, and a method for preventing or treating cell-proliferative diseases such as arteriosclerosis, vascular reobstruction, cancer and glomerulosclerosis.
US08022067B2
Disclosed are mixtures and compositions for controlling invertebrate pests relating to combinations comprising (a) 3-bromo-N-[4-chloro-2-methyl-6-[(methylamino)carbonyl]phenyl]-1-(3-chloro-2-pyridinyl)-1H-pyrazole-5-carboxamide, and its N-oxides, and suitable salts thereof and a component (b) wherein the component (b) is at least one compound or agent selected from neonicotinoids, cholinesterase inhibitors, sodium channel modulators, chitin synthesis inhibitors, ecdysone agonists, lipid biosynthesis inhibitors, macrocyclic lactones, GABA-regulated chloride channel blockers, juvenile hormone mimics, ryanodine receptor ligands, octopamine receptor ligands, mitochondrial electron transport inhibitors, nereistoxin analogs, pyridalyl, flonicamid, pymetrozine, dieldrin, metaflumizone, biological agents, and suitable salts of the foregoing. Also disclosed are methods for controlling an invertebrate pest comprising contacting the invertebrate pest or its environment with a biologically effective amount of a mixture or composition of the invention.
US08022066B2
The present invention relates to novel compounds that act as chemical uncouplers. Compounds of the invention are useful, inter alia, in the treatment, including prevention, of obesity, diabetes and a number of diseases or conditions associated therewith.
US08022065B2
The present invention provides kinase inhibitors of Formula I.
US08022059B2
A compound of the formula: wherein ring X is benzene or pyridine; R1 is substituted alkyl; R2 is optionally substituted aryl or optionally substituted heterocyclic group; R3 is hydrogen or alkyl; R4 is hydrogen, halogen or alkyl; R5 is hydrogen or alkyl; R6 and R7 are the same or different and each hydrogen or halogen, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, which is useful as IKur blocker effective for preventing or treating cardiac arrhythmia such as atrial fibrillation.
US08022055B2
The invention relates to novel betulinic acid derivatives of formula (I), wherein R is C(═CH2)CH3 or CH(CH3)2; R2 together with the adjacent carbonyl group forms a carboxylic acid, carboxylic acid ester or amide or substituted amide; R3 or R4 are hydrogen or aryl with the proviso that both are not independently hydrogen or alkyl or R3 and R4 are combined together to form an aryl ring optionally substituted with a group X, wherein X is selected from halogen, alkyl, cyano, nitro, alkoxy, amino or substituted amine; Y is N or O; and R1 is zero when Y is O, and R1 is hydrogen, alkyl or aryl alkyl when Y is N, useful for inhibition of tumor cancer cells.
US08022048B2
A novel method and composition for treating vitamin B12 deficiency mammals that fail to respond to oral vitamin B12 therapy.
US08022034B2
The present invention concerns combination of an amount of a GPR119 agonist with an amount of a dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) inhibitor such that the combination provides an effect in lowering a blood glucose level or in increasing a blood GLP-1 level in a subject over that provided by the amount of the GPR119 agonist or the amount of the DPP-IV inhibitor alone and the use of such a combination for treating or preventing diabetes and conditions related thereto or conditions ameliorated by increasing a blood GLP-1 level. The present invention also relates to the use of a G protein-coupled receptor to screen for GLP-1 secretagogues.
US08022027B2
The present invention relates to a composition comprising: (i) a lipase; and (ii) a bleach catalyst that is capable of accepting an oxygen atom from a peroxyacid and transferring the oxygen atom to an oxidizeable substrate.
US08022026B2
A method and composition for deodorizing soft surfaces such as carpeting and upholstery are disclosed. The method includes the spraying of a liquid composition on a soft surface and allowing the composition to absorb into the soft surface, form liquid agglomerations within the soft surface to the agglomerations can make contact with malodorants disposed within the soft surface. The composition is capable of penetrating rapidly and deeply into the soft surfaces for contacting odor-causing substances embedded therein. The composition comprises an active ingredient such as a glycol or triethanolamine. Other ingredients that contribute to the surface penetration and/or agglomeration formation include ethanol, water, fragrance and a combination of at least one nonionic and at least one ionic surfactant.
US08022024B2
A functional fluid comprising a base oil with a high viscosity index, wherein the functional fluid has a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. between 2.5 and 5.0 mm2/s, a low Brookfield viscosity, a high aniline point, and excellent air release. Shock absorber fluids with improved performance, comprising a particular base oil, wherein the improved performance includes high viscosity index, low Brookfield viscosity, high aniline point, excellent air release and high flash point.
US08022022B2
A molybdated succinimide complex is disclosed which is prepared by a process comprising (a) reacting an alkyl or alkenyl succinimide of a polyamine of formula I wherein R is an about C12 to about C30 alkyl or alkenyl group; a and b are independently 2 or 3, and x is 0 to 10, with an ethylenically unsaturated carboxylic acid or anhydride thereof; and (b) reacting the product of step (a) with an acidic molybdenum compound. Also disclosed is a lubricating oil composition containing at least (a) a major amount of a base oil of lubricating viscosity and (b) a minor amount of the molybdated succinimide complex.
US08022021B2
The present invention relates to a controlled release gel with an ashless component and defined ash-producing component. Further, the invention relates to the use of a controlled release gel with a controlled level of ash-producing (i.e., metal) components for delivery of additives into lubricants wherein the gel has reduced ash and SAPS producing components.
US08022016B2
There is a viscoelastic fluid. The fluid has one or more cationic surfactants selected from the group consisting of certain quaternary salts, certain amines, and combinations thereof; one or more anionic polymers/anionic surfactants; one or more of certain zwitterionic/amphoteric surfactants; and water. There is also a method of fracturing a subterranean formation. The viscoelastic fluid is pumped through a wellbore and into a subterranean formation at a pressure sufficient to fracture the formation. There is also a method for gravel packing a subterranean formation.
US08022012B2
A device for fabricating thin films on a substrate includes a vacuum chamber, a rotatable platen configured to hold one or more substrates within the vacuum chamber, and a housing disposed within the vacuum chamber. The housing contains a heating element and is configured to enclose an upper surface of the platen and a lower portion configured to partially enclose an underside surface of the platen which forms a reaction zone. A heated evaporation cell is operatively coupled to the lower portion of the housing and configured to deliver a pressurized metallic reactant to the reaction zone. The device includes a deposition zone disposed in the vacuum chamber and isolated from the reaction zone and is configured to deposit a deposition species to the exposed underside of the substrates when the substrates are not contained in the reaction zone.
US08022005B2
This invention relates to an activator, catalyst system, and the use thereof. In one aspect, the catalyst system includes one or more polymerization catalysts and at least one activator. The activator comprises one or more heterocyclic heteroatom containing ligands coordinated to an alumoxane, wherein the activator is a reaction product of one or more alumoxanes and one or more heterocyclic heteroatom containing compounds, the one or more heterocyclic heteroatom containing ligands represented by the formula: where Y is O, S, PH or NH; wherein each substituent X2, X3, X4, X5, X6, and X7 is independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, chlorine, fluorine, iodine, and bromine, provided at least one of X2, X3, X4, X5, X6 and X7 is not hydrogen when Y is NH; and wherein the ratio of the heterocyclic heteroatom containing ligand to aluminum is between about 0.01 and about 10 molar equivalents. The catalyst system may be supported or non-supported.
US08022004B2
Various embodiments provide an electrode comprising a conductive substrate, a first layer of a mixture comprising iridium oxide in a crystalline phase and tantalum oxide in an amorphous phase on a portion of an outer surface of the conductive substrate, and a second layer of the mixture comprising iridium oxide in an amorphous phase and tantalum oxide in an amorphous phase on an outer surface of the first layer.
US08022003B2
A porous crystalline composition having a molar composition as follows: YO2:m X2O3:n ZO, wherein Y is a tetravalent element selected from the group consisting of silicon, germanium, tin, titanium and combinations thereof, X is a trivalent element selected from the group consisting of aluminum, gallium, boron, iron and combinations thereof, Z is a divalent element selected from the group consisting of magnesium, zinc, cobalt, manganese, nickel and combinations thereof, m is between about 0 and about 0.5, n is between about 0 and about 0.5; and the composition has an x-ray diffraction pattern which distinguishes it from the materials. A process for making the composition, and a process using the composition to treat an organic compound are also provided.
US08021999B2
In one aspect the invention is directed to a machinable glass-ceramic having a high degree of crystallinity (greater than 50 Vol. %), high mechanical strength (MOR>150 MPa) In accordance with the invention, the machinable glass-ceramics described herein consists essentially of, in weight percent, 35-55% SiO2, 6-18% Al2O3, 12-27% MgO, 3-12% F, 5-25% SrO, 0-20% BaO and 1-7% K2O. The machinable glass-ceramics of the invention have a dielectric constant of <8 (typically being in the range of 6-8) at 25° C. and 1 KHz; a loss tangent of <0.002 at 25° C. and 1 MHz; a CTE in the range of 80-120×10−7/° C. in the temperature range of 25-300° C.; a Poisson's ration of approximately 0.25; and a porosity of 0%.
US08021991B2
Oxide films are deposited under conditions generating a silicon-rich oxide in which silicon nanoclusters form either during deposition or during subsequent annealing. Such deposition conditions include those producing films with optical indices (n) greater than 1.46. The method of the present invention reduces the TID radiation-induced shifts for the oxides.
US08021987B2
An insulting film is modified by subjecting the insulting film to a modification treatment comprising a combination of a plasma treatment and a thermal annealing treatment. There is provided a method of enhancing the characteristic of an insulating film by improving deterioration in the characteristic of the insulating film due to carbon, a suboxide, a dangling bond or the like contained in the insulating film.
US08021973B2
A method and system for reducing the inductance on an integrated circuit. The method and system comprises providing a first differential line, including a first input and a first output, the first differential line including at least two bondwire traces which are coupled in parallel. The method and system also comprises providing a second differential line including a second input and a second output, the second differential line including at least two bondwire traces which are coupled in parallel, the first differential line being of opposite polarity to the second differential line. The method and system further comprises cross-coupling of the first input with the second input and the first output with the second output to reduce the inductance caused by bondwire traces. A technique in accordance with the invention uses the coupling factor K to help to further reduce the inductance. By changing the input ordering of differential bondwires/traces, the bondwire/trace magnetic coupling factor K can be used to reduce the line inductance.
US08021969B2
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a stacked layer including a tungsten layer, forming a hard mask pattern over the stacked layer, and oxidizing a surface of the hard mask pattern to form a stress buffer layer. A portion of the stacked layer uncovered by the hard mask pattern is removed using the hard mask pattern and the stress buffer layer as an etch mask, thereby forming a first resultant structure. A capping layer is formed over the first resultant structure, the capping layer is etched to retain the capping layer on sidewalls of the first resultant structure, and the remaining portion of the stacked layer uncovered by the hard mask pattern is removed.
US08021965B1
The present invention provides a quilt packaging system for microchip, a method for making such a quilt packaging system, microchips that may be used in a such a quilt packaging system, and methods for making such microchips.
US08021961B2
A process for fabricating multiple microfluidic device chips. The process includes fabricating multiple micromachined tubes in a semiconductor device wafer. The tubes are fabricated so that each tube has an internal fluidic passage and an inlet and outlet thereto defined in a surface of the device wafer. The device wafer is then bonded to a glass wafer to form a device wafer stack, and so that through-holes in the glass wafer are individually fluidically coupled with the inlets and outlets of the tubes. The glass wafer is then bonded to a metallic wafer to form a package wafer stack, so that through-holes in the metallic wafer are individually fluidically coupled with the through-holes of the glass wafer. Multiple microfluidic device chips are then singulated from the package wafer stack. Each device chip has a continuous flow path for a fluid therethrough that is preferably free of organic materials.
US08021959B2
A method for forming a plurality of thin films from a microtechnological donar substrate with a view to recycling of the donor substrate, the method including exposing a face of the donor substrate by fracturing the donor substrate along a layer weakened by implantation and placing the exposed face in a bath and applying ultrasound with a frequency of between 10 kHz and 80 kHz under conditions suitable for causing cavitation along the exposed face. In the case of a silicon donor substrate, the bath is exposed to an ultrasound power per unit volume of greater than 5 W/I, at a power of greater than 10 W with a duration of greater than 1 minute, and at a temperature between 1° C. and 100° C.
US08021955B1
Provided are methods and composition for forming a multi-layer isolation structure on an integrated circuit substrate. A process can include selecting a lower dielectric material for the lower dielectric layer and selecting an upper dielectric material for the upper dielectric layer. A range of effective dielectric constants that correspond to the thicknesses the lower and upper dielectric materials are selected. A range of thicknesses for each of the lower and upper dielectric layers are determined from a range of acceptable dielectric constants using information indicating an effective dielectric constant corresponding to thicknesses of the materials for both the lower upper dielectric layers, enabling the formation of the multi-layer isolation structure.
US08021951B2
Provided is a semiconductor device including: a silicon substrate; at least two trenches spaced apart from each other, being in parallel with each other, and being formed by vertically etching the silicon substrate from a surface thereof; an electrically insulating film for burying therein at least bottom surfaces of the trenches; a base region formed in a region of the silicon substrate located between the two trenches; and an emitter region and a collector region formed on portions of side surfaces of the trenches, respectively, the portions of the sides located above the insulating film and formed in the base region.
US08021949B2
A method for fabrication of features for an integrated circuit includes patterning a first semiconductor structure on a surface of a semiconductor device, and epitaxially growing semiconductor material on opposite sides of the first semiconductor structure to form fins. A first angled ion implantation is applied to one side of the first semiconductor structure to dope a respective fin on the one side. The first semiconductor structure is selectively removed to expose the fins. Fin field effect transistors are formed using the fins.
US08021946B2
A nonvolatile (e.g., flash) memory device includes a substrate having a plurality of isolation areas and active areas; a trench formed on the isolation area; a first electrode layer formed on an inner wall of the trench; a first gate oxide layer formed between the inner wall of the trench and the first electrode layer; a junction area formed on the active area; a second gate oxide layer formed on the entire surface of the substrate including the first electrode layer, the first gate oxide layer, the trench and the junction area; a tunnel oxide layer formed on a part of the second gate oxide layer corresponding to the active area; and a second electrode layer formed on the active area and in the trench.
US08021945B2
In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a method is provided for fabricating a semiconductor chip including a trench capacitor. In such method, a monocrystalline semiconductor region can be etched in a vertical direction through an opening in a dielectric layer to form a trench exposing a rough surface of monocrystalline semiconductor material. The trench has an initial lateral dimension in a first direction transverse to the vertical direction. The semiconductor material exposed at the surface of the trench then is etched in a crystallographic orientation-dependent manner to expose a multiplicity of crystal facets of the semiconductor material at the trench surface. A dopant-containing liner may then be deposited to line the surface of the trench and a temperature of the substrate then be elevated to drive a dopant from the dopant-containing liner into the semiconductor region adjacent to the surface. During such step, typically a portion of the semiconductor material exposed at the wall is oxidized. At least some of the oxidized portion is removed to expose a wall of an enlarged trench, along which wall a dielectric layer and conductive material are formed in order to form a trench capacitor.
US08021943B2
A semiconductor fabrication method comprises providing a structure which includes a semiconductor substrate having a plurality of subsurface layers, the substrate comprising a top surface and the subsurface layers comprising a top subsurface layer below the top surface of the substrate. A protective material is patterned on the top surface of the device and a material removal process is performed to simultaneously form a contact trench and an isolation trench, the material removal process removing at least a portion of the top surface and the top subsurface layer such that the contact trench and the isolation trench are formed within the subsurface layer. An insulator is then formed within the isolation trench and the contact trench is lined with the insulator. The contact trench is then filled with a conductive material such that the conductive material is deposited over the insulator.
US08021942B2
In the process sequence for replacing conventional gate electrode structures by high-k metal gate structures, the number of additional masking steps may be maintained at a low level, for instance by using highly selective etch steps, thereby maintaining a high degree of compatibility with conventional CMOS techniques. Furthermore, the techniques disclosed herein enable compatibility to front-end process techniques and back-end process techniques, thereby allowing the integration of well-established strain-inducing mechanisms in the transistor level as well as in the contact level.
US08021933B2
A method of forming an integrated circuit includes forming first structures in a first portion of the integrated circuit and forming second structures, which are arranged more densely than the first structures, in a second portion. The first and second structures are defined by lithography processes using photomasks. At least one of the photomasks includes both openings in a first region for supporting the definition of the first structures and openings in a second region for supporting the definition of the second structures.
US08021927B2
A method of forming a ball grid array (BGA) package is provided. The method includes coupling an integrated circuit (IC) die to a heat spreader in an opening of a substrate, the opening of the substrate extending through the substrate, such that a portion of the heat spreader is accessible through the opening and coupling a first surface of a second substrate to the IC die via a bump interconnect. The second surface of the second substrate has an array of contact pads capable of coupling to a board.
US08021922B2
A method of attaching a pair of chips, each having primary contacts that can be mated to each other, involves forming one or more secondary contacts on each of the two chips of a shape sufficient to prevent an initial attachment material from contacting any of the primary contacts during a preliminary attachment operation, the secondary contacts further having a height that will prevent the primary contacts from touching when the secondary contacts are brought into contact with each other, bringing the secondary contacts into closer and closer aligned proximity to each other at least until the primary contacts touch in a first phase, and heating the primary contacts until material between each of corresponding primary contacts on each of the chips in the pair forms an electrical connection.
US08021921B2
A copper pillar may be provided on a chip and a first tin-containing layer may be provided over the copper pillar. A second tin-containing layer may be provided on a substrate. The first tin-containing layer may be joined with the second tin-containing layer during a packaging process.
US08021919B2
A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device or a substrate is described. The method includes providing a chip attached to a carrier or providing a substrate. A foil is held over the chip and the carrier or the substrate. A laser beam is directed onto the foil, and substance at the foil is ablated and deposited on the chip and the carrier or on the substrate.
US08021916B2
To provide a method for manufacturing a thin film transistor in which contact resistance between an oxide semiconductor layer and source and drain electrode layers is small, the surfaces of the source and drain electrode layers are subjected to sputtering treatment with plasma and an oxide semiconductor layer containing In, Ga, and Zn is formed successively over the source and drain electrode layers without exposure of the source and drain electrode layers to air.
US08021913B2
For forming the separating lines, (5, 6, 7) which are produced in the functional layers (2, 3, 4) deposited on a transparent substrate (1) during manufacture of a photovoltaic module with series-connected cells (C1, C2, . . . ), there are used laser scanners (8) whose laser beam (14) produces in the field (17) scanned thereby a plurality of adjacent separating line sections (18) in the functional layer (2, 3, 4). The laser scanners (8) are then moved relative to the coated substrate (1) in the direction (Y) of the separating lines (5, 6, 7) by a distance corresponding at the most to the length (L) of the scanned field (17) to thereby form continuous separating lines (5, 6, 7) through mutually flush separating line sections (18).
US08021910B2
A method for producing a single crystal silicon solar cell including the steps of: implanting ions into a single crystal silicon substrate through an ion implanting surface thereof to form an ion implanted layer in the single crystal silicon substrate; forming a transparent electroconductive film on a surface of a transparent insulator substrate; conducting a surface activating treatment for the ion implanting surface of the single crystal silicon substrate and/or a surface of the transparent electroconductive film on the transparent insulator substrate; bonding the ion implanting surface of the single crystal silicon substrate and the surface of the transparent electroconductive film on the transparent insulator substrate to each other; applying an impact to the ion implanted layer; and forming a p-n junction in the single crystal silicon layer.
US08021908B2
A method and apparatus for operating an imager pixel that includes the act of applying a relatively small first polarity voltage and a plurality of pulses of a second polarity voltage on the gate of a transfer transistor during a charge integration period.
US08021903B2
Provided are a method of fabricating a microlens using selective etching of a compound semi-conductor and a method of fabricating a photoelectric device having the microlens. The formation of the microlens includes patterning a compound semiconductor layer and removing a lateral surface of the compound semiconductor layer to form a roughly hemispheric lens. The lateral surface of the compound semiconductor layer is removed by a digital alloy method. In particular, the lateral surface of the compound semiconductor layer is removed by a wet etching process.
US08021900B2
Methods for the production of integrated optical waveguides which have a patterned upper cladding with a defined opening to allow at least one side or at least one end of a light transmissive element to be air clad The at least one side or at least one end is, for preference, a lens structure unitary with the waveguide or a bend.
US08021888B2
Disclosed is a method for performing nucleic acid hybridization assays which involve the application of acoustic surface waves. The hybridization assays may be used for detecting and mapping chromosomal or genetic abnormalities associated with various diseases or associated with predisposition to various diseases. In a particular aspect, the present method relates to the use of rapid nucleic acid hybridization methods, such as comparative genomic hybridization (CGH), for comparing nucleic acid segments of one genome to corresponding nucleic acid segments in another genome(s).
US08021869B2
Cell storage and delivery systems and methods for storing and delivering viable cells to a mammal are disclosed. The cell storage and delivery systems include a biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable fibrous matrix physically associated with viable cells to contain and release the cells at a controlled rate. The biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable matrix can be formed by electrospinning fibers of biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable fiberizable material. The methods include methods for storing viable cells and for delivering viable cells to a mammal using the cell storage and delivery system.
US08021866B2
The present invention provides for design and therapeutic use of ADPase enhanced polypeptides, pharmaceutical compositions, and methods useful for preventing and reversing platelet aggregation and recruitment for the treatment and prevention of vascular disorders in mammals.
US08021862B2
The present invention discloses an improved process for the production of G-CSF in high yield via a high salt-induced increase in plasmid stability during the production phase.
US08021861B2
The present invention provides a polypeptide, called EspA, which is secreted by pathogenic E. coli, such as the enteropathogenic (SPEC) and enterohemorrhagic (EHEC) E. coli. The invention also provides isolated nucleic acid sequences encoding EspA polypeptide, EspA peptides, a recombinant method for producing recombinant EspA, antibodies which bind to EspA, and a kit for the detection of EspA-producing E. coli.
US08021851B2
This invention relates to the finding that HP1β is phosphorylated at Thr51 at an early stage in the DNA damage response in cells. Thr51P HP1β is therefore a biomarker for DNA damage which may be useful, for example, in assessing DNA damage, cancer susceptibility or the responsiveness of an individual to DNA damaging therapies.
US08021843B2
A biological sample reaction chip, including: a plurality of reaction vessels; a first channel connected to one end of each of the reaction vessels and comprising an opening for introducing a reaction solution; and a second channel connected to the other end of each of the reaction vessels, wherein when a capillary force of the first channel is defined as A, while a capillary force of connected portions between the reaction vessels and the first channel as B, a capillary force of the reaction vessels as C, a capillary force of connected portions of the second channel and the reaction vessels as D, and a capillary force of the second channel as E, the following is established: A
US08021842B2
The present invention provides methods and compositions for tagging nucleic acid sequence fragments, e.g., a set of nucleic acid sequence fragments from a single genome, with one or more unique members of a collection of oligonucleotide tags, or sequence tokens, which, in turn, can be identified using a variety of readout platforms. As a general rule, a given sequence token is used once and only once in any tag sequence. In addition, the present invention also provides methods for using the sequence tokens to efficiently determine variations in nucleotide sequences in the associated nucleic acid sequence fragments.
US08021839B2
Methods of determining the presence or amount of a target polynucleotide in a sample are provided. A sample that contains a target polynucleotide, a polynucleotide that may include nucleic acid analogs and that is complementary to a target nucleic acid sequence of the target polynucleotide, and a dye for which the rate of change in an optical property is different in the presence and absence of a target polynucleotide/polynucleotide hybrid are combined to produce a reaction mixture. The rate of change in an optical property of the dye in the reaction mixture is compared to a reference value characteristic of the rate of change in the optical property of the dye in a similar reaction mixture containing a known amount of a polynucleotide/polynucleotide hybrid to determine a relative rate of change in the optical property. The relative rate of change in the optical property of dye in the reaction mixture is correlated with the presence or amount of the specified target polynucleotide in the sample.
US08021837B2
Disclosed are new methods comprising the use of in situ hybridization to detect abnormal nucleic acid sequence copy numbers in one or more genomes wherein repetitive sequences that bind to multiple loci in a reference chromosome spread are either substantially removed and/or their hybridization signals suppressed. The invention termed Comparative Genomic Hybridization (CGH) provides for methods of determining the relative number of copies of nucleic acid sequences in one or more subject genomes or portions thereof (for example, a tumor cell) as a function of the location of those sequences in a reference genome (for example, a normal human genome). The intensity(ies) of the signals from each labeled subject nucleic acid and/or the differences in the ratios between different signals from the labeled subject nucleic acid sequences are compared to determine the relative copy numbers of the nucleic acid sequences in the one or more subject genomes as a function of position along the reference chromosome spread. Amplifications, duplications and/or deletions in the subject genome(s) can be detected. Also provided is a method of determining the absolute copy numbers of substantially all RNA or DNA sequences in subject cell(s) or cell population(s).
US08021835B2
The invention relates to the discovery that the Claudin-1 protein functions as a co-receptor for entry of HCV into cells. Methods of inhibiting, preventing or mitigating HCV infections by inhibiting HCV interactions with Claudin-1 are provided. Methods of identifying agents or compounds that interfere with HCV interactions with Claudin-1 are also provided. Finally, useful kits, cell culture compositions, agents, and compounds related to the inhibition of HCV interactions with Claudin-1 are also disclosed.
US08021828B2
A structure and a photolithography method. The method includes forming a first layer of a first photoresist including a first polymer and a first photosensitive acid generator. A second layer of a second photoresist, including a second polymer having at least one phenyl or phenolic moiety, is formed directly onto the first layer. The second layer is patternwise imaged, resulting in exposing at least one first portion. The first portion is removed, revealing at least one first region of the first layer. A second portion of the second layer remains forming a structure having opaque regions. The structure and first region are exposed. The opaque regions shield from radiation at least one second region of the first layer, resulting in producing acid in the first region and in the structure. The structure and base-soluble regions of the first layer are removed. A structure is also described.
US08021826B2
The present invention provides an organic anti-reflection coating composition comprising a copolymer represented by the following Formula 1, a light absorbent, a thermal acid generating agent, and a curing agent: wherein R1, R2 and R3 are each independent to each; R1 represents hydrogen or an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms; R2 represents hydrogen, an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms or an arylalkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms; R3 is hydrogen or a methyl group; m and n are repeating units in the main chain, while m+n=1, and they have values of 0.05
US08021820B2
Composition, which comprises a latent activator and a colour former, a process for the preparation of these compositions, substrates coated with these compositions and a process for their preparation, a process for preparing marked substrates using these compositions and marked substrates obtainable by the latter process.
US08021791B1
An electrochemical cell includes an anode composed of a salt, a cathode insulated from the anode and a non-aqueous electrolyte in contact with the anode. The electrolyte may include an organic solvent that comprises at least approximately one percent by volume trimethylene carbonate.
US08021788B2
Disclosed herein is a secondary battery including an electrode assembly that can be charged and discharged, wherein the electrode assembly includes an electrode (‘safety electrode’) composed of a material that effects an electrochemical reaction when the secondary battery is overcharged (Overcharge reaction material’). The safety electrode according to the present invention is not directly added to components related to the operation of the secondary battery. Consequently, the safety electrode does not deteriorate the performance of the battery during the normal operation of the battery, and the safety electrode consumes the overcharge current through the electrochemical reaction, when the battery is overcharged, whereby the safety of the battery is fundamentally secured.
US08021773B1
A battery system for efficiently operating a battery under various circumstances, such as relating to extreme temperature ranges and varying load (i.e. current) ranges. The battery system generally includes at least one first cell having a first chemistry, at least one second cell having a second chemistry and a controller in communication with the first cell and the second cell. The controller is adapted to employ a chemical reaction of the first chemistry in the first cell or the second chemistry in the second cell. The first chemistry is different than the second chemistry, wherein the first chemistry and the second chemistry may be adapted to provide current over varying temperature ranges or to provide current for varying current loads.
US08021770B2
A perpendicular type of magnetic recording medium includes a substrate, a soft magnetic underlying section including a plurality of distinct layers soft magnetic material, a recording section, and an intermediate section upon which the recording section is formed. The intermediate section is provided to improve the crystal orientation and impart a desired magnetic characteristic to the recording section. An uppermost one of the layers of soft magnetic material which, of all of the layers of soft magnetic material, is disposed closest to the intermediate section is predisposed to induce the intermediate section to crystallize in a desired way as it is formed. Therefore, the intermediate section may have a minimal thickness and yet achieve a crystallization that is sufficient to control the forming of the recording section.
US08021762B2
This invention relates to articles coated with a thermally sprayed coating of a high purity yttria or ytterbia stabilized zirconia powder, said high purity yttria or ytterbia stabilized zirconia powder comprising from about 0 to about 0.15 weight percent impurity oxides, from about 0 to about 2 weight percent hafnium oxide (hafnia), from about 6 to about 25 weight percent yttrium oxide (yttria) or from about 10 to about 36 weight percent ytterbium oxide (ytterbia), and the balance zirconium oxide (zirconia). The articles include, for example, blades, vanes and seal surfaces of gas turbine engines coated with a thermal barrier coating.
US08021760B2
A film includes first and second outer layers, a core layer, and first and second substrate layers, each layer including a polymer; at least one of the substrate layers includes an amidic wax, and at least one of the outer layers includes an amidic wax present in an amount of 1% to 50% of the amount of wax in the first and second substrate layers respectively. The wax can be blended with a transition metal salt of stearic acid, or ester of stearic acid. Alternatively, a film includes first and second outer layers, and a substrate layer, each layer including a polymer; at least one of the first outer layer, second outer layer, and substrate layer including a blend of an amidic wax, and a transition metal salt of stearic acid, or ester of stearic acid.
US08021757B2
A tool for machining is made from a hard-metal, cermet or ceramic base material and a single-layer or multi-layer hard material coating on the base material. An additional coating of one or more metals from the group of aluminum, copper, zinc, titanium, nickel, tin or base alloys of these metals is applied to the hard material coating.
US08021755B2
A low thermal expansion glass includes a base glass material having a front surface, a back surface, and a thickness and a glass coating material applied on at least the front surface of the base glass material. The base glass material consists essentially 10 wt % to 20 wt % titania and 80 wt % to 90 wt % silica. The glass coating material also consists essentially of titania and silica, but the total amount of titania in the glass coating material is lower than the total amount of titania in the base glass material. A silica-titania glass element suitable for extreme ultraviolet lithography applications consists of 12 wt % to 20 wt % titania and 80 wt % to 88 wt % silica and has a coefficient of thermal expansion of essentially 0 ΔL/L in a temperature range of −20° C. to +100° C.
US08021753B2
The present invention provides a process for preparing a thin film having alternating monolayers of a metal-metal bonded complex monolayer and an organic monolayer by layer-by-layer growth. The process comprises the steps of: (1) applying onto a surface of a substrate a first linker compound to produce a primer layer; (2) applying onto said primer layer a layer of a metal-metal bonded complex to produce a metal-metal bonded complex monolayer on said primer layer; (3) applying onto said metal-metal bonded complex monolayer a second linker compound; and optionally (4) sequentially repeating steps (2) and (3) at least once to produce said layer-by-layer grown thin film having alternating monolayers of a metal-metal bonded complex monolayer and an organic monolayer.
US08021749B2
The present invention allows abrasion resistance in silica-based films containing an organic material to be improved. Such a silica-based film contains silica as an inorganic oxide to be its main component, and a poorly water-soluble polymer as an organic material. Example of the poorly water-soluble polymer include a polymer having a solubility of 1.0 g or less with respect to 100 g of water at 25° C., such as polycaprolactone polyol, bisphenol A polyol and glycerol polyol. The silica-based film exhibits good abrasion resistance not only in the Taber abrasion test, but also in the steel wool abrasion test.
US08021747B2
Provided is a transparent carbon nanotube (CNT) electrode comprising a net-like (i.e., net-shaped) CNT thin film and a method for preparing the same. More specifically, a transparent CNT electrode comprises a transparent substrate and a net-shaped CNT thin film formed on the transparent substrate, and a method for preparing a transparent CNT electrode, comprising forming a thin film using particulate materials and CNTs, and then removing the particulate materials to form a net-shaped CNT thin film. The transparent CNT electrode exhibits excellent electrical conductivity while maintaining high light transmittance. Therefore, the transparent CNT electrode can be widely used to fabricate a variety of electronic devices, including image sensors, solar cells, liquid crystal displays, organic electroluminescence (EL) displays, and touch screen panels, that have need of electrodes possessing both light transmission properties and conductive properties.
US08021739B2
A unitary structure (10) is comprised of two or more planar substrates (30, 40) fused together by a glass or glass-ceramic sintered frit structure (20) disposed therebetween. The pattern of the sintered patterned frit material defines passages (70) therein, and the sintered frit structure (20) has a characteristic minimum feature size (60) in a direction parallel to the substrates. Particles of the frit material have a poly-dispersed size distribution up to a maximum frit particle size, in a maximum length dimension, and the minimum feature size or dimension (60) of the sintered patterned frit material is greater than 2 times the maximum frit particle size, desirably about 3 times or more, and less than 6.25 times the maximum frit particle size, desirably about 5 times or less, most desirably about 4 times or less. A method for making the structure (10) is also disclosed.
US08021734B2
An inflatable or gas-filled insulation panel comprises an envelope having two outer sheets sealed together along edges of the sheets and at least one of the sheets has an outer reflective surface. The envelope encases a plurality of internal films that include a polymeric film having a plurality of reflective stripes disposed thereon and spaced apart on the films. Seals are formed along the gaps or areas between the reflective stripes on the films by application of heat and pressure, which causes the films to seal to each other and the outer sheets at spaced apart intervals. A channel is formed between the outer edges of the films and the outer sheets, and a valve, disposed at an end of the panel, is in fluid communication with the channel for the injection of a fluid, such as an inert gas or air, to inflate panel.
US08021714B2
An apparatus, system, and method for a front-projection screen having a subsurface diffusion target are disclosed herein.
US08021712B2
The present invention relates to a wafer formed with an evaluation element and capable of improving productivity and a manufacturing method of an electronic component using the same. In a wafer according to the present invention, a plurality of elements connected to electrode films through lead-out conductive films are arranged and a chip area is defined for cutting out the plurality of elements in a given number. In the wafer, at least one evaluation element is formed in an area outside the chip area. The lead-out conductive films extend to the outside area and are connected to the evaluation elements. With this wafer, since the lead-out conductor is shared between the element and the evaluation element, the electrode film connected therewith can be shared, too. Accordingly, evaluation can be performed by using the evaluation element without the need of providing the wafer with a lead-out conductor and an electrode film exclusively for the evaluation element, so that the chip area to be cut out from the wafer can be made larger than before.
US08021707B2
A filled candy cane formed by injecting a soft candy into a hardening, elongate candy. A method and means for same.
US08021699B2
The invention provides a method for producing a guava leaf extract powder, including extracting guava leaves with hot water at 90 to 98° C.; concentrating the obtained extract to a Brix level of 20 to 30; and lyophilizing the concentrated extract, and a guava leaf extract powder produced through the method which exhibits limited deterioration in quality after storage in solution for a long period of time.
US08021690B2
The present invention provides solid preparations having two or more colors or a pattern of two or more different colors which can solve the problems of the prior art including the complexity of production processes and the low strength of solid preparations. Specifically, an object of the present invention is to provide solid preparations coated with a continuous film coating layer having two or more different colors or a pattern of two or more different colors which preparations are obtained by irradiating a part of the film coating layer containing one or more colorants with light, a process for the preparation of such solid preparations, and a film coating agent therefor. The present invention also provides a solid preparation treating apparatus for yielding a continuous film coating layer on the surface of a solid preparation with two or more different colors or a pattern of two or more different colors, which comprises a solid preparation loader movably disposed, a light controller for controlling the light-exposed surface area of the solid preparation and a light source for light irradiation.
US08021688B2
Formulations of active compounds in the form of a solid dispersion, where the solid dispersion is formed from at least one active component and a carrier characterized in that the carrier is a mixture of polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP) with a weight average molecular weight of ≦1 500 000 Da and of a polyethylene glycol (PEG) which is semi-solid or solid at temperatures of 17 to 22° C. and has an average molar mass of 950 to 3300 Da.
US08021680B2
The invention provides a controlled release bioactive agent delivery device that includes a body member having a direction of extension, a longitudinal axis along the direction of extension, and a proximal end and a distal end, wherein at least a portion of the body member deviates from the direction of extension, and a polymeric coated composition in contact with the body member, the polymeric coated composition including a first polymer, a second polymer, and a bioactive agent, wherein the first polymer comprises polyalkyl(meth)acrylate, aromatic poly(meth)acrylate, or a combination of polyalkyl(meth)acrylate and aromatic poly(meth)acrylate, and wherein the second polymer comprises poly(ethylene-co-vinyl acetate). The invention also provides methods of delivering a bioactive agent to a patient in a controlled release manner, as well as methods of making a controlled release bioactive agent delivery device.
US08021678B2
The present invention relates to an implantable medical device comprising therapeutic agents coated on the device using polyesters for the drug reservoir layer that exhibit surface-eroding characteristics.
US08021676B2
Provided herein are methods for functionalizing an polymer for forming a coating and coatings and devices formed thereof or for functionalizing a coating or device surface including an polymer.
US08021670B2
The present invention relates to the use of an immunogenic dose of immunogenic material of Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and an immunogenic dose of live attenuated PRRS virus for the manufacture of a vaccine, and to a vaccine kit comprising such a vaccine.
US08021667B2
The present invention relates to an immunogenic composition comprising a conjugate between an antigen and an oxidized mannan comprising mannose units and aldehyde groups, and a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier.
US08021664B2
The present invention relates to a nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide and the use of the nucleic acid or polypeptide in preventing and/or treating cancer. In particular, the invention relates to improved vectors for the insertion and expression of foreign genes encoding tumor antigens for use in immunotherapeutic treatment of cancer. MTKRKKTINLNIQDAQKRTALHWACVNGHEEVVTFLVDRKCQLDVLDG EHRTPLMKALQCHQEACANILIDSGADINLVDVYGNMALHYAVYSEIL SVVAKLLSHGAVIEVHNKASLTPLLLSITKRSEQIVEFLLIKNANANA VNKYKCTALMLAVCHGSSEIVGMLLQQNVDVFAADICGVTAEHYAVTC GFHHIHEQIMEYIRKLSKNHQNTNPEGTSAGTPDEAAPLAERTPDTAE SLVEKTPDEAAPLVERTPDTAESLVEKTPDEAASLVEGTSDKIQCLEK ATSGKFEQSAEETPREITSPAKETSEKFTWPAKGRPRKIAWEKKEDTP REIMSPAKETSEKFTWAAKGRPRKIAWEKKETFVKTGCVARVTSNKTK VLEKGRSKMIACPTKESSTKASANDQRFPSESKQEEDEEYSCDSRSLF ESSAKIQVCIPESIYQKVMEINREVEEPPKKPSAFKPAIEMQNSVPNK AFELKNEQTLRADPMFPPESKQKDYEENSWDSESLCETVSQKDVCLPK ATHQKEIDKINGKLEESPNKDGLLKATCGMKVSIPTKALELKDMQTFK AEPPGKPSAFEPATEMQKSVPNKALELKNEQTWRADEILPSESKQKDY EENSWDTESLCETVSQKDVCLPKAAHQKEIDKINGKLEGSPVKDGLLK ANCGMKVSIPTKALELMDMQTFKAEPPEKPSAFEPAIEMQKSVFNKAL ELKNEQTLRADEILPSESKQKDYEESSWDSESLCETVSQKDVCLPKAT HQKEIDKINGKLEESPDNDGFLKAPCRMKVSIPTKALELMDMQTFKAE PPEKPSAFEPAIEMQKSVPNKALELKNEQTLRADQMFPSESKQKKVEE NSWDSESLRETVSQKDVCVPKATHQKEMDKISGKLEDSTSLSKILDTV HSCERARELQKDHCEQRTGKMEQMKKKFCVLKKKLSEAKEIKSQLENQ KVKWEQELCSVRLTLNQEEEKRRNADILNEKIREELGRIEEQERKELE VKQQLEQALRIQDIELKSVESNLNQVSHTHENENYLLHENCMLKKEIA MLKLEIATLKHQYQEKENKYFEDIKILKEKNAELQMTLKLKEESLTKR ASQYSGQLKVLIAENTMLTSKLKEKQDKEILEAEIESHHPRLASAVQD HDQIVTSRKSQEPAFHIAGDACLQRKMNVDVSSTIYNNEVLHQPLSEA QRKSKSLKINLNYAGDALRENTLVSEHAQRDQRETQCQMKEAEHMYQN EQDNVNKHTEQQESLDQKLFQLQSKNMWLQQQLVHAHLLADNKSKITI DIHFLERKMQHHLLKEKNEEIFNYNNHLKNRIYQYEKEKAETENS
US08021662B2
Methods for production of tumor-specific antibodies are provided. The methods employ microorganisms that are designed to accumulate in immunoprivileged tissues and cells, such as in tumors and other proliferating tissue and in inflamed tissues, compared to other tissues, cells and organs, so that they exhibit relatively low toxicity to host organisms. The microorganisms also are designed or modified to result in leaky cell membranes of cells in which they accumulate, resulting in production of antibodies reactive against proteins and other cellular products and also permitting exploitation of proliferating tissues, particularly tumors, to produce selected proteins and other products.
US08021661B2
The invention pertains to humanized forms of an anti-CRIPTO antibody and portions thereof. In one embodiment, the variable regions of these antibodies or polypeptides comprising them (e.g., full-length antibodies or domain deleted antibodies) can be used to treat disorders, such as cancer.
US08021660B2
The use of a collagenase containing formulation for degrading collagen within an occlusive atherosclerotic plaque in a chronic fibrotic occlusion, chronically occluded animal tube or cavity. A medical-related apparatus is provided comprising a medical-related device having provided thereto a therapeutic amount of a collagen degrading composition comprising a proteiolytic enzyme containing formulation A method is provided for treating chronically occluded animal tubes and cavities by administering a therapeutic effective amount of a proteolytic enzyme-containing formulation adjacent to an occluding atherosclerotic plaque, waiting for a pre-angioplasty waiting period, followed by crossing the plaque with an angioplasty guide wire.
US08021643B2
An MCM-22 family molecular sieve having an X-ray diffraction pattern of the as-synthesized MCM-22 family molecular sieve including d-spacing maxima at 12.4±0.25, 3.57±0.07 and 3.42±0.07 Angstroms and at least one peak between 26.6° and 29° (2θ). The peak between 26.6° to 29° (2θ) has a two theta (2θ) of about 26.9°. A method of manufacturing an MCM-22 family molecular sieve, said method comprising the steps of (a) combining at least one silicon source, at least one source of alkali metal hydroxide, at least one directing-agent (R), water, and optionally one aluminum source, to form a mixture having the following mole composition: Si:Al2=10 to infinity H2O:Si=1 to 20 OH−:Si=0.001 to 2 M+:Si=0.001 to 2 R:Si=0.001 to 0.34 wherein M is an alkali metal; (b) treating said mixture at crystallization conditions for less than 72 hr to form a treated mixture having said MCM-22 family molecular sieve, wherein said crystallization conditions comprises a temperature range from about 160° C. to about 250° C.; and (c) recovering said MCM-22 family molecular sieve.
US08021636B2
The invention relates to a method of preparing a polycrystalline block of a halide of formula AeLnfX(3f+e) in which Ln represents one or more rare earths, X represents one or more halogen atoms selected from the group consisting of Cl, Br and I, and A represents one or more alkali metals selected from the group consisting of K, Li, Na, Rb and Cs, e, which may be zero, being less than or equal to 3f, and f being greater than or equal to 1, having a low water and oxyhalide content, in which the method comprises heating a mixture of, on the one hand, at least one compound having at least one Ln—X bond and, on the other hand, a sufficient amount of NH4X in order to obtain the oxyhalide content, resulting in a molten mass comprising the rare-earth halide, the heating being followed by cooling, and the heating, after having reached 300° C., never going below 200° C. before the molten mass has been obtained. The blocks thus produced allow very pure single crystals having remarkable scintillation properties to be grown.
US08021633B2
Methane is reacted with steam, to generate carbon monoxide and hydrogen in a first catalytic reactor (14); the resulting gas mixture can then be used to perform Fisher-Tropsch synthesis in a second catalytic reactor (26). In performing the steam/methane reforming, the gas mixture is passed through a narrow channel in which the mean temperature and exit temperature are both in the range 750° C. to 900° C. the residence time being less than 0.5 second, and the channel containing a catalyst, so that only those reactions that have comparatively rapid kinetics will occur. The heat is provided by combustion of methane in adjacent channels (17). The ratio of steam to methane should preferably be 1.4 to 1.6, for example about 1.5. Almost all the methane will undergo the reforming reaction, almost entirely forming carbon monoxide. After performing Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, the remaining hydrogen is preferably fed back (34) to the combustion channels (17). The steam for the reforming step is preferably generated from water generated by the chemical reactions, by condensing (30, 32) the products from the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis and by condensing (19) water vapour generated in the combustion.
US08021628B2
A method for forming a structured polymeric film having a plurality of longitudinally spaced structured on both sides of the structured polymeric film is described. The method includes: providing a rotatable tool having an outer circumferential surface, the outer circumferential surface including a plurality of tool projections; providing a nip roll having a smooth conformable outer circumferential surface opposed to the outer circumferential surface of the tool; introducing a polymer layer into a nip between the tool and the nip roll; pressing the polymer layer between the tool and the nip roll to form web recesses into a first side of the polymer layer and web projections extending away from an opposing second side of the polymer layer, with the tool projections on the circumferential surface of the tool and form a structured web; and removing the structured web from the tool. Sample processing articles are also described.
US08021624B2
The invention relates to a reactor (1) and a process for continuously preparing H2S by converting a reactant mixture which comprises essentially gaseous sulfur and hydrogen over a catalyst, comprising a sulfur melt (9) at least in a lower subregion (8) of the reactor (1), into which gaseous hydrogen is introduced. The catalyst is arranged in at least one U-shaped tube (21) which is partly in contact with the sulfur melt (9), the at least one U-shaped tube (21) having at least one entry orifice (23) on a limb (26) above the sulfur melt (9), through which the reactant mixture can enter the U-shaped tube (21) from a reactant region (10) of the reactor (1), having a flow path within the at least one U-shaped tube, along which the reactant mixture can be converted in a reaction region comprising the catalyst (22), and having at least one exit orifice (24) in another limb (27) through which a product can exit into a product region (7).
US08021623B2
An examination assistant device (3) is used for examination in which a process solution containing an etching solution is held in contact with an examination objective portion of a quartz pole member (21) of a semiconductor processing apparatus, and then the process solution is analyzed to identify a metal impurity contained in the examination objective portion. The pole member (21) includes a pair of concave portions (22) disposed one on either side of the examination objective portion. The examination assistant device (3) includes a pair of end plates (32) configured to engage with the pair of concave portions, a frame (30) connecting the pair of end plates, and a solution receiver (31) disposed between the pair of end plates. The solution receiver (31) has dimensions to store the process solution and hold the process solution in contact with the examination objective portion.
US08021621B2
A honeycomb structure includes at least one honeycomb member including inorganic fibers and having walls extending along a longitudinal direction to define cells. A catalyst is provided on the wall in an amount of at least about 100 g and at most about 400 g per liter of volume of the honeycomb structure. The honeycomb member has a pore distribution measured using mercury porosimetry in which a pore distribution curve has a first peak in a range from about 0.005 μm to about 0.03 μm of a pore diameter, a second peak in a range from about 1 μm to about 15 μm of the pore diameter, and a third peak in a range from about 15 μm to about 50 μm of the pore diameter, where the curve is drawn by plotting the pore diameter (μm) on an X-axis and a log differential pore volume (mL/g) on a Y-axis.
US08021616B2
A gas sensor including: a gas detection element; a metal shell extending in an axial direction; and a metal cylinder extending in an axial direction, wherein a leading end portion of the metal cylinder surrounds a base end portion of the metal shell and is fixed to the metal shell via a circumferential welded portion. The metal shell includes: Fe in an amount equal to or more than 50.0 mass %; C in an amount of 0.02 mass % to 0.15 mass %; Cr in an amount of 11.5 mass % to 18.0 mass %; and Nb in an amount equal to or more than twice amount of C in mass %.
US08021614B2
The invention features devices and methods for the deterministic separation of particles. Exemplary methods include the enrichment of a sample in a desired particle or the alteration of a desired particle in the device. The devices and methods are advantageously employed to enrich for rare cells, e.g., fetal cells, present in a sample, e.g., maternal blood and rare cell components, e.g., fetal cell nuclei. The invention further provides a method for preferentially lysing cells of interest in a sample, e.g., to extract clinical information from a cellular component, e.g., a nucleus, of the cells of interest. In general, the method employs differential lysis between the cells of interest and other cells (e.g., other nucleated cells) in the sample.
US08021610B2
A process reduces the microbial content in land mass by providing molecular iodine in the land mass in a concentration in aqueous material in the land mass of at least 5 or 10 parts per million. The molecular iodine may be added in gaseous or liquid or solid state, and may be formed in situ using available water, added water and/or alcohol in the reaction.
US08021608B2
This invention provides a process of sterilizing a medical device, and preferably the contents of a sealed container which comprises said medical device, comprising the step of exposing said medical device to monochromatic ultraviolet radiation whereby the Dvalue of Bacillus stearothermophilus (ATCC 7953) is at least 23.7 mJ/cm2 monochromatic ultraviolet radiation at 257 nm to the spore. Further, this invention provides a process of sterilizing a medical device comprising the step of subjecting said medical device to monochromatic ultraviolet radiation wherein the minimum total energy density of said monochromatic ultraviolet radiation at 257 nm which reaches the microorganisms present on said medical device is at least 284 mJ/cm2.This invention further provides an apparatus for delivering UV radiation to a medical device for sterilization comprising a laser and a scanner for the laser such that at least 284 mJ/cm2 at 257 nm is applied to a treatment area for said medical device. This invention provides a process and apparatus in which sterilization can be achieved in less than 20 seconds, preferably less than 15 seconds, more preferably in less than 5 seconds. The process and apparatus are efficient and continuous.
US08021605B2
A titanium alloy which, even under the influence of high application temperatures, has a low tendency to becoming brittle as a result of coarse grain formation, comprises (in wt. %) Fe: ≦2%, Si: 0.01 to 0.8%, 0: ≦0.3%, C: ≦0.1%, one or more elements of the Lanthanide group at total levels of 0.01-2% and, optionally, one or more elements of Al and O at total levels of a maximum of 1%, one or more elements of Mo, Ta, Nb, Zr, Mn, Cr, Co, Ni, Cu, V, Si, and H at total levels of a maximum of 3%, the remainder being titanium and unavoidable impurities.
US08021604B2
A filler-metal weld rod of a filler-metal composition is prepared by providing a mass of metallic powders, mixing the metallic powders with a temporary thermoplastic binder to form an injection-moldable mixture, and thereafter injection molding the injection-moldable mixture at an injection-molding temperature above the thermoplastic temperature of the thermoplastic binder to form an injection-molded rod. Any excess thermoplastic binder is removed from the injection-molded rod, and the injection-molded rod is thereafter sintered to form a filler-metal weld rod, with the temporary thermoplastic binder removed in the step of sintering.
US08021603B2
A rotary charging device for a shaft furnace, in particular a blast furnace, is disclosed. The charging device is equipped with a cooling system. The rotary charging device includes a rotatable support for rotary distribution means as well as a stationary housing for the rotatable support. The cooling system includes a rotary cooling circuit fixed in rotation with the rotatable support as well as a stationary cooling circuit on the stationary housing. A heat transfer device is provided which includes a stationary heat transfer element configured to be cooled by a cooling fluid flowing through the stationary cooling circuit and which includes a rotary heat transfer element configured to be heated by a separate cooling fluid circulated in the rotary cooling circuit. These heat transfer elements are arranged in facing relationship and have there between a heat transfer region for achieving heat transfer by convection and/or radiation through the heat transfer region without mixing of the separate cooling fluids of the rotary and stationary cooling circuits.
US08021597B2
The invention relates to a method and a device for the production of blow-molded two- or multi-layer containers made of thermoplastic, and a plastic container produced accordingly, having view strips, particularly for storage and for transport of contents. To this end, molten plastic material is deflected in an extrusion head (10) from the inner, natural-colored layer (34) of the tubular preform (18) into the outer layer (36) in a process technical step, and incorporated there, whereby a view strip (24) is formed in the colored outer plastic layer (36).
US08021592B2
A process of production of a monolithic article from a web of fibres of oriented polypropylene polymer, comprising the steps of subjecting the web to elevated temperature and pressure sufficient to melt a proportion of the polymer and compact it, and then cooling the compacted web, wherein an accelerated rate of cooling is employed down to 100° C. The process is of particular benefit when the weight average molecular weight (Mw) of the fibers is 250,000 or below. The resultant articles have good stiffness and strength, yet with reasonable ductility. Similar articles cooled slowly are brittle.
US08021588B2
A process for forming a reinforced product suitable for use as a roofing material is provided, comprising: (a) providing a composition comprising a matrix material; and (b) extruding the composition with an extruder to form a reinforced product, wherein a plurality of fibers is combined with the matrix material prior to or during the extrusion step. Also provided is a process for forming a reinforced product suitable for use as a roofing material, comprising: (a) forming a first layer comprising a first matrix material; (b) providing a plurality of fibers on the first layer; (c) forming a second layer comprising a second matrix material, above the plurality of fibers; and (d) combining the plurality of fibers with the first matrix material and/or the second matrix material, to form a reinforced product.
US08021581B2
To provide a halogen-free flame retardant composition containing no antimony, phosphorus and phosphorus compounds at all, a non-halogen flame-retardant resin composition of environmental type ideal for disaster prevention made of the flame retardant composition, which causes little carbon monoxide (CO) during combustion while having high flame retardance, and molded products, electric wires, cables, fiber or fiber post-processed products made of the resin composition. The flame retardant composition comprises a mixture of (A) a resin having an average particle diameter of not more than 1000 μm selected from wholly aromatic polyamide, polyimide, polyamideimide, a copolymer of the wholly aromatic polyamide, the polyimide or the polyamideimide or a mixture of the above mentioned polymers and (B) a metal hydrate. The flame-retardant resin composition contains 50 to 200 parts by mass of the flame retardant composition to 100 parts by mass of a thermoplastic resin or a thermosetting resin.
US08021578B2
This invention relates to fused thiophene acene compounds and their use in organic semiconductors. The compounds exhibit useful electronic properties such as high mobility and high on/off ratio. The compounds can be used in electronic devices such as field effect transistors (FETs), display devices, light-emitting diodes, photovoltaic cells, photo-detectors, and memory cells. Also provided are methods for making the fused thiophene acenes.
US08021566B2
An apparatus and method suitable for the pre-conditioning of a polishing pad on a CMP apparatus prior to the polishing of production wafers on the apparatus. The apparatus includes a pre-conditioning arm on which is mounted an ingot of suitable material. In use, the ingot is pressed against the polishing surface of the rotating polishing pad for a selected period of time to increase the temperature of the polishing surface by friction. The pre-conditioned polishing pad facilitates uniform polishing rates of production semiconductor wafers subsequently polished on the apparatus.
US08021564B2
A method for detecting an end point of a resist peeling process in which a resist is gasified to be peeled off by producing hydrogen radicals by catalytic cracking reaction where a hydrogen-containing gas contacts with a high-temperature catalyst, and contacting the produced hydrogen radicals with a resist on a substrate, includes monitoring one or more parameters indicating a state of the catalyst and detecting the end point of the resist peeling process based on variations of the monitored parameters. The hydrogen-containing gas may be a H2 gas. The parameters indicating the state of the catalyst may be one or more electrical parameters when a power is supplied to the catalyst. Further, the catalyst may be a filament made of a high melting point metal.
US08021542B2
A water recovery method and apparatus which uses a desiccant, such as lithium chloride, to recover water vapor from the engine exhaust of a vehicle. The apparatus uses liquid-contactor to transfer water vapor from the vehicle exhaust to the liquid desiccant. The desiccant is then transferred to a reverse osmosis system which separates the liquid desiccant into potable water and a concentrated desiccant.
US08021541B2
The present invention relates to an automotive engine cooling system and the ability to filter contaminates from the cooling system liquid thus slowing down metal erosion of internal cooling system components. The present invention also allows the user to visually see the condition of the filtering device and the condition of the cooling system liquid. If the filtering device should plug or clog, a by-pass system is in place to allow the cooling system liquid to continue circulation not affecting the vehicle's engine temperature.
US08021538B2
Stable catalyst carrier impregnating solutions can be prepared using a component of a Group VIB metal, e.g., molybdenum, at high concentration, a component of a Group VIII metal, e.g., nickel, at low concentration, and a phosphorous component, e.g., phosphoric acid, at low concentration, provided that the Group VIII metal is in a substantially water-insoluble form and a particular sequence of addition of the components is followed, even when a substantially water-insoluble form of the Group VIB component is used. The resulting stabilized impregnating solution can be supplemented with additional Group VIII metal in water-soluble form to achieve increased levels of such metal in the final catalyst. Furthermore, uncalcined catalyst carriers impregnated with the stable solution and subsequently shaped, dried and calcined, have unexpectedly improved performance when used in the hydroprocessing of heavy hydrocarbon feedstocks. High conversion can be achieved at reduced levels of sediment, especially in comparison to standard commercial catalysts.
US08021536B2
A method for generating a hydride gas of metal M1 in an electrochemical cell comprising a cathode comprising metal M1, a sacrificial anode comprising metal M2, an initial concentration of aqueous electrolyte solution comprising a metal hydroxide, M3OH, wherein the sacrificial metal anode electrochemically oxidizes in the presence of the aqueous electrolyte solution comprising M3OH to form a metal salt, and the hydride gas of metal M1 is formed by reducing the metal M1 of the cathode. The method comprises the steps of determining solubility profile curves of the metal salt as the M3OH is consumed and the metal oxide is formed by the oxidation reaction at various concentrations of M3OH; determining a maximum concentration of M3OH that, as it is consumed, does not yield a concentration of metal salt that precipitates out of the electrolyte solution; and choosing a concentration of M3OH that is in the range of at and within 5% less than the maximum concentration of M3OH to be the initial concentration of M3OH.
US08021518B2
The invention provides a method of increasing the absorbency of an absorbent article. The method includes introducing a super-absorbent polymer composition to a paper web in a papermaking process to increase the absorbent capacity of an absorbent article made in the process. The polymer composition includes a super-absorbent polymer and a cross-linking agent applied to the paper web. The paper web is then subjected to heat in a heated drum or a through-air drier to cure or cross-link the super-absorbent polymer.
US08021513B2
A substrate processing apparatus, adapted to provide a process, such as etching, to a substrate, includes a processing vessel, an ambient atmospheric carrying chamber, a carrying member for carrying the substrate, and a functional module located on a carrying route of the substrate. A first air stream is provided in the ambient atmospheric carrying chamber, and a second air stream is provided in the functional module so as to create a stream of air directed toward the ambient atmospheric carrying chamber from the functional module so as to prevent by-products of the process provided to the substrate from entering the functional module.
US08021509B2
A separator separating/collecting operation is controlled in correspondence with an adhesive tape supplying operation such that a separating point of a separator on an adhesive tape when supply of the adhesive tape and separation of the separator are stopped is deviated from a surface of a semiconductor wafer in a subsequent adhesive tape affixing operation.
US08021508B2
The present invention is directed to a method for manufacturing a panel containing wood fibers. The wood material is cut into strands having a thickness and a width perpendicular to the grain direction and a length parallel with the grain direction, the length being significantly greater with respect to the other dimensions. An adhesive is applied to the strands, the glued strands are formed into an assembly, wherein the strands are substantially parallel in the longitudinal direction, and the strands remaining substantially parallel in the longitudinal direction are extruded by applying a thrusting force substantially perpendicular with respect to the longitudinal direction of the strands.
US08021506B2
A method for binding a greige carpet and a secondary backing material using a hot melt adhesive is disclosed. A heated application roll may be provided and the secondary backing material may be contacted with the hot melt adhesive and greige carpet and pressed against the heated application roll.
US08021505B2
A drywall patch is coated with a premeasured amount of joint compound in its wet state making it immediately available for application to a wall surface. The patch with compound is sealed in an airtight wrapper or between unsealed wrapper halves which are in turn sealed in a surrounding airtight package so that the joint compound stays moist and will not harden over time. The wrapper includes a peel-away adhesive dry patch. In use, the dry patch is first applied over a crack or hole to be repaired. The wrapper and compound are applied directly over the dry patch and, while the wrapper remains in place, pressure is applied to smooth the compound over the patch and removed after the compound has dried. The wrapper is preferably composed of microporous breathable plastic film.
US08021492B2
A method of cleaning a turbo pump is described. The turbo pump is coupled with a CVD chamber of depositing a material and thus accumulates the material therein. The method includes using another pump to pump a reactive gas, which can react with the material to form gaseous products, through the turbo pump. Thereby, the turbo pump is cleaned up and is prevented from being a particle source in subsequent CVD operations.
US08021491B2
A method for selectively removing an aluminum-poor overlay coating from a substrate of a component, which as a result of its low aluminum content is highly resistant to a selective stripping solution. The method entails diffusing aluminum into the overlay coating to form an aluminum-infused overlay coating having an increased aluminum level in at least an outer surface thereof. The diffusion step is carried out so that the increased aluminum level is sufficient to render the aluminum-infused overlay coating removable by selective stripping. The outer surface of the aluminum-infused overlay coating is then contacted with an aqueous composition to remove the aluminum-infused overlay coating from the substrate. The aqueous composition includes at least one acid having the formula HxAF6, and/or precursors thereof, wherein A is Si, Ge, Ti, Zr, Al, and/or Ga, and x is from 1 to 6.
US08021488B2
A sealing structure for sealing a gap between a vacuum container 2 and a lid 3 contacted to an opening of the vacuum container 2 to close it. A cavity 66 is formed in an elastomer O-ring 64 interposed between the vacuum container 2 and the lid 3, and a cooling pipe 65 is inserted in the cavity 66. The O-ring is cooled by circulating coolant in the cooling pipe 65. Since permeability of gas in a solid depends on a temperature, the amount of gas permeating the O-ring 64, especially oxygen, can be reduced by cooling the O-ring 64, thus maintaining a vacuum level in the vacuum container 2 at a high level. Since the O-ring 64 is cooled from its inside, only the O-ring 64 can be cooled locally without influencing temperature controls at other parts of the vacuum device.
US08021486B1
Capping protective self aligned buffer (PSAB) layers are layers of material that are selectively formed at the surface of metal layers in a partially fabricated semiconductor device. Encapsulating PSAB layers are formed not only at the surface of the metal layers, but also within the unexposed portions of the metal lines. Encapsulating PSAB layer, for example, can surround the metal line with the PSAB material, thereby protecting interfaces between the metal line and diffusion barriers. Encapsulating PSAB layers can be formed by treating the exposed surfaces of metal lines with GeH4. Capping PSAB layers can be formed by treating the exposed surfaces of metal lines with SiH4. Interconnects having both a silicon-containing capping PSAB layer and a germanium-containing encapsulating PSAB layer provide good performance in terms of adhesion, resistance shift, and electromigration characteristics.
US08021472B2
An object of the present invention is to provide an ink composition with which images with high quality without white streaks or roughness can be provided even when the images are printed at a low resolution on coated printing paper such as art paper. The ink composition for ink jet recording at least includes a colorant, water, an alcohol solvent, and a surfactant, wherein the alcohol solvent contains a slightly water-soluble alkanediol, a water-soluble 1,2-alkanediol, and a dialkylene glycol.
US08021461B2
A system and method are disclosed for improving component extraction from heap leach operations. Following heap leaching for some time, portions of the heap deficient in component extraction are identified, and treatment wells are drilled and remedial treatments are selectively performed on the identified portions of the heap. The remedial treatment can include hydraulically fracturing the identified portions of the heap followed by selective treatment with leach solution of the area impacted by the fracturing.
US08021457B2
In the filtration of fluid materials, the removal of particulate from the moving stream requires substantial pressure to maintain flow and substantial capacity for removing particulate. The filters of the invention are rugged, high wet strength materials having a basis weight, permeability and efficiency suitable to obtain substantial reduction in particulate loading from liquid streams without plugging or mechanical failure. In particular, the filters of the invention permit the removal of substantial proportions of particulate from non-aqueous streams including lubricant oils, hydraulic fluids and other contaminated streams.
US08021445B2
Disclosed are methods for upgrading carbonaceous materials. Also disclosed are apparatuses for upgrading carbonaceous materials. Also disclosed are systems for upgrading carbonaceous materials. Also disclosed are upgraded carbonaceous materials.
US08021443B2
Wax compositions that have a high triacylglycerol content are provided. The wax compositions can be used to produce candle and are particularly useful in the production of container candles. The wax compositions commonly have a melting point of about 50° C. to 57° C. and include a triacylglycerol component, which has a fatty acid composition including about 14 to 25 wt. % 16:0 fatty acid.
US08021440B2
A method for the preparation of carminic acid lakes, novel carminic acid lake compositions and their uses in foods, such as yogurt, fruit preparations, beverages, other miscellaneous food products that may need a stable red color, and in cosmetics.
US08021430B2
The present application is directed to an interbody spinal implant having a structural configuration that provides for maintaining the normal anatomic relationship of two adjacent vertebrae of the spine. The spinal implant is sized to fit within the disc space created by the removal of disc material between two adjacent vertebrae and conform wholly, or in part, to the disc space created. The spinal implant of the present invention has first and second sides with upper and lower bearing surfaces that form a support structure for bearing against the end plates of the adjacent vertebrae. The upper and lower bearing surfaces of the first and second sides are shaped to create an anatomic fit with the endplates of the adjacent vertebrae.
US08021423B2
An insertion tool of an intraocular lens permits the lens to be deformed while rotation of the lens in an insertion tube is effectively prevented. Upper and lower flat planes are formed to spread flatly over a length of a through hole in the insertion tube and the upper and lower flat planes are connected smoothly with right and left wall faces over the length of the through hole. The right and left wall faces have longitudinal linear portions extending substantially in parallel in a vertical direction on a proximal end opening side. With its radius of curvature decreasing gradually in a covered shape which becomes inwardly concave as it approaches a distal end opening the upper flat plane gradually approaches the lower flat plane, and a tapered portion having a reduced cross-sectional area is formed, thus obtaining the distal end opening of substantially oval shape.
US08021416B2
An endoprosthesis cover may be attached to the distal end of a delivery device. The cover may be generally cylindrical in shape and may have a lumen through it. An endoprosthesis may then be covered as it is delivered to a treatment site.
US08021405B2
The present invention relates to the treatment of Otitis or other type ear infections with the use of blue/violet light positioned to shine into the ear canal. The treatment quickly clears up infections and reduces the reoccurrence of ear infections.
US08021393B2
Interspinous process implants are disclosed. Also disclosed are systems and kits including such implants, methods of inserting such implants, and methods of alleviating pain or discomfort associated with the spinal column.
US08021382B2
A safety single use blood taking lancet, having an adjustable puncture depth, includes a blast-off structure and an adjusting head. The blast-off structure comprises a sleeve, an end cap, a needle core with a needle pin, a spring and a push element. Two elastic clips extend from the end cap. The needle core and the elastic clips form a lock structure and a structure blocking the needle core to return to an initial position. An inside face has a revolving inclined plane or a revolving ladder plane. When changing the revolving angle of the adjusting head, the revolving inclined plane or the revolving ladder plane bumps into an impact face of the needle core at different depth of the needle hole.
US08021376B2
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.
US08021366B2
An axial load limiting system can include a handle having a lever pivotably connected to the handle, a hollow shaft slidably attached to the handle, and a rod operably connected on the proximal end to the lever and movable axially inside the shaft. A surgical implement, for example, a curette, can be connected to the distal end of the rod and pivotably connected to the distal end of the shaft. The system can include a biasing mechanism adapted to be compressed within a cavity in the handle by an axial load in excess of a predetermined axial load. When pivoting of the surgical implement is restricted due to an obstruction, such as hard tissue, and the excessive axial load is placed on the rod, the rod and the surgical implement can move the shaft in the distal direction so as to compress the biasing mechanism, thereby relieving the rod and surgical implement of the excessive axial load.
US08021364B2
A rasp attachment for a motor-driven surgical hand-piece includes a mounting means for mounting the rasp attachment to the motor-driven surgical hand-piece and a rasp area which is implemented to take off material from a surface in a reciprocating movement of the rasp attachment caused by the motor-driven surgical hand-piece. the rasp to is curved and elastically deformable at least in the rasp area.
US08021360B2
A return pad for use with an electrosurgical system is disclosed. The return pad includes a conductive layer, a contact layer configured to engage a patient's skin and an intermediate layer disposed between the conductive layer and the contact layer. The intermediate layer is adapted to distribute energy.
US08021357B2
A body-insertable apparatus including a balloon for storing a medical fluid in a capsule-like casing, and an injection needle including an elastic membrane. The body-insertable apparatus discharges the medical fluid due to contraction of the balloon, applies a discharge pressure of the medical fluid to the elastic membrane to expand the elastic membrane, and projects the injection needle from the casing due to the expansion of the elastic membrane. Further, the body-insertable apparatus has a channel forming unit for forming a channel connecting to the balloon and a channel connecting to the injection needle, and a communication adjusting mechanism. The communication adjusting mechanism adjusts a communicated state between the channels and, thereby controlling the start of medical-fluid discharge operation by the balloon.
US08021355B2
Embodiments of systems, kits, and methods to perform transgastric procedures to removing visceral fat in the peritoneal cavity are described. Am embodiment includes deliberately breaching a wall of a gastrointestinal tract to enter the peritoneal cavity to physically remove visceral fat adjacent or on outer surfaces of organs located within the peritoneal cavity. A user can identify regions of visceral fat desired to be removed. A user can insert an instrument through the mouth into the stomach of the patient. The user makes an incision in the wall of the organ adjacent the visceral fat to be removed. Using visual guidance for the instrument, the user passes a distal end of the instrument through an opening formed by the incision into the peritoneal cavity. A user utilizes removes the visceral fat from outer surfaces of the organ, the opening is closed, and the tool is removed from the patient.
US08021353B2
A connector assembly for a heat exchanger has a fitting and a mount to which the fitting couples. The fitting has an elongate body having a proximal portion and a distal portion. At the proximal portion there is a crossbar, and at the distal portion there are an inlet and an outlet that protrude away from the body. Two wings extend from the body in a direction opposite to that of the inlet and outlet. There is formed on each of the wings a locking protrusion. The mount has a top portion where there is a groove dimensioned to accept the crossbar of the fitting. A longitudinal channel is formed orthogonal to the groove in the mount. Two sidewalls extend from the mount each for accepting a corresponding one of the wings, when the fitting is coupled to the mount. Apertures are provided at the sidewalls at the wings.
US08021352B2
The disclosure is directed to tubular bodies for catheters. An inner tubular catheter body has an inner layer, a braided portion over the inner layer and an outer layer. The outer layer is fused to the braided portion for a selected length or lengths of the inner tubular body and is unfused for a selected length or lengths to achieve the desired combination of stiffness and flexibility.
US08021348B2
An apparatus comprising a housing, a controller, a fluid source, a negative pressure source, and a canister. The controller, the fluid source, the negative pressure source, and the canister are carried by the housing. The fluid source is couplable to the bandage. The negative pressure source is couplable to the bandage through the canister. The controller is operable to provide a first signal resulting in automated fluid delivery to the bandage from the fluid source. The controller is operable to provide a second signal resulting in the negative pressure source applying negative pressure to the bandage through the canister.
US08021345B2
The present invention relates to injectors, such as pen-type injectors, that provide for administration of medicinal products from a multidose cartridge and permit a user to set the delivery dose. The injector may include a housing, a cartridge containing medicinal product, the cartridge being retained within the housing, means for selecting a dose of medicinal product to be expelled, and means for expelling the selected dose of medicinal product. The housing may be a unitary housing within which the means for selecting a dose and the means for expelling the selected dose are moveably retained. Alternatively, the injector may include a housing, a piston rod, an insert located in the housing and through which the piston may rotate, a ratchet, a dose dial sleeve, a drive sleeve, a button located on the drive sleeve and rotatable with respect to the drive sleeve, and a clutch which upon depression of the button prevents rotation between the dose dial sleeve and the drive sleeve.
US08021343B2
A device (10,110,210) for the expression of liquids, such as for the maintenance treatment of vascular catheters. A syringe (16;116a,116b;216) has a support structure (15,215) and includes at least two separate compartments (11,12;111,112;211,212) in which liquids for treating the lumen (L,283) of a catheter (C,280) with which the device is associated. The syringe further includes a closure plug (13,213) to be associated with the lumen being treated, which is coupled, by virtue of a releasable securement arrangement, to support structure (15,215). At least one plunger (16;116a,116b;216) is also included for infusing, in preset order, the different treatment liquids into the lumen to be treated, and the syringe further includes a duct (17,217) which is in fluid communication with the two compartments and is arranged through a through hole through the closure plug (13,213) in order to allow access of the treatment liquid to the interior of the lumen (L,283) upon activation of the plunger.
US08021341B2
A catheter anchor device for use with a catheter includes an adhesive layer configured to be secured to the skin of the patient proximate the catheter insertion site, a stationary base secured to the adhesive layer, a rotatable ring coupled to the stationary base and circumscribing the stationary base such that the rotatable outer ring can be rotated by the user relative to the stationary base, a first suture including a loop portion and first and second ends, the loop portion looping around a catheter when the anchor device is in place relative to the catheter insertion site, and a pull handle including first and second separable pull tabs, the pull handle being coupled to the first and second ends of the first suture, the pull handle being configured such that actuation of the pull handle actuates first suture to secure the catheter relative to the rotatable ring.
US08021340B2
A medical apparatus and method of use for implanting a percutaneous catheter in a patient's body which catheter can be easily positioned, repositioned, and replaced. The apparatus includes an elongate sleeve having a tapered forward portion to facilitate its insertion through an undersized incision. The sleeve provides an interior elongate passageway which extends from a sleeve proximal end to a sleeve distal end. The sleeve is intended to be percutaneously implanted through an incision in the patient's skin so that the sleeve distal end resides subcutaneously. The sleeve outer peripheral surface carries a layer of porous material intended to be placed under the patient's outer skin layer in contact with the dermis to promote tissue ingrowth for anchoring the sleeve and forming an infection resistant barrier. The sleeve passageway is dimensioned to snugly accommodate the outer surface of catheter while permitting the catheter to slide relative to the sleeve. A sealing device is mounted around the catheter adjacent to the sleeve proximal end to prevent deleterious material from migrating into the patient's body along the catheter outer surface. A locking member secured to the sleeve can be pivoted to an unlocked portion for permitting axial and rotational movement of said catheter relative to said sleeve and or to a locked position for preventing such relative movement.
US08021334B2
A drug delivery device (10) includes a pressurized reservoir (14) in communication with a flow path to an outlet (12). The flow path includes two normally-closed valves (16, 18) and a flow restriction (18). A pressure measurement arrangement (22) measures a differential fluid pressure between two points (24, 26) along the flow path which span at least part of the flow restriction (18), one of the points being between the valves (16, 18). A controller (28) selectively opens the valves (16,18) to deliver a defined quantity of the liquid medicament to the outlet (12).
US08021333B2
A spring retainer (60) for a syringe (10) that has a barrel (40), a plunger (20), a spring (90) and a retractable needle (50) that can couple with the plunger for spring-driven retraction of the coupled needle and plunger. The spring retainer has first (70) and second (80) body members that cooperate to releasably maintain the spring in a compressed state until the plunger is coupled to the retractable needle after depression of the plunger to deliver the fluid contents of the syringe. Depression of the plunger triggers rotational disengagement of the first and second body members to allow decompression of the spring which forces retraction of the needle into the barrel. Rotational disengagement of the first and second body members also assists rotation of the plunger into a final, inoperable position.
US08021331B2
A non-polymeric or biological coating applied to a radially expandable interventional medical device in a collapsed, wrapped, or folded configuration. Properties of the coating material applied to the medical device are adjusted or varied to result in a desired combination of coverage of the surface of the medical device, drug loading, and coating thickness. The coating is sterile, and is capable of being carried by a sterile medical device to a targeted tissue location within the body following radial expansion. The therapeutic coating transfers off the medical device due in part to a biological attraction with the tissue and in part to a physical transference from the medical device to the targeted tissue location in contact with the medical device.
US08021323B2
The invention relates to needle-free apparatus that can be used to augment soft tissue. More specifically, the needle-free injectors of the present invention allow injection of more viscous materials such as collagen, hyaluronic acid, and other polymers that are useful as dermal fillers. The needle-free injectors of the present invention allow injection of such materials to fill the undesired lines, wrinkles, and folds of a patient. The present invention also relates to kits comprising such needle-free injectors and a quantity of dermal filling material. In addition, the present invention relates to methods of augmenting soft tissue using needle-free apparatus.
US08021319B2
A blood set comprises an arterial line having a patient end provided with a multiport connector (14) having first port (15) connected to a blood transport tube (13), a second port (16) bearing a male luer connector for connecting to a vascular access device (17), and a third port (18) connected to a service tube (20) terminating with female luer connector (23) for connection with a priming liquid supply line. The blood set operates rapidly and with a small risk of contamination for the patient.
US08021312B2
An arrangement, method and computer program for determining the physical activity level of a human being. The arrangement comprises a movement sensor to be attached to an upper limb of the human being for measuring upper limb movements, a processing unit connected to the movement sensor for filtering upper limb movements following one another more frequently than a predetermined threshold period from upper limb movements during a determination period, for forming the number of upper limb movements during the determination period from the filtered upper limb movements during the determination period, and for determining the physical activity level on the basis of the number of upper limb movements during the determination period formed from the filtered upper limb movements during the determination period.
US08021309B2
An algorithm for measuring the breathing of a patient for diagnosing breathing disorders and for controlling a breathing aid device for treating a patient. Sensors record pressure and flow rates of air delivered to a patient. The data is statistically manipulated to find the start of a breath, the end of a breath, the duration of a breath, the shape of a breath, the volume of a breath, the breathing rates, flow rates, snoring index, flattening index, and other useful data to diagnose and treat a patient. The data is used to diagnose the condition of a patient and to control a breathing aide device for treating a patient at the most optimal pressures and flow rates for the patient's condition. Inspiration and expiration data are tracked separately and compared throughout the algorithm as a check the accuracy of the data manipulation by the algorithm.
US08021298B2
A pain depth mapping system and method may be used to map the location and depth of pain experienced by a user (e.g., a patient). The pain depth mapping system and method is capable of displaying one or more body representations with symptom representations representing the location of the pain. The pain depth mapping system and method allows the user to delineate one or more user-defined pain depth regions on a cross-section of the body representation with the symptom representations to form a pain map. The symptom mapping system and method may also allow the user to vary the pain intensity represented by the symptom representations as the user delineates the user-defined pain depth region(s).
US08021297B2
A wearable device comprising at least two measuring devices (2,3,4,5,6) providing primary data, a processor (1) designed for calculating secondary data from the primary data, for calculating reference data from the primary and/or the secondary data and for comparing the reference data with at least two specific data pattern to automatically recognize an activity, and a memory (7) designed for storing the primary, the secondary data and the at least two specific data pattern each assigned to a certain activity. The activity recognition is performed by loading the primary and/or the secondary data to the processor (1), calculating the reference data, comparing the reference data with the specific data patterns, assigning the primary and/or the secondary data with the recognized activity and storing the assigned primary and/or secondary data in the memory (7).
US08021295B2
An endoscope system and an observation method using the same includes an agent dispensing portion for dispensing towards an acquisition object a fluorescent agent; a light source portion for emitting excitation light for exciting the fluorescent agent and irradiation light having different spectral characteristics from the excitation light; an optical system for transmitting the excitation light and the irradiation light towards the acquisition object; image-acquisition means, disposed at a portion that is inserted inside a body cavity and capable of acquiring fluorescence excited from the acquisition object by the excitation light, and light in a different wavelength band, which is excited from the acquisition object by the irradiation light; and control means for controlling the agent-dispensing means so that the acquisition object is irradiated with the irradiation light before the fluorescent agent is spouted out towards the acquisition object and for synchronizing at least the operation for spouting the fluorescent agent from the agent dispensing portion with the irradiation of the excitation light.
US08021287B2
A restraint, reposition, traction, and exercise device treats acute or chronic mechanical pain, particularly back, neck, hip, pelvis, shoulder, knees, and/or leg pain, and restores and/or increases range of motion in suitable users. The device may include two or more movable support structures and two or more restraints, such as straps. The restraints may be incrementally adjustable to stabilize two or more portions of a person's body, such as the back and/or pelvic regions, against the support structures in any number of three-dimensional orientations that produce a substantially pain-free position. The support structures may be moved apart to apply spinal traction to the portions of the person's body between the restraints. Exercises may be performed while in a substantially pain-free position before, during, or after spinal traction is applied. The user may reposition and restrain herself/himself in another substantially pain-free position and then re-apply spinal traction and/or perform further exercises.
US08021284B2
An exercise device is provided for enabling a user to obtain a full body workout. By attaching the device at selected positions on the hands, feet, arms, legs, or torso, different muscle groups of a user's body can be isolated for training and strengthening purposes. The exercise device includes two or more pieces of tubing material fitted together in a telescoping manner. Pressurized air within the tubing provides a user with resistance to movement in order to tone and strengthen the muscles. At one end of the telescoping tubing material is a handgrip and at the other end is a strap of a suitable resilient or elastic material that allows a user to securely place a foot or hand in for exercise purposes.
US08021283B2
To provide a pressure muscle strength increasing apparatus that allows accurate adjustment of the degree of blood flow restriction when a pressure muscle strength increasing method is carried out.The pressure muscle strength increasing apparatus is comprised of a tight fitting device 100, a pressure setting segment 200, quantification segments 300, and a control segment 400. The tight fitting device 100 is wrapped around a predetermined range on a limb. The tight fitting device 100 has an air-tight gas bag. The compression force applied to the limb can be varied by supplying the air to and removing the air from the gas bag. The pressure setting segment 200 controls the supply and removal of the air into and from the gas bag. The quantification segment 300 is intended to be rest on the limb which the tight fitting device 100 is wrapped around on the distal side thereof to quantify a quantification target that varies depending on the increase and decrease of the compression force. The control segment 400 controls the pressure setting segment 200 based on the quantification target. As described above, the pressure muscle strength increasing apparatus automatically controls the compression force based on the quantification target.
US08021281B2
An electronic scoring system for use in a variety of martial arts (including traditional styles of martial arts, mixed martial arts, weapons based martial arts or the fighting arts generally). The scoring system allows an objective determination of the force, location and effectiveness of forces applied during competition, without the need for electric weaponry.
US08021273B2
In one embodiment, a tumbler apparatus comprises a metal roller padded with foam, a frame to give support and height to the roller and elastic bands connected at opposite ends of the roller to connect the roller to the frame. The elastic bands connect to support hooks on the frame risers.
US08021271B2
A device can search for an appropriate walking route with an exercise condition such as of the calorie consumption and the walking speed. When a user enters information at least on the walking time, calorie consumption, walking speed, and distance as the exercise condition, the exercise condition is stored in a data storage unit of the device. When the user enters position information on the walking start point and the walking end point, the position information is also stored in the storage unit of the device. Map information is also previously stored in the data storage unit. A route searching unit of the device searches for the walking route and determines it according to the stored exercise condition, the position information and the map information. The determined walking route is presented to the user through a presenting unit of the device.
US08021263B2
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.
US08021250B2
A lacrosse head includes a ball stop having a bottom and side regions that transition at transition regions to head sidewalls, which are joined with a scoop of the head. The ball stop can include a longitudinal axis that extends toward the scoop. The transition regions can be located on a horizontal axis generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. At a distance less than or equal to 1.25 inches from the bottom along the longitudinal axis, opposing side regions and/or sidewalls are separated by a minimum width of 3 inches from the bottom. This construction provides a generally v-shaped ball stop that complies with proposed 2010 NCAA Lacrosse Rules regarding the dimensional requirements for a lacrosse head, while providing improved ball retention within the lacrosse head.
US08021249B2
The invention provides a two-piece solid golf ball having a core and a cover, which ball has a plurality of dimples formed on the surface. The number of dimples is from 250 to 500, the dimples have a surface coverage (SR) of at least 70% and a volume ratio (VR) of at least 1.0%, and dimples of at least three types are used. In addition, the dimples have an average depth of at least about 0.18 mm and a diameter-to-depth ratio (DM/DP) of not more than about 23. The ball has a coefficient of lift CL at a Reynolds number of 70,000 and a spin ratio of 2,000 rpm which is maintained at 60% or more of the coefficient of lift CL at a Reynolds number of 80,000 and a spin rate of 2,000. This two-piece solid golf ball lowers fluctuations in lift and drag at high and low spin rates, enabling a stable trajectory to be achieved.
US08021246B2
Described herein are iron golf club heads and sets of iron golf clubs that have variable weight distribution. Each iron golf club head has a cavity and a y-shaped cavity pad disposed on at least a portion of a back wall of the cavity. The y-shaped cavity pad provide reduced vibrations within the cavity when the iron golf club head strikes a golf ball. The y-shaped cavity pad also provides an enlarged sweet spot to provide increased forgiveness for off-center hits. Other aspects, features, and embodiments are also claimed and described.
US08021243B2
A putter club head is provided with an elongate cavity communicating to the exterior through a rectangular opening in the striking face thereof spaced above the club head lower surface so that the portion of the club head between the cavity opening and the lower surface forms a lower shielding structure to deflect any plant growth in the path of a putting stroke. A conforming cylindrical roller is then mounted for rotation within the cavity to provide a ball striking surface on its periphery generally elevated above the bottom surface to a height corresponding to the elevation of the contact periphery of a golf ball resting thereon. In this manner little or no spin is imparted to the ball when struck by the roller since the lower club surface shields the roller from any moments imparted by the growth covering the green.
US08021239B2
An interactive play structure is provided for facilitating team-oriented and/or group play to achieve a desired effect. The play structure includes play elements disposed at various locations and elevations throughout the play structure. Each play element can be activated or operated by one or more play participants to complete steps in a chain of triggering events. The overall completion of the chain of events results in a desired result or effect, such as a domino-like cascade of various mechanisms, balls, water the like. In one example, the effect includes the release of a cannonball from the top of a vertical structure. As the cannonball reaches the end of its descent, it causes water to be radially dispersed from a pool, such as onto nearby play participants. The cannonball is then advantageously returned to the top of the vertical structure through the use of one or more return conduits.
US08021224B2
A slot machine that provides enhanced awards for consecutive spins with winning symbol combinations of any type (“Consecutive Wins”). Enhanced may be defined as any award in addition to the award indicated by the game's base level award schedule. Enhanced awards may include: any type of award (e.g., credits or free spins); any amount of award (e.g., ten times the base level award or five free spins); any combination of awards (e.g., credits and a free spin); and any schedule of enhancement (e.g., five times the base level credits for the first three consecutive wins and ten times the base level credits for any additional consecutive wins). Following any loss, the game returns to the base level award schedule.
US08021218B2
A damper suitable for use in a refrigerator provides for linear motion of a damper plate toward and away from a damper seat. The damper plate may be driven by an axial lead screw attached to a small DC motor and may employ a non-foam gasket to reduce water absorption and possible formation of obstructing ice.
US08021211B2
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a substrate transferring system. One embodiment of the present invention provides a substrate holder comprising a pedestal plate, a basin wall extending from a top surface of the pedestal plate, wherein the basin wall has a substantially leveled top surface, the basin wall and the pedestal plate define a basin configured to retain a liquid therein, and a liquid port opening to the basin, wherein the liquid port is configured to flow a liquid to the basin and allow the liquid to overflow from the basin wall, and a top surface of the overflow liquid in the basin is configured to support a substrate without contacting the basin wall or the pedestal plate.
US08021210B2
The present invention is a polishing head in which a rubber film is formed in a boot shape in such a manner that a position where the rubber film is held by a mid plate is distantly positioned from a work holding portion; an end portion of the boot shaped rubber film is formed in O-ring shape so that the rubber film is held by the mid plate with decreasing an area of contact between the mid plate and the rubber film as much as possible. As a result, there is provided a polishing head with rubber chuck method in which an occurrence of a surface defect, such as a scratch, on a surface of the work is suppressed as much as possible and the work can be uniformly and stably polished to the outer periphery.
US08021204B2
All lights generated in an organic compound layer are not taken out towards a TFT from a cathode as a transparent electrode. For instance, the light is emitted in a lateral direction (direction parallel to the substrate surface) but the light emitted in the lateral direction is not taken out resultantly, which leads to a loss. Therefore, a light emitting device structured so as to increase the amount of light taken out in a certain direction is provided as well as a method of manufacturing this light emitting device. As a result of etching treatment, an upper edge portion of an insulator (19) is curved to have a radius of curvature, a slope is formed along the curved face while partially exposing layers (18c and 18d) of a first electrode, and a layer (18b) of the first electrode is exposed in a region that serves as a light emitting region. Light emitted from an organic compound layer (20) is reflected by the slope of the first electrode (layers 18c and 18d) to increase the total amount of light taken out in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 1A.
US08021201B2
An electrical contact configuration having a test contact point and a contacting element belonging to a testing device for manually touch-contacting the test contact point. The test contact point is a recess, and the contacting element has a contact region producing at least one line contact with the recess.
US08021200B2
A socket contact having a mating portion, a crimp portion, and a transition region connecting the mating portion with the crimp portion. The mating portion includes a first contact beam and a second contact beam. The first contact beam has a cantilevered portion with at least one first contact finger with a first contact point. The first contact beam also has an inflexible first fixed contact point which is positioned on the surface of the first contact beam. As a mating pin is inserted through the front aperture of the mating portion, the mating pin engages the first finger contact point causing the first contact beam to deflect. The mating pin then engages the inflexible first fixed contact point at a shallow mating angle and a reduced normal force, resulting in the first contact beam of the mating portion of the socket contacting the mating pin at multiple points of contact.
US08021195B2
An electrical connector (100) includes an insulative housing (10) which includes a first housing (11) and a second housing (12) engaging with each other, a number of first contacts (2) insert molded in the first housing (11), and a number of second contacts (3) retained in the second housing (12). The first housing (11) has a body portion (13) and a tongue (14) extending from the body portion (13). Each first contact (2) has a first contact portion (22) extending to the tongue (14) and a first soldering portion (23) extending out of the first housing (11). Each second contact (3) has a second securing portion (31) retained on the second housing (12), a second contact portion (32) extending to the tongue (14) behind the first contact portions (22), and a second soldering portion (33) extending out of the second housing (12).
US08021194B2
A display adapter for a digital connector and an analog connector. The display adapter includes a PCB (printed circuit board). A first connector and a second connector are both mounted on the PCB. The first connector and second connectors can be VGA, DVI-I, DVI-D, or HDMI format. The PCB is configured to communicatively couple video signals between the first connector having one format and the second connector having a different format.
US08021186B2
An electrical connector (100) is adapted for mounting to a circuit substrate having a board-mounting face (12) and a mounting peg (13) projecting from said board-mounting face (12). Said mounting peg (13) is bifurcated and defines a pair of legs (136,137) separated by an axial slit (132). Protrusions 134 are formed on the inner wall of both legs (136,137) to limit the deflection so as to prevent said legs (136,137) from breakage.
US08021177B2
A burn-in socket includes a base, a sliding plate mounted to the base, a number of contacts, and an actuator mounted on the base. The contact each has a base portion secured to the base and a pair of arms extending through the pin holes of the sliding plate. The actuator includes a frame and a number of actuating portion extending downwardly from the frame for driving the sliding plate to slide on the base in a first direction. The actuator includes a number of pushing portions contacting with the sliding plate and driving the sliding plate to move in a second direction opposite to said first direction.
US08021176B2
A power supply connector is provided, which is applicable to both large current charging and low current charging, the power supply connector being able to not only maintain the accuracy of monitoring low current charging and the volumetric efficiency of a board by appropriately arranging two types of connector parts, but also contribute to the downsizing of the power supply connector and improvement of the reliability thereof by striking a balance between the volumetric efficiency and the heat radiation characteristics, and ensure safety in the use of the power supply connector while reducing the cost. Insertion holes 4 and connector pins 2 that configure a large current charging connector part are disposed in the vicinity of both ends of the power supply connector 1. There are disposed a plug insertion hole 9 and low current charging connector pins 11 that configure a low current charging connector part held between the insertion holes 4 and the connector pins 2.
US08021173B1
A socket cover includes a body and a base. The base includes a passage with a middle portion and two terminals. The width of the middle portion of the passage is smaller than the width of the two terminals of the passage. The body includes a pin, extruded in a direction parallel with an axis and pivotable about the axis relatively to the base. The pin of the body passes through and slides in the passage. When the pin is abutted against one of the terminals of the passage, the pin lodges in the terminal of the passage, so as to fix the body on the base.
US08021166B1
An extended universal serial bus (USB) storage device is described herein. According to one embodiment, an extended USB storage device includes a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) having a flash memory device and a flash controller mounted thereon, and an extended USB connector plug coupled to the PCBA for providing a USB compatible interface between an external device and the flash memory device and the flash controller, wherein the extended USB connector plug includes a first end used to couple to the external device and a second end coupled to the flash memory device and the flash controller. The extended USB connector plug includes multiple communication interfaces. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.
US08021164B2
Aspects of the present invention include one or more of capturing educational presentations by presenters using instructional aids, making productions of these presentations available over an Internet connection to consumers of educational services, aiding selection of a particular topic and a particular presenter, and financially compensating presenters in accordance with the popularity of their educational presentations.
US08021159B1
A string math manipulative system and method is provided including series of a particular number of holed objects threaded on strings. The holed objects comprise one or more variations in color and/or shape and/or material, with the variations configured to represent math facts. For example, to illustrate the number family summing to 5, three strings would be included in the set; one string having all holed objects of a first variation representing 5+0=5 or 0+5=5, one string having one holed object of the first variation and four holed objects of a second variation representing 4+1=5 or 1+4=5, and one string having two holed objects of the first variation and three holed objects of the second variation representing 4+1=5 or 1+4=5.
US08021155B2
A roofing product display and method has two miniature building halves with hollow interiors defined by interconnected sidewalls, pitched roof panels, transport bases and end panels, which are oriented at an angle to the associated transport bases. A hinge pivotally interconnects adjacent sides of the end panels to facilitate rotation of the miniature building halves between a folded storage position, wherein the roof panels come together in a generally straight plan configuration, and an unfolded display position, wherein the roof panels assume a generally L-shaped panel configuration with a roof valley therebetween. Roofing product samples are stored in the hollow building interiors, and are shaped for temporary placement on the roof panels in the display position to replicate installation on an actual building.
US08021154B2
A method for manufacturing one or several dental prostheses, comprising the steps of: performing a rapid prototyping method for manufacturing one or several dental prostheses and subsequent working, such as reworking, of the one or several dental prostheses with a machining method, such as a milling method. In addition, a method for creating a data record which can be used for a rapid prototyping method for manufacturing a dental prosthesis wherein an end data record is obtained from a starting data record, so that in at least one area of a dental prosthesis manufactured with the end data record excess material is provided, compared to a dental prosthesis manufactured with the starting data record.
US08021150B2
Dental implant placement may be facilitated using a guide and/or placement system. The guide may allow an appropriate position for a dental implant to be determined. The placement system may position the guide in a patient.
US08021149B2
An apparatus to replicate and analyze movement of a mandible relative to a maxilla with dental casts thereof includes a base frame, an arm connected to the base frame and a suspension assembly positionable by a plurality of electro-mechanical actuators. The arm connects to the base frame and supports the dental cast of the maxilla in a fixed position relative to the base frame. The suspension assembly, having opposing first and second sides, supports the dental cast of the mandible in working relation to the dental cast of the maxilla. The plurality of actuators each selectively impart movement to the sides of the suspension assembly such that the movement of the mandible obtained during a recording process can be replicated on the apparatus in real time.
US08021143B2
A gas fired furnace capable of operating with a 16:1 turndown ratio or greater. The furnace includes a plurality of burners (10) grouped into at least (14a) first and second (14b) groups, each group connected to a source of combustible gas through a control valve (30a, 30b, 30c). The control valve (30c) controlling at least one group of burners is of a modulating type having an output proportional to a control signal applied to the valve. The burners fire into associated heat exchange tubes (20a), each tube having an inlet (24) and an outlet. The tube outlets are connected to a collector chamber (44) that includes a baffle plate (60) that divides the collector into two sections, one of the sections communicating with the outlets of the tubes associated with the first group of burners, the other section communicating with the outlets of the heat exchanger tubes associated with the other group of burners.
US08021142B2
Method and apparatus are provided for thermoforming articles. The apparatus includes an in line series of processing stations including heating, forming, cutting and separating stations. A stacker is provided to receive formed articles and form an x-y array of stacks of formed articles. A stack picker is provided that is operable to pick up the stacks of articles during a sheet pause cycle portion and move the picked stacks from a storage magazine to a deposit area. The movement of the stacks for depositing and the picker assembly back to the stacker can occur while the apparatus is producing and stacking additionally formed articles.
US08021131B2
A vacuum pump (50) includes a pumping arrangement, a shaft (10) for driving the pumping arrangement, a motor (60) for rotating the shaft (10) and a bearing arrangement supporting the shaft (10) for rotation, the bearing arrangement having a rolling bearing (12), supporting a first portion of the shaft (10), and a thrust bearing (30). The thrust bearing (30) houses a plurality of rolling elements (36) such that they are maintained in bearing contact with an outer race (18) of the rolling bearing (12) and a race (34) of the thrust bearing (30). In this way axial movement of the rolling bearing (12) can be resisted whilst allowing radial movement of the rolling bearing (12).
US08021129B2
A submersible pumping system comprises a piston that is axially moveable relative to a body between an extended position and a retracted position. A pump valve is coupled to the body and in fluid communication with a supply of operating fluid. The pump valve has a first position, where the pump valve supplies operating fluid so as to move the piston to the extended position, and a second position, where the pump valve supplies operating fluid so as to move the piston to the retracted position. The pumping system also comprises an upper stop that is coupled to the pump valve so that the pump valve is moved to the first position when the upper stop is engaged by the piston in the retracted position. The pumping system also comprises a lower stop that is coupled to the pump valve so that the pump valve is moved to the second position when the lower stop is engaged by the piston in the extended position.
US08021126B2
A compressor has first and second enmeshed rotors: rotating about first and second axes. The first rotor is supported by a bearing system carried by a bearing case. The bearing case has at least a first port to a discharge plenum. A first sound-absorbing material is positioned within the first port.
US08021125B2
A hermetic compressor includes a housing accommodating a motor and a compressing mechanism driven by the motor, refrigerating machine oil, which is pooled in the housing, for lubricating the compressing mechanism, refrigerant gas sealed into the housing and to be refrigerant forming a refrigerating cycle, and an oil surface sensor including a thermistor having a given length. A part of the oil surface sensor is impregnated into the refrigerating machine oil, and the sensor senses a temperature immediately after energizing the thermistor and a rate of change in temperature onward, so that a position of an oil surface is detected.
US08021124B2
A capacity control valve includes a valve body having a first valve portion for opening/closing a discharge-side path and a second valve portion for opening/closing a suction-side path, a pressure sensitive body arranged in a third valve chamber in the middle of the suction-side path, a valve seat body provided at the pressure sensitive body, and a third valve portion connected to the valve body for opening/closing the suction-side path by engagement and disengagement with the valve seat body. One of an engagement face of the third valve portion and a seat face of the valve seat body is formed into a spherical shape with a radius of curvature R satisfying 9 mm
US08021112B2
A method for monitoring wear of a blade pitch brake within a rotor blade pitch control system of a wind turbine is described. The rotor blade pitch control system includes a blade pitch actuator. The method includes engaging the blade pitch brake and measuring a blade pitch displacement while the blade pitch brake is engaged. The method further includes determining a brake wear level based on the measured blade pitch displacement while the blade pitch brake is engaged, and generating a brake wear level output signal corresponding to the brake wear level.
US08021111B2
A method for operating a wind turbine having a rotor with a number of wind turbine blades, wherein the rotor's axis of rotation is tilted in relation to the direction of the incoming wind, includes the steps of determining the azimuth angle (A) of the blades and adjusting the pitch angle of the blades in accordance with the azimuth angle (A) to ensure a substantially constant angle of attack (AoA) during at least a full rotation of the rotor. A wind turbine and use of the method are also contemplated.
US08021109B2
A turbine casing may include an outer surface with a false flange and an inner surface with a heat sink positioned adjacent to the false flange.
US08021102B2
A method of fabricating a fan containment case for a gas turbine engine is provided. The method includes forming a core layer material, wrapping the core layer material about a cylindrically-shaped take-up spool, and transferring the core layer material to a cylindrically-shaped mandrel by wrapping a plurality of layers of the core layer material about the mandrel such that the mandrel is circumscribed by the layers and such that a size and a cylindrical shape of the fan containment case are defined by the layers of core layer material.
US08021091B2
A rotatably captive clinch nut includes a body having an axial threaded bore and a flange forming a base of the nut body. The flange includes a surface on a bottom side thereof preferably unitary therewith for providing a bearing surface of reduced friction. A displacer unitary with the nut body is located directly below the flange and has an outside diameter less than an outside diameter of the flange. A tubular flared shank unitary with the nut body extends coaxially from the displacer and includes a neck immediately adjacent the displacer, forming an undercut area between the outside of the shank and an underside of the displacer. The neck may include an axially extending cylindrical portion so that the thickness of the displaced material in the region of the undercut is substantially less than the axial length of the nut.
US08021086B2
Embodiments include a method and apparatus for drilling holes or cutting at specified locations on a beam or other material, even if the beam is offset from an ideal beam configuration. In some embodiments, the apparatus is configured to determine the correct locations of holes in the beam despite the beam's offset and drill holes in the beam according to this determination. The apparatus may be capable of drilling holes at specified locations on a web of an I-beam. In some embodiments, the method comprises determining the correct locations of the holes in the particular beam using the apparatus and drilling the holes in the correct locations in the beam according to that determination. Some embodiments include using one or more clamping mechanisms and one or more drilling members to determine the correct locations of the holes in the particular beam.
US08021082B2
A suction pile comprising a cylindrical wall and a piston that is movable inside the cylindrical wall. The cylindrical wall has one suction end suitable for sinking into an ocean floor. The piston delimits two chambers, one being able to be filled with water. The suction pile includes a pump for extracting the water from the one chamber and for causing the sinking of the suction end. The pump comprises a device for stopping the piston while the cylindrical wall has one water intake end to allow water to enter into the other chamber. The piston is alternatively stopped and driven in movement as the suction end sinks.
US08021080B2
Systems and methods for marine seismic cable deployment and retrieval are described. One system comprises a plurality of portable containers, each container temporarily storing a marine seismic component, at least some of the containers able to be removably fastened to a deck of a vessel of opportunity, and at least one of the portable containers storing a main cable winch on which is wound a marine seismic cable. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract, which will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.
US08021078B2
Conveyor assemblies for an asphalt paving machine and an asphalt paving machine. The conveyor assembly may include a first conveyor, a second conveyor generally parallel to the first conveyor, a central space being defined between the first conveyor and the second conveyor, and a cover assembly. The cover assembly may include a cover member positioned over the central space and covering the conveyor inner chains, the cover member having an upper surface substantially parallel to the conveyor surfaces, the cover member substantially preventing material from entering the central space between the first conveyor and the second conveyor, and a divider member connected to the cover member and extending generally perpendicular to the upper surface. The conveyor assembly may include scraper members operable to move material on the upper surface of the cover during movement of the conveyor chains.
US08021077B2
A self-moved device (1) suitable for spraying a fluid substance on a surface (50), comprising a moving system (6) for motion on the surface (50), at least one tank (4) suitable for containing said fluid substance, a spraying system (5) for spraying the fluid substance, a management and control system (7) for managing and controlling said moving system (6) and said spraying system (5), wherein the management and control system (7) is suitable for guiding the motion of said self-moved device (1) on said surface (50) and for activating said spraying system (5) in a plurality of spots of said surface (50) according to a predetermined scheme.
US08021073B2
A shaft member coupling structure includes first and second spool members lockably coupled in a condition wherein the spool members coaxially extend with a coupling part in the center, a fitting concave portion axially extends and is formed at the end of the first spool member and a fitting convex portion axially extends and can be fitted into the fitting concave portion and is formed at the end of the second spool member. A coupling pin is inserted into first and second coupling holes. Further, an annular holding groove concave in a circumferential direction is formed in a part in which the coupling hole is formed on the periphery of the first spool member, both ends of the coupling pin inserted into the coupling holes are covered with a ring fitted into the holding groove. Thus, the coupling pin is prevented from falling away.
US08021071B2
A compliant joint capable of achieving passive compliance for a robot in order to prevent an injury to a human by collision with the robot. The compliant joint includes a housing, a cam member rotatably mounted in the housing, a roller spring device mounted to the cam member to be compressed and extended, a guiding member formed in the housing to guide compression and extension of the roller spring device in accordance with rotation of the cam member, and a receiving recess formed at the guiding member to engage the housing and the cam member with each other by receiving the roller spring device and release the engagement by separating from the roller spring device. Accordingly, robustness of the robot can be maintained when an impact less than a predetermined magnitude is applied, while being suddenly decreased when an impact greater than the magnitude is applied.
US08021070B2
An exercise device including at least one positionable component configured to be positioned by a user. The exercise device includes a frame to which a collar is mounted. The positionable component includes a member that is slidably received within the collar and may be positioned by sliding the member to a selected position. A locking assembly is coupled to the collar and is operable to lock the member in a selected position within the collar, to release the member from the locked position, and when released, to allow the member to slide within the collar. The locking assembly includes a cam pivotably mounted to the collar and a cam follower assembly selectively biased by the cam against a portion of the member disposed inside the collar. The locking assembly also includes a pair of engagement members disposed inside the collar opposite the cam against which the cam biases the member.
US08021067B2
A dental apparatus for cleansing and stain preventing on-the-go is provided in multiple embodiments. One embodiment allows a user to dispose of the apparatus after use. Another embodiment allows a user to seal and refill the dental apparatus for repeated use. Further, packaging of various types allows a user to house the dental apparatus in multiple ways.
US08021065B2
An electrical mascara brush structure includes a brush body having a chamber to hold an electrical motion component at one end and a brush rod with a brush at the other end. The electrical motion component includes a first shell and a second shell fully enclosing a power supply, a motor with a rotating shaft, and a circuit board. The circuit board includes a power control element and a variable speed control element. The electrical motion component is connected with a rotary unit disposed at the external of the first shell and the second shell. The rotary unit includes external teeth which matches with receiving teeth disposed at an interior of a handle, which can activate the electrical motion component and adjust the speed of the motor.
US08021064B2
A packaging and dispenser device includes at least two reservoirs containing two different compositions for application to the human body, and a fluid-application surface that is flocked at least in part, and onto which there open out at least two distinct dispenser orifices that are fed by the first and second reservoirs respectively.
US08021060B2
An adjustable support head (1) for optical or video/photographic equipment, comprising a joint (5) including a first (3) and a second joint element (18), a body (3) defining the said first joint element, a connection plate (4) for the optical or video/photographic equipment, connected to the said second joint element, so as to enable the said connection plate to be freely adjustable in relation to the said body, locking means (25) mounted on the said body and including a clamping element (26) that can be selectively moved between a first non-operating position in which the clamping element is distanced from the second joint element and a second operating position in which the clamping element is in contact with the second joint element so as to lock the said second joint element in a desired position in relation to the first joint element. The head (1) also comprising adjustable friction means (35) mounted on the body and including at least one slide (36) placed in contact with the second joint element so as to adjust the sliding of the second joint element in relation to the first joint element. The friction means comprise resilient means (37) interposed between the clamping element and the slide to adjust the friction means by moving the clamping element between the first non-operating position and the second operating position.
US08021058B1
A method of forming a waveguide or an optical assembly includes molding a waveguide material, optionally in alignment with one or more optical components. The one or more optical components are aligned in a precision mold that is also used to form the waveguide. A cladding and encapsulation material can also be molded. The molded materials can be used to hold the components together in alignment in a single assembly. A connector structure can be molded as part of the assembly or can be prefabricated and incorporated into the molded assembly to facilitate connecting the assembly to other components without requiring active alignment or polishing of optical fiber ends.
US08021056B2
A junction is made between a first microfluidic substrate (12) having an elongate component (303) protruding from it and a second microfluidic substrate (22) having a corresponding conduit (261). Each of the substrates has a pair of alignment features, for example planar orthogonal surfaces (13, 15; 23, 25) or grooves (141, 151; 241, 251) in opposite sides of the substrate. The substrates are placed on an alignment jig 6 having location features (63, 65) corresponding to the alignment features. The elongate component can be surrounded by a compressible gasket 40). The substrates are pushed towards each other so that the elongate component enters the conduit and the gasket, if any, is compressed. A fluid-tight junction results so long as the substrates are maintained in the necessary position, either by permanent means, or, if a junction which can be disassembled is needed, by maintaining pressure between the substrates. Novel apparatus and novel microfluidic assemblies, including microfluidic chips having grooves in their sides, are described.
US08021054B2
A vehicle wheel bearing apparatus has an outer member with a body mounting flange, an inner member and double row rolling elements freely rollably contained between the inner and outer raceway surfaces of the inner and outer members. The body mounting flange is formed with a plurality of screw apertures. An inner side flange surface of the body mounting flange is formed by machining to have a flat vertical surface relative to a longitudinal axis of a wheel hub. An outer side flange surface of the body mounting flange is formed by forging to have a tapered surface of a predetermined inclined angle. Thus, the thickness of the body mounting flange is gradually reduced radially outward.
US08021049B2
A bag of a heat shrinkable, gas-barrier thermoplastic film for packaging an item comprises a first seal adjacent a bottom edge and connecting first and second side edges, and defining an area between it, the side edges and a top edge for receiving the item, a second seal along the bottom edge or between the bottom edge and the first seal and connecting the side edges, and having a shaped portion adjacent a corner of the bag at the first side edge and the bottom edge which projects towards the top edge, and a precut extending from the bottom edge towards an apex of the shaped portion, the first seal extending from the second side edge towards the shaped portion at a level below the apex and around the shaped portion to the first side edge, and a manually graspable tab being formed between the first side edge, the first and second seals adjacent the first side edge and the shaped portion.
US08021042B1
An apparatus and method for canceling variations in the beta for a bipolar junction transistor so that the diode equation can be employed to accurately measure the temperature of the transistor based at least in part on a ratio of two target collector currents and two measurements of the base-emitter voltage of the transistor. If the determined collector current of the transistor is relatively equivalent to one of the first and second target collector currents, the transistor's base-emitter voltage is measured and stored. An analog feedback circuit can be employed to change the determined collector current to be relatively equivalent to the first and second target collector currents. The analog feedback circuit can include an optional sample and hold component to further reduce power consumption and reduce noise. A digital circuit can be employed to change the determined collector current to be relatively equivalent to the first and second target collector currents. Additionally, the transistor can be remotely located in another integrated circuit.
US08021033B2
A light guide member laminated on the upper face of a luminous device mounting substrate on which a luminous device is mounted and which is for diffusing and guiding upward light emitted from the luminous device. The light guide member includes a light reflecting portion formed on the bottom face of the light guide member in an area other than an area near the luminous device, and a section in which a light reflecting portion is not formed on the bottom face of the light guide member at a position near the luminous device. Also disclosed is a planar light source device provided with the light guide member, and a display apparatus using the planar light source device.
US08021032B2
An LED back light module includes a metal support, a thermal conductive material, a circuit board and at least one light emitting diode. The metal support has a recess and a plurality of holes. The thermal conductive material has a first surface in contact with a bottom of the recess. The circuit board is disposed on a second surface of the thermal conductive material, in which the circuit board has a plurality of flanges lodged into the holes of the metal support for compacting the circuit board, the thermal conductive material and the metal support. The light emitting diode is disposed on the circuit board, in which the thermal energy generated by the light emitting diode is delivered to the metal support through the circuit board and the thermal conductive material.
US08021029B2
According to one embodiment, an LED emergency light apparatus for use with a motorized vehicle includes a foldable substrate that is formed of a plastic material and a plurality of light emitting diodes arranged about and coupled to the substrate such at a portion thereof protrudes beyond one face of the substrate. The apparatus also includes a controller in electric communication with the light emitting diodes and a power source. In addition, means for releasably attaching the substrate to a support surface is also provided.
US08021028B2
Lights for attachment to a vehicle including a first illuminating means directed substantially perpendicular to a surface plane of the light and a second illuminating means directed substantially parallel with the surface plane of the light. The second illuminating means may be mounted solely within a lower hemisphere of the light. The light may also include a covering hood.
US08021025B2
An LED lamp has a base, a tubular conductor, a bulb and at least one LED. The base is metallic and has an electrical connector. The tubular conductor is filled with a fluid and mounted on the base and has a distal end and a proximal end. The bulb is pellucid and connected to the base. The at least one LED is mounted on the distal end of the tubular conductor and electrically connected to the connector of the base. The fluid in the tubular conductor may vaporize close to operating temperatures of the LED so transports heat away from the LED quickly and efficiently so allowing high power or multiple LEDs to be implemented, so improving brightness of the LED lamp and commercial applications.
US08021023B2
An LED illuminating device includes an optical module and a heat dissipation device. The optical module includes a plurality of LEDs. The heat dissipation device includes a housing and a heat sink. The heat sink includes a base and a plurality of spaced fins formed on the base. The LEDs are thermally attached to a heat absorbing surface formed at a bottom of a bottom plate of the housing. The heat sink and the housing cooperatively define a hermetical chamber therebetween. A closed sidewall of the chamber is sandwiched between the base of the heat sink and the bottom plate of the housing. A wick structure is received in the chamber and attached to the heat dissipation device at a periphery of the chamber. A working fluid is filled in the chamber and saturated in the wick structure.
US08021022B2
A lighting structure adapted to be disposed at an electronic apparatus is provided. The lighting structure includes a lighting module, a first elastic element, a latch, and a second elastic element. The lighting module has a light source and a stopper element. The first elastic element is connected to the lighting module. The latch has an interfering portion for blocking the stopper element and is capable of sliding in the electronic apparatus. The second elastic element is connected to the latch. When the latch is subjected to an external force and slides to deform the second elastic element, the stopper element disengages from the interfering portion, and the first elastic element rotates the lighting module, such that the lighting module is at a different position, and the light source is used to illuminate part of the electronic apparatus.
US08021016B2
A mounting system and method for a light source includes a light source support structure. The light source support structure positions the light source with respect to a source of electrical power which, when connected to the light source, will cause the light source to emit light energy. Further included in the mounting system and method of present invention is a mounting for a pair of electrical contacts which enable connection between the source of electrical power and the light source. Still further included in mounting system is a heat sink which is attachable to the light source support structure for conducting heat energy away from the light source.
US08021015B2
A plurality of clipping portions which clip a plurality of lamps to be juxtaposed are provided on one face, and a mounting portion to be mounted on a supporting member by which the lamps are supported, and holding projecting portions for holding positions of the clipping portions with respect to the supporting member are provided, and two flexible portions which can bend in a direction in which a distance between the supporting sections is changed are provided between at least two clipping portions.
US08021014B2
The present invention relates to a floor panel and a flooring with a preferably continuous and unbroken front face, which is at least partially light transmitting and which has a light pattern/sign at the front face.
US08021012B2
An assembly for doorway illumination, the doorway having a door jamb and a door, the assembly for doorway illumination including an electrical circuit having first, second, and third electrical switches, the first and second electrical switches, upon closure of the third electrical switch, being electrically parallel to each other, and the first and second electrical switches, upon opening of the third electrical switch, being electrically isolated from each other; a base supporting the first switch; a door contacting spring biased push button adapted for alternatively closing and opening the first electrical switch; an electric torch including the second electrical switch; a plurality of “C” clips adapted for alternatively attaching and releasing the electric torch to and from the base; and a plurality of electrical contacts adapted for, upon the alternative torch attaching and releasing, alternatively closing and opening the third electrical switch.
US08021010B2
A diffusion unit of a light-emitting module is disposed adjacent to at least one light source. The light source emits a light beam. The diffusion unit includes a first diffusion sheet and a second diffusion sheet. The thickness of the first diffusion sheet is less than 1 mm, and the thickness of the second diffusion sheet is also less than 1 mm. The second diffusion sheet is disposed adjacent to the first diffusion sheet. The light beam is directly emitted from the light source directly to the first diffusion sheet. A light-emitting module and a diffusion sheet are also disclosed.
US08021006B2
A LED array flash for cameras includes a LED array and a controller. The LED array consists of at least one LED light source with first order lens. The LED light source may be further covered with a second order lens. Thus an oblong or round distribution pattern with uniform light intensity is emitted. The controller is used to control flash modes such as low brightness continuous lighting or high brightness pulse lighting with lighting time control so as to save power and avoid overheating.
US08020997B2
A system for defining a bounding box include one or more image projectors; one or more optical beam generators; a display surface; a computing element; and a digital image sensor. The digital image sensor is configured to sense a location of image orientation indicators generated by the optical beam generators. The computing element is configured to communicate with the digital image sensor to determine a bounding box defined by the locations of the image orientation indicators and to control the one or more image projectors to project an image in, and corresponding to, the bounding box on the display surface.
US08020983B2
An image forming apparatus is disclosed that includes an exhaust unit that discharges air accommodated in a second liquid accommodating unit; a liquid transfer unit that transfers liquid from a first liquid accommodating unit to the second liquid accommodating unit via a liquid supply path and retransfers liquid from the second liquid accommodating unit to the first liquid accommodating unit via the liquid supply path; and a control unit that activates the exhaust unit and the liquid transfer unit according to an air bubble detection result of an air bubble detection unit, controls the liquid transfer unit to transfer a predetermined amount of liquid from the first liquid accommodating unit to the second liquid accommodating unit, and controls the liquid transfer unit to retransfer liquid from the second liquid accommodating unit to the first liquid accommodating unit according to a liquid level detection result of a liquid level detection unit.
US08020969B2
A printhead assembly includes a printhead module having at least first and second modular printhead tiles, the first printhead tile having a first set of connection strips, and the second printhead tile having a second set of connection strips; an electrical connector assembly for electrically connecting the first and second printhead tiles, the electrical connector assembly having printed on a surface thereof a plurality of conducting strips; and first and second modular supports arranged end to end for respectively receiving the first and second printhead tiles, the first and second modular supports shaped to complementarily define a first cavity portion therebetween. The first printhead tile is received in the first modular support such that the first set of connection strips extend over the cavity portion. The second printhead tile is received in the second modular support such that the second set of electrical connection strips extend over the cavity portion. The electrical connector assembly is received in the cavity portion such that the conducting strips are in electrical contact with the first and second set of electrical connection strips.
US08020960B2
An inkjet printing system includes; a stage configured for mounting a substrate thereon, an inkjet head which drips an ink droplet on the substrate, a conveying device which moves the inkjet head, and a measuring device which measures a height of the ink droplet on the substrate.
US08020959B2
An image forming apparatus, an image forming method, and a control program therefor. The apparatus includes an image processing control unit to process image information sent from an external device, a carriage to move in a main scanning direction according to a control signal sent from the image processing control unit and having a nozzle to discharge an ink onto a recording medium, a conveyance unit to convey the recording medium in a sub-scanning direction, and a conveyance failure detection unit to detect a status of the recording medium. The image processing control unit identifies a type of a conveyance failure among a plurality of types of conveyance failures based on the status of the recording medium output from the conveyance failure detection unit and sends a conveyance failure correction signal to perform an operation for retracting the carriage to a predetermined or desired position in the main scanning direction.
US08020958B2
A recording apparatus includes a conveyor mechanism, a placer, a recording head, and a controller that controls the conveyor mechanism, the placer, and the recording head. The controller determines a desired speed, which is a desired value of a driving speed of a conveyor belt of the conveyor mechanism during a recording, to be either one of a predetermined first speed and a second speed lower than the first speed. The controller determines the desired speed for a first recording medium to be recorded based on a record command, to be the second speed.
US08020950B2
A switching cabinet arrangement equipped with a main door and at least one auxiliary door having a locking device mounted on them, which has an actuating mechanism that causes an actuating device to unlock the auxiliary door as the main door is opened. The locking device has a blocking mechanism that acts on the actuating device and prevents the main door from closing when an auxiliary door is open.
US08020947B2
A vehicle turning motion control apparatus includes a turning condition sensing section to sense a turning condition of the vehicle; and a vehicle deceleration control section to initiate a deceleration control to decelerate the vehicle when the turning condition exceeds a deceleration start threshold. The control apparatus further includes a running state sensing section configured to sense a running state of the vehicle, and a threshold setting section configured to set the deceleration start threshold in accordance with the running condition.
US08020943B2
A wheel assembly (10) is disclosed, including a wheel base (14) and a wheel rim member (16). The wheel base (14) has along at least a portion of its length a non-circular cross sectional outer surface (86). The wheel rim member (16) has along at least a portion of its length a mating non-circular cross sectional inner surface (88). The inner surface (88) of the wheel rim member (16) interacts with the outer surface (86) of the wheel base (14) to restrict relative rotation of the wheel rim member (16) on the wheel base (14).
US08020931B2
A seat cushion having a seat pad with a channel therein, the channel having a web with apertures for drainage of water away from the seat pad. The web provides a channel area on top of the web and a channel area below the web for egress of water. In one embodiment, the seat cushion is secured to a tree stand frame by straps and has a dual-section back portion that secures to a tree via a fastener at the top thereof. The dual-section back portion folds together to form a single planar construct and also folds to the seat pad portion, again to form a single planar package of collapsed ‘Z’ shape for transport or storage. In an alternate embodiment, the seat cushion, optionally with or without a back portion, is secured to a boat seat.
US08020923B2
A motor vehicle is provided with a sliding door on which an armrest is provided that protrudes into the vehicle interior. The sliding door can be slid from a closing position, in which an entrance opening in a neighboring vehicle wall is closed, via an intermediate position, in which the sliding door is displaced to the outside relative to the vehicle wall into an opening position, in which the sliding door is arranged in front of an outer side of the vehicle wall and the entrance opening is opened. The armrest is connected with the sliding door in such a manner that the armrest through the sliding of the sliding door from the intermediate position into the opening position is slid in front of an inner side of the vehicle wall.
US08020912B2
A passenger vehicle is provided with a body having an interior with a passenger compartment and a rear cargo region accessed through a rear opening. A liftgate and tailgate are pivotally coupled to the body at an upper and lower periphery of the opening respectively, and engage one another to enclose the opening. The liftgate and tailgate each enclose a portion of the opening in a closed position and provide access to the rear cargo area in an open position. A passenger vehicle is provided with a vehicle body having an interior and a rear opening with a first and second region facing generally upwards and rearwards respectively, both regions providing access to the rear cargo area. A rear closure assembly encloses the opening, provides access to the rear cargo area, and has first and second members pivotally connected to the body to enclose the first and second regions respectively.
US08020911B2
A sliding cargo carrier for use in motor vehicles has a slideable frame assembly and deck for supporting cargo. The deck is supported on an upper frame which is slideably mounted on a base frame attached to the vehicle. The deck is extendable and retractable within the vehicle to allow easy access to cargo stored thereon. The slideable frame assembly can be readily removed and reinstalled in the vehicle. Additional storage assemblies selectively positioned on the slideable frame assembly increase the storage potential of the sliding cargo carrier.
US08020902B1
An integrated snap and handling apparatus is provided. The apparatus may be capable of being assembled with and disassembled from a mating component without damage. The apparatus may include a pair of features that provide an intuitive and easy user interface for removal, handling and installation. The pair of features may allow a user to use a pinching motion to engage and disengage the apparatus from the mating component without the use of a tool. The integrated snap and handling apparatus may provide for low removal forces when the user interface is properly actuated while resisting high separation forces when the user interface is not properly actuated. The integrated snap and handling apparatus may be incorporated into a wide variety of assemblies and devices. For example, the integrated snap and handling apparatus may be incorporated into a cooling duct for the control of airflow around an electronic component.
US08020900B2
An exemplary latching mechanism (10) includes a detachable member (12), an elastic member (18), a positioning member (20), a rotatable member (22), and a base (24). The detachable member has a pair of clasping portions (124) and a pair of actuators (126). The elastic member is disposed between the positioning member and the detachable member for providing elastic force. The rotatable member is disposed on the base. The rotatable member includes a plurality of pedals (226) for engaging with the actuators of the detachable member and a plurality of latching portions (224) for abutting the clasping portions of the detachable member. The positioning member engages with the rotatable member. When the detachable member is pressed, the detachable member can be latched on or detached from the base.
