US08054942B2
A radiation image capturing method, a radiation image capturing system, and a radiation information system are provided. In the present invention, a console checks a cassette ID (specified cassette ID) sent from an RIS server as the cassette ID of a radiation detecting cassette that is planned to be used to capture a radiation image, and a cassette ID (actual cassette ID) that is read by the console from a radiation detecting cassette which is placed in an operating room or an image capturing room and which is to be actually used to capture a radiation image, with each other. Based on the result of the cassette ID check, the console determines whether to permit a radiation image to be captured or not.
US08054936B2
In a blood flow measuring apparatus, a data processor in a computer determines three parameters from a (ΔCT value of CT image data corresponding to) time-course change, consisting of a test region rate constant K, an arterial blood rate constant Ka, and a xenon partition coefficient λ. A blood flow f is determined using the determined rate constant K, and the xenon partition coefficient λ.
US08054934B2
An exemplary shift register (20) includes a plurality of shift register units (200) connected one by one. Each of the shift register units includes a clock signal input terminal (TS), a high level signal input terminal (VH), a low level signal input terminal (VL), an output terminal (VOUT), a reverse output terminal (VOUTB), a first input terminal (VIN1), a second input terminal (VIN2), a first common node (P1), a second common node (P2), a first switch circuit (31), a second switch circuit (32), a third switch circuit (33), a fourth switch circuit (34), a fifth switch circuit (35), a six switch circuit (36), a first inverter (37) connected between the first common node and the second common node, and a second inverter (39) connected between the output terminal and the reverse output terminal.
US08054933B2
An injection system designed to deliver a chemical solution into a reactor through feedwater system taps during normal operating condition of a power reactor is disclosed. The process of delivery is via positive displacement pumps. Injection of chemical is in a concentrated solution form, which is internally diluted by the system prior to discharging from the skid. The injection system minimizes chemical loss due to deposition on the transit line, enables a higher concentrated solution to be used as the injectant, eliminates the time consuming laborious process of chemical dilution, raises chemical solution to the pressure required for injection, prevents solid precipitations out of solution at the injection pump head through the use of a flush solution, and deposits fresh chemical on new crack surfaces that develop during a power reactor start-up, shutdown and operation.
US08054928B2
A system includes a first communication device and a second communication device. The first communication device includes a programmable region. The programmable region of the first communication device is programmed so that an associated signal includes a number of preamble cycles. The second communication device also can include a programmable region. The programmable region of the second communication device can be programmed so that an associated signal includes a number of preamble cycles. The number of preamble cycles can be based on a variety of factors, such as the topology or implementation of the system. In an embodiment, the number of preamble cycles is associated with a data strobe signal, and data is not read or written in response to the data strobe signal until all of the preamble cycles have been transmitted and received.
US08054926B2
The forward error correction based clock and data recovery system includes a data latch for intermediately storing received data, which is triggered by a sampling clock. The system further includes an error determination unit for determining whether which of the sampled received data is wrong, and for generating out of it a phase/frequency correction signal. Furthermore, the system includes a clock generator for generating the sampling clock depending on the correction signal.
US08054923B2
A radio receiver for receiving an existing analog broadcast and a terrestrial digital radio broadcast transmitting digital signals, the receiver having a plurality of antennas 11a, 11b, and composed of a diversity receiver 12 for receiving terrestrial digital radio broadcasts by antenna switching; and a controller 21 for disabling diversity reception when the number of receivable broadcasting stations acquired by station selection operation is a predetermined number or more.
US08054922B2
A system includes a receiver for receiving a modulated signal. The receiver includes a gain estimator for converting complex data representative of constellation points of the modulated signal into scalar data representation. The gain estimator is configured to fold a first portion of the scalar data representation onto a second portion of the scalar data representation. The gain estimator is further configured to estimate a constellation gain value from the folded first portion and the second portion of the scalar data representation.
US08054890B2
A method and apparatus for decoding a video signal. The video signal being a scalably-encoded video signal corresponding to a base layer and enhanced layer. Various residual signals are determined by comparing, among other things, a corresponding block with the current block. The current block is ultimately decoded using weight information, a reference index and a residual signal.
US08054881B2
Video stabilization in real-time using computationally efficient corner detection and correspondence
Real-time image stabilization using computationally efficient corner detection and correspondence is provided. The real-time image stabilization performs a scene learning process on a first frame of an input video to obtain reference features and a detection threshold value. The presence of jitter is determined in a current frame of the input video by comparing features of the current frame against the reference features using the detection threshold value. If the current frame is found to be unstable, corner points are obtained from the current frame. The obtained corner points are matched against reference corner points of the reference features. If the number of matched corner points is not less than a match point threshold value, the current frame is modeled using random sample consensus. The current frame is corrected to compensate for the jitter based on the results of the modeling.
US08054879B2
Data compression and decompression methods for compressing and decompressing data based on an actual or expected throughput (bandwidth) of a system. In one embodiment, multiple access profiles are utilized to assist in compressing data according to various compression rates and compression ratios.
US08054877B2
Methods and apparatus are provided for receiving an input signal. In an embodiment of the invention a current candidate QAM constellation can be selected. A mean squared error of a signal responsive to the input signal can be computed based on the current candidate QAM constellation. The computed mean squared error can be compared to a threshold error value. The invention advantageously allows for relatively efficient and relatively reliable equalization of signals transmitted with an unknown QAM constellation, and allows for relatively efficient and reliable recovery of the unknown QAM constellation.
US08054871B2
A semiconductor device including a pair of stacked semiconductor ICs capable of communicating with each other by wireless. Each IC has: a transmitter circuit operable to send, by wireless, transmit data together with a clock signal deciding a transmission timing, and arranged so that the wireless transmission timing is adjustable; a receiver circuit operable to receive data in synchronization with a clock signal received by wireless, and arranged so that its wireless reception timing is adjustable; and a control circuit operable to perform timing adjustments of the transmitter and receiver circuits based on a result of authentication of data returned by the other IC in response to data transmitted through the transmitter circuit, and received by the receiver circuit. This arrangement for near field communication between stacked semiconductor ICs enables: reduction of the scale of a circuit for communication timing adjustment; and highly accurate adjustment of the communication timing.
US08054869B2
A downlink Channel Quality Indicator (CQI) is estimated in two steps. Initially, one or more subsets of received reference symbols are selected. If the transmitter may transmit signals in one or more of two or more frequency bands, optimal frequency bands are selected based on a first subset of reference symbols. If the transmitter may transmit using one of two or more VACs, an optimal VAC is selected based on the first or a second subset of reference symbols. An SINR is subsequently calculated for the selected frequency band and VAC combination, based on more than the subset(s) of reference symbols.
US08054864B2
A method of synchronizing wireless devices includes establishing a recurring sequence of frequency channels at which the wireless devices are to communicate. The frequency channels are divided into a plurality of groups. Synchronization information is transmitted at a respective first frequency channel in each of the groups of frequency channels during a first sampling time period. One of the groups of frequency channels is selected. A wireless device is used to sample each of the frequency channels in the selected group during the first sampling time period. Non-synchronization information is transmitted after the first sampling time period. Synchronization information is transmitted at a next respective frequency channel in each of the groups of frequency channels during a next sampling time period. The next sampling time period occurs after the transmitting of the non-synchronization information.
US08054860B2
A method, system and apparatus for synchronizing time in a time-division multiplexing (TDM) system are disclosed. The method may include: receiving time synchronization information carried in an idle timeslot, where the idle timeslot is in a multiframe of an E1 signal or T1 signal; and synchronizing time according to the time synchronization information carried in the timeslot. The present disclosure may synchronize the time of the communication device in the TDM system while saving the cost, eliminating the necessity of installation and improving the stability of the time synchronization.
US08054855B1
Techniques are described for dynamically configuring an interface in a network service provider. The techniques allow dynamic configuration of, for example, a dual stacked interface that includes both Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) and Internet Protocol version 4 (IPv4) on the same layer 2 link. In this way, a customer network having an existing IPv4 connection to a network service provider will be able to run both IPv4 and IPv6 over the same interface. A network device within the network service provider may receive a control packet from a subscriber device. The packet may be received on an ATM hybrid permanent virtual circuit (PVC) that supports multiple interface columns. The network device is capable of auto-sensing multiple packet protocols and may dynamically create multiple interface columns over the same ATM interface based on the encapsulation type of the received packets.
US08054854B2
A network of devices with remote control includes a network interconnecting two or more networked devices and a wireless remote control unit for communicating with one or more of the networked devices. The remote control unit stores an interface for one or more of the networked devices so that the networked devices can be controlled with the remote control unit.
US08054852B2
A communication terminal used in a mobile communication system complying with a carrier sense multiple access scheme is disclosed. The communication terminal includes: a receiving unit configured to receive a wireless packet transmitted by another communication terminal or a base station; a determination unit configured to determine periodic transmission timing of the communication terminal based on determination criterion information included in the wireless packet; and a transmission unit configured to periodically transmit wireless packets to the base station based on the transmission timing.
US08054842B2
A system for transporting downstream and upstream traffic between service providers and end user terminals is provided. The system may include an apparatus having multiple egress ports configured for transmitting downstream traffic received from the service providers towards nodes adapted for replicating the traffic, at one network layer, and further transmitting the replicated traffic toward the end user terminals. The system may further include a merging unit coupled to ingress port of another apparatus receiving upstream traffic from the user end terminals, where the merging unit is adapted for merging the upstream traffic, at a different network layer, according to which service provider the upstream traffic received from the end user terminals is intended to and for transmitting the merged traffic toward the service providers.
US08054841B2
Disclosed is a migration communication control device constructed to control a continuous communication between a mobile node and a node unaffected the mobile node's migration. The migration communication control device comprises a first migration control unit, a second migration control unit on the mobile node, and a third migration control unit on the partner node. The first migration control unit comprises a packet transfer unit and an address post unit. The packet transfer unit receives a packet which was destined for an outdated address of the mobile node, generates a conversion packet which holds an updated address instead of the outdated address, and then transmits the conversion packet, while an address post unit transmits an address post message which indicates the updated address to the third migration control unit. The second migration control unit comprises a migration post unit and a packet resumption unit. The migration post unit transmits to the first migration control unit a migration post message which indicates the updated address when the mobile node migrates to another network while a packet resumption unit receives the conversion packet from both the first migration control unit and the third migration control unit and resumes an original packet from the conversion packet. The third migration control unit comprises a packet conversion unit which converts a destination address of a packet into the updated address, then transmits it to the mobile node.
US08054840B2
A method, system and service for a data center computer network. A core network switches data using a first protocol layer. A first access switch is in electrical communication with the core network. The first access switch communicates the data to the core network using the first protocol layer. A second redundant access switch forms a first access switch pair with the first access switch. The second access switch is in electrical communication with the core network and communicates the data using the first protocol layer. The second access switch is in electrical communication with first access switch and communicates with the first access switch using a second protocol layer. The second protocol layer is at lower OSI level than the first protocol layer. The first access switch and the second access switch are configured to form a first VLAN. A first edge device is in electrical communication with the first access switch and the second access switch. The first edge device is part of the first VLAN.
US08054839B2
Apparatus and method for processing a stateful address auto-configuration protocol in an Internet Protocol version 6 (IPv6) network are provided. The method includes multicasting, at an IPv6 network, a Router Solicitation (RS) message, acquiring and managing flag values of a Router Advertisement (RA) message received from at least one router, and setting an operation mode of a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol-for-IPv6 (DHCPv6) client according to the flag values of the RA message.
US08054835B2
Method and apparatuses for directing multicast traffic in an Ethernet network include sending a multicast message upstream to a metro access node, performing IGMP snooping at the metro access node and assigning a multicast VLAN tag to the multicast message, performing IGMP snooping at an Ethernet switch disposed upstream to determine each port used for a corresponding multicast group address and multicast VLAN tag associated with the multicast group address, receiving the multicast message at an access server or edge router and sending the multicast message including the multicast group address and the multicast VLAN tag, downstream to a port based on that information, thereby avoiding duplication of the multicast message to another port other than the port associated with the multicast VLAN tag.
US08054834B2
The present invention relates to a method for demultiplexing MAC service data units encapsulated into MAC protocol data units, said MAC service data units comprising IP protocol data unit wherein said method comprises the following steps: receiving MAC protocol data units, demultiplexing the received MAC service data units by: detecting the beginning of a MAC service data unit by detecting a MAC layer service primitive, recursively demultiplexing said at least one IP protocol data unit contained in said MAC service data unit, detecting the end of said MAC service data unit by detecting MAC layer service primitives.
US08054824B2
A method of dimensioning a data packets handler apparatus in a mobile communications network includes a plurality of cells, each one providing mobile communications coverage in a respective geographic area, the mobile communications network supporting packet-switched traffic and circuit-switched traffic, wherein the data packets handler apparatus to be dimensioned is associated with at least one cell of the mobile communications network. The method includes: obtaining an indication of radio communications resources of the at least one cell; obtaining an indication of an offered packet-switched traffic with respect to the at least one cell; and determining an amount of resources of the data packets handler apparatus potentially needed by the at least one cell for handling the packet-switched traffic based on the radio communications resources and on the offered packet-switched traffic.
US08054809B2
A packet retransmission method for use in a communication system transmitting a signal via at least two antennas is disclosed. The packet retransmission method includes the steps of: a) receiving a signal corresponding to a specific packet, and independently transmitting a signal via the at least two antennas corresponding to the received signal; b) receiving a NACK signal associated with the packet; and c) independently applying an STTD to a real part and an imaginary part of each signal transmitted at step (a), and transmitting the STTD-resultant signal. Therefore, the method separates a real part and an imaginary part from each other, obtains a STTD gain, and can efficiently transmit a packet.
US08054803B2
A method for automatically optimizing a neighbor list for processing handover in a synchronous CDMA (Code Division Multiple Access) network includes the steps of: collecting neighbor list data, call fault data, handover statistical data, base station location data and PN information data of each base station sector in a nationwide network; extracting all target sectors available for handover by analyzing the collected data; endowing a weighting factor to the extracted target sectors according to importance and then sorting the target sectors according to calculated results so as to determine priorities; and subsequently inputting the target sector information to the neighbor list according to the priorities.
US08054798B2
Active scanning method in a wireless network for fast determining available access points (106, 806) using inter-AP (Access Point) communication is described. In the scanning method, a mobile station (102, 802) sends Probe Request for Proxy frame to the current AP (104, 804) serving the mobile station (102, 802). In response to the Probe Request for Proxy frame, the current AP (104, 804) send Proxy Probe Request packet to the appropriate APs (106, 806). In response to the Proxy Probe Request packet, the neighbor APs (106, 806) send Probe Response frame to the mobile station (102, 802) on its operating channel. Since the mobile station (102, 802) moves to the channel being examined after sending the Probe Request for Proxy frame, it receives the Probe Response frame if it is in the coverage area of the neighbor AP (106, 806). The content of Probe Response frame provides the mobile station (102, 802) with the information to be used in handoff decision and network join procedures. Thus, the mobile station (102, 802) neither has to move to the channel to be examined nor send Probe Request frame on that channel. This enables active scan to be initiated even when the neighbor AP (106, 806) is operating in PCF (Point Coordination Function) and the network is in CFP (Contention Free Period), during which unassociated mobile stations (including the scanning mobile station) cannot send packets.
US08054796B2
A shared uplink acknowledgment (ACK) channel can be communicated to the payload recipient. The shared uplink ACK channel information can be communicated in the payload message or in a broadcast control channel. Reserving a dedicated time-frequency chunk for these short ACK messages and multiplexing different users to the same time slot with spreading codes having good cross-correlation properties can be used to accomplish such a shared uplink ACK channel.
US08054793B2
The invention relates to a Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WIMAX) network comprising at least one base station and at least one terminal. Said at least one base station, to send a signal to said at least one terminal, is able to split said signal into a plurality of WIMAX signals and send simultaneously said WIMAX signals through a plurality of channels with different frequency frames and wherein said at least one terminal is able to receive and process simultaneously said plurality of WIMAX signals.
US08054788B2
The present invention relates to a method for configuring and searching HS-SCCHs of a multi-carrier cell in a TD-SCDMA system. The network side configures the configuration information of a HS-SCCH set for a UE and notifies the UE through high layer signaling, wherein each HS-SCCH corresponds to a frequency point of high speed shared resources; the UE divides the HS-SCCH set into several subsets, and HS-SCCHs of the same subset correspond to the same frequency points; the UE selects the minimum value N from the number of carriers supported by itself, the number of the frequency points, and the number of the HS-SCCH subsets; the UE searches each HS-SCCH subset to be searched in turn, and if a consistent HS-SCCH is found, then the UE stops searching the other HS-SCCHs of the subset, the UE moves said subset out of the group of the HS-SCCH subsets to be searched, and adds the found HS-SCCH into a valid HS-SCCH set to be monitored; if the number of the HS-SCCHs of the valid HS-SCCH set equals to N, then stop searching. The present invention can increase the efficiency of searching the HS-SCCHs by the UE with satisfying normal communication requires.
US08054776B2
A method and network communicate packets by assigning, in each one of a set of multiple transmitters, a power level to a packet to be transmitted during a time interval. The power level is selected from a set of power levels available for the set of multiple transmitters. The power levels in the set range from highest to lowest. There is one packet for each transmitter such that there is a set of packets to be transmitted during the time interval. The set of packets is transmitted concurrently during the time interval to enable decoding of at least one of the packets in the set of packets during the time interval.
US08054775B2
A method of reverse link power control for a reverse packet data channel in a wireless communication system allows a mobile station to autonomously change its data transmission rate. The mobile station transmits packet data over a reverse packet data channel having a data rate variant transmit power level that varies based on a transmit data rate on the packet data channel. The mobile station further transmits control signals over a reverse control channel associated with the reverse packet data channel. The transmit power level of the reverse control channel is such that the transmit power level does not vary with the transmit data rate on the packet data channel. The radio base station measures the strength of the received signals on the reverse control channel, compares the measured strength to a power control set point, and generates a power control signal responsive to the comparison of the control signal to the power control set point.
US08054768B2
Method of and system for transmitting signals, e.g. control signals, request signals, interrogation signals etc. to a node in the form of a controllable unit associated with a device, e.g. a controllable device, measuring means, etc. and wherein said controllable unit may be linked to at least one further node by means of a communication bus, at least one of said nodes comprising radio frequency receiving means, said method comprising the steps of a) transmitting a signal from a controller, b) reception of said signal by at least said node comprising radio frequency receiving means, c) detection of at least part of said signal indicating a destination node, and d) retransmittal of said signal or part of said signal by said more comprising radio frequency receiving means to said destination node via said communication bus.
US08054762B2
Techniques are generally described for determining locations of a number of communication devices in a network. A method for determining locations of a number of communication devices in a network may include one or more of solving an objective function to determine a first set of locations of one or more of the number of communication devices. The method may further include re-solving either the objective function or a modified variant of the objective function, to determine a second set of locations of the communication devices; comparing the first set of locations with the second set of locations; and determining the locations of the communication devices based at least in part on the comparing.
US08054758B2
There is provided a method for enabling a user equipment (UE) to transition between a non-discontinuous reception (Non-DRX) level and at least one discontinuous reception (DRX) level. The UE in a DRX level wakes up periodically to monitor a scheduling channel. The method includes receiving a DRX indicator in a Non-DRX level with continuously monitoring the scheduling channel and transitioning from the Non-DRX level to a DRX level indicated by the DRX indicator. The UE can transition between multiple DRX levels by an explicit command/signaling.
US08054752B2
A data packet is provided that includes a synchronization field and an acknowledgement field indicative of an acknowledgement of receipt of a prior data packet. The data packet also includes a response field that includes information indicative of a system fault, a header field, and a sequence number field that includes a number assigned to the data packet. The data packet further includes a data field, an end of packet field, and an error-checking field. Methods and computer program products are provided that, in some implementations, include retransmitting packets if the acknowledgement field in a received data packet is a no acknowledgement (NAK) and/or placing a node into a safe state in response to a fault signal that is included in the received data packet.
US08054751B2
A network environment including a provider network coupled to a first customer network site via a first access link and to a second customer network site via a second access link. The provider network is operable with the IEEE 802.1ag standard for propagating a remote link fault condition via an Ethernet Alarm Indication and Suppression (AIS) frame or a Continuity Check (CC) frame, which is translated into a locally compliant non-IEEE 802.1ag error delivery condition so that a management entity associated with the first customer network site is appropriately alerted.
US08054748B2
A home-network and a method for allocating channels are provided. The home-network includes a buffer having queues and temporarily storing a data to be transmitted to each device, a priority sense part determining if the data of a packet unit transmitted from an outer server has a high priority for transmission and first inputting the data with a high priority into the queue of the buffer, a frame sense part sensing how many packets are included in one frame of the data stored in the buffer, and a channel allocation part allocating channels if enough channels are available for the transmission of a whole frame according to the number of packets sensed by the frame sense part. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce a delay time of wireless data, and channels are allocated according to the order of receipt of the data such that all devices perform equally.
US08054743B2
An object of the present invention is to make it possible to appropriately maintain PPP-based communications even in an environment in which the terminal moves and the communication environment continually changes. A mobile communication terminal comprises a plurality of wireless accessing devices for establishing PPP-based communication links for respectively different modes of wireless communications with a fixed communication apparatus, which is a communication partner; a PPP device for combining the established communication links; and a valid wireless LAN searching portion for detecting that wireless communication is possible for a wireless LAN adapter. The PPP device executes control so as to establish communication links for the wireless LAN adapter detected as being capable of wireless communication, and for a L2TP virtual device.
US08054741B2
A joint scheduling apparatus and method for increasing frequency efficiency and fairness in a distributed antenna system using frequency reuse and common control power. Packets are selected for transmission to be transmitted to MSs are selected, taking into account QoS in at least one of a BS and an RS and grouped into packet groups. The packets are selected from the packet groups, links corresponding to the packets are grouped into a link group, a joint power control is performed on the link group, link elimination and link addition are performed for the link group until optimal solutions are achieved for the links of the link group in the joint power control. Channels are allocated to the links when the optimal solutions are achieved for the links, and the status of a user queue of at least one of the BS and the RS is updated.
US08054739B2
A storage unit stores a preamble signal defined in a legacy system and a preamble signal defined in a MIMO system. A monitoring unit in a transmitting apparatus monitors the existence of any communication apparatus which is not compatible with the MIMO system but accepts the legacy system. A channel characteristics acquiring unit derives the characteristics of a radio channel between the transmitting apparatus and a receiving apparatus. A selector selects a packet format based on a monitoring result obtained by the monitoring unit. The selector also selects where to place LTS, based on the characteristics of wireless channel derived by the channel characteristics acquiring unit.
US08054729B2
An optical recording medium and an optical information device that improve the quality of a servo signal and a reproduction signal. In the optical recording medium, when shape-wise thicknesses tr1, tr2, tr3, and tr4 of a cover layer (42), a first intermediate layer (43), a second intermediate layer (44), and a third intermediate layer (45) are respectively converted into thicknesses t1, t2, t3, and t4 of the respective corresponding layers each having a predetermined refractive index “no”, a defocus amount with respect to a layer having a refractive index nrα and a thickness trα (satisfying: 1≦α≦n (where α is a positive integer and n is an integer of 4 or more)), and a defocus amount with respect to a layer having the refractive index “no” and a thickness tα (satisfying: 1≦α≦n (where α is a positive integer and n is an integer of 4 or more)) are equal to each other. Further, the thicknesses t1, t2, t3, and t4 satisfy |t1−(t2+t3+t4)|≧1 μm, a difference between any two values of the thicknesses t1, t2, t3, and t4 is set to 1 μm or more, and |(t1+t2)−(t3+t4)|≧1 μm.
US08054726B2
An object of the present invention is to retrieve and process a piece of content to be processed by a simple method at the time of storing content recorded in a CD into an HDD or the like, reading desired content out of the content stored in the HDD from the HDD, and performing a process such as reproduction on the read content.A processor of the invention includes: a storage 1 for storing at least one piece of information so as to be associated with jacket image information of an image related to the content; means for obtaining target medium image data by capturing an image of a jacket of a CD related to the content to be reproduced; means for collating the target medium image data with jacket image information stored in the storage 1 and obtaining the content corresponding to the target medium image data from the storage 1; and means for reproducing the obtained content.
US08054718B2
A write-once optical recording medium and a method and apparatus for recording management information on the recording medium, are provided. The recording medium includes at least one recording layer and SRR information on the recording layer. The SRR information pertains to at least one SRR and includes a header, an SRR entry list, and a terminator. The SRR entry list includes a plurality of SRR entries, each of the SRR entries pertaining to an SRR and including at least one status area for storing therein session start information.
US08054716B2
A defocus adjustment method includes a step of storing in a memory a range of defocus values for smooth operation of an optical disc apparatus, a step of measuring the defocus value of the optical disc loaded in the optical disc apparatus, a step of comparing the defocus value and the range of defocus values, a step of determining the optimal defocus value, and a step of using the optimal defocus value as a focusing bias value. This helps easily and quickly perform defocus adjustment that suits the loaded optical disc. Using as a focus bias value the defocus value determined through the defocus adjustment helps enhance the quality with which data is read from and data is written to the optical disc.
US08054705B2
A semiconductor integrated circuit has K (K is a natural number of 2 or more) number of memory cells coupled to a same word line, and multiple sense amplifier circuits coupled to the memory cells. The multiple sense amplifier circuits are divided into N (N is a natural number of 2 or more) number of groups. Among the N number of groups, after a first group of sense amplifier circuits is activated and carrying out a predetermined read-out operation, a second group of the sense amplifier circuits is activated and the predetermined read-out operation is carried out, and an Nth group of the sense amplifier circuits is activated sequentially to carry out the predetermined read-out operation.
US08054702B2
A signal aligning circuit includes a plurality of pads receiving input signals in parallel 1 bit by 1 bit; a first transferring unit for transferring the input signals as first signals in synchronization with a first clock signal of an internal clock, and transferring the input signals as second signals in synchronization with a second clock signal of the internal clock; a second transferring unit for transferring the first signals in synchronization with the second clock signal of the internal clock; and an aligning unit for aligning the first and second signals transferred from the first and second transferring units and outputting the aligned signal as output signals.
US08054697B2
A semiconductor storage device includes a level shift unit that shifts level of potential of bit line pair BL, BLB when a sense amplifier starts to read potential of the bit lines. The level shift unit includes level shifting capacitors and a timing generator. Each of level shifting capacitors have one electrode connected to each bit line and form one pair by two level shifting capacitors for each bit line pair. The timing generator is connected to each of the other electrodes of the level shifting capacitors in common, and supplies a shift capacitor drive signal to a common node of the other electrodes, so as to change stored electricity amount of the level shifting capacitors at a predetermined timing.
US08054694B2
A high voltage may be generated for programming memory cells in a memory array. A middle voltage may also be generated for reading memory cells in the memory array. Control logic and switches may be used to select between the high voltage and the middle voltage. A first oscillator generates clock signals at a high frequency for generating the voltages, and a low frequency oscillator may be used to generate pulses at a lower frequency than the first oscillator to allow the first oscillator to operate only during such pulses to conserve power during a stand-by mode of operation to maintain the middle or medium voltage.
US08054682B2
A non-volatile memory device includes a cell array including a plurality of memory cells, a page buffer block controlling bitlines of the plurality of memory cells to program the memory cells to a first target state or a second target state, and a control logic configured to skip a verify operation for the memory cells programmed to the first target state and perform a verify operation for the memory cells programmed to the second target state during a second program loop when the memory cells programmed to the first target state are determined to be in a pass condition during a first program loop.
US08054679B2
A phase change memory device comprises: a phase change element for rewritably storing data by changing a resistance state; a memory cell arranged at an intersection of a word line and a bit line and formed of the phase change element and a diode connected in series; a select transistor formed in a diffusion layer below the memory cell, for selectively controlling electric connection between an anode of the diode and a ground line in response to a potential of the word line connected to a gate; and a precharge circuit for precharging the diffusion layer below the memory cell corresponding to a non-selected word line to a predetermined voltage and for disconnecting the diffusion layer below the memory cell corresponding to a selected word line from the predetermined voltage.
US08054678B2
A method and apparatus for repairing a stuck-at defect condition in a non-volatile memory cell, such as a spin-torque transfer random access memory (STRAM). In some embodiments, a resistive sense element has a magnetic tunneling junction (MTJ) and a repair plane located adjacent to the resistive sense element. The repair plane injects a magnetic field in the MTJ to repair a stuck-at defect condition.
US08054677B2
A magnetic tunnel junction cell having a free layer and first pinned layer with perpendicular anisotropy, the cell including a coupling layer between the free layer and a second pinned layer, the coupling layer comprising a phase change material switchable from an antiferromagnetic state to a ferromagnetic state. In some embodiments, at least one actuator electrode proximate the coupling layer transfers a strain from the electrode to the coupling layer to switch the coupling layer from the antiferromagnetic state to the ferromagnetic state. Memory devices and methods are also described.
US08054669B2
A non-volatile programmable electro-optical element alters absorption characteristics of an optical medium that comprises a doped transition metal oxide material including F-centers. The F-centers are electrostatically moved into or out of the regions containing a wavefunction of an optical beam. A specific F-center profile in the transition metal oxide material may be programmed into the optical medium. The F-center profile alters an absorption profile within the optical medium. The spectral range for transmission of electromagnetic radiation in the optical medium may be tailored by the F-centers. Once the absorption profile is set by an electrical signal, the optical element maintains its state even when the electrical signal is turned off. Thus, the programming node may be disconnected from a power supply network, thereby enabling a low power operation of the electro-optical element. The inventive electro-optical element may be employed for both the visible and the infrared wavelength spectrum.
US08054668B2
In an illustrative embodiment, a memory cell comprises a first and a second MOSFET, wherein the first MOSFET undergoes a process to modify the threshold voltage such that a modified threshold voltage represents a first stored logic value. By determining which one of the first and the second MOSFETs has an altered threshold voltage, the stored logic value is determinable. The threshold voltage of the first MOSFET is altered by supplying current through a MOSFET gate, causing a gate heating effect that results in a threshold voltage shift.
US08054659B2
A power supply device includes a first switching element, a second switching element, a transformer having a primary coil, a low-pass filter including an input port connected to the secondary coil, an output terminal connected to an output port of the low-pass filter, a detector for outputting a voltage that follows a voltage at the output terminal, a reference signal generator for generating a reference voltage, a comparator unit for outputting a signal based on a result of comparison between the voltage supplied from the detector and the reference voltage, and an operation pause circuit controlling the first and second switching elements. The operation pause circuit is operable to drive the first and second switching elements according to the signal output from the comparator unit, and to cause the first and second switching elements not to conduct regardless of the signal output from the comparator unit.
US08054633B2
A power converter which can attain a reliable electric connection with electrodes of a power module by facilitating positioning of conductors connected to the electrodes of the power module. The power converter includes the power module having the plurality of electrodes in the form of plate-shaped conductors within a casing having a lid, and also includes a plurality of plate-shaped conductors connected to the electrodes of the power module. Male screws are embedded in ones of the electrodes of the power module provided at least on the side of the lid to be projected therefrom, the plate-shaped conductors connected to the electrodes having the male screws are formed therein with holes at locations corresponding to the male screws, the male screws being inserted in the corresponding holes, and electrically connected with the electrodes with nuts fastened to the male screws.
US08054629B2
The present invention discloses a method of cooling an ultramobile device with microfins attached to an external wall of an enclosure surrounding the ultramobile device.
US08054626B2
A display apparatus having a front substrate that is a display panel, a rear substrate disposed at a predetermined distance apart from the front substrate and facing the front substrate, the rear substrate comprising a back light unit, and a cooling device to remove heat generated by the rear substrate. The cooling device includes an actuator disposed between the front substrate and the rear substrate, the actuator to generate an ion wind using a voltage, a transparent electrode installed to face the actuator and which is grounded, a plurality of supports to support ends of the actuator, and a high-voltage power source to apply a voltage to the actuator.
US08054621B2
A hardware fastening structure for fastening hardware for computer includes a housing, a bracket, and a fixed frame. The housing includes a bottom plate. The bracket includes a first side-board. A first bolt is extended outward from and substantially perpendicular to the first side-board. The fixed frame includes a bottom board is positioned onto the bottom plate of the housing, and a back board substantially perpendicular to and adjacent to the bottom board. The back board defines a cambered guiding slot. The cambered guiding slot includes an arced sliding portion and a locating portion communicating with the sliding portion. The locating portion is above the sliding portion. The first bolt is inserted through the sliding portion, and is capable of sliding along the sliding portion until the first bolt is locked in locating portion to lift the bracket relative to the housing.
US08054619B1
A partial-slot card guide installation tool comprises two opposing runners configured to register with grooves of a full-sized slot of a rack system, and two guides fixed relative to the two opposing runners. The two guides configured to receive a partial-slot card guide and position the partial-slot card guide within the full-sized slot to provide a partial-sized slot smaller than the full-sized slot within the full-sized slot.
US08054609B2
System to control, protect and monitor the status of forced cooling motors for power transformers and similar, is preferably applied to power transformers and auto-transformers, and this system turns conventional (1) cooling motors into “intelligent” motors, operating in a totally autonomous manner, whose electronic module (2) is installed on the actual motor cover, more specifically on the connection box (3) and is interconnected by a communication network to a digital system (4) without the need to use any external control, protection and monitoring elements or exaggerated panels for functioning thereof.
US08054608B2
Provided is a MLCC module used as a direct current (DC) link capacitor that is included in an inverter of a hybrid vehicle. The MLCC module includes: a plurality of first ceramic sheets 10, each including a plurality of first internal electrode portions 20; a plurality of second ceramic sheets 30, each being disposed between the plurality of first ceramic sheets 10 respectively to include a plurality of second internal electrode portions 40; a plurality of external electrode portions 50 being connected to the plurality of first internal electrode portions 20, respectively; a plurality of clamp lead electrode portions 60 being connected to the plurality of external electrode portions 50 to input and output electrical signals, respectively; and an epoxy molding compound (EMC) molding member sealing the plurality of first ceramic sheets 10, the plurality of second ceramic sheets 30, and the plurality of external electrode portions 50 to expose one ends of the plurality of clamp lead electrode portions 50, respectively.
US08054603B2
A short detection circuit, for detecting an output node corresponding to an output voltage converted from an input voltage of a power converter, includes a first current source, a charging/discharging unit, a comparator, and a logic control unit. The charging/discharging unit performs charging operation in accordance with the first current source to generate a charging signal in a shorted condition of the output node. The comparator outputs an enable signal by comparing the charging signal with a reference signal. The logic control unit is controlled by the enable signal to generate a fault signal for turning off a first switch coupled between the output node and the input voltage in the shorted condition of the output node. A method for detecting short of an output node corresponding to an output voltage converted from an input voltage of a power converter is also disclosed herein.
US08054600B2
A switching power supply device includes: a switching element connected through a primary winding of a transformer to an output end of an input rectifying/smoothing circuit that rectifies and smoothes an alternating current input voltage and outputs a direct current input voltage; an output rectifying/smoothing circuit that rectifies and smoothes a voltage induced in a secondary winding of the transformer and outputs a direct current output voltage; and a control circuit that controls ON and OFF of the switching element. The control circuit includes an overvoltage protection circuit that detects a voltage corresponding to the direct current output voltage and a voltage corresponding to the alternating current input voltage, outputs an overvoltage operation prohibition signal for prohibiting ON and OFF operations of the switching element when the voltage corresponding to the direct current output voltage rises to a first threshold value or more, and releases the overvoltage operation prohibition signal when the alternating current input voltage drops and the voltage corresponding to the alternating current input voltage falls down below a second threshold value.
US08054599B2
An apparatus, system, and method are disclosed for detecting a power system component failure. The invention includes detecting an amount of input power provided on a power supply side of a connector, where the connector is configured to connect a switching power supply to a load such that power flows from the switching power supply to the load through the connector; detecting an amount of output power provided on a load side of the connector; determining if the amount of input power detected on the power supply side of the connector is more than a predefined threshold amount greater than the amount of output power detected on the load side of the connector; and shutting down the switching power supply the amount of detected input power is more than the predefined threshold amount greater than the amount of detected output power.
US08054598B1
Exemplary systems, apparatus, and methods relate to a current limiting device on each of two or more load branches that limits the current drawn by each load branch to a branch current allocation for that branch, where each of the current limiting devices is configured to automatically communicate messages to negotiate adjustments to the branch current allocations among each of the load branches while maintaining the sum of the branch allocations substantially at or below an available capacity of the supply branch. In an exemplary embodiment, a system of intelligent power modules (IPMs) may operate together to automatically negotiate capacity sharing among a number of load branches by adapting to the dynamic load conditions in order to takes improved advantage of infrastructure power handling capability without exceeding a predetermined capacity of the supply branch.
US08054595B2
Resettable circuit interrupting devices, such as GFCI devices, that include reverse wiring protection, and optionally an independent trip portions and/or a reset lockout portion are provided. The reverse wiring protection operates at both the line and load sides of the device so that in the event line side wiring to the device is improperly connected to the load side, fault protection for the device remains. The trip portion operates independently of a circuit interrupting portion used to break the electrical continuity in one or more conductive paths in the device. The reset lockout portion prevents the reestablishing of electrical continuity in open conductive paths if the circuit interrupting portion is non-operational, if an open neutral condition exists or if the device is reverse wired. Methods for ensuring a reset lockout state before shipment are provided.
US08054587B2
An MR element includes a lower shield layer, a magnetization free function part stacked on the lower shield layer, an upper shield layer stacked on the magnetization free function part, a nonmagnetic intermediate layer stacked on a surface, that is opposite to a magnetically sensitive surface, of the magnetization free function part, and a magnetization fixed function part stacked on the nonmagnetic intermediate layer. The nonmagnetic intermediate layer and the magnetization fixed function part are formed only within an outer region of the magnetization free function part, located opposite side to the magnetically sensitive surface.
US08054584B2
An assembly includes a slider and a suspension assembly. The slider includes an air bearing surface and a slider mounting surface opposite the air bearing surface. There are a plurality of slider pads on the slider mounting surface. The suspension assembly includes a plurality of suspension pads on a suspension mounting surface. Each of the suspension pads is connected to one of the slider pads with a solder joint so that the slider mounting surface has at least one of a pitch, roll, or yaw angle with respect to the suspension mounting.
US08054566B2
The present invention provides optical systems, devices and methods which utilize one or more electroactive polymer actuators to adjust an optical parameter of the optical device or system.
US08054564B1
An optical device includes a transparent substrate, a first replicated refractive surface on a first surface of the substrate in a first material, and a second replicated refractive surface on a second surface, opposite the first surface, and made of a second material, different from the first material. The material and curvature of the first replicated surface and the material and curvature of the second replicated surface may be configured to substantially reduce the chromatic dispersion and/or the thermal sensitivity of the optical device.
US08054560B2
A zoom lens includes a first, a second, a third and a fourth lens groups that are arranged along an optical axis and from an object side to an image side in sequence. The refractive powers of the four lens groups are positive, negative, positive and positive, respectively. The first and the third lens groups are fixed at a fixed position. The second lens group is movable along the optical axis in accordance with the change of magnification. The fourth lens group is movable along the optical axis in accordance with keeping an image plane fixed at an image sensor. The present invention has at least four pieces of lens that are made of plastic material in order to decrease camera lens weight and move easily the lens groups. In addition, the present invention has small variation of aperture value, moderate zoom ratio and compact size at the same time.
US08054559B2
A zoom lens includes a first lens group having a positive refracting power, a second lens group having a negative refracting power, a third lens group having a positive refracting power, and a fourth lens group having a positive refracting power, being disposed in order from an object side, and an aperture stop disposed at an object side of the third lens group. When changing the magnification from a wide angle end to a telephoto end, an interval between the first and second lens groups increases, an interval between the second and third lens groups decreases, and an interval between the third and fourth lens groups changes.
US08054549B2
A zoom lens includes, in order from an object side to an image side, a positive refractive, fixed first lens unit; a negative refractive second lens unit movable mainly for zooming; a positive refractive, fixed third lens unit; a positive refractive fourth lens unit movable for focal-position correction and focusing performed in response to zooming; and a positive refractive fifth lens unit. The fifth lens unit includes, in order from the object side to the image side, a negative refractive, fixed sub-unit; and a positive refractive sub-unit movable substantially perpendicularly to an optical axis. An image formed on an image surface is movable substantially perpendicularly to the optical axis by moving the movable sub-unit substantially perpendicularly to the optical axis. An aperture stop is provided on the object side of the third lens unit. The third lens unit includes a positive refractive sub-unit and a negative refractive sub-unit.
US08054547B2
A seamless, shadowless, rear projection full dome imaging system comprising a 360° screen having a plurality of translucent screen sections, a rigid superstructure to which the screen sections are attached; clamping rings to hold the screen sections together; clamp arms to attach the screen sections to the superstructure, a transparent light guide attached to each clamping ring; adjacent screen sections being held between adjacent light guides by clamp arms; a plurality of projectors projecting a light image onto the rear of the screen sections; the light guides having a rear face angled perpendicular to the projected light; and a narrow front edge on the front side of the light guide. All surfaces of the light guides, except the rear face and the narrow front edge, are coated with a black opaque finish.
US08054541B2
A fixed-focus lens adapted to be disposed between a primary image side and a second image side is provided. The fixed-focus lens includes a second lens group, a first lens group, and a curved reflector arranged in sequence from the primary image side to the second image side. The second lens group includes a first lens, a second lens, and a third lens arranged in sequence from the primary image side to the second image side. The first lens and the third lens have positive refractive powers and each of the first lens, the second lens, and the third lens is a spherical lens.
US08054530B2
An electrode of an E-paper panel having a lattice structure, wherein an electric field concentrated on edge regions of the electrode is dispersed, and thus while driving a cell, charged particles are uniformly distributed over an entire region of the cell, thereby improving display performance. For this purpose, the E-paper panel includes a driving electrode integrally driven by a driving signal for driving a cell, a portion of the driving electrode corresponding to the cell region being partially removed according to a particular pattern.
US08054520B2
A space scanner for an autonomous mobile device can obtain spatial data by scanning not only in the horizontal direction but also in the vertical direction of the mobile device using a mirror configured to rotate as well as to tilt and thereby can ensure autonomous driving.
US08054518B2
Color imaging devices, color imaging methods, and color separation methods are described. According to one embodiment, a color imaging device includes interface circuitry configured to access color image data of an initial color space for a plurality of pixels, color space conversion circuitry coupled with the interface circuitry and configured to convert the color image data for some of the pixels from the initial color space to a first output color space representation and to convert the color image data for others of the pixels from the initial color space to a second output color space representation different than the first output color space representation, and an image engine coupled with the color space conversion circuitry and configured to form a color image using the color image data of the first and the second output color space representations.
US08054514B2
A system and methodology enables the scanning of multiple documents in a single pass of a flat bed scanner. Multiple documents are placed on the scanner surface with a predetermined amount of vertical and horizontal spacing separating the documents. The scanning device is enabled to detect and open separate windows for each of the multiple documents and selectively present a preview of the image to the user. User selections allow the multiple documents to be created as multiple separate documents or files.
US08054510B2
A document reader comprises line sensors that are staggeredly arranged and read a white reference plate to obtain a white reference read value A, and a white reference average value AA is determined from value A for each line sensor. The line sensors read another white reference plate placed on a document support plate to obtain a white reference read value B, and a white reference read average value BB is determined from value B for each line sensor. A sensitivity effect coefficient C for each line sensor is determined by dividing BB by AA. Using the line sensors, there are obtained a document read value E for each line sensor by reading an illuminated document on the document support plate, a white reference read value Aa by reading with the white reference plate before reading the document, and a black reference read value D by reading the white reference plate under a condition that an illumination is turned off before reading of the document. Shading for the line sensors is corrected using the coefficient C, the values Aa, D and E, and a number of gradation levels for image regions corresponding to read areas of the document.
US08054503B2
An apparatus is operable to cause a print unit to generate first printed matter based on a first setting designated by a first designator. The apparatus includes an identifier adapted to identify a second setting that can be utilized in substitution for the first setting, a notifier adapted to notify an operator of information about the second setting identified by the identifier, and a producer adapted to cause the print unit to generate second printed matter based on the second setting designated by a second designator, after notifying the operator of the information.
US08054499B2
A system includes a first memory portion storing image data and a second memory portion storing a lookup table having image resolution conversion data. Conversion logic is configured to access the image resolution conversion data and convert the image data, which has a first resolution, to print data, which has a second resolution. The second resolution has a lower pixel count than the first resolution. The second resolution has a higher bit per pixel ratio that the first resolution.
US08054475B2
Provided is an image forming system that suppresses an increase in number of signal lines between an image forming apparatus and optional units, curtails communication time period and alleviates communication load. To accomplish this, an image forming system includes an image forming apparatus and one or more optional units removably attached to the image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus transmits a specifying command and an instruction command to all of the optional units by outputting the commands on a single common signal line. Each optional unit outputs acknowledgement status on a single common signal line in a case where an identifier appended to the instruction command is the same as an acquired identifier. If the identifiers are different, on the other hand, each optional unit outputs a value indicating whether it itself is currently performing an operation in response to acknowledgement status transmitted by another optional unit.
US08054467B2
An apparatus and method to determine a property of a substrate by measuring, in the pupil plane of a high numerical aperture lens, an angle-resolved spectrum as a result of radiation being reflected off the substrate. The property may be angle and wavelength dependent and may include the intensity of TM- and TE-polarized radiation and their relative phase difference.
US08054466B1
A spectroscopy wavelength and amplitude referencing system comprises an optical bench receiving a tunable optical signal from a tunable signal source, a wavelength reference detector on the bench for determining a wavelength of the tunable optical signal, an amplitude reference detector on the bench for determining an amplitude of the tunable optical signal and an output optical signal fiber for transmitting the tunable optical signal to a sample. Also, spectroscopy system controller determines a spectral response of the sample to the tunable optical signal by determining an instantaneous wavelength of the tunable optical signal by reference to the wavelength reference detector.
US08054465B2
A part of a plate of a predetermined shape detachably mounted on a moving body is detected by an alignment system while the position of the moving body is measured by a measurement unit that sets a movement coordinate system of the movement body, and based on the detection results and the measurement results of the measurement unit corresponding to the detection results, position information of an outer periphery edge of the plate is obtained. Therefore, even if there are no alignment marks on the moving body for position measurement, the position of the plate, or in other words, the position of the moving body can be controlled on the movement coordinate system set by the measurement unit, based on the position information of the outer periphery edge of the plate.
US08054464B2
A polarization switching lidar device is arranged for remote detection and characterization of airborne aggregations of particulates. It includes a pulsed laser, a mirror, a polarizing beam splitter, an actively controlled retarder arranged to be controllably alternated between a zero retardation state and a quarter-wave retardation state such that the transmitted portion of the exiting laser light beam is linearly polarized in a predetermined direction when the actively controlled retarder is in the zero retardation state, while being circularly polarized in a predetermined rotational sense when the actively controlled retarder is in the quarter-wave retardation state. A directable telescoping assembly is arranged to collect photons backscattered by the airborne aggregations of particulates and to redirect the collected portion of depolarized backscattered photons onto the polarizing beam splitter. A photodetector is arranged to generate at least one electronic signal proportional to the collected portion of depolarized backscattered photons.
US08054456B2
An optical device that may include a sighting portion including an optical axis; an electromagnetic beam source coupled to said sighting portion, electromagnetic beam source facilitates generating a source beam including an axis that is substantially parallel to said optical axis; an optical surface coupled to said electromagnetic beam source; and a frequency filter coupled within said sighting portion.
US08054450B2
A stepper system for ultra-high resolution nano-lithography employs a photolithographic mask which includes a layer of an electrically conductive optically opaque material in which periodic arrays of sub-wavelength apertures are formed. The plasmonic excitation in the photolithographic mask exposed to the light of the wavelength in the range of 197 nm-248 nm, produces high resolution far-field radiation patterns of sufficient intensity to expose a photoresist on a wafer. The stepper system demonstrates the resiliency to the mask defects and ability to imprint coherent clear features of nano dimensions (45 nm-500 nm) and various shapes on the wafers for integrated circuits design. The stepper system may be adjusted to image the plane of the highest plasmonic field exiting the mask.
US08054449B2
A system and method are utilized to equalize intensity or energy in various diffraction order portions of a patterned beam. The patterned beam is formed using a diffractive patterning device. An attenuator is placed at a pupil of a projection system to attenuate respective diffraction order portions of the patterned beam. The projection device is also used to project the patterned beam onto a target portion of a substrate, after the respective attenuations.
US08054431B2
To provide a production method of a liquid crystal display device and a liquid crystal display device, in which generation of a joint line on a display screen is suppressed and yield can be improved even if a substrate is subjected to an alignment treatment by completing exposure for the substrate through several exposures in a liquid crystal display device including pixels each having two or more domains. The present invention is a production method of a production method of a liquid crystal display device, the liquid crystal display device including: a pair of opposed substrates; a liquid crystal layer formed between the pair of opposed substrates; and an alignment film arranged on a liquid crystal layer side surface of at least one of the pair of opposed substrates, and the liquid crystal display device having two or more regions which differ in alignment azimuth in a pixel, wherein the production method comprises an exposure step of exposing the alignment film in such a way that a substrate plane is divided into two or more exposure regions through a photomask in each exposure region, and in the exposure step, exposure is performed in such a way that adjacent two exposure regions have an overlapping exposure region where the adjacent two exposure regions partly overlap with each other, and the photomask has a halftone part corresponding to the overlapping exposure region.
US08054428B2
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display and a fabricating method thereof. The cell gaps for the red, green and blue pixel areas are formed in a separate manner for correcting the color shift to enhance image quality. Openings for controlling the cell gaps are provided in the protective layer and the gate insulating layer and have a zigzag-shaped boundary. In this way, the light leakage near the boundary of the openings can be prevented.
US08054422B2
To improve a patterning accuracy of pixel electrodes and common electrodes. The liquid crystal display device includes a reflective display area and a transmissive display area within a pixel that is configured with a pair of opposing substrates and a liquid crystal layer provided between the substrates. The reflective display area achieves display by reflection of light, and the transmissive display area achieves display by transmission of light. A laminated body including a reflective plate, an insulating layer, and a metal electrode for rotating liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer within a surface thereof is provided within the reflective display area.
US08054418B2
An LCD apparatus includes LCD panels for modulating irradiated light based on picture signals, a projection lens for extendedly projecting the light modulated by the LCD panels, a light source for emitting light to irradiate the LCD panels, an inorganic polarizer having a relatively higher degree of polarization and disposed on a light-emission side of each of the LCD panels, and an absorptive polarizer having a lower degree of polarization than the inorganic polarizer and disposed on a light-emission side of the inorganic polarizer. The inorganic polarizer having the higher degree of polarization and the absorptive polarizer having the lower degree of polarization have respective light transmission axes coincident with each other.
US08054405B2
A lighting device for a display device includes a display panel, a light source, and an optical member to be arranged between the light source and the display panel. The optical member has light reflectivity that is higher at an end of the plane of the optical member than at the center thereof.
US08054402B2
An optical member according to one or more embodiments includes an optical plate and an optical film. In an embodiment, the optical plate includes an incident part receiving light provided from the exterior and an emitting part emitting the light. The optical film is attached to the incident part and includes a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer facing the first conductive layer and polarized particles disposed between the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer. Thus, light sources of a backlight assembly may be individually driven regardless of the type of light source and the disposition of the light sources, and image display quality may be improved by improving a contrast ratio by realizing various gradation voltages.
US08054401B2
A display device includes a display panel having a front surface and a back surface, a first and second frame, a first elastic member arranged between the first frame and the front surface of the display panel, and a second elastic member arranged between the second frame and the back surface of the display panel, the second elastic member extending in parallel to the first elastic member. A hardness of the first elastic member varies along an elongated direction of the first elastic member so as to have a high-hardness portion, and wherein a hardness of a first portion of the second elastic member which corresponds in location to the high-hardness portion of the first elastic member has a low hardness, a hardness of a second portion of the second elastic member which corresponds in location to the low-harness portion of the first elastic member has a high hardness.
US08054398B2
The present invention provides a liquid crystal display having excellent visibility. A thin film transistor array panel is provided, which includes: gate lines formed on an insulating substrate; data lines insulated from the gate lines and intersecting the gate lines; first pixel electrodes disposed on pixel areas defined by intersections of the gate lines and the data lines; first thin film transistors, each having three terminals connected to one of the gate lines, one of the data lines, and one of the first pixel electrodes; second pixel electrodes disposed on the pixel areas and capacitively coupled to the first pixel electrodes; and second thin film transistors, each having three terminals connected to a previous gate line, a storage electrode line or one of the data lines, and one of the second pixel electrodes.
US08054383B2
A method of preventing image burn-in of a display apparatus to display an image includes detecting pixel data of a pixel of the image, calculating OSD data corresponding to the detected pixel data, generating the calculated OSD data, and merging the OSD data to the pixel data and displaying the merged OSD data in the pixel for a predetermined refresh period of time.
US08054379B2
A portable electronic device includes a housing including an opening defined in a peripheral side surface thereof, a camera module mounted in the housing, and a light-reflecting member rotatably mounted at the opening. The camera module is aligned with and faces toward the opening. The light-reflecting member mounted at the opening and is configured for reflecting light into the camera module. The portable electronic device is capable of employing high resolution camera module while retaining thin thickness.
US08054377B2
The present invention is to provide a document processing device with picture-taking, video and audio recording, scanning and projecting functions, which mainly is including a set of base composed of a left and a right base bodies, a vertical rack bar able to be insert-put on the left and right base bodies, a horizontal rack bar pivot-connected on top of the vertical rack bar, a main machine body pivot-set in the vertical rack bar elements. The said main machine body has an optical lens and is set with a microphone and a light compensator. The device of present invention can be provided for putting the ordinary document data on the base. The data on the documents can be transformed into editable files by utilizing the optical lens inside the main machine body to take the pictures and through the recognizing software. Furthermore, it can record the audio or video in accordance with selected action processes through the main machine body. Simultaneously, the main machine body can further provide for connecting externally with the computers to proceed the image projecting.
US08054359B2
Provided is an image sensor including a sensing transistor having two gates and a method of operating the image sensor. The image sensor may include a photoelectric conversion device, a sensing transistor which may have a first gate connected to a floating diffusion region in which charges generated from the photoelectric conversion region are stored and a second gate separated from the first gate, a reset transistor that may be connected to the floating diffusion region and may reset a potential of the floating diffusion region, a control voltage source that may supply a control applied to the second gate, and a column output line which may be connected to a source of the sensing transistor.
US08054358B2
This invention improves linearity of a solid-state image pickup device beyond that of the prior art source follower to improve image quality. The image pickup device has plural pixels disposed in an array. Each pixel includes: a photodiode (PD); a transfer transistor (Tr1); a floating diffusion (FD); and an amplification transistor (Tr4). A compensating circuit has an amplifier (AP) receiving the output of the amplification transistor (Tr4), and a compensating transistor (M2) matched to the pixel amplification transistor (Tr4). Compensation is provided using negative feedback in the amplifier (AP).
US08054353B2
A method of controlling a camera system having a plurality of solid-state imaging devices is provided. The method includes supplying a horizontal addition control signal and a vertical addition control signal, phases of which are controlled, to the plurality of solid-state imaging devices; selecting pixel column(s) and row(s) of the plurality of solid-state imaging devices in accordance with the horizontal addition control signal and the vertical addition control signal; adding a plurality of pixel signals to each other, the plurality of pixel signals being adjacent to each other in a horizontal direction, in a vertical direction, or in both horizontal and vertical directions, of the selected pixel column(s) and row(s); and processing a luminance signal and a color signal using the added pixel signals and adding a sync signal to the luminance signal and the color signal so as to output a color image signal.
US08054351B2
According to one embodiment, a shading correction circuit, which corrects for the influence of ambient light quantity shading, for input image light from three CCD sensors of R, G and B, based on a distance from the center of a screen. A shading correction circuit does not make correction for a maximum correction area which is out of a circle with a distance a from the central part of a screen, and corrects for the influence of ambient light quantity shading for a minimum correction area with a distance b from the central part of a screen, after calculating a square L2 of an address distance of each pixel of a correction object obtained by using a vertical distance and a horizontal distance from an address of the central part of a screen.
US08054333B2
A print order can be placed easily by use of a printing order reception apparatus. A printing order reception apparatus 1 has slots 3A to 3F for inserting therein various types of recording media and a digital camera including a recording medium. When the digital camera is inserted in the slot 3A therefor, printing processing is carried out according to a predetermined printing condition. When a recording medium is inserted in a corresponding one of the remaining slots, ordinary printing processing is executed wherein a user specifies an image to print, a print size, and a quantity.
US08054320B1
A system is provided for scaling image data comprising a Direct Memory Access (DMA) engine adapted to read the image data from a horizontal pixel strip in a column-by-column format, a scaling block adapted to scale the image data read by the read DMA engine into scaled column output data, and a buffer memory for storing the scaled column output data for the horizontal pixel strip. A method is also provided for scaling an image comprising reading pixel values from a pixel strip in a column-by-column manner across the pixel strip and scaling the pixel values for each column to produce scaled column output data. The scaled column output data for a plurality of columns is then read and the scaled column output data is scaled from the plurality of columns to produce scaled row output data for a row of pixels.
US08054312B2
Capturing motion using motion capture cameras comprises: coupling a plurality of markers to an actor; allowing a material to be positioned between the actor and the motion capture cameras, wherein the material is selected to allow the motion capture cameras to capture motion of the plurality of markers while the actor interacts with the material; and capturing the motion of the markers.
US08054311B1
Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture are disclosed for creating posed models. In various embodiments, deformations resulting from posing a model can be represented in a set of training poses. The sets of training poses for the model and a desired target pose (e.g., a simulated or sculpted pose) can be used to create a final pose for the model. Arbitrary deformer activation weights can be determined by projecting a target pose onto the set of training poses. The deformer activation weights can be applied to one or more deformers to approximate the desired pose.
US08054306B2
A circuit providing a common voltage for a panel of a display includes a first operational amplifier, a second operational amplifier, a third operational amplifier, a capacitor and a switch circuit. The first operational amplifier outputs a first voltage. The second operational amplifier is powered by the first voltage and receives a polarity signal to output a second voltage. The third operational amplifier outputs a third voltage. The capacitor has a first end coupled to an output of the second operational amplifier and a second end coupled to an output of the third operational amplifier. The switch circuit couples the second end of the capacitor to the panel during a normal operation of the display, and couples one of a high constant voltage and a low constant voltage to the panel during a power saving operation of the display.
US08054304B2
A photo detector is disclosed. The photo detector includes a substrate, a first patterned semiconductor layer with a first state, a dielectric layer, a patterned conductive layer, an inter-layer dielectric, a second patterned semiconductor layer with a second state, two first electrodes disposed on the inter-layer dielectric and two second electrodes disposed on portions of the second semiconductor layer. The first patterned semiconductor layer having a first doping region and a second doping region is disposed on a transistor region of the substrate. The dielectric layer is disposed to cover the substrate and the first semiconductor layer, the patterned conductive layer is disposed on the dielectric layer, and the inter-layer dielectric having at least two openings adapted to expose the first doping region and the second doping region is disposed to cover the dielectric layer. The second patterned semiconductor layer is disposed on a photosensitive region and the first electrodes are electrically connected to the first patterned semiconductor layer.
US08054297B2
A touch display panel includes a first substrate, a second substrate, a third substrate, a liquid crystal layer disposed between the second and the third substrates, a pixel array disposed between the liquid crystal layer and the third substrate, an opposite electrode, color filter patterns, a first sensing electrode, and a second sensing electrode. The first, the second, and the third substrates are disposed in parallel. The color filter patterns and the opposite electrode that are disposed between the liquid crystal layer and the second substrate are respectively disposed on opposite sides of the second substrate. Some color filter patterns are piled to form touch points. The first sensing electrode on the first substrate faces the second substrate. The second sensing electrode covers the touch points and some color filter patterns. A height of the touch points is less than a gap between the first and the second substrates.
US08054295B2
A remote control method and system employ remote controller (10) which is adapted for use with an entertainment system of a type including a display (222) as well as providing functions such as Internet access or other functions requiring a keyboard and/or a mouse. The remote controller includes a folding housing and may be operated in a closed or opened configuration. A first set of control inputs (12) are provided on the outer surface of the housing. The housing may be opened, thereby doubling the surface area of the remote controller, to expose a keyboard (56). One or more wireless transmitters are operable with the housing in either of two configurations oriented at 90 degrees to each other and controlled by the first set of control inputs and the keyboard. The remote controller may be conveniently held in one hand of a user when in the folded or closed position and conveniently rested on the lap of the user or a support surface when in the opened position and used as a keyboard.
US08054293B2
An electronic apparatus disclosed facilitates the replacement of an input device. In the electronic apparatus equipped with the input device allowing various input operations, the input device including first signal generators is positioned by being placed in an opening of a housing from the outside. A cover can be detached from the housing and fixes the input device when installed in the opening of the housing. Second signal generators are provided inside the housing and function in combination with the respective first signal generators. Just mounting the cover to the housing fixes the input device. This facilitates the replacement of the input device, eliminating the need to open the housing and to remove a wiring board mounted with the second signal generators in replacement of the input device.
US08054288B2
An object of the present invention is to realize an image display device for color display with high luminance and high contrast. In the present invention, a unit cell 111 is filled with electrophoresis ink including two kinds of particles different in chargeability and color being dispersed in transmissive solvent 107. Voltage is applied to an opposite electrode 103, a stacked lower electrode 104 and an upper electrode 105 and thereby electrically charged particles 108a and charged particles 108b are moved to a first opening 106a and a second opening 106b where an insulating layer 110 is provided on the lower electrode 104 and the upper electrode 105. Thus assemblage and diffusion state of two kinds of particles are controlled. Thereby, a unit cell 111 obtains four display colors. Since the lower electrode 104 can be made to be a reflecting layer covering the entire unit cell, it is possible to make the aperture ratio large and the reflection percentage large.
US08054286B2
An exemplary liquid crystal display (20) includes a liquid crystal panel (27) having at least one pixel block, a source driver (26) configured to drive the at least one pixel block, a backlight module having at least one light source block, a backlight driver (23) configured to drive the light source blocks, and a data processor (21) configured to provide gray level values and provide backlight control signals. The data processor receives display signals, converts the display signals to a plurality of primary gray level values, and averages the primary gray level values to obtain an average gray level value. The source driver and the backlight driver respectively generate data voltages and driving voltages to drive the at least one pixel block and the at least one pixel block according to the average gray level value. A related method for driving the liquid crystal display is also provided.
US08054277B2
A liquid crystal display (300) includes a liquid crystal panel (310) having a plurality of pixels P(i,j) arranged in a matrix, a brightness identification unit (343) configured for identifying a brightness of an image element to be displayed by at least one pixel, a polarity analyzing unit (344) configured for analyzing a result of the identification, and a data circuit (330). The polarity analyzing unit is also configured for generating a composed binary signal having a first binary portion the same as the primary display signal and an additive second binary portion. The data circuit is configured to provide a data voltage to drive the pixel according to the signal. A value of the data voltage is determined by a first binary portion of the composed binary signal, and a polarity of the pixel is determined by the second binary portion of the composed binary signal.
US08054272B2
A display apparatus includes a gate driver, a data driver, a display panel, a power supply and a common voltage line. The gate driver outputs a gate signal, and the data driver outputs a data signal. The display panel includes a display area displaying images in response to the gate signal and the data signal, and a peripheral area surrounding the display area. The power supply generates a common voltage and supplies the common voltage to the display panel. The common voltage line is disposed in the peripheral area surrounding the display area. and the common voltage line has two ends adjacent to the power supply. One of the two ends, which is disposed farther away from the gate driver, is connected to the power supply to receive the common voltage. Accordingly, the common voltage is differentially applied according to a length of the common voltage line.
US08054270B2
There are provided a driving circuit of a semiconductor display device which can obtain an excellent picture without picture blur (display unevenness) and with high fineness/high resolution, and the semiconductor display device. A buffer circuit used in the driving circuit of the semiconductor display device is constituted by a plurality of TFTs each having a small channel width, and a plurality of such buffer circuits are connected in parallel with each other.
US08054262B2
A circuit for stabilizing a common voltage of a liquid crystal display device includes a data driving unit for providing video data to a liquid crystal display panel and a gate driving unit for providing scan pulses to the liquid crystal display panel, a timing controller for outputting various control signals for controlling the data driving unit and the gate driving unit, and outputting the video data, and a common voltage output unit for controlling outputting of a common voltage provided to the liquid crystal display panel according to a gate output enable signal inputted from the timing controller to thereby minimize the common voltage from being unstable.
US08054261B2
A liquid crystal display includes a first panel, a second panel facing and separated from the first panel, a liquid crystal layer interposed between the first and second panels, a plurality of sensor data lines formed on the second panel, a plurality of variable capacitors of which capacitance thereof is varied by pressure, the variable capacitors connected to the sensor data lines, a plurality of reference capacitors connected to the sensor data lines, and first reset transistors and second reset transistors connected to the sensor data lines and supplying a first reset voltage and a second reset voltage to the sensor data lines at different times, respectively.
US08054256B2
Disclosed are a driving circuit and an organic light emitting display using the same, which realizes stable gray levels. The driving circuit includes a first selector that produces a first selection and sub selection signals, and a second selector that produces a second selection and sub selection signals. The driving circuit also includes a first voltage divider and a second voltage divider, each of which receives the selection signals. The first and the second voltage dividers can produce various voltage levels depending on the various combination of the selection signals.
US08054251B2
A method for driving a flat panel display to improve an image quality and a lifetime of the flat panel display is disclosed. The method for driving the flat panel display includes the steps of: a) storing electric-charges contained in a parasitic capacitor of a data line and a pixel-storage capacitor (Cst) in each pixel via a pixel transistor connected to the data line, which enters a floating state during a predetermined time other than a light-emitting time caused by a data-current writing operation, until a current voltage reaches a threshold voltage of the pixel transistor; and b) performing the writing of a data current corresponding to a pixel to be driven by the data line via the pixel transistor, such that the flat panel display emits light.
US08054249B2
Provided is a field emission display (FED) capable of driving on the basis of current and preventing leakage current caused by thin film transistors (TFTs). The FED includes: a plurality of unit pixels including an emission element in which cathode luminescence of a phosphor occurs and a TFT for driving the emission element; a current source for applying a scan signal to each unit pixel; and a voltage source for applying a data signal to each unit pixel. Here, the on-current of the current source is high enough to take care of the load resistance and capacitance of a scan row within a given writing time, and the off-current of the current source is so low that the electron emission of each pixel can be ignored. In addition, the pulse amplitude or pulse width of the data signal applied from the voltage source is changed, and thereby the gray scale of the display is represented.
US08054244B2
A method and an apparatus for driving multi-segment display device are described. According to the present invention, problems of driving the electrode wire activation mode of the conventional liquid crystal display are solved by the driving waveforms. The driving waveforms of non-display area are in the OFF mode, where the non-display area has pixels in the OFF mode, driving electrode wires and background area. Problems of driving voltage wire activation mode are decreased, cost is lowered, and processing is simplified, so that every pixel of the display device will be controlled precisely.
US08054232B2
Antenna window structures and antennas are provided for electronic devices. The electronic devices may be laptop computers or other devices that have conductive housings. Antenna windows can be formed from dielectric members. The dielectric members can have elastomeric properties. An antenna may be mounted inside a conductive housing beneath a dielectric member. The antenna can be formed from a parallel plate waveguide structure. The parallel plate waveguide structure may have a ground plate and a radiator plate and may have dielectric material between the ground and radiator plates. The ground plate can have a primary ground plate portion and a ground strip. The ground strip may reflect radio-frequency signals so that they travel through the dielectric member. The antenna may handle radio-frequency antenna signals in one or more communications bands. The radio-frequency antenna signals pass through the dielectric member.
US08054230B2
A multi-band antenna includes a grounding element having a first side, a radiating element separated form the first side of the grounding element, and a connecting element. The connecting element connects the grounding element to the radiating element and includes a first end slantwise extending from the grounding to form a first angle except a right angle between the connecting element and the grounding element.
US08054227B2
There is provided a chip antenna including: a dielectric block; a first conductive pattern formed on at least one surface of the dielectric block to connect to an external feeding part; a second conductive pattern spaced apart from the first conductive pattern at a certain distance so as to be capacitively coupled to the first conductive pattern to act as a radiator, the second conductive pattern having one end connected to an external ground part; and a third conductive pattern spaced apart from the first conductive pattern at a certain distance so as to be capacitively coupled to the first conductive pattern to enable impedance matching of the antenna, the third conductive pattern having one end connected to the external ground part.
US08054216B2
A radar device has a plurality of receiving antennas which receive, as a reception wave, a radar wave sent in a predetermined reference direction and reflected by a target; a phase difference detection unit which detects a first phase difference of the reception wave received by a first receiving antenna pair that is spaced by a first gap, and a second phase difference of the reception wave received by a second receiving antenna pair that is spaced by a second gap smaller than the first gap; and an angle detection unit which performs a first process of determining, as a detection angle, an angle of the target relative to the reference direction being a mutually coincident angle from among a plurality of first angles corresponding to the first phase difference and a plurality of second angles corresponding to the second phase difference. The radar device allows expanding an angle detection range without reducing the resolution of the angle corresponding to the second phase difference.
US08054211B2
One embodiment of the present invention provides a universal remote control, which includes a display screen and a user input mechanism. The universal remote control also includes a processing unit that is configured to display information on the display screen and to accept selection data from the user input mechanism. The universal remote control additionally includes a wireless communication mechanism that is configured to provide communications between the processing unit and an appliance or computer program running on a computer system. The appliance provides information to be displayed on the display screen, and information entered through the user input mechanism is communicated to the appliance. Since the appliance provides the information to be displayed on the display screen and also interprets the entries on the input mechanism, the universal remote control needs no special knowledge about the appliance.
US08054209B2
An A/D converter suitable for use in a system in which the signal power of noise increases with the signal power of the signal, such as an imaging system, utilizes a variable quantization system for converting analog signals into digital signals. The variable quantization is controlled so that at low signal levels the quantization is similar or identical to conventional A/D converters, while the quantization level is increased at higher signal levels. Thus, higher resolution is provided at low signal levels while lower resolution is produced at high signal levels.
US08054196B2
To help a user avoid potentially harmful purchases, performing notification in a personal navigation device (PND) includes determining position of the PND, comparing the position against a plurality of restricted points of interest according to a predetermined setting, and activating an alert when the position is within a threshold distance of one of the restricted points of interest.
US08054182B2
A method of inspecting a vehicle, comprising providing at an inspection site a hand-held inspection wand that transceives audio-visual information with a command/remote site a safe distance from the inspection site and that is staffed by law enforcement personnel, stopping the vehicle at the remote site, instructing an occupant of the vehicle to exit the vehicle and grasp the wand, transmitting instructions from the command site to the occupant via the wand, that direct the occupant to capture video of the vehicle at the remote site using the wand, capturing video of the vehicle using the wand, transmitting the captured video from the wand to the command site, and displaying the transmitted captured video at the command site.
US08054177B2
Systems and methods for facilitating a first response mission at an incident scene, such as an accident site, a natural or human-made disaster site, or any other first response site. One system comprises a portable patient module to be associated with a patient at the incident scene and configured to transmit wireless signals. The system also comprises a processing system comprising at least one receiver to receive the wireless signals and a processing entity configured to process data derived from the wireless signals to determine an action to be performed with respect to the patient, such as transmission of a message conveying information regarding the patient to a first responder at the incident scene, establishment of communication between a first responder at the incident scene and a clinician remote from the incident scene to discuss the patient, or transmission of a message to initiate preparation of resources at a healthcare facility remote from the incident scene for arrival of the patient.
US08054173B2
An alarm management device capable of constructing logics for suppressing tailgate alarm without depending on controllers, and of managing engineering and management thereof with concentration. The invention relates to an alarm management device for managing alarms issued in a plant. The alarm management device is provided with alarm state management apparatus for managing issuance states of acquired alarms, alarm engineering apparatus for setting alarm issuance patterns, alarm suppression judgment apparatus for judging suppression target alarms from the alarm issuance states and alarm issuance patterns, and alarm processing apparatus for executing suppression of the suppression target alarms among the acquired alarms in response to an instruction of the alarm suppression judgment apparatus.
US08054171B1
A method and apparatus for allowing a troubleshooter to reuse existing indicators, such as displays, LEDs, or specialized indicators, for a purpose other than the indicator's usual purpose. In response to an initial occurrence of a problem, the troubleshooter modifies the indicator's behavior to indicate a later occurrence of a fault or a set of faults, which may be the cause of the problem. Upon the later occurrence of the problem, the indicator is monitored for simultaneous notification of occurrence of the fault. After the problem is triaged, the modified indicator is returned to its original use. The notification from the indicator can be sensory, i.e., auditory, visible, or tactile. The indicator's change in behavior can occur after the fault happens once or an administrable threshold number of times, or intermittently. Alternatively, the change in behavior may become semi-permanent if the fault continues to occur for some administrable number of times.
US08054170B1
A method, system, and computer-readable storage medium for characterizing and representing images. A plurality of feature descriptors for a plurality of images are received, where each feature descriptor encodes a respective feature in an image, and where each feature descriptor is transformed into a plurality of sub-descriptors in accordance with a specified transformation scheme. The feature descriptors correspond to an image feature descriptor space for the plurality of images, and the sub-descriptors correspond to a plurality of subspaces of the image feature descriptor space, where the plurality of subspaces span the image feature descriptor space. Each subspace of the plurality of subspaces is quantized using cluster analysis applied to the sub-descriptors, thereby determining a respective one or more feature primitives for each subspace, where the feature primitives are useable to characterize image features.
US08054162B2
A method for communicating between a control unit and a plurality of remote units located in the response area of the control unit is provided. The remote units are prompted to transmit a data sequence to the control unit upon receipt of a command sent by the control unit. The control unit transmits a control signal to the remote units substantially simultaneously with the transmission of the data sequence as a function of a communication state, such as the absence of a transmission of the data sequence by at least one remote unit or an at least partially simultaneous transmission of the data sequence by more than one remote unit. In this way, communication methods can be shortened, in particular in terms of time, without adversely affecting communication reliability.
US08054159B2
Provided is a communication apparatus having a human body contact sensing function and a method thereof. The communication apparatus includes: an electrode that comes in contact with the human body; a contact sensor that is connected to the electrode, and instructs the central processing unit to perform an initial operation if contact with the human body is sensed; and a data processing unit that receives a control signal from the central processing unit so as to select whether to transmit or receive data, and performs a transmitting or receiving operation according to the control signal. Accordingly, in order to reduce power consumption when in a stand-by state before human body contact is made in a communication apparatus using a human body as a communication medium, a human body contact sensor is included so as to minimize power consumption of a micro processing unit and a transmitter/receiver circuit until contact occurs. Therefore, since power consumption is minimized when in a stand-by mode by using a contact sensor having significantly low power consumption, there is an advantage in that a stand-by time of a portable device is extended.
US08054156B2
This document discloses low variation resistor devices, methods, systems, and methods of manufacturing the same. In some implementations, a low-variation resistor can be implemented with a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect-transistor (“MOSFET”) operating in the triode (e.g., ohmic) region. The MOSFET can have a source that is connected to a reference voltage (e.g., ground) and a gate connected to a gate voltage source. The gate voltage source can generate a gate voltage that varies in proportion to changes in the temperature of an operating environment. The gate voltage variation can, for example, be controlled so that it offsets the changes in MOSFET resistance that are caused by changes in temperature. In some implementations, the gate voltage variation offsets the resistance variance by offsetting changes in transistor mobility that are caused by changes in temperature.
US08054145B2
Phononic crystal wave structures and methods of making same are discussed in this application. According to some embodiments, an acoustic structure can generally comprise a phononic crystal slab configured as a micro/nano-acoustic wave medium. The phononic crystal slab can define an exterior surface that bounds an interior volume, and the phononic crystal slab can be sized and shaped to contain acoustic waves within the interior volume of the phononic crystal slab. The phononic crystal slab can comprise at least one defect portion. The defect portion can affect periodicity characteristics of the phononic crystal slab. The defect portion can be shaped and arranged to enable confinement and manipulation of acoustic waves through the defect portion(s) of phononic crystal slab. Other aspects, features, and embodiments are also claimed and described.
US08054135B2
An amplifier comprises a power source, a load network comprising a load and a resonance circuit, an input branch having a first end electrically coupled to the power source and a second end electrically coupled to the load network, and an active switch having one terminal electrically coupled to the second end of the input branch. The input branch including at least one parallel-LC-circuit configured to provide an infinitely large impedance at harmonics of a determined order.
US08054134B2
A coupling isolation method for preventing a load signal from coupling into an operational amplifier is disclosed. The coupling isolation method includes generating a system signal before the operational amplifier outputs a computation result, switching off a Miller compensation signal path of the operational amplifier at a first time point according to the system signal, and electrically connecting an output end of the operational amplifier and a load at a second time point according to the system signal to output the computation result.
US08054133B2
A device and a method for eliminating feedback common mode signals are provided, which belong to the electronic technology field. The device includes an operational amplifier circuit with two output ends. The two output ends are a first output end and a second output end. The device also includes a feedback unit. The feedback unit is configured to receive level signals of the first output end and the second output end of the operational amplifier circuit, and superpose feedback common mode signals to input ends of the operational amplifier circuit according to states of the level signals. The method includes: the feedback unit receives level signals of a first output end and a second output end of an operational amplifier circuit, and superposes feedback common mode signals to the input ends of the operational amplifier circuit according to the states of the level signals. Thus, the feedback common mode signals of the operational amplifier circuit are stabilized, the requirements for the operational amplifier circuit are lowered, and the performance of the operational amplifier circuit is improved.
US08054132B2
An OP-amp circuit includes a first circuit unit configured to generate an operating voltage in response to an enable signal, a second circuit unit configured to amplify a difference between respective voltages received through an inverting terminal and a non-inverting terminal in response to the operating voltage and to output a result of the amplification as a first drive voltage, a third circuit unit configured to output a second drive voltage according to a voltage level of the first drive voltage inputted thereto, and a fourth circuit unit configured to divide an input voltage inputted thereto into a divided voltage according to two resistances having respective resistive values varying according to the first and second drive voltages and to output the divided voltage through an output terminal.
US08054113B2
A power up signal generation circuit transits a power up signal at a predetermined target voltage level by providing a predetermined hysteresis characteristic to the target voltage level of a power supply voltage corresponding to the power up signal. The power up signal generation circuit includes a first voltage detection unit that detects a first target voltage level of a power supply voltage to output a detection signal. The circuit also includes a second voltage detection unit that detects a second target voltage level of the power supply voltage in response to a power up signal to output a control signal, wherein the second target voltage level is lower than the first target voltage level. A power up signal drive unit of the circuit activates the power up signal in response to the detection signal and drives the power up signal in response to the control signal.
US08054097B2
Disclosed is a method and a system for automatically managing probe mark shifts. A determination is made from test data as to whether a die on a wafer is defective. A probe mark check on the wafer is made to determine whether a probe mark is shifted. Necessary recovery action is performed in response to the probe mark being shifted. In the probe mark check, a plurality of probe mark positions are selected from the test data. A determination is then made as to whether at least one of the plurality of probe mark positions violates an engineering rule.
US08054094B1
A method of providing an image of an interior of a structure containing regions having different conductivities or admittivities. In one embodiment a series of electrical signal sets is applied to a series of electrodes, each signal set generating a rotating electric field. A measured set of electrical signals obtained from the electrodes are used to calculate a conductivity or admittivity distribution representative of the interior of the structure in a region about which the electrodes are positioned. The process of calculating the distribution includes defining a cost function, e.g., the energy function based on the distribution, and a forward model expressing the measured set of electrical signals as a function of the change in voltage values with respect to conductivity or admittivity and requiring that the partial derivative of the difference between the energy function and a function based on the forward model equal zero.
US08054093B2
There is provided a sensor threshold circuit that makes available a hysteresis width that is not dependent on the change in a threshold point. Since a bias current IB is generated by a threshold current IT and a threshold adjusting current ICONT, the threshold point is given by a coefficient A and a coefficient K and the hysteresis width |BH| is given by the coefficient K. Accordingly, when the coefficient K is determined, the hysteresis width |BH| is not dependent on the coefficient A and keeps a constant value. In addition, since the coefficient A depends on the resistance ratio, the threshold point is variable by changing a single resistor. Further, when the coefficient K is determined, the hysteresis width |BH| is also determined to be a single value with no variations in its value, no changes according to temperature, and no changes over time.
US08054085B2
Embodiments of an apparatus for measuring the leakage current of capacitive components is taught. One embodiment includes a first stage amplifier configured to receive an input from a serially-connected capacitive component at an inverting input and a feedback resistor in a feedback path of the first stage amplifier. A resistance value of the feedback resistor is programmable based on an expected value of the leakage current and a corresponding voltage output.
US08054080B2
A removable closure for closing the open end of an NMR sample tube having an open end and a closed end of the invention includes a cylindrical proximal first and a distal second portion, both portions substantially congruent to a central axis. The second portion has a hollow bore extending therethrough, the hollow bore has three sections: a distal section, a central section and a proximal section. The distal section has an inside diameter sized to accept the outside diameter of a preselected size NMR sample tube substantially without an interference, the central section is sized to provide a compliant interference fit with the outside diameter of the preselected size NMR sample tube, and the proximal section is sized to accept the outside diameter of the preselected size NMR sample tube without interference.
US08054078B2
An object of the present invention is to obtain a composite image by a small computation amount and short process time in parallel imaging using three or more reception coils. By performing a scan using three or more reception coils and with reduced phase encoding steps, data of the reception coils is collected, and an image is generated from each of the data. A combination of images used for unfolding operation is selected from combinations of the images, and a composite image is obtained by operation using the selected combination of images and a square matrix of sensitivity coefficients of the corresponding reception coils.
US08054069B2
An apparatus for providing an indication of rotational position of a shaft by parameter change. The apparatus includes a resilient, serpentine-shaped middle portion, a first end portion located at one end of the middle portion, and a second end portion at another end of the middle portion. The second end portion is for location adjacent to the first end portion to permit securing of the first and second ends together subsequent to the middle portion being resiliently extended around the shaft. The serpentine-shaped middle portion is sized to be taut on the shaft and is shaped to have a plurality of undulations. The undulations providing a plurality of event members each having at least one characteristic that causes a change of a parameter that can be sensed by a sensor when the event member rotates past the sensor.
US08054046B2
A method for rapidly determining an initial diffusion voltage (Vdiff)initial as a starting point in calculating a diffusion voltage in an electro-chemical cell (e.g., a battery used in an automotive vehicle) includes obtaining a time difference toff between a time when the cell was last turned-OFF and a time when the cell was next turned-ON, selecting a starting diffusion voltage (Vdiff)start based on toff, determining a trial diffusion voltage Vdiff based on a diffusion circuit model and (Vdiff)start, calculating an error voltage Verror=(Vdiff)−|VOFF−VON| where VOFF and VON are cell voltages at turn-OFF and turn-ON respectively, repeating the foregoing determining and calculating steps using for each iteration (Vdiff)start=(Vdiff)previous+Verror until Verror is less than or equal to a first predetermined tolerance amount ε, storing in a memory a value of Vdiff corresponding to the condition Verror≦ε, and setting (Vdiff)initial equal to the just stored value of Vdiff. A further diffusion voltage Vdiff is then determined using the same diffusion circuit model and the just obtained (Vdiff)initial and is advantageously used by a controller in an electric propulsion vehicle to determine a state of charge of the propulsion battery.
US08054040B2
A battery cover assembly (10) including a body (11), a first cover (12) and a second cover (13) is provided. The body includes a battery receptacle (115). Both of the first cover and the second cover respectively include two sidewalls (123, 124, 133, 134) removably mounted to the body and a top wall (121, 131) connected to the pair of sidewalls. The top walls of the first cover and the second cover protrude out from the body while the first cover and the second cover are assembled to the body. Both of the first cover and the second cover are configured to be removably mounted to the body. The first cover and the second cover are engageable with each other so as to cover the battery receptacle.
US08054039B2
A battery charging system and method for charging a plug-in electric vehicle with power from an external power source, such as a standard 110 volt or 220 volt AC wall outlet. The method senses various internal and external conditions and uses this information to charge the plug-in electric vehicle in an optimum fashion that reduces charging time yet avoids damage to components of the charging system. In one embodiment, the battery charging system includes an external power source, a battery charger with sensors for monitoring the external power source and the charger, a battery unit with sensors for monitoring the battery, a battery charging control module for processing the information, and a user interface that allows user-specified custom charging constraints. All of these components, with the exception of external power source, may be located on the vehicle.
US08054029B2
A calibration method for servo is provided, wherein a motor of the servo is activated at a low-speed mode to drive a moved member of the servo moving to a first limit position and a second limit positions. During the movement of the moved member, a motor control power of the motor is monitored continuously to determine whether the motor control power exceeds a threshold value. When the moved member reaches the first or the second limit position, the motor control power is raised to exceed the threshold value and a motor coordinate value corresponding to the first or second limit position is determined simultaneously. Finally, a conservation relation for determining the actual coordinate by the motor value can be derived according to the values of actual coordinate of the first and second limit positions, and the values of the corresponding motor coordinate.
US08054019B2
The invention concerns a method and an apparatus for controlling a three-or-more-phase motor driven by a frequency converter. In the method, a change-over switch of the frequency converter is controlled to a continuously conducting state and at the same time the phase voltages or phase currents of the other phases are controlled by switching the change-over switches in those motor phases at a switching frequency substantially higher than the frequency of the fundamental wave of the phase voltage or phase current. The apparatus comprises in conjunction with the frequency converter a number of change-over switches, at least one change-over switch for each motor phase. The change-over switches comprise controllable change-over contacts. The apparatus further comprises in conjunction with the frequency converter means for determining the motor phase currents and means for controlling the change-over contacts.
US08054015B2
A motor drive includes a dynamic braking circuit for producing a deceleration torque utilizing a braking force caused by a synchronous motor acting as a generator when the synchronous motor is deenergized. The motor drive apparatus is equipped with a dynamic braking circuit fault detection capability, a DC power supply which is obtained by rectifying input AC power, voltage application function for applying a voltage to the windings of the synchronous motor and to the dynamic braking circuit for a predetermined length of time by switching power transistors connected to the DC power supply, current detection unit for detecting the value of a current flowing from the power transistors, and fault checking unit for checking the dynamic braking circuit for the presence or absence of a fault, based on the current value detected by the current detection unit and on a predefined threshold value.
US08054014B2
In a control system and a method for operating a permanent-magnet electrical machine, when the electrical machine is switched off after one of a functional computer and a monitoring computer of the control system has identified a fault, in order to reduce the braking torque of the electrical machine, which is switched-off but still rotating an output stage of the control system is subjected to a three-phase short circuit if the rotation speed D1 does not fall below a definable limit value GR1 or if a voltage U_DC of the output stage (2) exceeds a limit value Umax, and when the rotation speed D1 is below the definable limit value GR1 and a voltage U_DC of the output stage does not exceed a limit value Umax, all the circuits breakers (2o1, 2o2, 2o3, 2u1, 2u2, 2u3) of the output stage (2) are opened in order to fully disconnect the electrical machine from the output stage.
US08054012B2
A motor driving apparatus having a converter, which receives AC voltage and converts it to DC power, and an inverter, which receives the DC power and converts it to AC power, includes a charge/discharge control circuit and a capacitor connected in parallel to a link section between the converter and the inverter, and energy stored in the capacitor C8 is charged and discharged at arbitrary timing by the charge/discharge control circuit. The invention thus provides a motor driving apparatus that supplies energy to a motor so that the peak of the input current from a power supply to the motor can also be suppressed when particularly large energy is needed during the second half period of motor acceleration.
US08054007B2
The present invention uses the capacitive impedance component to constituted the first impedance and the inductive impedance component to constituted the second impedance, which is characterized as that the first and second impedances in series connection is configured to appear series resonance with the inputting bi-directional power to form a bi-directional divided power, thereby using the bi-directional divided power to drive the bi-directional conducting light emitting diode in parallel connection with the first impedance and second impedance.
US08053995B2
An electrical circuit for use as a string of lights in one embodiment includes a rectifier for converting AC into DC; and a plurality of lamps connected in series, each lamp having an LED, and wherein at least one of the lamps each has a Zener diode connected in series with the LED, a positive terminal of the lamp proximate the rectifier is connected to a positive terminal of an output of the rectifier, and a negative terminal of the lamp distal the rectifier is connected to a negative terminal of the output of the rectifier. In another embodiment, the Zener diode is replaced with a resistor. Hence, no resistors are provided externally of the lamp.
US08053993B2
A lighting control console for controlling a lighting system, wherein digital adjusting commands are generated in the lighting control console, which can be transferred to the lighting devices of the lighting system via data connections, and wherein the lighting control console comprises at least one digital processor and at least one digital memory for generating, managing and storing the adjusting commands, and wherein the lighting control console comprises a remote control, and wherein operator inputs can be input at the remote control and can thereafter be transferred to the lighting control console via a data interface, and wherein at least one motion sensor, by means of which motions of the remote control can be detected, is installed in the remote control, wherein the sensor signals of the motion sensor can be evaluated in an evaluation module and can be transformed into operator inputs for the lighting control console.
US08053984B2
An organic light emitting diode (OLED) display is provided. The OLED display includes a substrate, a subpixel on the substrate, and a multi-layered protective layer covering the subpixel. The multi-layered protective layer has a structure in which organic layers and inorganic layers are alternately stacked in a repeated manner and at least one moisture absorbing layer is interposed in the multi-layered protective layer.
US08053979B2
By repeating a purification process of a light-emitting organic compound several times, a thin film made of the light-emitting organic compound to be used in an EL display device contains ionic impurities at the concentration of 0.1 ppm or lower and has a volume resistivity in the range of 3×1010 Ωcm or larger. By using such a thin film as a light-emitting layer in the EL device, a current caused by reasons other than the carrier recombination can be prevented from flowing through the thin film, and deterioration caused by unnecessary heat generation can be suppressed. Accordingly, it is possible to obtain an EL display device with high reliability.
US08053973B2
A film-forming composition that attains an improvement in the solubility of a hole-injecting/transporting material and/or an electron-accepting compound and has a drying rate appropriate for stable formation of a uniform coating film, being suitable for the formation of a hole-injecting/transporting layer. This composition comprises a hole-injecting/transporting material and/or an electron-accepting compound and a liquid in which the hole-injecting/transporting material and/or the electron-accepting compound are dissolved. This liquid mainly contains a solvent whose molecule has an aromatic ring and/or an aliphatic ring and an oxygen atom and which has either a boiling point of at least 200° C. or a vapor pressure of 1 torr or lower at 25° C.
US08053954B2
A piezoelectric speaker includes a cabinet, piezoelectric vibrators horizontally mounted inside the cabinet at different elevations each having two eyed lugs respectively coupled to respective posts in the cabinet, a shock absorber coupled to the piezoelectric material of the piezoelectric vibrators, two conducting terminals accommodated inside the cabinet and clamped on the piezoelectric vibrators, and two clamps fastened to the conducting terminals to secure a respective signal line.
US08053946B2
A coreless and brushless direct-current motor includes an armature coil wound without core and formed in the shape of a saddle; an outside rotor magnet formed by a permanent magnet, the outside rotor magnet being provided at an outside of the armature coil in the shape of a cylinder so as to face the armature coil, the outside rotor magnet being rotated by the magnetic field; an inside rotor magnet formed by a permanent magnet, the inside rotor magnet being provided in the shape of a cylinder at an inside of the armature coil so that the inside rotor magnet has a pole opposite to the outside rotor magnet and a rotational shaft is independently provided; an output shaft connected to the inside rotor magnet; and a sealing part of a barrier structure which sealing part partitions the armature coil and the outside rotor magnet to an outside of the inside rotor magnet and seals the armature coil and the outside rotor magnet.
US08053944B2
Electrical machines, for example transverse flux machines and/or commutated flux machines, may be configured to achieve increased efficiency, increased output torque, and/or reduced operating losses via use of extended magnets, overhung rotors, and/or stator tooth overlap. Extended magnets may reduce flux leakage between adjacent flux concentrators. Overhung rotors may reduce flux leakage, and may also facilitate voltage balancing in polyphase devices. Stator tooth overlap may reduce hysteresis losses, for example losses in flux concentrating portions of an electrical machine.
US08053939B2
To provide a brushless AC generator for a vehicle, which is capable of improving a cooing performance for an excitation coil and increasing an output of electric power generation with a simple structure.An external fan 11 fixed to a shaft 10 outside the brackets 5 and 6 and an internal fan 34 fixed to a rotor assembled body 21 formed from a first rotor pole 22 and a second rotor pole 23 united into one body, the internal fan 34 having fan blade 34a provided in a valley part 22b between claw poles 22a of the first rotor pole 22, are provided. The external fan 11 and the internal fan 34 are used to generate an air flow for cooling a stator core 3, the rotor assembled body 21, an excitation core 31 and an excitation coil 33.
US08053936B2
In a power supply circuit, first and second loads are connected in parallel to a power source though first and second power lines, respectively. A power line connector connects the first and second power lines together in such a manner that even when one of the first and second power lines is broken, the first and second loads are supplied with electric power from the power source through the other of the first and second power lines. A rectifier device is connected to each of the first and second power lines between the power source and the power line connector. The rectifier device allows an electric current in a direction from the power source to the first and second loads and blocks the electric current in opposite direction.
US08053935B2
An appliance having various mechanical components that can be replaced with a component that provides power or data to the appliance. The component being replaced includes handles, trim pieces, face plates, or the like. The source of power to the new mechanical component comes from an external source which can also provide data.
US08053934B2
The semiconductor integrated circuit device includes a plurality of decoupling cells that suppress power noise respectively, a plurality of power switches that connect the decoupling cells to a power line respectively, and a control circuit that controls the number of power switches selected from among the plurality of power switches and to be turned on according to power noise to be changed according to the operation state of each of internal circuits driven by a power supplied from the power line.
US08053932B2
An apparatus for connecting two generators to run in parallel including a conductive path that connects the generators to an electrical load, a switching circuit that opens/closes the conductive path, a current sensor that detects current flowing the conductive path and an electronic control unit comprising a microcomputer. The control unit functions as a generator model identifier that inputs a signal indicating a model ID from each generator and determines whether the model ID corresponds to data stored in memory, and a switching circuit operator that operates the circuit to close the conductive path to connect the generators to the electrical load when the model ID corresponds to the data, while operates it to open the conductive path when the current is not detected by the current sensor after the conductive path was closed, thereby preventing the outputs of other generators from appearing at the terminals of a disconnected plug and damage to the generators.
US08053930B2
A solar power plant with a plurality of photovoltaic modules for generating a power to be fed in a multi-phase grid, several photovoltaic strings, which are allocated to different phases, being connected to a primary side of a mains transformer and at least one inverter for converting the direct voltage generated by the photovoltaic modules into an alternating mains voltage conforming to the grid being provided and said mains transformer being provided with a neutral conductor and with a grounded terminal, is intended to be improved in such a manner that the life of the photovoltaic modules, in particular in case of thin-film modules, is increased, allowing for high conversion efficiency of the inverters at low wiring costs. This is achieved in that an additional direct voltage source is inserted between the neutral conductor and ground in such a manner that the potential of the photovoltaic strings is displaced and that a bias voltage is set, which is different from zero volt.
US08053925B2
A system and method are provided for monitoring and controlling voltage modulation on a power grid, in order to maintain closed-loop control of the grid. The power grid has a plurality of connections including used and unused connections. A detector is configured to detect a modulation voltage on the power grid. A controller is configured to receive signals from the detector, and to control connections to the power grid. The controller disables power to unused connections in accordance with the modulation voltage exceeding a first threshold and disables power to used connections in accordance with the modulation voltage exceeding a second threshold; used connections are disabled one at a time at a first time interval each for a period given by a second time interval. The controller also restores power to the connections in accordance with the detected modulation voltage being less than a third threshold.
US08053924B2
An improved structure of serial synchronous chopper mainly includes an external synchronous rectifier power supply unit, an internal synchronous rectifier power supply unit, a synchronous voltage-stabilized control unit, an integrated driving circuit unit, a synchronous load feedback control unit, and a synchronous integrated chopping unit. While operating, the structure is serially connected to a live wire of a power supply to periodically perform synchronous chopping so as to provide a synchronous DC voltage-stabilized output as a fundamental power supply in connection with an external circuit. The structure entirely adopts a linear synchronous integral based design to greatly enhance the chopping efficiency and provide a more stable phase current reference point so that the overload protection response in a high-load operating environment is fast and secure, the loop interference and the power consumption of the chopping element can be simultaneously alleviated, the operating voltage is comparatively stable and the faulty rate is lower.
US08053920B2
A terminal assembly for a power converter is provided. The terminal assembly includes first and second conductive components and a current sensor. The first conductive component has first and second releasable attachment formations. The second conductive component has first and second portions with respective first and second widths. The first width is less than the second width. The first portion is releasably attached to the first conductive component with the second releasable attachment formation. The current sensor has an opening therethrough and is positioned between the first conductive component and the second portion of the second conductive component such that the first portion of the first conductive component extends through the opening. The current sensor is responsive to current flowing through the first portion of the second conductive component.
US08053914B1
An apparatus comprising a mechanical-to-electrical energy converting device having a plurality of electrodes and a fluidic body which comprises spatially separated conductive and dielectric liquid regions. Said fluidic body is configured to reversibly move as a whole with respect to said plurality of electrodes under the influence of a mechanical force. Each cycle of said reversible motion of said fluidic body causes multiple alternations of the amount of electrical charge accumulated by the electrodes, whereby generating electrical current flow between said electrodes.
US08053912B2
A vibration electric power generator includes an iron core having a coil wound therearound, a magnet member relatively moved with respect to the iron core by vibrations caused during running of a bicycle; and a nonmagnetic member fixed to the iron core and being in close contact with the magnet member. A plurality of magnets are stacked such that identical poles face each other. Switching is realized, by the vibrations caused during the running of the bicycle, between a state in which a first protrusion of the iron core is attracted and brought into contact with a north pole magnetism collecting and permeative plate and a second protrusion of the iron core is attracted and brought into contact with a south pole magnetism collecting and permeative plate and a state in which the second protrusion is attracted and brought into contact with a north pole magnetism collecting and permeative plate and the first protrusion is attracted and brought into contact with a south pole magnetism collecting and permeative plate.
US08053908B2
A novel structure capable of reducing the stress in the insulating layer in the semiconductor element and thereby securing reliability is provided. When the semiconductor element and the substrate are connected with a solder, the stress generated in the insulating layer is reduced by placing a spherical core made of a material having a greater rigidity inside the solder and satisfying the following inequalities: 1 GPa<(Young's modulus of a encapsulation resin)<30 GPa, 20 ppm/k<(linear coefficient of expansion of the encapsulation resin)<200 ppm/k, and 10 MPa<(yield stress of the solder at room temperature)<30 MPa. At the time of connection, the thickness of the solder to be placed between the land on the surface of the semiconductor element and the core is adjusted to 1/10 or less of the terminal pitch.
US08053900B2
An integrated circuit structure includes a semiconductor chip, which further includes a first surface; and a patterned bond pad exposed through the first surface. The patterned bond pad includes a plurality of portions electrically connected to each other, and at least one opening therein. The integrated circuit further includes a dielectric material filled into at least a portion of the at least one opening.
US08053897B2
The invention relates to a method for producing structures which make it possible to form a trench insulation and to bring into contact SOI wafers provided with active thick layers and which are easily processable. For this purpose, a carrier wafer electric contact and the insulation trench are provided with components exhibiting high-blocking capability of insertion into an integrated circuit SOI wafer. A narrow trench for an insulating trench (8) and a large trench for a carrier wafer contact (9) are etched up to an insulating oxide layer (2) and are buried by a masking layer which is thicker than the buried oxide layer (2). In the large trench (9), a polysilicon spacer (12) remains on the sidewalls, respectively, in the form of a predeposited polysilicon layer (11) rest. The adjustment of the polysilicon etching makes it possible to obtain the spacer (12) provided with a desired height. At least buried oxide (2, 10) is removed by etching from the bottom of the large trench (9) in such a way that a residual oxide layer (13) remains on the surface. The deposition of a second electrically conductive filling layer (14) fills also a large insulating trench (19).
US08053894B2
Apparatus for forming a semiconductor structure comprising a first layer on top of a substrate wherein the first layer defines conductive regions such as copper interconnect lines and non-conductive regions such as dielectric materials. The conductive regions are covered by a second layer of a material different than the first layer such as for example nickel and then the structure is heat treated such that the interconnect lines and second metal, such as a copper interconnect line and a nickel second layer, interact with each other to form an alloy layer. The alloy layer has superior qualities for adhering to both the copper interconnect lines and a subsequently deposited dielectric material.
US08053868B2
Provided are a wafer level chip scale package of an image sensor and a manufacturing method thereof. The wafer level chip scale package includes: a wafer including an image sensor and a pad on the top surface thereof and inclined surfaces on both ends thereof; expansion pads formed on the inclined surfaces of the wafer, including the pad, such that the expansion pads are electrically connected to the pad, a bottom surface of the expansion pads being on a straight line with respect to that of the wafer; a support formed on the expansion pads to support both bottom surfaces of a glass, the support having a height to provide a space where an air cavity is formed; and a glass disposed on the support to provide the air cavity over the wafer.
US08053866B2
An improved varactor diode (20, 50) having first (45) and second (44) terminals is obtained by providing a substrate (22, 52) having a first surface (21, 51) in which are formed isolation regions (28, 58) separating first (23, 53) and second (25, 55) parts of the diode (20, 50). A varactor junction (40, 70) is formed in the first part (23, 53) and having a first side (35, 66) coupled to the first terminal (45) and a second side (34, 54) coupled to the second terminal (44) via a sub-isolation buried layer (SIBL) region (26, 56) extending under the bottom (886) and partly up the sides (885) of the isolation regions (28, 58) to a further doped region (30, 32; 60, 62) ohmically connected to the second terminal (44). The first part (36, 66) does not extend to the SIBL region (26, 56). The varactor junction (40, 70) desirably comprises a hyper-abrupt doped region (34, 54). The combination provides improved tuning ratio, operating frequency and breakdown voltage of the varactor diode (20, 50) while still providing adequate Q.
US08053863B2
An electrical fuse comprises: an interconnect to be cut; and a first terminal and a second terminal which are respectively provided at both ends of the interconnect to be cut. The interconnect to be cut comprises: a first orientation film which contains copper as a main component and is oriented in a (111) plane; and a second orientation film which contains copper as a main component and is oriented in a (511) plane. The second orientation film is provided inside the first orientation film over a width direction of the first orientation film, which is perpendicular to a direction from the first terminal toward the second terminal, so as to partition the first orientation film. Accordingly, it becomes possible to securely cut the electrical fuse whose constituent material is copper, and moreover, to maintain a satisfactory cut state of the electrical fuse after the cutting.
US08053854B2
Example embodiments include micro-heater arrays including first and second micro-heaters disposed perpendicular to or parallel with each other on a substrate and methods of fabricating pn junctions between first and second heating portions using the heat generated from the first and second heating portions, respectively, when applying a voltage to the micro-heater array. Accordingly, when forming pn junctions using micro-heaters, a high-quality pn junction may be fabricated on a glass substrate over a large area.
US08053848B2
A semiconductor device includes a plurality of transistors disposed on a semiconductor substrate, a device isolation layer disposed around the transistors, a guard ring disposed to surround the device isolation layer and the transistors, and a guard region disposed between adjacent transistors.
US08053841B2
A fin transistor includes fin active region, an isolation layer covering both sidewalls of a lower portion of the fin active region, a gate insulation layer disposed over a surface of the fin active region, and a gate electrode disposed over the gate insulation layer and the isolation layer, and having a work function ranging from approximately 4.4 eV to approximately 4.8 eV.
US08053830B2
A semiconductor device including a semiconductor section including a semiconductor element and a recess formed in one of main surfaces and a metallic member at least a part of which is embedded in the recess. A void is formed in a region of the metallic member corresponding to the recess.
US08053828B2
First and second memory cells have first and second channels, first and second tunnel insulating films, first and second charge storage layers formed of an insulating film, first and second block insulating films, and first and second gate electrodes. A first select transistor has a third channel, a first gate insulating film, and a first gate electrode. The first channel includes a first-conductivity-type region and a second-conductivity-type region which is formed on at least a part of the first-conductivity-type region and whose conductivity type is opposite to the first conductivity type. The third channel includes the first-conductivity-type region and the second-conductivity-type region formed on the first-conductivity-type region. The number of data stored in the first memory cell is smaller than that of data stored in the second memory cell.
US08053827B2
It is made possible to provide a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device that has a high-quality insulating film in which defects are not easily formed, and experiences less leakage current. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, includes: forming an amorphous silicon layer on an insulating layer; introducing oxygen into the amorphous silicon layer; and forming a silicon oxynitride layer by nitriding the amorphous silicon layer having oxygen introduced thereinto.
US08053824B2
Apparatuses and methods for increasing well distributed, high quality-factor on-chip capacitance of integrated circuit devices are disclosed. In one aspect, an integrated circuit device structure includes a first metal line implemented on a metallization layer of a semiconductor substrate, the first metal line having a first set of metal fingers extending therefrom; and a second metal line electrically isolated from the first metal line, the second metal line having a second set of metal fingers extending therefrom, the first set of metal fingers and the second set of metal fingers capacitively coupled. The basic structure of metal lines with interlocking metal fingers may be repeated on multiple adjacent metallization layers, with the metal lines oriented either in parallel or perpendicular.
US08053820B2
A semiconductor device has a first conductivity type semiconductor substrate, a second conductivity type buried layer formed in a predetermined region on the semiconductor substrate, and a first conductivity type epitaxial growth layer formed on the buried layer and the semiconductor substrate. Trenches are formed in the epitaxial growth layer and arranged side by side in a gate width direction of a transistor to be formed. An entire bottom surface of each trench is entirely surrounded by and disposed in contact with the buried layer. A gate electrode is formed inside and on a top surface of each of the trenches and on a surface of the epitaxial growth layer adjacent to each of the trenches via a gate insulating film. A second conductivity type high concentration source diffusion layer is formed on one side of the gate electrode. A second conductivity type high concentration drain diffusion layer formed on another side of the gate electrode.
US08053818B2
A thin film field effect transistor is disclosed which provides improved time-based channel stability. The field effect transistor includes first and second disordered semiconductor layers separated by an insulator. In an embodiment a carrier injection terminal is provided in a thin semiconductor layer closest to the gate terminal. An electric field is established in the thin semiconductor layer. At sufficient field strength, the electric field extends into the second semiconductor layer, which is in contact with the source and drain terminals. At sufficient field strength a channel is established in the second semiconductor layer, permitting current to flow between source and drain terminals. Above a certain gate voltage, there is sufficient free charge is induced in the first semiconductor layer so that the field does not extend into the second semiconductor, effectively shutting off current between source and drain. Single-device transition detection (as well as other applications) may be obtained.
US08053811B2
A group 3-5 nitride semiconductor multilayer substrate (1) and a method for manufacturing such substrate are provided. A semiconductor layer (12) is formed on a base substrate (11), and a mask (13) is formed on the semiconductor layer (12). Then, after forming a group 3-5 nitride semiconductor crystalline layer (14) by selective growing, the group 3-5 nitride semiconductor crystalline layer (14) and the base substrate (11) are separated. The crystallinity of the semiconductor layer (12) is lower than that of the group 3-5 nitride semiconductor crystalline layer (14).
US08053809B2
A device is provided that in one embodiment includes a substrate having a first region and a second region, in which a semiconductor device is present on a dielectric layer in the first region of the substrate and a resistive structure is present on the dielectric layer in the second region of the substrate. The semiconductor device may include a semiconductor body and a gate structure, in which the gate structure includes a gate dielectric material present on the semiconducting body and a metal gate material present on the gate dielectric material. The resistive structure may include semiconductor material having a lower surface is in direct contact with the dielectric layer in the second region of the substrate. The resistive structure may be a semiconductor containing fuse or a polysilicon resistor. A method of forming the aforementioned device is also provided.
US08053800B2
A reflection-type photointerrupter of the present invention includes a substrate, a light emitting element and a light receiving element. The substrate includes a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, and a first and a second recesses that are open in the first surface side. The light emitting element is arranged in the first recess, while the light receiving element is arranged in the second recess. The light emitting element is capable of emitting light. The light receiving element is capable of receiving the light emitted from the light emitting element and reflected by an object to be detected.
US08053789B2
There is provided a method of fabricating a vertical light emitting diode. The method comprises the steps of: growing a low doped first conductive semiconductor layer on a sacrificial substrate; forming an aluminum layer on the low doped first conductive semiconductor layer; forming an AAO layer having a large number of holes formed therein by performing anodizing treatment of the aluminum layer; etching and patterning the low doped first conductive semiconductor layer using the aluminum layer with a large number of the holes as a shadow mask to expose a portion of the low doped first conductive semiconductor layer, thereby forming a large number of grooves; removing the aluminum layer remaining on the low doped first conductive semiconductor layer; sequentially forming a high doped first conductive semiconductor layer, an active layer and a second conductive semiconductor layer on the low doped first conductive semiconductor layer with a large number of the grooves; forming a metal reflective layer and a conductive substrate on the second conductive semiconductor layer; separating the sacrificial substrate; and forming an electrode pad on the other surface of the low doped first conductive semiconductor layer, the electrode pad being filled in a large number of the grooves to be in ohmic contact with the high doped first conductive semiconductor layer.
US08053768B2
Provided are a silicon-containing compound having carbazole and fluorene in its molecule and an organic electroluminescent device including an organic layer employing the same. The silicon-containing compound is represented by the following formula: The silicon-containing compound has excellent electrical characteristics and a charge transporting capability, the silicon-containing compound can be used as a hole injecting material, a hole transporting material, and/or a light emitting material that are suitable for all-color fluorescent and phosphorescent organic light emitting devices such as red, green, blue, and white fluorescent and phosphorescent organic light emitting devices. When the silicon-containing compound is used to manufacture an organic electroluminescent device, the organic electroluminescent device has a high efficiency, a low driving voltage, high luminosity, and a long lifetime.
US08053765B2
Disclosed is an organic electroluminescent element containing organic layers sandwiched between an anode and a cathode, wherein the organic layers incorporates an emission layer A containing a host compound A and at least two types of emission dopants, and an emission layer B containing a host compound B and at least one type of emission dopant, provided that at least one of the emission dopants contained in the emission layer A is a phosphorescence-emitting material.
US08053755B2
A strained semiconductor heterostructure (10) comprises an injection region comprising a first emitter layer (11) having p-type conductivity and a second emitter layer (12) having n-type conductivity, and a light generation layer (13) positioned between the first emitter layer (11) and the second emitter layer (12). An electron capture region (14) is positioned between the light generation layer (13) and the second emitter layer (12), said electron capture region comprising a capture layer (16) adjacent to the second emitter layer, and a confining layer (15) adjacent to said electron capture layer. According to the present invention, the widths and materials of the confining and capture layers (15, 16) are selected to provide energy difference between one of localized energy levels for electrons in the capture layer (16) and the conduction band bottom of the second emitter layer (12) equal to the energy of the optical phonon.
US08053751B2
In a phase-change semiconductor device and methods of manufacturing the same, an example method may include forming a metal layer pattern on a substrate, the metal layer pattern including an opening that exposes a portion of the substrate, forming an etch stop layer on the metal layer pattern, a sidewall of the opening and the exposed portion of the substrate, the etch stop layer formed with a thickness less than an upper thickness threshold, and reducing at least a portion of the etch stop layer, the reduced portion of the etch stop layer forming an electrical connection with the substrate.
US08053743B2
In apparatus for superresolution microscopy or microlithography, wherein a spot in the specimen to be examined or in the microlithographic medium is raised to an excited state by a first pulse of light, and a second pulse of light reduces the excitation in the peripheral parts of the spot to increase the resolution of the instrument, a method whereby the wavelength of the second pulse in the specimen or medium is the same as the wavelength of the first pulse, thereby allowing the cost and complexity of the apparatus to be lowered.
US08053735B2
A method for improving single photon emission computed tomography by controlling acquisition parameters specific to the imaging goals and specific to the individual case under study. Data acquisition is modulated by scanning to adapt to the particular signal to noise characteristics of each object. A preliminary acquisition quickly scans the object of interest. The preliminary data is analyzed to optimize the secondary scan. The secondary scan is then acquired with optimized sampling of the object based on its own particular image characteristics. The system is able to learn, incorporating site specific data into a triaging set.
US08053734B2
A conformal coherent wideband antenna coupled IR detector array included a plurality of unit cells each having a dimension that includes an antenna for focusing radiation onto an absorber element sized less than the dimension. In one embodiment, the absorber element may be formed of a mercury cadmium telluride alloy. According to a further embodiment, the antenna array may be fabricated using sub-wavelength fabrication processes.
US08053733B2
A desired spatial resolution upon a measurement can be attained by making an electromagnetic wave including a terahertz wave (frequency thereof is equal to or more than 0.01 [THz], and equal to or less than 100 [THz]) incident to a device under test. An electromagnetic wave measurement device includes an incident lens which makes an electromagnetic wave to be measured having a frequency equal to or more than 0.01 [THz] and equal to or less than 100 [THz] incident to a device under a test while decreasing a beam diameter of the electromagnetic wave to be measured, a scanning stage which rotates, about a line orthogonal to an optical axis of the incident lens as a rotational axis, the device under the test or the optical axis, and an electromagnetic wave detector which detects the electromagnetic wave to be measured which has transmitted through the device under the test, where a coordinate on the optical axis of a position which gives the minimum value d of the beam diameter is different from a coordinate on the optical axis of the rotational axis.
US08053731B2
Provided are an image forming apparatus and an image forming method which are capable of obtaining an image of a measured object using a relatively simple structure in a short time. In the image forming apparatus, an electromagnetic wave generated by an electromagnetic wave generator is emitted to the measured object through a spatial modulation unit for spatially modulating a signal intensity. An electromagnetic wave that has passed through the measured object is measured by an electromagnetic wave detecting unit. A measurement signal is processed by a signal processing section based on a reference signal synchronized with the signal intensity modulated by the spatial modulation unit. The image is formed by an image acquisition section.
US08053726B2
An inspection apparatus by an electron beam comprises: an electron-optical device 70 having an electron-optical system for irradiating the object with a primary electron beam from an electron beam source, and a detector for detecting the secondary electron image projected by the electron-optical system; a stage system 50 for holding and moving the object relative to the electron-optical system; a mini-environment chamber 20 for supplying a clean gas to the object to prevent dust from contacting to the object; a working chamber 31 for accommodating the stage device, the working chamber being controllable so as to have a vacuum atmosphere; at least two loading chambers 41, 42 disposed between the mini-environment chamber and the working chamber, adapted to be independently controllable so as to have a vacuum atmosphere; and a loader 60 for transferring the object to the stage system through the loading chambers.
US08053725B2
Applicants have found that the asymmetrical energy distribution of ions from an ion source allow chromatic aberration to be reduced by filtering ions in the low energy beam tail without significantly reducing processing time. A preferred embodiment includes within an ion beam column a filter that removes the low energy ions from the beam.
US08053721B2
A medical pump including an electromagnetic emitter and detector is provided. The emitter emits electromagnetic radiation of a predetermined wavelength. A pump set that is compatible with the medical pump modifies the emitted electromagnetic radiation when properly installed in the pump. The detector receives electromagnetic radiation, and a filter circuit excludes electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength other than the predetermined wavelength. The pump monitors the filtered signal to determine whether the received electromagnetic radiation corresponds to the emitted electromagnetic radiation as modified by a properly loaded, compatible pump set and determines whether a compatible pump set is properly loaded in the pump as a function thereof.
US08053719B2
Provided is an image sensor using a photo-detecting molecule and a method of operating the image sensor. The image sensor may include a plurality of first electrodes disposed parallel to each other and a plurality of second electrodes disposed parallel to each other in a direction perpendicular to the first electrodes and above the first electrodes, and a plurality of subpixels formed in regions where the first electrodes cross the second electrodes. Each of the subpixels may comprise a photo-detecting molecule layer that may generate charges by absorbing light having a certain wavelength, a charge generation layer that may form a plurality of secondary electrons by receiving the charges from the photo-detecting molecule layer when a known voltage is applied between the first electrodes and the second electrodes, and a variable resistance layer, an electrical state of which is changed by receiving the secondary electrons generated from the charge generation layer.
US08053712B2
An inspecting method for an object lens driving device including a base, an objective lens, a holder for holding the objective lens on the base, and a drive mechanism for driving the holder so as to move the objective lens in the focus direction, the method comprising the steps of: emitting a laser beam through the objective lens; allowing the laser beam emitted through the objective lens to pass through an aperture having a predetermined diameter; applying to the drive mechanism a drive voltage for moving the holder between a first position closest to a surface of the base and a second position farther than the first position from the surface of the base; performing photoelectric conversion of the laser beam having passed through the aperture; and inspecting the objective lens driving device based on a signal obtained by the photoelectric conversion.
US08053708B2
A cooking appliance includes a plurality of heating elements and a plurality of user interface devices for receiving heating element settings. An input device for allows a user to arbitrarily selectively associate any one or more of the heating elements with any one or more of the user interface devices.
US08053698B2
A method for monitoring the presence of an adhesive between two metal workpieces includes measuring the depth of indentation made by electric resistance weld electrodes by measuring the advance of the weld electrodes, and comparing the measured depth of indentation with the depth of indentation that is known to occur when the presence of the adhesive between the metal workpieces minimizes the shunting of weld current and thereby affects the depth of indentation. If the adhesive is absent, a supplemental electric resistance weld is made to compensate for the absent adhesive. The invention is applicable to both adhesive bonding, where only adhesive is used to attach the workpieces, and weldbonding, where an electric resistance weld is made atop a layer of adhesive.
US08053695B2
A time delay output apparatus for a circuit breaker includes a switch disposed at one side of a main shaft rotatable in directions to open/close a fixed contactor and a movable contactor, and a delay member disposed between the main shaft and the switch so as to operate the switch with a preset time delay, thereby simplifying the construction and reducing the size as well as enhancing operational reliability by stably obtaining a time delay.
US08053694B2
A circuit interrupter mechanism includes a first member movable in a first longitudinal direction and an opposite second longitudinal direction, and a second member pivotal in a first pivotal direction and an opposite second pivotal direction. A first tab is fixedly coupled to one of the first and second members, and a second tab is pivotally coupled to the other of the members. The first tab engages and disengages from the second tab during movement of the first member in the first longitudinal direction and in the second longitudinal direction. The second tab pivots with respect to the other of the members when engaged by the first tab during movement of the first member in the first longitudinal direction. The second tab does not pivot with respect to the other of the members when engaged by the first tab during movement of the first member in the second longitudinal direction.
US08053692B2
A thin, film-form seating switch able to detect whether an occupant sits on the seat or not, wherein, with a spacer (5) in-between, a film-form substrate (3) is disposed on one surface of the spacer and a film-form member (7) on the other surface, a first conductor (13) equipped with a first terminal (9) and a first electrode (11A) conductive with this and a second conductor (19) equipped with a second terminal (15) and a second electrode (17A) conductive with this are fixed to one surface of the film-form substrate, and a third conductor (21A) for letting the first electrode conduct with the second electrode when an occupant is seated is fixed to the film-form member (7). The above arrangement solves a conventional problem that it is troublesome to connect the connection terminals of wires or the like provided on a wiring harness or the like to respective terminals that are separately provided on a film-form substrate and a film-form member.
US08053688B2
Disclosed herein is a method of masking audible sounds emanating from a keyboard in response to a stroking of keys on the keyboard, the method comprising, selecting components from a plurality of components with various masses, building the keyboard with the selected components, moving a movable mass within the keyboard, and energizing a driving transducer within the keyboard. Further disclosed herein is a keyboard for a computer, comprising a plurality of keys, a cover with the keys protruding therethrough, a base supporting the cover and the keys, and at least one selectable mass wherein the mass is selected from a plurality of masses, a movable mass supported by the base and movable relative to the base, and a driving transducer supported by the base.
US08053686B2
A base for a scale tilts slightly when a wheel is rolled onto it, to facilitate rolling the wheel onto a central ovular or elliptical concave mat surface. Opposed handgrips forming grippable loops may be provided on the base.
US08053685B2
A metal wiring plate includes a soldering portion to which an electronic device is soldered and a wiring portion extending from the soldering portion and configured to electrically connect the electronic device to other device. The wiring portion includes a narrow portion located adjacent to the soldering portion. The width of the narrow portion is less than the width of the soldering portion so that the narrow portion helps prevent melted solder applied to the soldering portion from spreading to areas outside the soldering portion. The narrow portion allows the electronic apparatus to be surely soldered to the soldering portion without using solder resist.
US08053681B2
An IC package includes: a multi-layered PCB having a plurality of insulating layers and a plurality of conductive pattern layers stacked in sequence and a plurality of via-holes formed through the plurality of the insulating layers for an electrical connection between the layers; and an IC chip disposed in a core insulating layer of the plurality of the insulating layers to be embedded in the multi-layered PCB and including a plurality of input/output pads on their surface. The input/output pads disposed at an outermost area of the IC chip are coupled to outer terminals by connection members without passing through said via-hole, the remaining input/output pads except for the input/output pads disposed at the outermost area of the IC chip are coupled to the outer terminals through the via-hole.
US08053680B2
A wiring board includes a plate-shaped resin member; chip connection pads provided in the resin member, the chip connection pads having connection surfaces electrically connected to electrode pads provided on a semiconductor chip, the connection surfaces being situated in substantially the same plane as a first surface of the resin member, the first surface being a side where the semiconductor chip is mounted; pads provided in a portion of the resin member, the portion being situated outside an area where the chip connection pads are formed; lead wirings connected to the pads; and conductive wires sealed by the resin member, the conductive wires electrically connecting the chip connection pads and the pads to each other.
US08053674B2
A wired circuit board includes a wired circuit body portion having a wired circuit, an electrostatic charge removing portion conducted with the wired circuit body portion and having a semiconductive layer, and a conduction cut-off portion arranged between the wired circuit body portion and the electrostatic charge removing portion to cut off electrical conduction therebetween.
US08053663B2
A solar battery module as a panel-shaped semiconductor module comprises multiple spherical or nearly spherical, granular electric power generation semiconductor elements arranged in multiple rows and columns, a conductive connection mechanism electrically connecting in parallel multiple semiconductor elements in each row and connecting in series multiple semiconductor elements in each column, and a conductive inner metal case housing the multiple semiconductor elements and constituting the conductive connection mechanism, wherein each row of semiconductor elements is housed in each reflecting surface-forming groove of the inner metal case, the positive electrodes of the semiconductor electrodes are connected to the bottom plate and the negative electrodes are connected to finger leads, the bottom plate of each reflecting surface-forming grove has a cutoff slit, and the top is covered with a transparent cover member.
US08053659B2
An artificial intelligence song/music recommendation system and method is provided that allows music shoppers to discover new music. The system and method accomplish these tasks by analyzing a database of music in order to identify key similarities between different pieces of music, and then recommends pieces of music to a user depending upon their music preferences.
US08053655B2
Drum hardware and drum secured thereon are preferably supported on a vest type carrier or a T-bar carrier having a plurality of separate parts removable from each other and formed of a rigid light material such as plastic or a light metal such as magnesium, aluminum or titanium. The carrier has a vest or belly plate, shoulder supports, and back bar and the shoulder supports are removable and/or adjustable. The supporting elements are of rod or tubular construction. Special padding may be included on the shoulder supports, belly plate portion and other parts where cushioning is needed. The hardware may be universally adjustable.
US08053653B1
A novel maize variety designated 10273860 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing maize variety 10273860 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into 10273860 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety 10273860, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety 10273860. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety 10273860.
US08053652B1
A novel maize variety designated PH11SP and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH11SP with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH11SP through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH or a locus conversion of PH11SP with another maize variety.
US08053651B1
A novel maize variety designated X7M658 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing maize variety X7M658 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X7M658 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X7M658, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X7M658. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X7M658.
US08053646B1
A novel maize variety designated PHTEF and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PHTEF with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PHTEF through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PHTEF or a trait conversion of PHTEF with another maize variety. Inbred maize varieties derived from maize variety PHTEF, methods for producing other inbred maize varieties derived from maize variety PHTEF and the inbred maize varieties and their parts derived by the use of those methods.
US08053642B2
According to the invention, there is provided a novel soybean variety designated XB12U09. This invention thus relates to the seeds of soybean variety XB12U09, to the plants of soybean XB12U09 to plant parts of soybean variety XB12U09 and to methods for producing a soybean plant produced by crossing plants of the soybean variety XB12U09 with another soybean plant, using XB12U09 as either the male or the female parent.
US08053640B2
The invention provides seed and plants of the pea line designated 08240772. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of pea line 08240772, and to methods for producing a pea plant produced by crossing a plant of pea line 08240772 with itself or with another pea plant, such as a plant of another line. The invention further relates to seeds and plants produced by such crossing. The invention further relates to parts of a plant of pea line 08240772, including the seed, pod, and gametes of such plants.
US08053631B2
This invention relates to polynucleotide sequences encoding genes that can confer resistance to the plant pathogen Colletotrichum, which causes anthracnose stalk rot, leaf blight and top dieback in corn and other cereals. It further relates to plants and seeds of plants carrying chimeric genes comprising said polynucleotide sequences, which enhance or confer resistance to the plant pathogen Colletotrichum, and processes of making said plants and seeds. The invention further presents sequences that can be used as molecular markers that in turn can be used to identify the region of interest in corn lines resulting from new crosses and to quickly and efficiently introgress the genes from corn lines carrying said genes into other corn lines that do not carry said genes, in order to make them resistant to Colletotrichum and resistant to stalk rot.
US08053628B2
The object of the present invention is to provide a wheat which accumulates a starch with a novel property by controlling the expression of the enzymes described in claims.The present invention provides a wheat, which does not express any of the following proteins (1)-(6): (1) Wheat Starch Synthase II-A1 Protein encoded by Wheat Starch Synthase II-A1 gene of SEQ ID NO:1, (2) Wheat Starch Synthase II-B1 Protein encoded by Wheat Starch Synthase II-B1 gene of SEQ ID NO:3, (3) Wheat Starch Synthase II-D1 Protein encoded by Wheat Starch Synthase II-D1 gene of SEQ ID NO:5, (4) Granule Bound Starch Synthase A1 Protein encoded by Granule Bound Starch Synthase A1 gene of SEQ ID NO:7, (5) Granule Bound Starch Synthase B1 Protein encoded by Granule Bound Starch Synthase B1 gene of SEQ ID NO:9, and (6) Granule Bound Starch Synthase D1 Protein encoded by Granule Bound Starch Synthase D1 gene of SEQ ID NO:11.
US08053622B2
The invention describes a method for stripping alumina which is particularly suitable for removal of fluoride from alumina and comprises washing said alumina with an aqueous acid or alkali at elevated temperature. The method may be used for removal of unreacted radiofluoride such as [18F]fluoride from alumina following a radiofluorination reaction. Automated synthesis apparatus and cassettes therefor, which are adapted to perform the method are also claimed.
US08053621B2
A method for treating a hydrocarbon solvent, the method comprising continuously introducing a hydrocarbon solvent to a liquid medium containing hydrogen ions; allowing the hydrocarbon solvent to be in contact with the liquid medium for at least 1 minute; continuously removing hydrocarbon solvent from the liquid medium to provide a treated hydrocarbon solvent stream.
US08053620B2
Processes and systems for removing contaminants from a paraffin containing feedstock are provided that include: providing a paraffin containing feedstock, passing the paraffin containing feedstock to an inlet of a guard bed that includes an adsorbent material, and contacting the paraffin containing feedstock with the adsorbent material in the guard bed to produce a treated paraffin containing feedstock. The processes and systems can also include removing the treated paraffin containing feedstock from an outlet of the guard bed, and passing the treated paraffin containing feedstock to a paraffin separation zone that separates normal paraffins from the treated paraffin containing feedstock.
US08053606B2
A fluorinated alkylalkoxylate, and a process for its preparation in which at least one fluorinated alcohol is contacted with at least one alkylene epoxide in the presence of a catalyst system comprising an alkali metal borohydride, and an organic quaternary salt.
US08053605B2
The present invention relates to a catalyst composition that includes a triphenylphosphine ligand, a monodentate phosphine ligand, a monodentate phosphine oxide ligand, and a transition metal catalyst, and a hydroformylation process using the same. In the hydroformylation process using the catalyst composition according to the present invention, the high catalytic activity can be obtained, and the selectivity (N/I selectivity) in respects to normal- or iso-aldehyde can be desirably controlled.
US08053603B2
The invention relates to novel tetralone based amines and their use in the treatment of central nervous system (CNS) disorders, such as depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Parkinson's disease. The invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds and compositions of the invention as well as methods of inhibiting reuptake of one or more monoamine, such as such as dopamine and norepinephrine, from the synaptic cleft, and methods of modulating one or more monoamine transporter.
US08053593B2
A catalyst and a process for preparing carboxylic acid esters from an aldehyde and an alcohol in the presence of molecular oxygen are disclosed. The catalyst comprises metals supported on a silica-containing support, wherein the metals consist essentially of palladium, lead, an alkali or alkaline earth metal, and at least one of niobium and zirconium. The process for preparing a carboxylic acid ester comprises reacting an aldehyde with an alcohol in the presence of molecular oxygen and the aforementioned catalyst.
US08053592B2
Provided that a method for inexpensively producing optically active α-ionone with a high yield and a high asymmetric yield and with good workability in a short process, and a perfume composition comprising the optically active α-ionone obtained by the aforementioned method. A method for producing optically active α-ionone, comprising allowing α-ionone as a mixture of optical isomers to react with an esterification agent, and hydrolyzing the obtained α-ionone enol ester; a method for producing optically active α-ionone comprising subjecting α-ionone as a mixture of optical isomers to an asymmetric reduction, allowing the obtained optically active α-ionol to react with an esterification agent to give an optically active α-ionol ester, hydrolyzing the obtained optically active α-ionol ester after purification as necessary, and then oxidizing the obtained optically active α-ionol; and a perfume composition comprising thus obtained optically active α-ionone.
US08053588B2
Provided is an organosilane compound expressed by any one of the following general formulae (1) to (7): (wherein: Ar represents a phenylene group or the like; R1 represents a hydrogen atom or the like; R2 to R8 each represent a methyl group or the like; n represents an integer in a range from 0 to 2; m represents an integer of 1 or 2; L represents a single bond or the like; X represents a hydrogen atom or the like; and Y represents a hydrogen atom or the like).
US08053587B2
This invention relates to thermosetting resin compositions useful for mounting onto a circuit board semiconductor devices, such as CSPs, BGAs, LGAs and the like, each of which having a semiconductor chip, such as LSI, on a carrier substrate. The compositions of this invention are reworkable when subjected to appropriate conditions.
US08053585B2
The present invention relates to a photolabile compound including a coumarin family caging group covalently bound to an organic moiety containing a carboxyl group, an amino group, a sulfhydryl group, and/or a hydroxyl group. The photolabile compound, upon absorbing visible light, releases the organic moiety. Also disclosed is a method of making a photolabile compound that releases a biologically active compound upon absorbing visible light by providing an organic moiety and binding a coumarin family caging group to the organic moiety under conditions effective to make the photolabile compound. The present invention also relates to a method of obtaining a biologically active compound in a sample. The method involves adding to a sample a photolabile compound including a coumarin family caging group covalently bound to an organic moiety. The sample is then illuminated with visible light under conditions effective to obtain a biologically active compound including the organic moiety.
US08053578B2
The present invention provides novel alpha-fluoroalkyl dihydrotetrabenazine compounds I wherein R1 is a C1-C10 fluorinated aliphatic radical; R2 is hydrogen or a C1-C10 aliphatic radical; R3 is hydrogen or a C1-C10 aliphatic radical; and R4 is a C1-C10 aliphatic radical, a C3-C10 cycloaliphatic radical, or a C3-C10 aromatic radical. The alpha-fluoroalkyl dihydrotetrabenazine compounds are provided in both racemic and enantiomerically enriched forms and may comprise either or both of fluorine-18 and fluorine 19. The alpha-fluoroalkyl dihydrotetrabenazine compounds are believed to possess high affinity for VMAT-2, a biomarker implicated in human diabetes. The alpha-fluoroalkyl dihydrotetrabenazine compounds comprising a fluorine-18 group are useful as PET imaging agents targeting the VMAT-2 biomarker. The non-radiolabled alpha-fluoroalkyl dihydrotetrabenazine compounds are useful as probes for the discovery of PET imaging agents.
US08053575B2
Example embodiments provide a nitrogen-containing heteroaromatic ligand-transition metal complex, a buffer layer including the complex, which may improve the injection and transport of electrical charges, an organic thin film transistor and an electronic device including the buffer layer, in which the injection of electrons or holes and the transport of charges between layers are accelerated, thereby improving the efficiency thereof, and methods of manufacturing the same.
US08053572B2
The present invention relates to a process for preparing known fungicidally effective alkylanilides from acid chlorides and aminoacetophenone via hydroxyalkyl-substituted carboxanilides, alkenylanilides and benzoxazine derivatives.
US08053571B2
This invention relates to methods, compositions, and apparatuses for producing macrocyclic compounds. First, one or more reactants are provided in a reaction medium, which are capable of forming the macrocyclic compound through a desired reaction pathway that includes at least cyclization, and which are further capable of forming undesired oligomers through a undesired reaction pathway that includes undesirable oligomerization. Oligomerization of such reactions in the reaction medium is modulated to reduce formation of undesired oligomers and/or to reduce separation of the undesired oligomers from the reaction medium, relative to a corresponding unmodulated oligomerization reaction, thereby maximizing yields of the macrocyclic compound. The macrocyclic compound so formed is then recovered from the reaction medium. Preferably, the macrocyclic compound spontaneously separates from the reaction medium via phase separation. More preferably, the macrocyclic compound spontaneous precipitates from the reaction medium and therefore can be easily recovered by simple filtration.
US08053563B2
The present invention relates to monoclonal anti-human YKL-antibodies which are capable to modulate biological processes in which YKL-40 plays a prominent role, e.g. inhibit the growth and/or inducing apoptosis of cells, in particular cancer cells. The invention also relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising said antibodies and uses said antibodies and/or pharmaceutical compositions for treatment of a disease wherein inhibition of cell growth, cell differentiation, remodelling of extracellular matrix, metastasis and/or induction of cell death due to apoptosis is a prerequisite for successful curing. An antibody of the invention is capable of inhibiting biological function of YKL-40 in the above mentioned processes by binding to a specific epitope on YKL-40.
US08053559B2
We add discontinuous regions of Extra Cellular Matrix (ECM) to a biodegradable scaffold. Hereby it is possible to combine the range of physical properties the scaffold can offer with the reconstructive properties of the ECM. The optimal amount of discrete ECM material for each application is disclosed and this concentration is equally distributed in the dressing hence avoiding unnecessary high concentrations of ECM. In addition to the effect of the ECM, the porous structure of the base material provides the cells with a structure for in-growth.
US08053558B2
A novel costimulatory protein molecule, B7-DC, which is a member of the B7 family, is described as is DNA coding therefor and expression vectors comprising this DNA. B7-DC protein, fragments, fusion polypeptides/proteins and other functional derivatives, and transformed cells expressing B7-DC are useful in vaccine compositions and methods. Compositions and methods are disclosed for inducing potent T cell mediated responses that can be harnessed for anti-tumor and anti-viral immunity.
US08053556B2
It is an object of the present invention to identify a glypican-3-derived peptide which can bind to HLA-A2 and activate human killer T cells, so as to provide a means for carrying out an immunotherapy which is able to target approximately 40% of Japanese patients suffering from several types of cancers, which express GPC3 at a high level. The present invention provides a peptide of any of the following (A) or (B): (A) a peptide, which has the amino acid sequence as shown in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 1 to 3; or (B) a peptide, which has an amino acid sequence comprising a substitution or addition of one or two amino acids with respect to the amino acid sequence as shown in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 1 to 3, and which has ability to induce killer T cells.
US08053554B2
A tubular or spherical nanostructure composed of a plurality of peptides, wherein each of the plurality of peptides includes no more than 4 amino acids and whereas at least one of the 4 amino acids is an aromatic amino acid.
US08053553B2
Disclosed are compositions and methods for preventing or reducing harm resulting from pathogen infection. For example, disclosed are peptides that inhibit the processing of toxins normally cleaved by proprotein convertase enzymes.
US08053537B2
A method of forming an image on a photoresist. The method includes: forming a photoresist over a substrate; applying a topcoat composition, the topcoat composition comprising at least one fluorine-containing polymer and a casting solvent, onto the photoresist; removing the casting solvent of the topcoat composition resulting in the formation of a topcoat material over the photoresist; exposing the photoresist to radiation, the radiation changing a chemical composition of the regions of the photoresist exposed to the radiation, forming exposed and unexposed regions in the photoresist; and removing i) the topcoat material and ii) the exposed regions of the photoresist or the unexposed regions of the photoresist.
US08053527B2
A melt-mixed composition of non-melt flowable polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and melt-fabricable perfluoropolymer is provided that exhibits thixotropy at increasing shear rate in the molten state and high elongation at break even at PTFE concentrations well above 4 wt %, based on the combined weight of the PTFE and the perfluoropolymer, e.g. at least 200% up to at least 30 wt % PTFE, the composition also exhibiting the structure of a dispersion of submicrometer-size particles of the PTFE in a continuous phase of the melt-fabricable perfluoropolymer.
US08053517B2
This invention pertains to neutralized silicone elastomer dispersions and methods for making neutralized silicone elastomer dispersions. This invention also pertains to compositions comprising the neutralized silicone elastomer and an acid reactive compound. The silicone elastomer dispersion are neutralized typically by blending the silicone elastomer dispersion with a base such as sodium bicarbonate or by adding a basic neutralizing agent to one or more of the raw materials used to make the silicone elastomer dispersion and removing the basic neutralizing agent by filtration or any other suitable means.
US08053494B2
An invisible ink, a method for preparing an invisible ink, and an invisible ink product are disclosed herein. An invisible ink comprising a first ink combined with a second ink is applied to a print medium. The first ink comprises a color developer activator without a color former leuco dye and the second ink comprises a color former leuco dye without a color developer activator. The first ink is prepared with a polyvinyl alcohol binder, dispersant/surfactant, and a wetting agent. The second ink is prepared with a polyvinyl alcohol binder, grind aid, dispersant/surfactant and defoamer. Heat generated by rubbing and/or scratching the invisible ink on the print medium activates the color former leuco dye and activator to change the color on the printing medium.
US08053492B2
A protective polymeric coating is applied to the surface of various objects which are to be exposed to a harsh environment. The protective polymeric coating covers the exposed surface, where the polymeric coating includes a polyimide polymer. The polyimide polymer in the polymeric coating has a backbone with at least one non-terminal phenyl group. A linkage is connected to the non-terminal phenyl group, where the linkage can be an amide linkage or an ester linkage. An oligomeric silsesquioxane compound is connected to the linkage through an organic substituent, where the oligomeric silsesquioxane is not incorporated into the polymer backbone. The polymeric coating provides protection to the underlying object.
US08053488B2
An ambient temperature curable hydrophilic PU oligomer includes a PU pre-polymer having a hydrophilic center group and a curable terminated group. The ambient temperature curable hydrophilic PU oligomer includes the moisture-curable hydrophilic PU oligomer such as isocyanate-terminated PU pre-polymer and free-radical curable hydrophlic PU oligomer. The isocyanate-terminated PU pre-polymer is synthesized by mixing at least one multi-isocyanate, at least one polyol and one or more diol monomer with hydrophilic group. The acrylate-terminated PU oligomer is synthesized by adding 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) into the isocyanate-terminated hydrophilic PU pre-polymer. Either acrylate- or isocyanate-terminated PU oligomer can be applied on a textile or a glass surface with a thin-layer coating technology. The curing reactions of these hydrophilic thin-layer coatings are carried out with moisture or UV-radiation, respectively, at ambient temperature. These moisture-cured or UV-radiation cured hydrophilic PU coating has water-resistant properties and the hydrophilic characters remain unchanged.
US08053480B2
A process for making a foam control composition comprising a cross-linked polyorganosiloxane in which is dispersed a filler, with hydrophobic surface, comprising step (A) mixing (i) a finely divided filler, (ii) a polyorganosiloxane having on at least two reactive substituents, for example on average two reactive substituents, and (iii) a polyorganosiloxane having at least three reactive substituents, capable of addition reaction via hydrosilylation; (B) hydrosilylation reaction of components (ii) and (iii) until the mixture at least partially gels, followed by applying shearing forces to this at least partially gelled mixture. Optionally step (A) comprises a diluent or solvent and after step (B) an emulsification step is carried out to make the foam control composition into an O/W emulsion. Also a process for controlling foam in an aqueous environment by using a foam control composition according to the invention, selected from inks, coatings, paints, detergents, black liquor of from those encountered during pulp and paper manufacture, waste water treatment, textile dyeing processes or the scrubbing of natural gas.
US08053478B1
Disclosed are diaryl iodonium compositions with antimicrobial activity and low toxicity to plants and mammals. The present diaryl iodonium compositions include a tri-substituted aryl group and a heteroaryl group which produce substantially no chlorobenzene and/or 1,2-dichlorobenzene when applied to microbes.
US08053476B2
The present invention concerns the use of compounds of the Formula (I) for treating different types of acute and chronic pain, especially non neuropathic inflammatory pain in mammals. The pain to be treated may be e.g. chronic inflammatory pain, rheumatoid arthritis pain and/or secondary inflammatory osteoarthritic pain. The compounds show an antinociceptive profile and differ from classical analgesics like opioids and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and are useful as specific analgesics.
US08053473B2
The present invention relates to an antibacterial agent containing 7,10-dihydroxy-8(E)-octadecenoic acid (referred as DOD) as an active ingredient. DOD produced by the method of the present invention can be effectively used as an antibacterial agent because it has a wide spectrum of antibacterial activity against various microorganisms.
US08053468B2
The present disclosure relates to the preparation of ketal compounds from glycerol and levulinic acid and esters, and uses thereof.
US08053466B2
The present invention relates to 2-(3-methylbutyl)-4-propyl-1,3-oxathiane and its use as perfuming ingredients. The present invention also concerns the use of this compound in the perfumery industry as well as the compositions or articles containing this compound.
US08053465B2
SummaryNovel bicycloester derivatives and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof have high DPP-IV inhibitory activity.Solving MeansThe novel bicycloester derivatives are represented by the general formula (1): Pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof are also included (Example: (2S,4S)-1-[[(N-(4-ethoxycarbonylbicyclo[2.2.2]oct-1-yl)amino]acetyl]-4-fluoropyrrolidine-2-carbonitrile)).
US08053464B2
A composition containing at least two members of the group consisting of propionic acid, benzoic acid, 2,6-dimethoxyphenol, 2-acetylpyrrole, 2-hydroxy-3-methyl-2-cyclopentanone, 2-methyltetrahydrofuran-3-one, and 3-methylbutanal; and water, and optionally a carrier or carrier material. The composition is useful for attracting insects (e.g., flies).A method for attracting insects (e.g., flies) involving treating an object or area with an insect attracting effective amount of the composition described herein.
US08053461B2
A compound or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof of the present invention is represented by the following general formula (I): [wherein, R1 to R8 may have a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a hydroxy group, a C1-C6 alkyl group, a C2-C8 alkenyl group, a C1-C6 alkylcarbonyl group or —COOR9 (wherein R9 represents a hydrogen atom, a C1-C6 alkyl group or a C2-C8 alkenyl group) as a substituent; and X represents a sulfur atom, an oxygen atom or NR10 (wherein R10 represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a hydroxy group, a C1-C6 alkyl group, a C2-C8 alkenyl group or a C1-C6 alkoxy group)].
US08053455B2
A compound having the structure wherein R is an angiotensin receptor antagonist active group, Y is selected from the group consisting of and —C(R1H)OC(O)X((CR12R13)—(CHR10)m—(CH2)n—Zp—(CH2)q—(CHR11)r—(CR16R17))—R5; 2) Z is —O— or —(CR14R15)—; m, n, p, q, and r are independently selected from the group consisting of 0 and 1; X is —O— or —(CR18R19)—; R1 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C1-4 alkyl, aryl and C1-4 alkylaryl; R5 is —O—N═N(O)—R3R4; or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or hydrate thereof, which is useful for treating hypertension.
US08053454B2
Compounds of formula (I), useful for inhibiting PIM-I and/or PIM-3: and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein Y, Z, R1, R3, Q, X and R4 are as defined above. Pharmaceutical compositions and methods of treating diseases and conditions, such as cancer, are also disclosed.
US08053453B2
A preventive, therapeutic or improving agent for diseases against which activation of the thrombopoietin receptor is effective or a platelet increasing agent, which contains a thrombopoietin receptor activator represented by the formula (1): wherein A is a C?2-14#191 aryl group, B is a hydrogen atom, a C?1-6#191 alkyl group, a C?1-3#191 alkyl group substituted with one or more fluorine atoms or a C?2-14#191 aryl group, D is a hydrogen atom, a C?1-6#191 alkyl group, a C?1-3#191 alkyl group substituted with one or more fluorine atoms or a C?2-14#191 aryl group, and E is a C?2-14#191 aryl group, a tautomer, prodrug or pharmaceutically acceptable salt of the activator or a solvate thereof, as an active ingredient.
US08053452B2
There is provided a novel pest control agent (pesticide), particulally insecticide or miticide. A substituted isoxazoline compound or a substituted enone oxime compound represented by Formula (1) or (2), and apest control agent containing them: wherein A1, A2, A3 and A4 are C or N, G1 is a benzene ring, etc., G2 is 1-trazolyl, etc., X and Y are halogen atom, etc., R3 is haloalkyl, etc., R3a is halogen atom, etc., R3b and R3c are H, etc., is haloalkyl, etc., m is 0-5, n is 0-4.
US08053451B2
Patients susceptible to or suffering from conditions and disorders, such as central nervous system disorders, are treated by administering to a patient in need thereof compositions that are hydroxybenzoate salts of E-metanicotine-type compounds. The formation of hydroxybenzoate salts of the E-metanicotine compounds is also useful in purifying the E-metanicotine compounds, as the hydroxybenzoate salts tend to crystallize out, leaving impurities such as Z-metanicotine compounds, and compounds where the double bond has migrated, in solution. If desired, the hydroxybenzoate salts can be converted to either the free base (the E-metanicotine) or to another pharmaceutically acceptable salt form.
US08053439B2
Disclosed herein are novel benzophenone derivatives represented by formula I, a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, a hydrate thereof or a solvate thereof, a pharmacological composition containing the same, and a use of the composition as therapeutic drugs. The benzophenone derivatives have an inhibition activity of microtubule formation and can be used to treat a normal proliferative state of a malignant tumor by killing the actively proliferating cells.
US08053429B2
The invention relates to a solid oral dosage form comprising a pharmaceutically active ingredient in combination with an enhancer which enhances the bioavailability and/or the absorption of the active ingredient. Accordingly, a solid oral dosage form comprises a drug and an enhancer wherein the enhancer is a medium chain fatty acid ester, ether or salt or a derivative of a medium chain fatty acid, which is, preferably, solid at room temperature and which has a carbon chain length of from 6 to 20 carbon atoms. Preferably, the solid oral dosage form is controlled release dosage form such as a delayed release dosage form.
US08053421B2
A DNA vaccine suitable for eliciting an immune response against cancer cells comprises a polynucleotide construct operably encoding an a Fra-1 protein, such as a polyubiquitinated human Fra-1 protein, and IL-18, such as human IL-18, in a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier. In a preferred embodiment, the polynucleotide construct is operably incorporated in an attenuated bacterial vector, such as an attenuated Salmonella typhimurium, particularly a doubly attenuated aroA− dam− S. typhimurium. Transformed host cells, methods of inhibiting tumor growth, of vaccinating a patient against cancer, and of delivering genetic material to a mammalian cell in vivo are also described.
US08053418B2
A novel compound that has antimicrobial activity against penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae, and an anti-penicillin resistant pneumococci agent that includes the compound as an active ingredient are provided. Thus, an anti-penicillin resistant pneumococci agent is provided that includes as an active ingredient a compound represented by the following formula (I) or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof, or hydrates thereof: wherein, in the formula (I), R represents any one of a halogen atom, an azido group, Ra-Wa-, Rb-Wb-, Rc-Wc-, and RdRd′N—.
US08053411B2
The disclosure pertains to methods of reducing decompensation through acute intervention including in subjects afflicted with acute decompensated heart failure. Particularly, the disclosure provides methods for treating acute cardiac decompensation by administering a pharmaceutically effective amount of relaxin.
US08053409B2
The present invention is intended to provide a novel pharmaceutical agent having an excellent preventive effect on post-stroke RSD. The present invention provides an agent for preventing the onset of post-stroke RSD, comprising natural calcitonin or a calcitonin derivative as an active ingredient. The present invention is also intended to provide a method for preventing the onset of post-stroke RSD, comprising administering natural calcitonin or a calcitonin derivative and use of natural calcitonin or a calcitonin derivative for producing an agent for preventing the onset of post-stroke RSD.
US08053408B2
The present invention provides methods for reducing body weight in a mammal using Fibroblast Growth Factor-like (FGF-like) polypeptides and nucleic acid molecules encoding the same.
US08053395B2
Exemplary embodiments provide treatment fluids for treating a subterranean formation to improve gas production therefrom. Exemplary embodiments of the treatment fluids comprise a base fluid and a cationic polyorganosiloxane, wherein the cationic polyorganosiloxane comprises at least two cationic quaternary ammonium groups.
US08053382B2
Optical glass constituted by an amorphous matrix and crystal grains dispersed in the amorphous matrix, wherein the amorphous matrix comprises a first oxide of at least one of silicon oxide and phosphor oxide and a second oxide of at least one of titanium oxide and zirconium oxide, and wherein the crystal grains is at least one of titanium oxide, zirconium oxide and silicon, an average grain size of the titanium oxide grain being 3 nm to 20 nm, and the average grain size of the silicon crystal being 3 nm to 8 nm.
US08053375B1
An ultra low k dielectric film, including a silicon film containing porosity deriving from a porogen, as formed from a precursor silane and a porogen, wherein the precursor silane has a water content below 10 ppm, based on total weight of the precursor silane, and/or the porogen has a water content below 10 ppm, based on total weight of the porogen. In one implementation, the precursor silane is diethoxymethylsilane, and the porogen is bicyclo[2.2.1]-hepta-2,5-diene having a trace water content below 10 ppm, based on total weight of said bicyclo[2.2.1]-hepta-2,5-diene. These super-dry reagents are unexpectedly polymerization-resistant during their delivery and deposition in the formation of ultra low k films, and are advantageously employed to produce ultra low k films of superior character.
US08053362B2
A method for forming a metal electrode of a system in package of a system in package including a multilayer semiconductor device having semiconductor devices stacked in a plurality of layers. The method may include forming a through hole extending through the plurality of layers, forming a combustible material layer having high viscosity at a lower portion of the through hole in order to seal the lower portion thereof, and forming a through electrode by filling copper in the through hole. There is an effect of efficiently forming a through electrode having a large depth corresponding to the height of stacked semiconductor devices in the system in package. Filling copper in a through hole having a large depth-to-width ratio may be efficiently done by OSP coating, electrolysis copper plating, and electro Cu plating processes.
US08053356B2
A cap layer for a copper interconnect structure formed in a first dielectric layer is provided. In an embodiment, the cap layer may be formed by an in-situ deposition process in which a process gas comprising germanium, arsenic, tungsten, or gallium is introduced, thereby forming a copper-metal cap layer. In another embodiment, a copper-metal silicide cap is provided. In this embodiment, silane is introduced before, during, or after a process gas is introduced, the process gas comprising germanium, arsenic, tungsten, or gallium. Thereafter, an optional etch stop layer may be formed, and a second dielectric layer may be formed over the etch stop layer or the first dielectric layer.
US08053354B2
In complex metallization systems of sophisticated semiconductor devices, appropriate stress compensation mechanisms may be implemented in order to reduce undue substrate deformation during the overall manufacturing process. For example, additional dielectric material and/or functional layers of one or more metallization layers may be provided with appropriate internal stress levels so as to maintain substrate warpage at a non-critical level, thereby substantially reducing yield losses in the manufacturing process caused by non-reliable attachment of substrates to substrate holders in process and transport tools.
US08053353B2
A method for forming, on a surface of a thinned-down semiconductor substrate, a contact connected to a metal track of an interconnect stack formed on the opposite surface of the thinned-down substrate, including the steps of: forming, on the side of a first surface of a substrate, an insulating region penetrating into the substrate and coated with a conductive region and with an insulating layer crossed by conductive vias, the vias connecting a metal track of the interconnect stack to the conductive region; gluing the external surface of the interconnect stack on a support and thinning down the substrate; etching the external surface of the thinned-down substrate and stopping on the insulating region; etching the insulating region and stopping on the conductive region; and filling the etched opening with a metal.
US08053349B2
A semiconductor flip-chip ball grid array package (600) with one-metal-layered substrate. The sites (611) of a two-dimensional array become usable for attaching solder balls of the signal (non-common net assignment) I/O type to the substrate under the chip area (601), when the sites can be routed for metal plating (620). The space to place a maximum number (614) of signal routing traces is opened up by interrupting the periodicity of the site array from the edge (602) of the substrate towards the center under the chip. The periodicity is preferably interrupted by depopulating entire aligned lines and rows of the two-dimensional array.
US08053344B1
A method of forming an integrated circuit includes forming a gate structure over a substrate. At least one silicon-containing layer is formed in source/drain (S/D) regions adjacent to sidewalls of the gate structure. An N-type doped silicon-containing layer is formed over the at least one silicon-containing layer. The N-type doped silicon-containing layer has an N-type dopant concentration higher than that of the at least one silicon-containing layer. The N-type doped silicon-containing layer is annealed so as to drive N-type dopants of the N-type doped silicon-containing layer to the S/D regions.
US08053328B2
A method for depositing fine particles from a suspension on selected regions of a substrate is disclosed. The particles are deposited on selected regions of a clean hydrophobic semiconductor surface that are surrounded by a wetting boundary which includes a mesa formed by etching through a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) film and an underlying buried oxide of an SOI substrate. The process is well suited for the growth of semiconductor nanowires that nucleates from fine particle used as a catalyst.
US08053322B2
A method of fabricating an integrated circuit (IC) and ICs therefrom including a plurality of Metal Oxide Semiconductor (MOS) transistors having reduced gate dielectric thinning and corner sharpening at the trench isolation/semiconductor edge for gate dielectric layers generally 500 to 5,000 Angstroms thick. The method includes providing a substrate having a silicon including surface. A plurality of dielectric filled trench isolation regions are formed in the substrate. The silicon including surface forms trench isolation active area edges along its periphery with the trench isolation regions. An epitaxial silicon comprising layer is deposited, wherein the epitaxial comprising silicon layer is formed over the silicon comprising surface. The epitaxial comprising silicon layer is oxidized to convert at least a portion into a thermally grown silicon oxide layer, wherein the thermally grown silicon oxide layer provides at least a portion of a gate dielectric layer for at least one of said plurality of MOS transistors. A patterned gate electrode layer is formed over the gate dielectric, wherein the patterned gate electrode layer extends over at least one of the trench isolation active area edges. Fabrication of the IC is then completed.
US08053320B2
An aspect of the present invention provides a semiconductor device that includes a first conductivity type semiconductor body, a source region in contact with the semiconductor body, whose bandgap is different from that of the semiconductor body, and which formed heterojunction with the semiconductor body, a gate insulating film in contact with a portion of junction between the source region and the semiconductor body, a gate electrode in contact with the gate insulating film, a source electrode, a low resistance region in contact with the source electrode and the source region, and connected ohmically with the source electrode, and a drain electrode connected ohmically with the semiconductor body.
US08053316B2
A method of fabricating a vertical channel transistor includes: forming a line type active pattern on a substrate so as to extend in a first horizontal direction; forming a vertical channel isolating the active pattern in a second horizontal direction intersecting the first horizontal direction and extending vertically on the substrate; forming a buried bit line extending in the first horizontal direction on the substrate; and forming a word line extending in the second horizontal direction along at least one side surface of the vertical channel.
US08053310B2
A method for forming a cylindrical stack capacitor structure. A semiconductor substrate is provided. Storage node structures are formed in a memory cell region. A dielectric layer is formed overlying the storage node structures. A patterning and a first etching process expose the storage nodes. A polysilicon layer and a rugged polysilicon layer are formed overlying the exposed storage nodes. The memory cell region is masked, exposing a peripheral region. A chemical dry etch process removes the rugged polysilicon and the polysilicon layers in the peripheral region. The rugged polysilicon and the polysilicon layers are planarized followed by a dielectric recess. The resulting cylindrical stack capacitor structures are substantially free of defects from rugged polysilicon remaining in the peripheral region thereby improving device yield and process window.
US08053306B2
A PFET having tailored dielectric constituted in part by an NFET threshold voltage (Vt) work function tuning layer in a gate stack thereof, related methods and integrated circuit are disclosed. In one embodiment, the PFET includes an n-type doped silicon well (N-well), a gate stack including: a doped band engineered PFET threshold voltage (Vt) work function tuning layer over the N-well; a tailored dielectric layer over the doped band engineered PFET Vt work function tuning layer, the tailored dielectric layer constituted by a high dielectric constant layer over the doped band engineered PFET Vt work function tuning layer and an n-type field effect transistor (NFET) threshold voltage (Vt) work function tuning layer over the high dielectric constant layer; and a metal over the NFET Vt work function tuning layer.
US08053294B2
It is an object to control quality of a microcrystalline semiconductor film or a semiconductor film including crystal grains so that operation characteristics of a semiconductor element typified by a TFT can be improved. It is another object to improve characteristics of a semiconductor element typified by a TFT by controlling a deposition process of a microcrystalline semiconductor film or a semiconductor film including crystal grains. In addition, it is another object to increase on-state current of a thin film transistor and to reduce off-state current of the thin film transistor. In a semiconductor layer including a plurality of crystalline regions in an amorphous structure, generation positions and generation density of crystal nuclei from which the crystalline regions start to grow are controlled, whereby quality of the semiconductor layer is controlled. In addition, after generation of crystal nuclei from which the crystalline regions start to grow in the semiconductor layer, an impurity element serving as a donor is added to the semiconductor layer, whereby crystallinity of the semiconductor layer is increased and the resistivity of the semiconductor layer is reduced.
US08053291B2
A method for making a thin film transistor, the method includes the steps of: providing a plurality of carbon nanotubes and an insulating substrate; flocculating the carbon nanotubes to acquire a carbon nanotube structure, applying the carbon nanotube structure on the insulating substrate; forming a source electrode, a drain electrode, and a gate electrode; and covering the carbon nanotube structure with an insulating layer. The source electrode and the drain electrode are connected to the carbon nanotube structure, the gate electrode is electrically insulated from the carbon nanotube structure by the insulating layer.
US08053288B2
In a method of making device of a display, an insulating layer, a semiconductor layer, an ohmic contact layer, a second conductive layer, and a photoresist pattern are consecutively formed on a first conductive structure. The photoresist pattern includes a first thickness region, and a second thickness region outside the first thickness region. The thickness of the second thickness region is smaller than that of the first thickness region. In addition, in a gate driver on array (GOA) of a display, it includes a gate driver on array structure with a pull-down transistor. The pull-down transistor has a gate electrode, a semiconductor island, a source electrode and a drain electrode. The semiconductor island extends out of the edges of the gate electrode, the source electrode, and the drain electrode.
US08053283B2
A die level integrated interconnect decal manufacturing method and apparatus for implementing the method. In accordance with the technology concerning the soldering of integrated circuits and substrates, and particularly providing for solder decal methods forming and utilization, in the present instance there are employed underfills which consist of a solid film material and which are applied between a semiconductor chip and the substrate in order to enhance the reliability of a flip chip package. In particular, the underfill material increases the resistance to fatigue of controlled collapse chip connect (C4) bumps.
US08053280B2
A method for producing multiple semiconductor devices. An electrically conductive layer is applied onto a semiconductor wafer. The semiconductor wafer is structured to produce multiple semiconductor chips. The electrically conductive layer is structured to produce multiple semiconductor devices.
US08053256B2
The present invention relates to a method of performing a variable film etch using a variable thickness photomask material. Essentially, a thickness of an adjustable film layer is measured and converted into a contour map of film thickness over a region of a semiconductor body (e.g., wafer). An etch mask layer (e.g., photoresist) is then formed above the adjustable film layer and is selectively patterned by a reticleless exposure system (e.g., DMD exposure system). The selective patterning subjects different regions of the etch mask layer to varying exposure times dependent upon the thickness of the underlying adjustable film. The more etching needed to provide the underlying film to a nominal thickness, the longer the exposure of the etch mask. Therefore, the resultant etch mask, after exposure, comprises a topology allowing for various degrees of selective etching of the underlying film resulting in a uniform film.
US08053255B2
Spin-transfer torque memory having a compensation element is disclosed. A spin-transfer torque memory unit includes a free magnetic layer having a magnetic easy axis and a magnetization orientation that can change direction due to spin-torque transfer when a write current passes through the spin-transfer torque memory unit; a reference magnetic element having a magnetization orientation that is pinned in a reference direction; an electrically insulating and non-magnetic tunneling barrier layer separating the free magnetic layer from the magnetic reference element; and a compensation element adjacent to the free magnetic layer. The compensation element applies a bias field on the magnetization orientation of the free magnetic layer. The bias field is formed of a first vector component parallel to the easy axis of the free magnetic layer and a second vector component orthogonal to the easy axis of the free magnetic layer. The bias field reduces a write current magnitude required to switch the direction of the magnetization orientation of the free magnetic layer.
US08053254B2
An apparatus including a vacuum chamber having a substrate holding unit that holds a substrate and a plasma electrode facing the substrate, a first gas supply unit that supplies a H2 gas to the vacuum chamber at a constant flow rate, a second gas supply unit that opens or closes a valve to turn on or off the supply of a SiH4 gas, a high-frequency power source that applies a high frequency voltage to the plasma electrode, a shield box that is connected to a ground so as to surround the plasma electrode outside the vacuum chamber, and a control unit that controls the valve such that the SiH4 gas is periodically supplied to the vacuum chamber and modulates the amplitude of high frequency power in synchronization with the opening or closing of the valve, and the valve is provided in the shield box.
US08053249B2
A method is provided for pumping fluid through a channel of a microfluidic device. The channel has an input port and an output port. The channel is filled with fluid and a pressure gradient is generated between the fluid at the input port and the fluid at the output port. As a result, fluid flows through the channel towards the output port.
US08053247B2
The invention provides methods and apparatus for automated sample preparation for MALDI-TOF MS using columns in combination with a liquid handling system. The samples are typically biological such as serum or urine. The columns typically include a bed of media positioned within a modified pipette tip. In some embodiments, the invention provides methods for storing the prepared samples.
US08053240B1
The invention relates to chemical formulations that can be used to render such chemicals easier to identify upon application to a surface. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to formulations designed to render herbicides, fungicides, pesticides, insecticides and/or phytotoxins easier to identify upon application to one or more types of vegetation. In another embodiment, the present invention relates to formulations designed to render water-soluble herbicides, fungicides, pesticides, insecticides and/or phytotoxins easier to identify upon application to one or more types of vegetation.
US08053238B2
This invention is a method of minimizing the variation of cell growth and production through homogeneous cell line development. To be more specific, it is the method of isolating and proliferating single cell clone from the procambium to promote the stability of the plant-derived biologically active substances production by solving the problems of decrease in cell growth and the productivity during the long term culture.
US08053229B2
A thermal cycler includes a bearing element, a heating element, a first cooling element, and a temperature controller. The bearing element carries at least one reaction mixture. The heating element raises the temperature of the reaction mixture. The heating element includes a housing, at least one carbon nanotube structure and a pair of electrodes. The carbon nanotube structure and the pair of electrodes are accommodated in the housing. The pair of electrodes is electrically connected to the carbon nanotube structure. The first cooling element cools the temperature of the reaction mixture. The temperature controller is electrically connected to the heating element and the first cooling element. The temperature controller controls the operation of the heating element and the first cooling element
US08053228B2
Disclosed is a bioreactor in which a supporting wall (100) or a retaining mechanism (100) that represents pressure relief for a gas-tightly embodied flap is provided behind the flap (14) used for filling and emptying the bioreactor while percolate is prevented from accumulating between the gas-tight flap and the retaining mechanism. The gas-tightly closable flap, which has a sufficiently large size, makes it easy to fill biomass into the container and remove the remaining biomass following the methanation process. The biomass applies substantial or at least a certain amount of pressure to the retaining system when the container is closed, whereby the flap is relieved of the load and can be embodied in a light and accurately sealing manner. A device (22) for draining percolating juice or percolate is disposed in the floor and/or the walls of the bioreactor between the flap and the retaining system such that percolating juice is prevented from accumulating in the zone between the flap and the retaining system or percolate located there can be pumped off before the flap is opened.
US08053223B2
A biopesticide formulation using isolates of the fungus Beauveria bassiana has been developed, which can be used to control arachnid infestations of honeybee hives. The formulation is particularly useful for controlling infestations of Varroa destructor in honey bee hives.
US08053217B2
Method to produce eritadenine by liquid phase fermentation of Lentinus edodes without formation of the fruit body wherein the Lentinus edodes is exposed to shear during its cultivation.
US08053213B2
Disclosed is a method for analyzing nucleic acids in a sample comprising the following steps: (i) adding a DNA binding dye containing a benzothiazolium or benzoxazolium group to the sample to be analyzed, (ii) carrying out a polymerase chain reaction, (iii) applying the sample to a gel matrix, (iv) separating the nucleic acid molecules according to their size by applying a voltage and (v) excitation with light of a suitable wavelength for the optical visualization of the nucleic acid/DNA binding dye complexes.
US08053211B2
A process for producing a heterologous protein is provided. The process comprises culturing an E. coli strain in a fermentation medium, the E. coli strain harboring a gene which codes for the heterologous protein and is functionally linked to a signal sequence coding for a signal peptide, and releasing the heterologous protein into the fermentation medium, and the heterologous protein being removed from the fermentation medium, wherein the E. coli strain has an attenuated (p)ppGpp-synthetase II activity (PSII activity).
US08053204B2
The present invention provides β2 microglobulin as a biomarker for qualifying or assessing peripheral artery disease in a subject.
US08053201B2
Provided is a microfluidic control chip, which includes a filter section having a filter to which anti-immunoglobulin antibodies, which are bound to endogenous antibodies in blood to thereby remove the endogenous antibodies, are immobilized, a first reaction section to which detection antibodies immobilized to fluorescent nano-particles are adsorbed, the detection antibodies being bound to proteins to be detected in blood which is introduced from the filter section with the endogenous antibodies removed therefrom, and a second reaction and detection section including capture antibodies immobilized thereto, binding the capture antibodies to the proteins, which are bound to the detection antibodies introduced from the first reaction section, and detecting a concentration of the proteins based on an intensity of fluorescent light. Thus, the microfluidic control chip can minimize interference of an immune response to maximize the immune response.
US08053196B2
The invention relates to thrombospondin fragments found in plasma, their use or use of portions thereof in diagnostic methods, as method calibrators, method indicators, and as immunogens, and as analytes for methods with substantial clinical utility; and their detection in plasma or other bodily fluids for purpose of diagnostic methods, especially for cancer.
US08053192B2
The invention relates to methods for indexing samples during the sequencing of polynucleotide templates, resulting in the attachment of tags specific to the source of each nucleic acid sample such that after a sequencing run, both the source and sequence of each polynucleotide can be determined. Thus, the present invention pertains to analysis of complex genomes (e.g., human genomes), as well as multiplexing less complex genomes, such as those of bacteria, viruses, mitochondria, and the like.
US08053189B2
The object of the present invention refers to an in vitro method for diagnosing colorectal cancer based on the determination from a biological sample obtained from a subject, of promoter methylation status of at least one of the genes APC, RARB2 and p14 and, optionally, MGMT and p16. Likewise, object of the present invention is a kit for performing the method of the invention.
US08053186B2
Disclosed are compositions and methods for reducing the proliferation of ALL cancer cells through targeted interactions with ALL1 fusion proteins.
US08053179B2
A method for manufacturing a substrate for making a microarray wherein a monomolecular film for immobilizing a target molecule can be simply formed position-selectively in manufacture of the substrate for making the microarray is provided.A method for manufacturing a substrate for making a microarray, comprising, a step of forming a resist film on the substrate using a chemically amplified positive resist composition using a copolymer where a content of a monomer unit having a hydroxyl group is 5 mole % or less relative to total monomer units as a binder; a step of patterning the resist film; a step of forming a monomolecular film having a silicon oxide chain on the substrate having the patterned resist film; and subsequently a step of removing the resist film.
US08053175B2
A method of forming measuring targets for measuring the dimensions of a substrate during a substrate manufacturing process is provided. First, a board having a base layer and a conductive layer is provided, wherein the conductive layer is disposed on a surface of the base layer. Then, at least one through hole is formed in the board as a measuring target for measuring the dimensions of the substrate. Next, a plated via is formed in the through hole as another measuring target for measuring the dimensions of the substrate. Thereafter, a patterned dielectric layer is formed on the board to expose the plated via as a next measuring target for measuring the dimensions of the substrate. In the present invention, measuring targets are formed during a substrate manufacturing process and the dimensions of the substrate are measured instantly. The accuracy in process alignment is improved without increasing the fabrication cost.
US08053174B2
In the case in which a film for a resist is formed by spin coating, there is a resist material to be wasted, and the process of edge cleaning is added as required. Further, when a thin film is formed on a substrate using a vacuum apparatus, a special apparatus or equipment to evacuate the inside of a chamber vacuum is necessary, which increases manufacturing cost. The invention is characterized by including: a step of forming conductive layers on a substrate having a dielectric surface in a selective manner with a CVD method, an evaporation method, or a sputtering method; a step of discharging a compound to form resist masks so as to come into contact with the conductive layer; a step of etching the conductive layers with plasma generating means using the resist masks under the atmospheric pressure or a pressure close to the atmospheric pressure; and a step of ashing the resist masks with the plasma generating means under the atmospheric pressure or a pressure close to the atmospheric pressure. With the above-mentioned characteristics, efficiency in use of a material is improved, and a reduction in manufacturing cost is realized.
US08053165B2
A hydroxyl-containing monomer of formula (1) is provided wherein R1 is H, F, methyl or trifluoromethyl, R2 and R3 are monovalent C1-C15 hydrocarbon groups, or R2 and R3 may form an aliphatic ring. The monomers are useful for the synthesis of polymers which have high transparency to radiation of up to 500 nm and the effect of controlling acid diffusion so that the polymers may be used as a base resin to formulate radiation-sensitive resist compositions having a high resolution.
US08053158B2
Disclosed herein are compositions useful in forming organic active patterns that may, in turn, be incorporated in organic memory devices. The compositions comprise N-containing conjugated electroconductive polymer(s), photoacid generator(s) and organic solvent(s) capable of dissolving suitable quantifies of both the electroconductive polymer and the photoacid generator. Also disclosed are methods for patterning organic active layers formed using one or more of the compositions to produce organic active patterns, portions of which may be arranged between opposed electrodes to provide organic memory cells. The methods include directly exposing and developing the organic active layer to obtain fine patterns without the use of a separate masking pattern, for example, a photoresist pattern, thereby tending to simplify the fabrication process and reduce the associated costs.
US08053157B2
There is provided a toner having good charging characteristics that is composed of a core region and a thin shell in which a charge control agent is densely distributed so as to improve charging characteristics of the toner, and a method for manufacturing the same. The method for manufacturing a toner having a bi-layered structure includes: producing a toner core using a suspension polymerization method; preparing a suspension of toner particles having a core-shell structure by forming a rigid shell on a surface of the toner core; and recovering the toner particles from the suspension as a post-processing operation.
US08053155B2
A toner has columnar particles manufactured through: a kneading step of melt-kneading toner raw materials including at least binder resin, colorant and a release agent to prepare a kneaded product; a spinning step of extruding the kneaded product from orifices disposed at the tip of a spinning nozzle to prepare a fibrous kneaded product; and a pulverizing step of cutting or pulverizing the fibrous kneaded product, the toner matrix particles each having an aspect ratio of 0.5 to 5.0 and a dB/d50 value of 0.5 or above and contain an external additive composed of large particles and small particles having a volume average particle size smaller than that of the large particles, as well as to provide each of the columnar particles with each having 10 or less reentrants whose apertures have a longer length in a minor axis thereof than a radius of the respective large particles.
US08053153B2
An electrophotographic toner containing a resin and a colorant is disclosed. The colorant is represented by the formula in the formula, M1 is a silicon atom (Si), a germanium atom (Ge) and a tin atom (Sn); Z is independently a chlorine atom, a hydroxy group, an alkoxy group having 1 to 8 carbon atoms, or an aryloxy group having 6 to 8 carbon atoms; and A1, A2, A3 and A4 are each independently an atomic group defined in the specification.
US08053151B2
A photoconductor that includes, for example, a supporting substrate, a photogenerating layer, and at least one charge transport layer comprised of at least one charge transport component, and wherein the photogenerating layer contains a suitable phosphonate.
US08053148B2
Provided is a method for fabricating a photomask. A light blocking layer is formed on a transparent substrate having a first region and a second region. A hard mask layer is formed on the light blocking layer. A first polymer film is formed on the hard mask layer. Here, the first polymer film is formed of single strand polymers that can form a complementary binding. A portion of the first polymer film corresponding to the first region is changed to comprise polymers having partial complementary binding. A hard mask pattern for exposing a portion of the light blocking layer under the first polymer film is formed by performing an etching process using the changed portion as an etch stop. A light blocking pattern is formed by removing an exposed portion of the light blocking layer by performing an etching process using the hard mask pattern as an etch mask, and then removing the hard mask pattern.
US08053146B2
There are described a process for the production of a multi-layer body (100) having a partially shaped first layer (3m) and a multi-layer body produced in that way. It is provided that a diffractive first relief structure (4) is shaped in a first region of a replication layer (3) of the multi-layer body, that the first layer (3m) is applied to the replication layer (3) in the first region and in a second region in which the relief structure is not shaped in the replication layer (3), that a photosensitive layer is applied to the first layer (3m) or a photosensitive washing mask is applied thereto as a replication layer, that the photosensitive layer or the washing mask is exposed through the first layer (3m) so that the photosensitive layer or washing mask is exposed differently due to the first relief structure in the first and in the second regions, and that the first layer (3m) is removed using the exposed photosensitive layer or washing mask as a mask layer in the first region but not in the second region or in the second region but not in the first region.
US08053136B2
A solid oxide regenerative fuel cell includes a ceramic electrolyte, a first electrode which is adapted to be positively biased when the fuel cell operates in a fuel cell mode and in an electrolysis mode, and a second electrode which is adapted to be negatively biased when the fuel cell operates in the fuel cell mode and in the electrolysis mode. The second electrode comprises less than 1 mg/cm2 of noble metal.
US08053133B2
A flow field plate or bipolar plate for a fuel cell that includes a hydrophilic coating formed on flow field channels extending through a tunnel region between a cell active area and the inlet and outlet manifolds. The flow field plates are an assembly of a cathode side unipolar plate and an anode side unipolar plate. The hydrophilic coating is deposited on the unipolar plates prior to the unipolar plates being assembled into the flow field plate so that line of site deposition processes can be used to coat the flow field channels in the tunnel region. The unipolar plates can be any suitable fuel cell unipolar plates, such as stamped unipolar plates or composite unipolar plates.
US08053130B2
A fuel cell system that includes a liquid fuel tank containing a non-sulfur-containing liquid fuel and water; a reformer generating a hydrogen-rich gas from the liquid fuel and water received from the liquid fuel tank; a reformer burner heating the reformer by burning a gaseous fuel received from a gaseous fuel tank, and a fuel cell stack generating electrical energy from the hydrogen-rich gas received from the reformer. The liquid fuel tank is connected to the gaseous fuel tank, and the liquid fuel mixed with water is supplied to the reformer by the pressure of the gaseous fuel tank.
US08053126B2
Water transfer efficiency improvement in a membrane humidifier by reducing dry air inlet temperature
A fuel cell system that employs a heat exchanger and a charge air cooler for reducing the temperature of the cathode inlet air to a fuel cell stack during certain system operating conditions so that the cathode inlet air is able to absorb more moisture in a water vapor transfer unit. The system can include a valve that selectively by-passes the heat exchanger if the cathode inlet air does not need to be cooled to meet the inlet humidity requirements. Alternately, the charge air cooler can be cooled by an ambient airflow.
US08053122B2
A system and method for starting up a fuel cell system are disclosed. Briefly described, an embodiment for starting an electrochemical reaction between a fuel and an oxidant during a start-up process includes a fuel cell stack operable to output a nominal voltage during a normal operating condition and operable to output a reduced start-up voltage during the start-up process, and includes at least one balance of plant (BOP) device that supports operation of the fuel cell stack, operable at a nominal output when sourced by the fuel cell stack at the nominal voltage, and operable at a reduced output when sourced by the fuel cell stack at the reduced start-up voltage.
US08053114B2
Low temperature discharge capability and high rate discharge capability are improved in an alkaline storage battery that uses as its negative electrode a hydrogen-absorbing alloy electrode employing hydrogen-absorbing alloy particles containing at least nickel and a rare-earth element. An alkaline storage battery uses as the negative electrode a hydrogen-absorbing alloy electrode employing hydrogen-absorbing alloy particles containing at least nickel and a rare-earth element. The hydrogen-absorbing alloy particles have a surface layer and an interior portion, the surface layer having a nickel content greater than that of the interior portion, and nickel particles having a particle size within a range of from 10 nm to 50 nm are present in the surface layer.
US08053113B2
Provided is a nanocomposite binder for an electrode mix of a secondary battery, comprising carbon nanotubes in a photo- and/or thermo-polymerizable material or polymer, or a mixture thereof; and a lithium secondary battery comprising the same.The carbon nanotube-containing composite binder according to the present invention and a lithium secondary battery comprising the same employs a novel nanocomposite, prepared by combination of carbon nanotubes with a conventional binder material, as a binder of an anode. As a result, the present invention provides advantages such as improved conductivity of the anode due to decreased electrical resistance of the binder, and enhanced mechanical properties of the binder and thereby being capable of preventing the separation of an anode active material layer from a current collector due to volume changes occurring upon charge/discharge cycles.
US08053112B2
A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery includes a positive electrode having a positive electrode active material layer containing a positive electrode active material, a negative electrode having a negative electrode active material, a separator interposed between the positive electrode and the negative electrode, an electrode assembly comprising the positive electrode, the negative electrode, and the separator, and a non-aqueous electrolyte impregnated in the electrode assembly. The positive electrode active material contains at least cobalt or manganese. The positive electrode has an end-of-charge potential of 4.40 V versus the potential of a lithium reference electrode. The positive electrode active material layer is superficially coated with a polymer layer composed of a polymer having a partially cross-linked structure and a molecular weight of 800,000 or greater.
US08053099B2
A secondary battery is provided with a safety vent that can decrease the increased inner pressure of the secondary battery by being rapidly fractured when the inner pressure of the secondary battery is increased over a predetermined value. The secondary battery is constructed with a sealed outer case forming a receiving space in an inner side, an electrode assembly received in the receiving space of the outer case, a safety vent formed on one surface of the outer case, and a fracture induction part formed on the surface of the outer case and disposed at a portion of a circumference region of the safety vent. The fracture induction part is relatively thinner than the other portion of the surface of the outer case.
US08053097B2
An apparatus includes a substrate, a recording layer on the substrate, and a nanocomposite layer on the recording layer, the nanocomposite layer including a wear-resistant material and a solid lubricant material, wherein the atomic percentage of the solid lubricant material in the nanocomposite layer is in a range from about 5% to about 99%. A method of making the apparatus is also provided.
US08053096B2
The invention relates to a perpendicular magnetic recording medium having a substrate and a seed layer comprising a Ni alloy.
US08053093B2
An organometallic complex for an organic light emitting device represented by formula 1, a method of preparing the same and an organic light emitting device including the same: where R1 through R16 are a hydrogen atom, a cyano group, a hydroxyl group, a nitro group, a halogen atom, a C1-C20 alkyl group, a C1-C20 alkoxy group, a C6-C20 aryl group, a C7-C20 arylalkyl group, a C2-C20 alkylalkoxy group, a C7-C20 arylalkoxy group, a C6-C20 arylamino group, a C1-C20 alkylamino group, a C6-C20 heteroarylamino group, and a C2-C20 hetero-ring group; and M is a bivalent metal such as Be, Mg, Zn, Ca, Cr, Fe, Co, Ni and Cu. The compound represented by Formula 1 can be effectively used in an electron transport layer or an electron injection layer. An organic light emitting device including the compound represented by Formula 1 can thus have long lifetime.
US08053086B2
An encapsulating material for solar cell containing a laminated adhesive and heat resistant layer (A) and a buffering layer (B), wherein a difference in flexural modulus between the heat resistant layer (A) and the buffering layer (B) is at least 30 MPa or more, is provided. The adhesive and heat resistant layer (A) is preferably an olefin polymer (a) having a melting point (according to JIS K7121) of 75° C. or higher and having a storage elastic modulus at 150° C. of 103 Pa or more and the buffering layer (B) is preferably an olefin polymer (d) having a stiffness of 100 MPa or less. The encapsulating material for solar cell can provide superior transparency, flexibility, heat resistance and adhesiveness and can remarkably improve production efficiency of a solar cell module even when no organic peroxide is used. The encapsulating material can also exhibit a performance capable of corresponding to the thickness reduction of the solar cell element even when an organic peroxide is used. A solar cell module containing the encapsulating material is also provided.
US08053059B2
Provided is a substrate for forming a pattern comprising an inorganic layer having a modified surface, wherein the modified surface is formed by coating a surface of the inorganic layer with a bifunctional molecule comprising a functional group having an affinity for a nanocrystal at one end of the molecule and a functional group having an affinity for the inorganic layer at the other end of the molecule. A method for forming a pattern of nanocrystals is also provided.
US08053057B2
An apparatus for improving and increasing sustainable shear force capabilities at an interfacing surface between a rigid material and a flexible material is disclosed. The interface includes at least two superimposed components having different surface roughnesses. A coarse surface roughness component has a surface roughness about 3 orders of magnitude greater than that of a fine surface roughness component. The interface is useful for all types of devices with a rigid-to-flexible interface that needs to resist shear, tension, torsion, compression, or any disturbing steady-state or variable force or forces.
US08053056B2
A stretch film for the packing of goods, particularly for the packing of goods stacked on a pallet, comprises a prestretched main film (10). The main film (10) is reinforced by reinforcement strips (12) extending in the longitudinal direction. The reinforcement strips (12) are made from film strips of prestretched film which have been folded a plurality of times in the longitudinal direction. Between two adjacent reinforcement strips (12), the main film (10) can comprise two mutually staggered rows of holes (16,18). This stretch film with perforations (14) is particularly useful for the packing of food items.
US08053052B2
Provided herein are protective laminate devices comprising a biocompatible non-adherent substance and a fast-setting adhesive and methods of use. Also provided is a dispenser for an adhesive tape. The protective laminate devices and methods may be used for wound closure.
US08053051B2
To provide an oxygen-absorbing barrier resin composition which has excellent oxygen-barrier properties even under high-humidity conditions and can give a multilayer structure having excellent peel strength; an oxygen-absorbing barrier film comprising the oxygen-absorbing barrier resin composition; a multilayer structure including a layer comprising the oxygen-absorbing barrier film; and a packing container comprising the multilayer structure. The oxygen-absorbing barrier resin composition comprises a resin (A) having an oxygen permeability of at most 100 cc/m2-day-atm and a resin (B) having an oxygen absorption rate of at least 0.001 cc/cm2·day, wherein the resin (B) is dispersed in the matrix of the resin (A) and the resin (B) is in the form of rods in which the average of the maximum diameters of cross sections perpendicular to the lengthwise direction is at most 1.0 μm. The resin (B) preferably is a product of cyclization of a conjugated diene polymer, the cyclization product having an unsaturated bond reduction ratio of at least 10%.
US08053040B2
A composition comprising at least one liquid crystal compound, and at least one polymer is disclosed. The polymer comprises a constitutional unit represented by a following formula (A) and a constitutional unit derived from a monomer having a fluoroaliphatic group(s): wherein Mp represents a trivalent group constituting fully or partially a polymer main chain; L represents a single bond or a divalent linking group; and X represents a substituted or non-substituted aromatic condensed ring group.
US08053039B2
The present invention is directed towards polymerizable dichroic azo dyes comprising azo-chromophores having at least one standard mesogenic ring system attached to said chromophores and at least one polymerizable group leading to dyes having sufficient solubilty and a very high order parameter.
US08053036B2
A method of designing a shower plate for a plasma CVD apparatus includes (a) providing a shower plate having a convex surface configured by a convex equation; (b) forming a film on a wafer using the shower plate in the plasma CVD apparatus; (c) determining a distribution of thickness of the film formed on the wafer by dividing a diametrical cross section of the film into multiple regions; (d) determining at least one secondary equation; and (e) designing a surface configuration of the shower plate by overlaying the secondary equation on the convex equation.
US08053032B2
The invention relates to a method for production of a zeolite layer on a substrate containing metal, comprising the following method steps: production of an aqueous suspension, comprising several components, one component comprises at least one cross-linking element from the third, fourth or fifth main group of the periodic table, the substrate containing metal comprises at least one of the cross-linking elements, introduction of the substrate containing metal to the aqueous suspension, heating the aqueous suspension and the substrate containing the metal present therein for the in-situ crystallisation of a zeolite layer on the substrate containing metal, whereby the cross-linking elements in the substrate containing metal are extracted and included in the zeolite layer, a cross-linking element present in the suspension for formation of the zeolite layer is present at a concentration so low that a crystallisation in the suspension is largely or completely avoided and said element is principally provided by the substrate.
US08053004B2
A composition and method of use therefore that provides for the objective topical treatment of hot flashes that is clinically shown to objectively reduce skin temperature, with the effective ingredients including menthol and peppermint oil which can be substituted with spearmint oil. The method involves application of the composition, which can be in the form of a liquid, crème, topical gel, mist or moist towelette and which is applied most optimally to the back of the neck, the front of the neck, behind the ears and on the wrists of the sufferer.
US08052999B2
The invention provides, inter alia, a method for producing granules from a powder, characterized in that a low compaction force is applied to the powder to produce a compacted mass comprising a mixture of fine particles and granules and separating fine particles from the granules by entraining the fine particles in a gas stream. Also provided are apparatus for use in the process and tablets formed by compression of the resultant granules.
US08052995B2
Disclosed are novel pharmaceutical compositions containing 3′-[(2Z)-[1-(3,4-dimethylphenyl)-1,5-dihydro-3-methyl-5-oxo-4H-pyrazol-4-ylidene]hydrazino]-2′-hydroxy-[1,1′-biphenyl]-3-carboxylic acid bis-(monoethanolamine) (eltrombopag olamine) and processes for preparing the same.
US08052986B1
An aqueous alkali earth metal salt solution useful as an activator for mixing thoroughly with chicken litter or similar animal waste containing excessive amounts of soluble phosphorus and nitrates. When used as a prelude to treatment with an alkali metal silicate based solution, the aqueous alkali earth metal salt solution greatly increases the chemical binding of the soluble phosphorus and/or nitrates present in the animal waste or nearby environment such as soil or water.
US08052981B2
The present invention includes a formulation comprising a physiological salt solution, or an oil-in-water emulsion, or a water immiscible solid phase, and an adjuvant comprising one or more disaccharide derivatives derived from cellobiose, gentiobiose, lactose, lactulose, maltose, melibiose, sucrose or turanose, wherein at least four of the free hydroxyl groups of the disaccharide molecule have been modified such that the disaccharide derivative has: (i) at least 3, but not more than N-1, fatty acid ester groups, wherein each of the fatty acid ester groups is represented by a general formula of —O—C(═O)—(CH2)xCH3 wherein x is between 6 and 14, and (ii) at least one, but no more than N-1 anionic groups, wherein N is the number of hydroxyl groups of the disaccharide from which the derivative is derived and wherein the combined number of fatty acid esters and anionic groups does not exceed N.
US08052972B2
Antibodies against AILIM (also called ICOS and 8F4) were found to significantly suppress the onset of inflammatory bowel diseases (especially Crohn's disease and colitis (ulcerative colitis and such)), and exhibit a significant therapeutic effect against inflammatory bowel diseases.
US08052969B2
A method of providing autologous conditioned plasma (ACP) for treatment of connective tissue injuries. The method comprises the steps of: (i) providing an apparatus comprising a centrifuge and a double syringe, the double syringe including an inner syringe body and an outer syringe body; (ii) drawing autologous blood into the outer syringe body; (iii) subjecting the autologous blood to at least one centrifugation step to obtain an autologous conditioned plasma (ACP); (iv) removing, with the inner syringe body, at least a portion of autologous conditioned plasma (ACP) from the outer syringe body; and (v) inject ACP for treatment of various cartilage or tendon damage or diseases.
US08052953B2
A method for recovering sulfuric acid from concentrated acid hydrolysate of plant cellulose material is disclosed. In some of the examples, the concentrated acid hydrolysate is mixed with a liquid organic precipitant, with the sugars in the hydrolysate being precipitated and separated out. The remainder is sulfuric acid and an organic solvent solution. The organic solvent is then separated by distillation or extraction, thereby obtaining the pure sulfuric acid solution. This precipitation method can recover above 90% sugars and acids with a small amount of organic precipitant, which greatly reduces the recovery cost.
US08052952B2
Provided is a nanotube-polymer composite which can effectively utilize characteristics of a carbon nanotube structure. The composite includes a carbon nanotube structure and a polymer, in which: the carbon nanotube structure has a network structure constructed by mutually cross-linking functional groups bonded to multiple carbon nanotubes through chemical bonding of the functional groups together; and the polymer is filled in the network structure. Also provided is a method of manufacturing a composite which includes the steps of: supplying a base body surface with a solution containing multiple carbon nanotubes to which multiple functional groups are bonded; mutually cross-linking the multiple carbon nanotubes through chemical bonding of the multiple functional groups together to construct a network structure constituting a carbon nanotube structure; impregnating the network structure with a polymer liquid forming a polymer; and combining the carbon nanotube structure and the polymer by curing the polymer liquid.
US08052944B2
A cap having a core structure dimensioned to receive a pipette therethrough. The cap includes two axially aligned frangible seals that are affixed to the core structure in a spaced-apart relationship. The frangible seals include a foil layer and are constructed so that air passageways are formed between the frangible seals and a pipette tip when the pipette tip penetrates the frangible seals. The cap optionally includes a filter interposed between the first and second frangible seals.
US08052935B2
A system for removing sulfur from a gaseous stream includes (a) a reaction bed for receiving the gaseous stream and for reacting sulfur dioxide and at least some of the hydrogen sulfide of the gaseous stream into elemental sulfur to provide an elemental sulfur stream and a first product stream; and (b) a circulating fluidized bed comprising (i) a first region for receiving the first product stream and using a sulfur adsorption material to adsorb and remove any remaining hydrogen sulfide from the first product stream to generate saturated sulfur adsorption material and a second product stream substantially free of sulfur; and (ii) a second region for receiving a regeneration stream and for using the regeneration stream to regenerate the saturated sulfur adsorption material and to generate the sulfur dioxide.
US08052933B2
A device for capturing an individual's breath as a keepsake includes a hollow blow-pipe insertable through an aperture through a neck fitted into an aperture of the vessel. After introducing one or more individual's breath into the vessel, the vessel is sealed, such as by using a plug removably attached to an end of the blow-pipe disposed within the vessel and configured to engage the neck as the blow-pipe is removed from the vessel and disengaged from the plug.
US08052931B2
An apparatus configured to identify a material having an electric charge, the apparatus having: an inverting gain amplifier including a first field-effect transistor (FET) coupled to a second FET; wherein a gate of the first FET is configured to sense the electric charge and an output of the amplifier provides a measurement of the electric charge to identify the material.
US08052930B2
A device for characterizing ex vivo tissue employs a set of independent electrodes that may be used to scan the tissue by moving a voltage gradient across the tissue surface acquiring impedance spectrographs that may be mapped to an image.
US08052929B2
A receptacle having a plurality of interconnected chambers arranged to permit multiple process steps or processes to be performed independently or simultaneously. The receptacles are manufactured to separate liquid from dried reagents and to maintain the stability of the dried reagents. An immiscible liquid, such as an oil, is included to control loading of process materials, facilitate mixing and reconstitution of dried reagents, limit evaporation, control heating of reaction materials, concentrate solid support materials to prevent clogging of fluid connections, provide minimum volumes for fluid transfers, and to prevent process materials from sticking to chamber surfaces. The receptacles can be adapted for use in systems having a processing instrument that includes an actuator system for selectively moving fluid substances between chambers and a detector.
US08052926B2
An integrated disposable includes a test strip and a lancet packet coupled to the test strip. The lancet packet includes a sterility sheet enclosing at least a portion of a lancet to maintain the sterility of the lancet. The lancet packet and the sterility sheet, in particular, allow the lancet to be sterilized separately from the test strip. The lancet in one form is incorporated into a lancet tape that is sterilized in a continuous, reel-to-reel sterilization process. The lancet tape in one form is sterilized using an electron beam sterilization process. With electron beam sterilization, sterilization is enhanced by irradiating both sides of the tape with electron beams. Sterilization can adversely affect chemical reagents in the test strip. To alleviate this chemistry degradation issue, the lancet packet is attached to the test strip after the lancet is sterilized.
US08052906B2
A process for making a synthetic melt spun polyamide filament in a solid phase polycondensation apparatus is disclosed. The flow rate of the purge (make-up) gas to the apparatus is increased, and the overall pressure in the apparatus is decreased, as compared to solid phase polycondensation apparatus of the prior art. As a result, the removal of the thermal degradation impurity from the polymer flake contributes to improving the yarn quality and at the same time, extends the spinneret wipe life.
US08052900B2
A mixture of a benzophenone derivative having hydroxyl and alkoxysilyl groups and a benzophenone derivative having silyloxy and alkoxysilyl groups provides a reactive UV absorber which is unlikely to gel, stable during shelf storage, and curable. A coating solution comprising the UV absorber cures at room temperature to form a UV-screening film which has adhesion to glass and plastic substrates, scratch resistance, and bleed resistance, and maintains a UV-screening function over time.
US08052886B2
A fluorine-containing compound gas, e.g., SF6 gas, is converted into a plasma and a silicon portion of an object to be processed is etched by the plasma. At the same time, using a light source having a peak intensity of light in a wavelength range of light absorption of a reaction product, e.g., SiF4, for which, to be more precise, ranges from 9 μm to 10 μm, the light is irradiated onto a surface of an object to be processed from the light source. The SiF4 molecules absorb the light, become activated and gain kinetic energy to be used in gaining an easy escape from a hole. As a consequence, an amount (a partial pressure) of fluorine radicals (F*) used as an etchant is increased and an etching rate of a silicon is increased.
US08052883B2
A method for forming a periodic structure is disclosed. A structural layer and an optical modulation element are provided. A light is emitted to pass through the optical modulation element to irradiate interference strips on the structural layer. A photoelectrochemical etching (PEC) is performed to form the periodic structure according the interference strips irradiated on the structural layer.
US08052882B2
A method of manufacturing a wiring substrate of the present invention, includes the steps of forming a seed layer on an underlying layer, forming a plating resist in which an opening portion is provided on the seed layer, forming a copper plating layer in the opening portion by an electroplating, removing the plating resist, wet-etching the seed layer using the copper plating layer as a mask to obtain the wiring layer, roughening a surface of the wiring layer by a blackening process, and forming an insulating layer on the wiring layer, wherein a surface of the copper plating layer is soft-etched simultaneously in the step of etching the seed layer, whereby a soft etching step of the wiring layer carried out prior to the step of the blackening process is omitted.
US08052880B2
A method for manufacturing a light reflecting metal wall including a step (a) forming a cavity structure on a metal plate on which back surface a substrate is laminated, the cavity structure including on its side wall a light reflecting wall, the step (a) including the steps of (b) forming a first mask on a surface of the metal plate, the first mask having a mask opening portion corresponding to an opening portion of the cavity structure, and (c) forming the light reflecting wall on a side wall of the metal plate by carrying out wet etching with respect to the metal plate with the first mask, in the step (c), in the middle of the wet etching, the first mask being bent by press working along the light reflecting wall formed by the wet etching. As a result, the light reflecting metal wall is stably formed by securing both (i) an area of an LED chip mounting surface and (ii) a thickness of the light reflecting metal wall even if a packaged light-emitting element has a narrow lateral width of its short side.
US08052872B2
Methods of enhancing anaerobic digestion of wastewater are provided. The methods comprise pressure oxidation of digester material to remove sulfide and/or regenerate iron. Also provided are a pressure oxidizer device and a wastewater treatment system having one or more of such devices. The methods, device, and system have application in treatment of municipal wastewater, wastewater of agricultural and livestock operations, and in biofuels production.
US08052862B2
A limiting current type oxygen sensor having a gas diffusion mechanism comprising a gas diffusion bore and an internal space communicating with the gas diffusion bore for supplying a diffusion-rate-determined gas. The gas diffusion mechanism may be configured such that an oxygen concentration gradient within the internal space satisfies the expression: 1/Ilim=(1/4 FDCo2){(l/S)+(lin/Sin)} based on the Faraday constant (F); a diffusion coefficient (D); an oxygen concentration (Co2); a bore area (S) of the gas diffusion bore; a bore length (l) in the axial direction of the gas diffusion bore; a distance (lin) in the internal space between the first electrode and the inner surface opposed thereto; an effective cross section (Sin) of the internal space; and an output current value (Ilim). This makes it possible to accurately sense and measure the oxygen concentration, even at low oxygen concentrations, and achieve easy producibility and cost reducibility.
US08052860B1
A method and system are provided for the shaping and polishing of the surface of a material selected from the group consisting of electrically semi-conductive materials and conductive materials. An electrically non-conductive polishing lap incorporates a conductive electrode such that, when the polishing lap is placed on the material's surface, the electrode is placed in spaced-apart juxtaposition with respect to the material's surface. A liquid electrolyte is disposed between the material's surface and the electrode. The electrolyte has an electrochemical stability constant such that cathodic material deposition on the electrode is not supported when a current flows through the electrode, the electrolyte and the material. As the polishing lap and the material surface experience relative movement, current flows through the electrode based on (i) adherence to Faraday's Law, and (ii) a pre-processing profile of the surface and a desired post-processing profile of the surface.
US08052857B2
A robotic device has a base and at least one finger having at least two links that are connected in series on rotary joints with at least two degrees of freedom. A brushless motor and an associated controller are located at each joint to produce a rotational movement of a link. Wires for electrical power and communication serially connect the controllers in a distributed control network. A network operating controller coordinates the operation of the network, including power distribution. At least one, but more typically two to five, wires interconnect all the controllers through one or more joints. Motor sensors and external world sensors monitor operating parameters of the robotic hand. The electrical signal output of the sensors can be input anywhere on the distributed control network. V-grooves on the robotic hand locate objects precisely and assist in gripping. The hand is sealed, immersible and has electrical connections through the rotary joints for anodizing in a single dunk without masking. In various forms, this intelligent, self-contained, dexterous hand, or combinations of such hands, can perform a wide variety of object gripping and manipulating tasks, as well as locomotion and combinations of locomotion and gripping.
US08052854B1
A gas sensor includes a substrate and a pair of interdigitated metal electrodes selected from the group consisting of Pt, Pd, Au, Ir, Ag, Ru, Rh, In, and Os. The electrodes each include an upper surface. A first solid electrolyte resides between the interdigitated electrodes and partially engages the upper surfaces of the electrodes. The first solid electrolyte is selected from the group consisting of NASICON, LISICON, KSICON, and β″-Alumina (beta prime-prime alumina in which when prepared as an electrolyte is complexed with a mobile ion selected from the group consisting of Na+, K+, Li+, Ag+, H+, Pb2+, Sr2+ or Ba2+). A second electrolyte partially engages the upper surfaces of the electrodes and engages the first solid electrolyte in at least one point. The second electrolyte is selected from the group of compounds consisting of Na+, K+, Li+, Ag+, H+, Pb2+, Sr2+ or Ba2+ ions or combinations thereof.
US08052849B2
A method of forming mufti-phasic nano-objects involves the jetting of two or more different liquids in side-by-side capillaries thereby generating a composite liquid stream. The composite then exposed to a force field which causes the composite liquid stream to at least partially solidify into a nano-object. The method forms a nano-object having a number of morphologies such as rods, spheres, and fibers.
US08052844B2
The invention concerns a method for manufacturing a blade (10), in which at least the composite base structure (15) of the blade (10) is manufactured in a pultrusion process (20) by pulling fibers (11) through at least an impregnation stage (12) and a curing stage (14), the base structure (15) is equipped with at least one wear area (16.1, 16.2), and the said blade (10) is detached from a blade blank (22) formed of a base structure (15) and a wear area (16.1, 16.2). The wear area of the blade (10) is formed of an edge-structure part (16.1, 16.2) protruding out side the edge of the base structure (15). In addition, the invention also concerns a corresponding blade and part components for manufacturing a blade according to the invention.
US08052843B2
The vessel in which the chips are pre-treated with steam (ST) is provided with a ventilation channel at the top of the vessel for the leading away of weak gases to a weak gas system (NCG). A simple safety system has been installed with the aim of guaranteeing that these weak gases do not reach a level of concentration at which these weak gases become explosive. The safety system has a control unit (CPU) that detects a process parameter that is indicative of the fraction of moisture in the weak gases and opens dilution lines that supply air for the dilution of the weak gases in the ventilation channel. It is appropriate that the dilution take place in stages, where the dilution lines are opened in stages with successively increasing temperature of the weak gases.
US08052839B2
An apparatus for treating pulp including: at least one liquid-permeable surface rotating around a shaft, onto which surface a pulp layer is formed; a feeder to feed pulp to the apparatus for treatment on the liquid-permeable surface; an internal barrier defining a first pulp treatment section and a second pulp treatment section; the first treatment section receiving from the feeder a first type of pulp and the second treatment section receiving from the feeder a second type of pulp, wherein the first type of pulp is supplied to the feeder from a first pulp treatment stage in a pulping system and the second type of pulp is supplied to the feeder from a second pulp treatment stage in the pulping system, and a pulp discharge to discharge treated pulp from the apparatus, wherein the pulp discharge discharges the first type of pulp after treatment separately from discharging the second type of pulp after treatment, and a filtrate discharge to discharge filtrate flowing through the liquid-permeable from the apparatus.
US08052834B2
Of process steps of polymer removal in a substrate processing apparatus (3), in a step of discharging and spreading a removal solution to coat a rotating substrate (W), data indicative of the number of revolutions of a substrate, the temperature and flow rate of a removal solution, and removal solution discharge time is collected and a combination thereof is synthetically assessed to detect a processing abnormality. In a pure water discharge step, data indicative of the number of revolutions of a substrate, the flow rate of pure water and pure water discharge time is collected and a combination thereof synthetically assessed to detect a processing abnormality. Thus, a processing abnormality in polymer removal is detected based on a combination of important control elements in important steps largely exerting influence on the results of processing, thereby allowing detection of a processing abnormality with a higher degree of accuracy.
US08052831B2
A method for making a honeycomb composite structure wherein the method allows for fluid flow from cells of a honeycomb core during a cure process. More specifically, the method involves forming one or more vents in a skin of the structure, which are preferably filled with venting wicks, to allow for fluid flow before being sealed by the polymer matrix during a skin bonding process. Additionally, the structure preferably comprises a scrim that allows for fluid flow between multiple cells of the honeycomb core. The honeycomb composite structure produced according to this process comprises, among other things, a sealed venting region that comprises a polymer matrix and fibers that are transverse to the skin.
US08052828B2
A photosensitive laminate film for forming a top plate portion, which is suitably used for efficiently and inexpensively forming various precision fine spaces, particularly the precision fine spaces formed in an electronic part such as inkjet head, and a method of forming the precision fine space using the photosensitive laminate film are provided. As the photosensitive laminate film for forming the top plate portion of the precision fine space, which constitutes the top plate portion of the precision fine space by being placed on the precision minute concave portion so as to cover an upper opening followed by being cured, a laminate film providing at least the photosensitive composition layer and the transparent support film is used. The transparent support film supports the photosensitive composition layer as well as prevents the photosensitive composition layer from being deformed upon curing.
US08052822B2
Blends of low crystallinity, low molecular weight propylene copolymers and styrenic block copolymers
Styrenic block copolymers are blended with propylene copolymers to provide polymeric compositions with an improved balance between processability and elasticity. The compositions have improved processability by facilitating the ease with which a rubbery material, usually difficult to melt process, can be processed at high line speeds, which in turn improves the formation of the composition into films or other articles, assisted by a desired level of melt elasticity, i.e., a high elastic extension and recovery.
US08052810B2
A metal structure according to the present invention is unlikely to become brittle and has excellent hardness and creep resistance, characterized in that annealing has been applied at a temperature not more than the temperature at which crystals of the metal material start to become larger. This metal structure includes at least two kinds of metal material, and annealing can be applied at a temperature not more than the temperature at which crystals of the metal material start to become larger. For example, the present invention is advantageous in the manner of a microstructure for a contact probe. A fabricating method according to the present invention is a method of fabricating a metal structure unlikely to become brittle and having excellent hardness and creep resistance, characterized in that the step of applying annealing at a temperature not more than the temperature at which crystals of the metal material start to become larger is included.
US08052808B2
Disclosed is a hot rolled steel sheet which contains C, Si, Mn, Al, Ti, N, and S. The C, Ti, N, and sulfur contents satisfy the following condition (1), and the Si and Mn contents satisfy the following condition (2): [C]−{[Ti]−(48/14)×[N]−(48/32)×[S]}/4≦0.01 (1) 0.20≦([Si]/[Mn])≦0.85 (2) in which the symbol [X] represents the content (percent by mass) of the element X, and the steel sheet has a microstructure having an area percentage of bainitic ferrite of 90% or more, an area percentage of martensite of 5% or less, and an area percentage of bainite of 5% or less, based on the area of an observed field. This steel sheet excels in properties demanded in press working, such as shape freezing ability, hole-expandability, and bendability, even though it has a high tensile strength of 980 MPa or more.
US08052806B2
A powder magnetic core is provided for operating at high frequencies that is obtained by pressure forming an iron-based magnetic powder covered with an insulation film, which has a specific resistance more than 1000, preferably more than 2000, and most preferably more than 3000 μΩm, and a saturation magnetic flux density B above 1.5, preferably above 1.7, and most preferably above 1.9 (T). A method for the preparation of such cores as well as a powder which is suitable for the preparation also are provided.
US08052802B2
A rear wiper assembly that moves to a parked position located out of contact with the rear windshield upon the occurrence of a specified condition. Upon resuming the normal operation of the rear wiper assembly the rear wiper arm waits a first delay prior to moving to a flip position located on the rear windshield and then waits a second delay prior to resuming its normal oscillation across the rear windshield.
US08052793B2
A method for producing a silicon carbide single crystal, which comprises bringing a silicon carbide single crystal substrate into contact with a melt prepared by melting a raw material containing Si and C, and growing a silicon carbide single crystal on the substrate, the method including performing a cycle comprising the following steps (a) and (b): a) a step of bringing the seed crystal substrate into contact with the surface of the melt, growing a single crystal, and separating the seed crystal substrate from the surface of the melt thereby interrupting the growth of the single crystal, and b) a step of bringing the seed crystal substrate into contact with the surface of the melt and growing a single crystal, at least one time, wherein the seed crystal is a 6H-silicon carbide single crystal or a 15R-silicon carbide single crystal and the resulting single crystal is a 4H-silicon carbide single crystal.
US08052782B2
A structure for attaching a dust collection electrode of a wet electric dust collector that is low-cost and resistant to entire face corrosion, space corrosion, and hole corrosion. An end of a dust collection electrode element is tightened and slung to be supported by a slung beam slung in a lateral direction in a building accommodating a dust collection apparatus. A supporting member made of Hastelloy® is attached to the dust collection electrode element. The supporting member and the slung beam include attachment holes through which the supporting member and the slung beam are tightened together by a bolt and nut. The slung beam and the dust collection electrode element have therebetween the supporting member to sling and support the slung beam and the dust collection electrode plate so that the slung beam and the dust collection electrode plate are separated from each other.
US08052775B2
Process for preparing a two layer metal palladium or palladium alloy composite membrane consisting of a porous substrate support and a palladium or palladium alloy membrane by rinsing/washing and drying the porous substrate support, treating the porous substrate support with a pore filler in order to decorate the pores of the support and the disfigurements of the substrate surface, sensitizing and activating with a palladium solution the decorated substrate support, and plating the resulting support with a palladium solution to form the two layer composite membrane, drying. The resulting composite membrane is subjected to a post-processing where the pore fillers residing in the pore-channels of the porous substrate are partly removed or reduced in volume through heating.
US08052766B2
One embodiment described herein relates to a system for removing pollutants from a flue gas. The system includes a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system having a SCR reactor containing a NOx reducing catalyst and one or more SCR protective devices. At least one of the SCR protective devices is connected to a rapping hammer system that actively remove fly ash collected on the SCR protective devices.
US08052756B2
A method of implanting a distal radial wrist implant relative to a host radius while salvaging at least portions of fractured radial bone can include, determining a size of a host radius. A distal radial component can be selected based on the determination. The distal radial component can have a body that includes a first connection portion. A stem portion can be selected based on the determination. The stem portion can have a second connection portion. Portions of the fractured radial bone can be located around the body. The portions of the fractured radial bone can be secured relative to the body. The first connection portion of the distal radial component can be coupled with the second connection portion of the stem portion. The distal radial implant can be implanted relative to the host radius.
US08052753B2
The present invention is directed towards a prosthetic anchor (36) including a central layer (1) through which embedded fibers (2), such as artificial tendons, pass in defined pathways (4), a ‘deep’ surface membrane (7) which interfaces with a hard structure, whether that is a prosthesis, a bone, or other hard tissue, and a ‘superficial’ surface membrane (8) which interfaces adjacent tissue and may be configured to adhere or not to adhere to that tissue. The central layer (1) is positioned intermediate the surface membranes (7, 8) which are mechanically and/or adherently attached thereto. Also, non-limiting examples of methods of fabrication and of affixing the anchor (36) to a relatively rigid structure, natural or prosthetic, in a human or animal body with improved stress distribution in the fixed tension member end are taught.
US08052743B2
The present invention comprises a medical device having a support structure made from alternating layers. One or more layers may be made by direct metal laser sintering. One or more layers may be made by introducing nitrogen into a previously formed layer via excimer laser nitriding.
US08052741B2
A branch prosthesis configured for placement in a branch vessel includes an expandable tubular body portion, an expandable annular flange attached to a proximal end of the body portion, and a sealing sleeve proximally extending from the annular flange. The sealing sleeve is adapted to deform to a generally straight cylindrical hollow shape during implantation. When deployed, the sealing sleeve rolls up to a tightly-wound coil that bears against the annular flange. When used in conjunction with a main prosthesis having a side opening and deployed within in a main vessel, the annular flange of the branch prosthesis engages an outer surface of the main prosthesis around a perimeter of the side opening and the sealing sleeve engages an inner surface of the main prosthesis around the perimeter of the side opening to form a fluid-tight seal between the main prosthesis and the branch prosthesis.
US08052740B2
A stent includes a plurality of annular units each made of a linear portion which extends circumferentially while folding in a zigzag manner and which is connected annularly, and connection portions which connect axially adjacent ones of the annular units with each other. Predetermined annular units have radiopaque markers each fixedly attached midway between one folded portion and a next folded portion in the linear portion located in a predetermined circumferential position.
US08052723B2
A dynamic posterior stabilization system is provided to stabilize a human spine. In some embodiments, the dynamic posterior stabilization system includes a first bone fastener, a second bone fastener, and an elongated member coupled to the first bone fastener and the second bone fastener. The longitudinal position of the elongated member relative to the first bone fastener may be fixed. The longitudinal position of the second bone fastener relative to the elongated member may vary so that the dynamic posterior stabilization system can accommodate flexion/extension and/or lateral bending. The dynamic posterior stabilization system may also be able to accommodate axial rotation. Bias members may be coupled to the elongated member. The bias members may allow the dynamic posterior stabilization system to mimic the resistance behavior of a normal functional spinal unit.
US08052714B2
Medical devices with radiopaque three dimensional filtration matrices provide for improved visualization of the device within a vessel. In some embodiments, the three dimensional filtration matrix comprises fibers, such as surface capillary fibers. Visualization of the three dimensional filtration matrix provides for an evaluation of the proper deployment of the three dimensional filtration matrix. Radiopaque surface capillary fibers can be advantageously incorporated into other medical devices. Radiopaque surface capillary fibers can be formed by extrusion of a radiopaque polymer or polymer composite.
US08052708B2
A biopsy marking apparatus for placing a radiopaque marker at the location of a percutaneous biopsy. The biopsy marking apparatus comprises an introducer in combination with a radiopaque marker. The introducer ejects the radiopaque marker at the location of the biopsy. The introducer is configured to completely eject the radiopaque marker and prevent it from being subsequently drawn into the introducer as the introducer is removed from the biopsied tissue mass. The radiopaque marker has enhanced radiopaque characteristics and enhanced non-migration characteristics.
US08052705B2
A scrubbing instrument for scrubbing the human eye corneal epithelium, including a handle, having a grip portion, a scrubbing head having a curved main scrubbing surface, and a connection arrangement for enabling connection of the scrubbing head to the handle and disconnection of the scrubbing head from the handle, thus enabling the scrubbing head to serve as a sterile, disposable, single-use component.
US08052693B2
Systems and methods for treating a patient having a head with a first ear and a second ear, function by aligning a first device with a tympanic membrane of the first ear; inputting a command to an input device operatively coupled to the first device to generate a signal; and actuating the first device in response to the signal so as to drive a penetrator of the device through the tympanic membrane.
US08052684B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide an irrigated catheter having irrigation fluid directed at a taper angle generally in parallel with a proximally tapered portion of the tip electrode to provide improved electrode surface cooling. In one embodiment, an irrigated ablation electrode assembly for use with an irrigated catheter device comprises a proximal member having at least one passageway for a fluid with an outlet disposed at an external surface of the proximal member; and a distal member connected with the proximal member and having an external surface, the distal member including an electrode. The external surface of the distal member has a tapered proximal portion narrowing toward the proximal member at a taper angle with respect to a longitudinal axis of the distal member. The at least one passageway of the proximal member is configured to direct a fluid flow through the outlet in a distal direction at an angle substantially equal to the taper angle to produce an external flow that is generally parallel to the tapered proximal portion of the external surface of the distal member.
US08052683B2
An ablation and visualization device includes a shaft, at least one ablation element coupled to the distal end of the shaft, and a scope coupled to the shaft proximate the distal end. The scope may be a fiber optic endoscope, an infrared sensor, or an ultrasound sensor, and may be coupled to an output device to display imagery collected by the scope. The scope includes at least one aperture, which may be movable. An optical element, such as a lens or filter, may be positioned over the aperture. The scope may be positioned laterally relative to the ablation elements or in a plane substantially parallel to and spaced apart from the ablation elements. The scope may be positioned with the aperture positioned distally or proximally relative to the ablation elements. The scope may be slidably or rotatably coupled to the shaft.
US08052659B2
A catheter device has an elongate body and a chamber positioned within the elongate body. The chamber has a chamber opening, and a barrier, such as a gate, moves over the chamber opening. The barrier moves between an uncovered position uncovering the chamber opening and a covered position covering the chamber opening. The catheter has at least one cutting edge by the chamber opening. In particular, the at least one cutting edge may be on the barrier, where the at least one cutting edge is guided over the chamber opening with movement of the barrier between the uncovered position and the covered position. The cutting edge cuts away a fibrin sheath blocking the chamber opening. The catheter may have multiple chambers connected by channels that allow the chambers to be flushed to prevent microbial colonization.
US08052652B2
A securement device includes a filament which passes underneath at least a portion of the securement device and can be secured about a medical article to be retained. The filament may be secured about the medical article without the use of adhesive. At least a portion of the securement device underlying the medical article may comprise a compressible material which may be used to exert a restoring force upon the medical article to hold the medical article tightly in place.
US08052651B2
An apparatus and method for securing a catheter within a target area of the anatomy are disclosed. The catheter includes a passage or opening through which a suture filament may be routed. The suture filament can be secured relative to anatomical tissue to retain the catheter within a desired region. After the catheter has been used to complete the desired medical procedure, the suture filament may be released, permitting the catheter to be easily withdrawn from the anatomy. The catheter may include a biodegradable tip, which when absorbed by the body would enable the catheter to be removed. Biodegradable suture filaments and other components may also be used to facilitate the release of the catheter from the anatomy.
US08052648B2
An intravenous catheter anchoring assembly is disclosed and includes a patient-contacting membrane, a platform, and a retaining strap for securing a catheter or tubing of an administration set to a patient. The strap is attached to the platform with adjustable pull-tabs that permit a variety of catheter shapes and sizes to be secured. The strap is also elastomeric so that the strap is stretchable and thereby grabs the secured catheter. The strap and platform further define a plurality of passageways that permit the catheter to be secured in a plurality of non-aligned directions.
US08052641B2
There is provided a winged indwelling needle for reducing the possibility of damaging a blood vessel or the like by a cannula, including a movable unit 1 having the cannula and a hub, a tube 2 connected to the rear portion of the hub, a holder 3, and a fixing wing 4, in which the movable unit 1 is provided on the holder 3 so as to be capable of sliding in the axial direction, is capable of changing in position between a position in use and a stored position which is behind the position in use, and the movable unit 1 is fixed to the position in use so as to be releasable. The holder 3 includes a protecting cylinder 26 which stores only the front portion including a blade point 6A of the cannula 6 in the interior thereof when the movable unit is positioned at the stored position and is provided with the fixing wing 4, and a guide member 27 exposed upward for guiding the sliding movement of the movable unit 1.
US08052640B2
A method of increasing blood flow through an obstructed blood vessel includes providing an expandable member substantially made of a mesh having a plurality of interstices. The expandable member is inserted into the blood vessel, positioned within the blood vessel with the proximal member end upstream of the distal member end and the member body located radially adjacent at least a portion of an obstruction, and expanded to bring at least a portion of the member body into contact with the obstruction. An outward radial force is exerted on the obstruction to dislodge at least one fragment from the obstruction and to enhance blood flow through the blood vessel past the obstruction. The at least one fragment is passed through at least one interstice of the member body in the radial direction, and is selectively retained within the expandable member.
US08052637B2
The present invention relates to medical devices that can be placed in bodily conduits. The invention particularly relates to balloons and catheters using such balloons for administering treatments to widen constricted passages, deliver therapeutic agents, deliver endoprosthesis' or perform other medical procedures. The balloon catheter can include an expandable balloon disposed adjacent a distal end of an elongated catheter shaft. The balloon can be constructed of a novel absorbable biomaterial.
US08052630B2
A compression garment or pad for selective application for treatment of lymphedema evidenced at various locations of the body. The pad includes a pair or series of layers of hermetically sealed material, that can capture pressurized air, when applied therein, and is formed through the patterned sealing of the layers of the pad together, at select locations, to form air pockets that can selectively apply isolated points of pressure to the patient's affected area, without disrupting normal vascular and lymphatic functioning. The pad is design cut, for either use in that matter, or for application as a garment to various segments of the body and can apply pressure over the entire affected area. The pad includes valves that allows for injection of measurable air, to the desired pressure points, or its deflation, after treatment.
US08052621B2
A method for estimating the force on a distal end of a working catheter includes positioning a portion of a robotically controlled guide catheter and working catheter into a body lumen wherein a distal end of the working catheter projects distally from a distal end of the guide catheter. The working catheter and guide catheter are dithered with respect to one another using a dithering device operatively connected to a proximal portion of the working catheter. The coupling may occur directly to the working catheter or via a seal such as a Touhy seal. The force experienced by the working catheter at a proximal region is measured through at least one dithering cycle. The force at the distal end of the working catheter is then estimated based on the measured force at the proximal region. The estimated force may be displayed to a physician on, for example, a monitor.
US08052619B2
A blood sensor to be used in a blood test apparatus, more specifically speaking, a blood sensor which can be easily attached to a blood test apparatus and detached therefrom. Namely, a blood sensor to be detachably attached to a blood test apparatus having a plural number of connectors, which comprises: a supply channel to which blood is supplied; a detection section provided in the supply channel; an electrode system formed in an area including the detection section; a plural number of connection terminals electrically connected to each electrode of the electrode system respectively; and a standard electrode serving as a standard for differentiating these connection terminals. The connectors are connected respectively to the connection terminals and the standard electrode of the blood sensor having been attached to a definite position of the blood test apparatus.
US08052614B2
A biopsy device includes a housing. A drive is enclosed in the housing. A biopsy needle assembly has a biopsy needle carrier that carries a biopsy needle. The biopsy needle carrier is positioned in the housing. A vacuum pump is positioned in the housing. The vacuum pump has an elongate cylinder and a piston sealed and movable inside the elongate cylinder. The piston is drivably coupled to the drive. The elongate cylinder is connected to the biopsy needle to generate a vacuum in the biopsy needle when the piston is driven by the drive. The elongate cylinder and the biopsy needle are arranged in parallel by the housing.
US08052612B2
The present invention provides a sleep respiration monitoring system for monitoring sleep quality of a user. The sleep respiration monitoring system has a sensing fabric, a detecting circuit and a judging and analysis circuit. The electrical characteristics of the sensing fabric vary with respiration status or extent of body movement of a user. The detecting circuit detects the electrical characteristics of the sensing fabric. The judging and analysis circuit performs signal processing, signal collection, signal classification and signal determination on output signals of the detecting circuit, so as to determine whether the user lies on the sensing fabric and the sleep quality of the user.
US08052606B2
The present invention relates to a hand held ultrasound system having a balance body, a transducer assembly connected to said balance body via a communication means and a plurality of control elements arranged in an ergonomic fashion on said balance body, such that a user may hold said system and operate at least one of said control elements with the same hand. In particular a medical ultrasound system comprising a balance body incorporating system electronics, a power supply and a user interface wherein the user interface comprises a D-controller and a touch screen and a transducer assembly attached to the balanced body by a cable. The present invention relates to a hand held ultrasound system having a balance body, a transducer assembly connected to said balance body via a communication means and a plurality of control elements arranged in an ergonomic fashion on said balance body, such that a user may hold said system and operate at least one of said control elements with the same hand. In particular a medical ultrasound system comprising a balance body incorporating system electronics, a power supply and a user interface wherein the user interface comprises a D-controller and a touch screen and a transducer assembly attached to the balanced body by a cable.
US08052605B2
Methods, apparatus, and systems for intravascular analysis combine at least three analytical modalities. In one implementation, intravascular ultrasound, optical coherence tomography, and near infrared spectroscopy are combined to enable detection of multiple, different abnormalities in the arterial morphology during a single intravascular procedure.
US08052597B2
In one aspect, the present invention is an articulation joint for use in a low cost medical device such as an endoscope intended for a single use. In one embodiment, the articulation joint comprises a plurality of interconnected segments. In another embodiment, the articulation joint comprises an elongated tubular body. In another aspect, the present invention provides methods of manufacturing an articulation joint for use in a medical device.
US08052591B2
The present invention provides for Stereotactic Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (sTMS) at predetermined locations with the brain or spinal cord and incorporates an array of electromagnets arranged in a specified configuration where selected coils in the array are pulsed simultaneously. Activation of foci demonstrated by functional MRI or other imaging techniques can be used to locate the neural region affected. Imaging techniques can also be utilized to determine the location of the designated targets.
US08052590B2
In one embodiment, a fuser roll for fusing toner images onto a substrate includes a substantially rigid core member, a deformable, heat conductive base layer overlaying the surface of said core member, and an outer layer supported on the base layer. The outer layer is formed of a heat conductive, conformable amorphous metal.
US08052586B2
A ladder barrel for use in Pilates type exercise is disclosed. The adjustment mechanism to hold the barrel in place on the floor rail comprises a locking rail and a cam mechanism to press the locking rail into engagement with the floor rail, holding the barrel in position. The locking rail has spring biased plungers to hold it out of engagement with the floor rail when the cam is not engaged.
US08052585B2
An exercise machine designed to enhance flexibility and allow for controlled stretching of torso muscles is herein disclosed. The machine comprises a padded cushion upon which a user is situated in a seated position. The machine also comprises a padded bolster which moves in a circular arc which the user pushes against with their back, chest, or side, depending on the seated position. The bolster supports and guides the user through a full arcuate motion from a vertical position downwardly toward the floor. The machine comprises a stationary second pad which supports a user's pelvis or waist area during the stretching therapy. The positions of both the bolster and stationary pad are adjustable in order to accommodate the user's size. The exercise machine utilizes a series of counterbalancing springs housed within a main enclosure to enable the user to easily return to a sitting position.
US08052580B2
The invention relates to a method and system for guiding a person to a physiological cumulative state in physical exercise, in which the exercise has a physiological target in the form of a physiological state at the end of the exercise, a duration, and a performance parameter. In the method at the start of the exercise the physiological target is set, as is the value of the performance parameter, and during the exercise at regular intervals: at least one quantity proportional to the momentary intensity is measured, and the present physiological state and an estimate of the physiological state and the end of the exercise are calculated with the aid of the momentary intensity and the exercise performed, and a guidance range for the momentary intensity is defined, in order to reach the target state and the performance parameter. The user is guided by means of feedback to remain within the said guidance intensity range. At the start of the exercise the intensity guidance range is expanded according to a pre-selected function, in order to reduce the variation in the guidance.
US08052579B2
A method for checking the plausibility of an actuation position of a clutch of a double-clutch transmission operated by an actuator, including the following steps: disengaging the clutch assigned to the currently active old subtransmission and simultaneously engaging the clutch assigned to the other subtransmission to shift from the gear selected in the old subtransmission to a gear selected in the other, new subtransmission; deselecting the gear selected in the old subtransmission still during the overlapping operation of the clutches or immediately thereafter; detecting the difference between the speed of rotation of a drive shaft of the double-clutch transmission driven by a drive motor and the speed of rotation of the input shaft of the old subtransmission; and evaluating the state of the clutch assigned to the old subtransmission as disengaged when the difference in speeds of rotation exceeds a predetermined value within a predetermined time after deselection of the gear.
US08052577B2
A torque converter having a lockup clutch or a coupling device, for selectively providing a mechanical connection between a drive unit and a drive train. The lockup clutch (C) or coupling device has a driving part connected to the drive unit and a driven part connected to the drive train. The torque converter also has a control system for applying a first pressure in a sense to cause frictional engagement between the driving part and the driven part and a second pressure in a sense to cause disengagement of the driving part and the driven part. A differential between the pressures is progressively controllable by the control system so as to control the relative positioning between the driven part and the driving part.
US08052575B2
A system comprises a slip module and a gas temperature module. The slip module adjusts slipping of a clutch of a torque converter based on a first slip value before a cylinder of an engine is deactivated. The gas temperature module determines a temperature of a gas within the cylinder after the cylinder is deactivated. The slip module determines a second slip value based on the temperature of the gas and adjusts the slipping of the clutch based on the second slip value, wherein the second slip value is less than the first slip value.
US08052567B2
The transmission has a plurality of members that can be utilized in powertrains to provide at least nine forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio. The transmission includes four planetary gear sets, six torque-transmitting devices, and four fixed interconnections. The powertrain includes an engine and torque converter that is continuously connected to one of the planetary gear members and an output member that is continuously connected with another one of the planetary gear members. The six torque-transmitting devices provide interconnections between various gear members, and the transmission housing, and are operated in combinations of three to establish at least nine forward speed ratios and one reverse speed ratio.
US08052564B2
A differential gear unit has a pinion gear that can spin as well as revolve, a differential case that has a pinion retaining portion that supports the pinion gear, and a pair of side gears that mesh with the pinion gear. Frictional force generated at a portion where the pinion gear contacts the pinion retaining portion when the rotation speed of one side gear is faster than the rotation speed of the other side gear is different from the frictional force generated between the pinion gear and the pinion retaining portion when the rotation speed of the one side gear is slower than the rotation speed of the other side gear.
US08052563B2
An electro-hydraulic control system is provided for a transmission with a torque-transmitting mechanism that has a dual area piston. When pressurized fluid is provided to a first of the two piston areas, the position of a spring-biased shift valve controls whether pressurized fluid communicates with the second piston area. A solenoid valve in fluid communication with the shift valve is energizable to direct pressurized fluid to the shift valve to urge the shift valve to the unstroked position to which the spring also urges. The shift valve may also be urged by pressurized fluid to the stroked position, but only when the solenoid valve is not energized. The spring maintains the shift valve in the unstroked position when pressurized fluid is directed to the shift valve to act both against and with the spring.
US08052560B2
A power transmission device includes a pulley 1 and a hub 2 having an inner hub 21, a rubber damper 22 and an outer hub 23. A hub side engagement portion 24 formed of an elastic material and arranged at either one, or both, of an inner peripheral surface and an outer peripheral surface of the outer hub engages with a pulley side engagement portion 12, which is arranged at a position corresponding to the outer hub, of the pulley in a concavo-convex fitting to thereby constitute a torque transmission structure between the hub and the pulley. The hub side engagement portion and the pulley side engagement portion have a concavo-convex outer shape and mesh with each other. A ring-like dust invasion prevention portion 28 covers a front surface of said concavo-convex fitting.
US08052559B2
A tensioner for a power transmission system includes two tensioning arms operatively engaged with the strand of the chain or the belt of the power transmission system. The upper end of each tensioning arm is connected to a two way damper which is pivotally mounted between the upper ends of the tensioning arms. When a pre-determined chain tension overload threshold is reached, the amount of torque required to overcome the coefficient of friction the damper allows the tensioner to adjust the tension in the chain with minimal oscillations and minimal phase change variation.
US08052555B2
A conical pulley assembly with integrated torque sensor. A torque-dependent force is transmitted through a transmitting component to a sensing piston whose position determines the pressure in a sensing chamber. The transmitting member is connected to the movable disk, and is formed in such a way that it transmits the torque-dependent force to the sensing piston in a manner that is dependent on the position of an axially movable disk of the conical pulley.
US08052552B2
A toy apparatus having a surface is provided. The toy apparatus may include a mesh including a plurality of loop structures having cooperative mating surfaces disposed at least partially around an outer perimeter of each loop structure. The plurality of loop structures may have curved inside perimeter surfaces, and the cooperative mating surfaces of adjacent loop structures may be configured to couple together for a distance along their lengths. The loop structures form the surface of the toy when the cooperative mating surfaces are coupled with each other. The toy apparatus may further include a rattle positioned in a loop structure in the mesh, the rattle having a body with a mounting structure having an outer perimeter sized to conform to the curved inside perimeter surface of the loop structure in which the rattle is mounted.
US08052551B2
The invention pertains to sports shafts to other sports equipment subjected to impact thereon. The longitudinal edges of the sports shaft are replaced with elastomeric material so as to create a series of bumpers along the longitudinal edges providing increased protection and longevity to the stick. The invention also pertains to the blade, as in hockey stick blade, wherein the top surface of the blade is provided with an elastomeric material so as to create a bumper on the top surface. The invention also pertains to a method of fabricating said sports shaft.
US08052549B2
A lacrosse stick with an improved head and shaft connection is provided. The lacrosse stick comprises a head having a throat with a mounting hole therein, an elongated shaft attached to the head, the shaft having its own mounting hole, and a plug slidably disposed partly or entirely inside the hollow shaft to reinforce the shaft/head connection. The plug is inserted into the shaft such that the plug opening is aligned with the mounting holes on the head and shaft so that a screw or other attachment means can be inserted therethrough.
US08052548B1
Training device to improve tennis skills. The training device includes an umbilical having a first end and a second end. The first end is attached to a wristband for encircling the wrist of a user and the second end is attached to a tennis racquet. The umbilical is under constant tension during use to encourage the movement of a user's hands in unison in carrying out the tennis stroke.
US08052546B1
A basketball shooting training aid for releasably limiting to a predetermined maximum length the span distance between a basketball player's shooting or launch hand and guide hand comprises a pair of elastic wristlet bands secureable around opposite wrists of the player. Each wristlet has protruding outwardly therefrom a flexible, longitudinally elongated stalk which has at the outer end thereof a coupler releasably engageable with the other coupler. In a preferred embodiment, each coupler includes a permanent magnet having a longitudinally outwardly extending magnetic field of opposite polarity to that of the opposite coupler, thus enabling the couplers to automatically engage when outer ends of the stalks are brought sufficiently close to each other, e.g., about 2 inches, and to automatically disengage when a tensional parting force of a predetermined value, e.g., about 6 pounds is exerted on the couplers by drawing the wrists apart.
US08052545B1
A sports training device which is suitable for developing skills in sports in which attempts are made by players of opposing teams to maneuver a ball, puck or other object into a goal of the opposing team includes a target support frame, a device attachment assembly carried by the target support frame for attaching the device to the goal, a device anchor assembly carried by the target support frame for anchoring the device in the ground or other surface and at least one target carried by the target support frame between the device attachment assembly and the device anchor assembly.
US08052543B2
An analysis system of golf ball and club head data using lasers and 4-axis light sensing is provided, which includes a horizontal sensor array including a plurality of light sensors arranged in straight lines, the horizontal sensor array receiving light from a light source; a vertical sensor array installed to protrude from the floor at a perpendicularly offset angle, the vertical sensor array receiving a laser beam from a laser; a control unit deriving position coordinates of the golf ball in space using data of the silhouette of the golf ball detected by the horizontal and vertical sensor arrays, and calculating ball speed, club head speed, a ball directional angle, a ball launch angle, a club head path, a ball quality, and a flight distance, using the position coordinates of the golf ball; and a display unit displaying the calculated values on a screen under control of the control unit.
US08052532B2
A league is formed by a given number of teams formed by a plurality of players and having an identical team level, and the teams compete for league ranking based on team points obtained in a given period. A team level of each team is changed based on the league ranking. A player plays a game using a game device to obtain the team points. When the number of teams is less than the given number when forming a league, a mirror team of the team that belongs to another league is added. The team points of the mirror team are calculated separately from the team points of the actual team to determine league ranking in the league of the mirror team. The team level of the actual team of the mirror team is changed based on the league ranking of the actual team and the league ranking of the mirror team.
US08052521B2
Techniques are provide for linking actions in an online fantasy sports game to a currency balance associated with a user of the game. The techniques adjust the balance by a first quantity in response to a sports player action, where the first quantity is based upon the player action, and adjust the balance by a second quantity in response to transfer of a sports player to or from a fantasy sports team associated with the user, where the second quantity is based upon a value of the sports player; and, prevent transfer of the sports player to the fantasy sports team in response to the second quantity being greater than the balance. The currency balance may be increased by the first quantity in response to the sports player action. The sports player action may include scoring a number of game points, and the first quantity may be based upon the number of game points.
US08052514B2
The present invention includes a variety of methods to calculate symbol award values based upon the location of one or more predetermined symbols in the symbol matrix. In a preferred embodiment, the award value for a symbol varies according to the row in which the symbol appears. In another embodiment, the award value for symbols varies according to the relative locations of the symbols to each other in the symbol matrix.
US08052512B2
Entertainment system based on multiple choice competition games, characterized in that it comprises at least one terminal including connection means to a dedicated remote server (1), the system also comprising means of playing an extract of a recording with a configurable duration on at least one terminal (2, 3) comprising means of reproducing the recording, means of interaction with a user and means (21, 31) of connection with a dedicated remote server (1), means of asking a terminal user a question and suggesting multiple choice answers, the question being related to information characteristic of the extract of the recording, and the recording being selected by means independent of the terminal user.
US08052509B2
In a horse race gaming machine 1, a performance point is calculated on each of the player's racehorses, based on the results of respective racing games (S501). The number of wins, the number of races, a winning percentage, best time, etc. by the racehorses are taken into consideration when calculating the performance point. If the performance point satisfies a predetermined condition (S505: YES), a part or all of a jackpot prize amount is awarded to the player (S506). However, a side bet must be made for this racing game in order that a part or all of the jackpot prize amount is awarded to the player (S502: YES). Incidentally, to have a player's racehorse run in this racing game, there may be a case that the player is required to pay an entry point given to the player in accordance with BET amount specified by the player.
US08052507B2
A system for preparing a microcellular polyurethane material, includes a froth, prepared, for instance, by inert gas frothing a urethane prepolymer, preferably an aliphatic isocyanate polyether prepolymer, in the presence of a surfactant; a filler soluble in a CMP slurry; and a curative, preferably including an aromatic diamine and a triol. To produce the microcellular material, the froth can be combined with the filler, e.g., PVP, followed by curing the resulting mixture. The microcellular material has a low rebound and can dissipate irregular energy and stabilize polishing to yield improved uniformity and less dishing. CMP pads using the microcellular material have pores created by inert gas frothing throughout the pad polymer body and additional surface pores created by dissolution of fillers during polishing, providing flexibility in surface softness and pad stiffness.
US08052506B2
The present disclosure is directed to method, apparatus, and system for uniformly supporting flexible surface modifying articles during surface modification as well as enabling replacing and repositioning thereof for improving their useful service life as well as improving dust and debris control management.
US08052503B1
An amusement system and method for a new toy vehicle that provides speed and unexpected actions, at least in the context of the toy vehicle paradigm. An apparatus includes a wheeled toy vehicle having a motive system coupled to a chassis wherein the chassis includes a bottom surface nearest a rolling surface over which the motive system moves the chassis; and a launching system disposed in an aperture defined in the bottom surface, the launching system including an ejecting system, coupled to the chassis and to the motive system, for holding a ramp within the aperture and for dispensing the ramp between the bottom surface and the rolling surface while the motive system moves the chassis; wherein the ramp launches the chassis above the rolling surface when the motive system moves the chassis onto and over the ramp after the ramp is dispensed from the aperture.
US08052501B1
A water toy device utilizing elongated body having first and second surfaces and first and second ends. A pair of wings extend from the elongated body and are bendable to determine the path of travel of the device in a body of water. An elongated fin projects from the first surface from the elongated body to stabilize the movement of the device.
US08052497B2
Organic light emitting device, method of manufacturing the same, and method of forming organic layer
An organic light emitting device that has improved lifespan properties by improving the characteristics of an interface between at least one of a red emissive layer, a green emissive layer or a blue emissive layer, and an electron transport layer, and a method of manufacturing the organic light emitting device.
US08052496B2
The present invention relates to a full color organic electroluminescent device and a method for fabricating the same and provides a full color organic electroluminescent device. The invention reduces misalignment errors caused by fine patterning of the emitting layer by reducing the steps of the fine patterning process. In particular, the blue emitting layer functions as a hole inhibition layer which results in superior color purity and improved stability for the color organic electroluminescent device. The use of such a blue emitting layer also reduces the manufacturing steps. The device comprises a substrate; a first electrode pattern formed on the substrate; a red emitting layer formed by patterning a red emitting material on a red pixel region of the first electrode pattern and a green emitting layer formed by patterning a green emitting material on a green pixel region of the first electrode pattern. A blue emitting layer is applied over the entire substrate, over the upper parts of the red and green emitting layers and a second electrode is formed on an upper part of the blue emitting layer.
US08052492B2
A cable assembly includes a terminal crimped to a conductor. The terminal has a plurality of crimps spaced from one another and a transition crimp disposed therebetween. A method includes deforming the terminal about the conductor to define the plurality of crimps having different crimp heights, and deforming the terminal about the conductor to define the transition crimp between each of the plurality of crimps. The transition crimp has a crimp height different than each of the plurality of crimps.
US08052485B2
The present invention relates to an electrical power outlet device and a module thereof. The electrical power outlet device includes an electrical power outlet section and a main body section. The electrical power outlet section has an electrical power outlet unit with a plurality of sockets, and an electric plug is inserted into the sockets and is remained firmly in an electrical power outlet. The main body section is connected with the electrical power outlet section and has a circuit device and an output unit, wherein the circuit device is connected with the corresponding plurality of sockets of the electrical power outlet unit to receive a power signal and converts the power signal to produce a converted signal, and the output unit is connected to the circuit device to send out a converted signal.
US08052483B1
A communication jack has a housing with a face having a plug receiving aperture. A plurality of conductive path pairs extends from corresponding plug interface contacts located at the plug receiving aperture to corresponding output terminals. A first circuit board is connected to the plug interface contacts and a second circuit board is connected to the plug interface contacts and the output terminals. The first circuit board has a first single stage of crosstalk compensation with opposite polarity of the crosstalk of a plug for a first combination of the conductive path pairs. The second circuit board includes a second single stage of opposite polarity crosstalk compensation for some of the conductive path pairs not compensated on the first circuit board. The stages cancel substantially all of the crosstalk caused by the plug, for the signal operating frequencies, for corresponding combinations of the conductive path pairs.
US08052481B2
An electrical connector receptacle includes a shield cover, a terminal unit and a fastener structure. The shield cover defines a cavity and an opening into the cavity and has a base panel with a base panel hole formed therethrough. The terminal unit has a first terminal unit mounting block having a first terminal unit mounting block hole, a second terminal unit mounting block having a second terminal unit mounting block hole, a first terminal assembly and a second terminal assembly. The first and second terminal unit mounting blocks are connected together in a stacked manner and are disposed in the cavity. With the first terminal unit mounting block hole, the second terminal unit mounting block hole and the base panel hole being in registration with one another, the fastener structure extends therethrough from the base panel and projects outwardly from the opening.
US08052480B2
A connector for electrically connecting an electronic device to another device includes an outer shell with a front surface that terminates at a front side of the connector, an inner core at least partially disposed within the outer shell and including a front surface that is recessed within the outer shell, and a plurality of electrical connecting elements at least partially disposed within the inner core and extending from the front surface of the inner core. The plurality of electrical connecting elements includes a first set of electrical connecting elements and a second set of at least one electrical connecting element, and the first set of electrical connecting elements includes five connecting elements that are arranged in a pentagon pattern. The connector facilitates the transmission of audio signals between devices and also additional analog or digital signals or the transmission of a power supply between the devices.
US08052476B2
An electrical connector includes an insulative housing having a top face, a pair of side walls, a rear face and a first receiving cavity extending upwardly and through the top face; a contact module including a first tongue portion extending into the first receiving cavity, and a number of first contacts insert molded with the first tongue portion, the first contacts being disposed on a mounting surface of the first tongue portion and exposed to the first receiving cavity, the contact module being attached to the insulative housing; a second receiving cavity into which a second tongue portion extends, the first receiving cavity being essentially narrower than the second receiving cavity communicating with the first receiving cavity, the first and the second tongue portions being parallel to each other; a number of second contacts disposed on opposite first and second surfaces of the second tongue portion, the second contacts being elastic and protruding into the second receiving cavity.
US08052470B1
A probe connector includes an insulating housing, a plurality of probe pins and a shielding shell. The insulating housing has a base body. A front of the base body protrudes frontward to form a tongue portion. The insulating housing defines a plurality of inserting holes each longitudinally penetrating through the base body and the tongue portion. The probe pins are inserted in the corresponding inserting holes. The shielding shell encloses the tongue portion. The shielding shell has a front plate and a hollow blocking plate extending rearward from a periphery edge of the front plate and having an accommodating chamber formed therein. The front plate defines a plurality of matching holes. The tongue portion of the insulating housing is inserted in the accommodating chamber and a front side thereof abuts against the front plate to make the matching holes aligned with the corresponding inserting holes.
US08052467B1
An electrical connector includes an inner shell, an insulating housing, a plurality of terminals disposed in the insulating housing, an insulating jacket and an outer shell. The inner shell is looped from a metal plate to define an accommodating chamber therein and form a joint at a first top plate thereof. Two portions of the first top plate are punched outward to form two hollow receiving hats. The insulating housing is fastened in the accommodating chamber. The insulating jacket includes a first frame substantially airtightly surrounding the inner shell and a covering piece protruded frontward from a front of a top part of the first frame for covering the joint and locating between the receiving hats. The outer shell surrounds and electrically connects with the inner shell. The outer shell has at least one soldering arm soldered to the printed circuit board for achieving a ground function.
US08052458B2
An electrical connector assembly includes a housing having a base and contact towers extending forward from the base. The base has an outer perimeter defined between a front and a rear of the base, and the base has a latch extending forward from the base generally parallel to and spaced apart from the towers such that a gap is defined between a bottom of the latch and a top of the towers. Flanges extend upward from the top of the towers and at least partially block the gap. Contacts are held by the housing, where the contacts extend into the contact towers for mating with mating contacts of a mating connector.
US08052454B2
An electrical connector includes an insulative housing with a number of passageways, a number of electrical contacts received in the passageways and a number of solder balls disposed on the electrical contacts respectively. The electrical contact or together with the insulative housing form a retention feature for pre-setting the solder balls thereon.
US08052449B2
A card edge connector includes an insulative housing defining a central slot expanding along a transverse direction with a plurality of contacts disposed therein. A pair of side arms are disposed at opposite ends thereof and extending along a mating direction perpendicular to the transverse direction. A key is disposed in the central slot adjacent to one of the side arms. A pair of floating pads, each is floatably assembly onto a holding section formed adjacent to the corresponding side arm. And a pair of metal plates, each respectively attached to the corresponding side arm and forming a blocking portion projecting toward the floating pad for avoiding the floating pad releasing from the holding section.
US08052420B2
A handheld apparatus for adjusting orthodontic wire includes first and second handle portions and a jaw portion. The first handle portion pivotably couples to the second handle portion such that the first and second handle portions are capable of pivoting with respect to each other at a pivot axis. The jaw portion extends from the first and second handle portions. The jaw portion includes: a first prong extending from the first handle portion; and second and third prongs extending from the second handle portion. The second and third prongs each include: a respective inner surface that partially defines a slot between the second and third prongs; and first and second outer surfaces joined together by a transition region.
US08052415B2
The present invention relates to a coaxial cooling/heating coil structure and a mold configured with the same, in which the coaxial cooling/heating coil is comprised of: a frame, configured with a cooling channel having an inlet, provided for a cooling water to flow therein, and an outlet, provided for discharging the cooling water therefrom; and a heat-conducting coil, disposed inside the cooling channel. The coaxial cooling/heating structure is fitted to a mold to be used for enhancing the preheating efficiency of the mold while improving the time required for cooling the mold.
US08052406B2
A valve retainer is provided for securably retaining a discharge valve assembly within a recess formed in a scroll. The valve retainer can be installed between the recess of the non-orbital scroll and the discharge valve assembly to retain the discharge valve assembly at the recess. The valve retainer can include a ring-like body having inwardly and/or outwardly extending tangs for cooperating with structure formed on the respective valve and the recess of the non-orbital scroll.
US08052405B2
A high pressure pump draws fluid from a fluid inlet into a compression chamber through an inlet chamber. The high pressure pump has a fluid chamber that communicates with the fluid inlet via the inlet chamber. The high pressure pump includes a plunger and a cylinder. The plunger draws fluid from the inlet chamber into the compression chamber when the plunger moves in a drawing direction. The plunger is capable of pressurizing fluid in the compression chamber when the plunger moves in a pressurizing direction. The cylinder movably supports the plunger therein. When the plunger moves in the drawing direction, fluid in the inlet chamber is drawn into the compression chamber, so that fluid flows from the fluid chamber into the inlet chamber.
US08052396B2
A wind power installation having at least one cable passage means for passing through a hauling cable from a winch and a method of fitting/removing components of a wind power installation comprising laying a hauling cable from the winch to at least one deflection roller and further to the component to be fitted/removed, attaching the hauling cable to the component, and releasing and letting down or pulling up and fixing the component.
US08052386B1
A mixed flow fan wheel has a convex hub, an axially-spaced away concave annular shroud, and a plurality of angularly distributed blades extending between and interconnecting the hub and shroud, all which cooperatively define a plurality of inter-blade flow channels. Each has a pressure surface and spaced suction surface extending not only between spaced inlet and discharge edges but also, crosswise thereto, spaced hub-side and shroud-side edges. Each discharge edge is convex relative a center of geometry of the blade therefor. Each inter-blade flow channel originates in a generally rectangular shape between flanking inlet edges and terminates in another generally rectangular shape between flanking discharge edges, with a procession of gradations of generally rectangular shapes forming a progressive transition therebetween. Moreover, each inter-blade flow channel twists or corkscrews from inlet thereof to the discharge.
US08052380B2
A thermally-activated flow clearance reduction for a steam turbine is disclosed. In one embodiment a gap closure component is located about a rotary component and a stationary component of the steam turbine. A temperature differential activates the gap closure component to seal or reduce the radial clearance of the steam flow path between the rotary component and the stationary component.
US08052370B2
A system for handling pipes between a pipe rack (16) and a derrick (1), which derrick (1) is located on a drilling deck (2), in connection with the production of petroleum products. The system comprises means (17, 9, 25) of carrying pipe lengths (29) between the rack (16) and the derrick (1). It also comprises a unit (25) at the drilling deck (2) for temporary storage of at least two pipe lengths (29) in respective receiving chambers (26, 28). The receiving chambers (26, 28) can be moved to and from at least one receiving and/or hand-over position, in which position a pipe handling unit is arranged to hand over a pipe length to a receiving chamber (26-28) and/or retrieve a pipe length from a receiving chamber (26-28). Preferably the unit (25) is rotatable and located under an opening (28) in the drilling deck (2).
US08052367B2
End panel (36) has its periphery (38) affixed to a flange portion (34) of container ring member (30) disposed in a planar position, and the flange portion (34) is then displaced from the plane for forming an angle (A) therewith. The method results in placing the interface between the end panel (36) and the flange portion (34) in sheer, rather than in peel, during retorting or unintentional impact loading.
US08052364B2
A coupling member is employed to couple components of a plasma processing apparatus which processes a substrate by using a plasma. The coupling member includes a threaded rod portion which passes through one component and is screwed and fixed to another component, a head portion which supports the one component and has a diameter larger than that of the threaded rod portion, and an elastic portion which is interposed between the threaded rod portion and the head portion, wherein the elastic portion has a larger strain to an external force than those of the threaded rod portion and the head portion.
US08052358B2
A pocket hole jig tool system includes a base on which a workpiece is supported. A drill guide support is slidably mounted to the base. Drill guide bushings are movably mounted relative to the drill guide support for clampingly engaging the workpiece and for guiding a drill for engaging the workpiece. A stop collar assembly is adjustably mounted relative to the drill guide bushings to automatically ensure a proper pocket hole location and depth for the workpiece inserted in the tool system.
US08052355B2
A cutting tool is provided to process a processed member having an opening portion with a curved inner surface, so that a through hole is formed and a part of the inner surface of the opening portion corresponding to the through hole is processed. The through hole extends from a surface of the processed member to reach the opening portion. The cutting tool includes a shank member, and a processing member having a smaller diameter than the shank member. A groove portion of the processing member has a cutting edge, and a chip evacuation groove through which chip is expelled outward. A self guide portion of the processing member is arranged between the groove portion and the shank member and provided with a substantially cylindrical shape, to guide the cutting edge toward the part of the inner surface of the opening portion corresponding to the through hole in the processing.
US08052348B2
An erosion control wall system is provided and methods of making it that protect a bank, beach or bluff from soil/sand erosion. The erosion control system includes a plurality of wall members, each formed to have a front face that dissipates and deflects the energy from oncoming waves and a rear face with a stabilizing member extending therefrom for securing the wall member in position along a bank or bluff, or in the water adjacent to a bank, bluff or beach for example. The wall sections are self-stabilizing by action of sand, gravel and/or stone flowing over the wall section and anchoring the stabilizing member. The erosion control wall sections may be constructed on-site using slip form construction methods.
US08052333B2
A re-terminable, no-crimp ST-type optical connector assembly includes a spring-loaded ferrule holder assembly and a reusable activation system for termination of the assembly. The optical connector can be terminated by a suitable cam activation tool. The connector includes a housing, such as a bayonet, matable to a mating adapter, a backbone retained within a rear of the housing, a ferrule holder provided within the backbone, and a cam provided between the ferrule holder and the backbone. The ferrule holder includes an alignment key exposed to mate with a cam activation tool to lock rotation of the ferrule holder relative to other connector components. The cam includes a cam activation cutout at a front face thereof that mates with a cam activation tool interface to enable rotation of the cam between de-activated and activated positions, the cam activation cutout also receiving the alignment key of the ferrule holder therethrough. The cam further includes a first camming profile that actuates a field fiber clamp and a second camming profile that actuates a buffer clamp. The connector may further include alignment flats and features for preventing rotation and axial movement of various components. Because the cam is unexposed when mated, inadvertent de-activation is prevented.
US08052324B2
A thin film ceramic thermocouple (10) having two ceramic thermocouple (12, 14) that are in contact with each other in at least on point to form a junction, and wherein each element was prepared in a different oxygen/nitrogen/argon plasma. Since each element is prepared under different plasma conditions, they have different electrical conductivity and different charge carrier concentration. The thin film thermocouple (10) can be transparent. A versatile ceramic sensor system having an RTD heat flux sensor can be combined with a thermocouple and a strain sensor to yield a multifunctional ceramic sensor array. The transparent ceramic temperature sensor that could ultimately be used for calibration of optical sensors.
US08052322B2
The system comprises a first alternating pump (1) for injecting a dose of a first component (4) into a mixer (3) and a second alternating pump (2) for injecting a dose of a second component (5) into the mixer (3) sequentially relative to the first pump. The movement of the piston of each pump can be reversed from a direction of suction and expulsion of the pump to a direction of expulsion of the corresponding component, and vice versa. An injection valve (10, 11) is inserted between each pump (1, 2) and the mixer (3). The system also comprises a programmed controller (20) for initiating the movement of the piston of a pump in the direction of suction and expulsion of the volume of this pump after having determined, following the closing of the injection valve (10, 11), that the remaining volume in the pump (1, 2) is inadequate for injecting the following dose into the mixer (3).
US08052321B2
Provides are a light emitting apparatus and a light unit having the same. The light emitting apparatus comprises a light emitting device comprising a light emitting element and a plurality of external leads, and a plurality of electrode pads under the light emitting device.
US08052314B2
Disclosed is an optical fiber illumination device including a light source for outputting light; a coupler for converging the light input from the light source through multiple reflection; and an optical fiber to which the converged light is input.
US08052313B2
The present invention relates to a combination lamp which combines at least two different lamp components in a unitary configuration, preferably reducing the total amount of space taken up for the same amount of illumination produced. The combination lamps are preferably suitable for use on vehicles, light fixtures, lamps, decorative articles, etc., and each lamp component preferably has a power connection element independent from the other lamp components.
US08052312B2
A vehicle lighting device is provided to maintain a viewability of light even when seen from a diagonal direction having a predetermined angle to an irradiation direction of the lighting device. The vehicle lighting device includes a board, which includes an array of a plurality of light sources. The vehicle lighting device also includes wall portions that bulge in an irradiation direction of the light sources from edge surfaces of the board. The wall portions also form a polygon surrounding the board. At least one of the wall portions includes a reflective surface on a side facing the light sources.
US08052293B2
An illuminated sport board/skateboard emits light from both the top and bottom of the board to yield a significant quantum of light for optimal visibility and safety. A base panel is provided having an underside surface with at least one transparent segment aligned with an inlay cavity within the base's interior core. A battery powered lighting source containing a plurality of light emitting diodes or an electroluminescent lighting strip is housed within the inlay cavity. A top shell having at least one transparent display is attached to the base panel in a manner that aligns the transparent display with the LED emitted or electroluminescent lighting. Light is emitted from both the top and bottom of the board owing emission through the transparent display of the top shell and the transparent segment of the base panel. The illuminated sport board may be constructed as a skateboard, snowboard, or skis to provide safety from vehicles and other recreational participants.
US08052282B2
An electronic device includes a heat dissipation system and an operating system. The heat dissipation system includes a housing, a first heat dissipation module received in the housing, heat pipes extending from the first heat dissipation module through the housing. The operating system includes a dust-proof housing, a heat source and a heat dissipation device. The heat source is received in the dust-proof housing and generates heat. The cooling module is adhered to an outer surface of the dust-proof housing to be cooled and attaches the heat pipes to the first heat dissipation module. The outer surface of the dust-proof housing is adjacent to the housing. The heat pipes transfer heat from the operating system into the first heat dissipation module.
US08052277B2
An inkjet image forming apparatus having an array type print head to stably deliver a printing medium through a printing zone. The inkjet image forming apparatus includes an array type print head including a nozzle part to discharge ink to a printing zone, a first rolling unit having a first nip portion to nip the printing medium, wherein the first nip portion is disposed before the printing zone to deliver the printing medium to the printing zone, and a second rolling unit having a second nip portion to nip the printing medium, wherein the second nip portion is disposed downstream of the first rolling unit in a delivery direction of the printing medium. A distance between the first nip portion and the second nip portion is less than or equal to 3 inches.
US08052276B2
An image forming apparatus includes an image forming member and a belt conveying device. The image forming member is configured to form an image on a sheet. The belt conveying device is configured to convey the sheet. The belt conveying device includes first and second rollers, a conveying belt, a platen guide, a support, and an adjuster. The conveying belt has an endless belt-like shape and is looped over at least the first and second rollers. The platen guide is provided between the first and second rollers in a sheet conveyance direction and is configured to guide the conveying belt in a manner that the conveying belt forms a flat plane surface. The support is configured to support at least one end of the second roller in an axial direction of the second roller. The adjuster is configured to adjust a position of the support.
US08052272B2
A first roller has a first roller center line; a second roller has a second roller center line. Fluid-ejection mechanisms eject fluid onto the media as the media is rolled past the rollers, and include first mechanisms and second mechanisms. The first mechanisms include first and second printheads, at least substantially equally between which a first positioning line is defined. The second mechanisms include third and fourth printheads, at least substantially equally between which a second positioning line is defined. The fluid-ejection mechanisms are disposed opposite to the roller and are positioned such that the first and second positioning lines are located between the first and second roller center lines, the first and the third printheads are not completely located between the first and the second roller center lines, and the second and the fourth printheads are completely located between the first and the second roller center lines.
US08052265B2
A solid ink stick loader verifies position and orientation of an ink stick prior to an ink stick identification operation. The solid ink stick loader includes an identification code detector located proximate an ink stick insertion area, the identification code detector being oriented to obtain an identification code positioned on the ink stick in a predetermined location, a first displaceable member located proximate the ink stick insertion area, the first displaceable member being movable between a first position and a second position, a second displaceable member located proximate the ink stick insertion area, the second displaceable member being movable between a third position and a fourth position, and a sensor coupled to at least one of the first displaceable member and the second displaceable member to generate a verification signal in response to the ink stick being in a position and orientation in the ink stick insertion area that enables the identification code detector to obtain the identification code from the ink stick, the sensor being coupled to the identification code detector to provide the verification signal to the identification code detector and enable the identification code detector to obtain the identification code from the ink stick.
