US08054632B2
A system includes a plurality of modular information handling systems, a chassis configured to house the plurality of modular information handling systems, a chassis support structure coupled to the chassis, and a modular system support structure coupled to a particular modular information handling system. The modular system support structure is configured to interact with the chassis support structure to support the particular modular information handling system in the chassis in a suspended manner.
US08054630B2
A method of mounting an electronic component on a substrate includes forming at least one trench in a surface of the substrate. The trenches formed in the substrate reduce a stiffness of the substrate, which provides less resistance to shear. Accordingly, the trenches reduce the amount of strain on the joints, which mount the electronic component to the substrate, which enhances the life of the joints.
US08054627B2
A computer system and method for measuring air density in a computer chassis. The computer chassis includes a fan, an ambient air temperature sensor, and a heat-generating device with a heat sink, a heat sink temperature sensor, and a controller. The controller controls the fan speed and applies a known amount of thermal energy to the heat sink, then determines the air density from the difference in temperature between the ambient air and the heat sink. The controller may then use the air density determination to adjust the air flow rate through the computer chassis to provide a proper air flow rate for cooling.
US08054616B2
A keyboard set includes a keyboard unit, and a micro projector. The keyboard unit has a first housing, a video signal port and a first lock structure. The video signal port and the first lock structure are disposed in the first housing. The micro projector has a second housing, a signal line, and a second lock structure. The signal line is connected to the video signal port of the keyboard unit. The second lock structure is disposed on the second housing, and capable of combining with the first lock structure, for the micro projector to be fixed to the keyboard unit.
US08054601B2
A microprocessor commonly receives at an A/D port the potentials of the power supplies output from a plurality of types of power supplies (a power supply for HDMI, a power supply for LSI, a power supply for an audio driver IC, and a power supply for a tuner). The A/D port receives the potential of the voltage on an output line of the power supply for HDMI that is divided. If that the potential of the divided voltage is lower than a set potential is detected, the output line is interrupted to interrupt power supply voltage supplied to external equipment.
US08054592B2
An arc fault detector which includes a filter which receives an input signal and filters the input signal, an amplifier which amplifies a signal output from the filter, an analog-to-digital converter disposed to receive the amplified signal from the amplifier and convert the amplified signal into a digital signal, and a processing unit responsive to computer executable instructions when executed thereon that receives samples of data associated with the digital signal and performs an arc detection algorithm on the data using fuzzy logic.
US08054588B2
A tunnel magnetoresistive element includes a laminate including a pinned magnetic layer, an insulating barrier layer, and a free magnetic layer. The insulating barrier layer is composed of Ti—Mg—O or Ti—O. The free magnetic layer includes an enhancement sublayer, a first soft magnetic sublayer, a nonmagnetic metal sublayer, and a second soft magnetic sublayer. For example, the enhancement sublayer is composed of Co—Fe, the first soft magnetic sublayer and the second soft magnetic sublayer are composed of Ni—Fe, and the nonmagnetic metal sublayer is composed of Ta. The total thickness of the average thickness of the enhancement sublayer and the average thickness of the first soft magnetic sublayer is in the range of 25 to 80 angstroms. Accordingly, the tunneling magnetoresistive element can consistently have a higher rate of resistance change than before.
US08054575B2
In one embodiment a tape drive system comprises a reel adapted to engage a tape cartridge, the tape cartridge comprising a tape media having a servo code written along a length of the tape media, a tape head comprising at least one servo element to detect the servo code, a drive assembly to induce relative motion between the tape and the tape drive, a servo system to control the lateral and longitudinal motion between the tape and the tape head, the servo system comprising a sampling circuit assembly to sample servo data from the tape media, wherein the sampling circuit assembly samples both positive readback waveforms and negative readback waveforms generated by servo code on the tape, a pulse time demodulator circuit module to generate timestamped, digital signals from signals generated by the sampling circuit assembly, and a position signal processor to calculate a position signal using the servo data from the pulse time demodulator circuit module.
US08054571B2
A thermally assisted magnetic recording head includes a flying slider, a magnetic field generation device mounted on the flying slider, a first waveguide disposed near the magnetic field generation device for guiding incident light from a top surface of the flying slider on a side of the flying slider toward an air bearing bottom surface of the flying slider, an optical near-field generator disposed at an emission end of the first waveguide, a second waveguide which is separate from the first waveguide and which is spaced from and coupled to the first waveguide at a distance of no greater than a light wavelength, and a first optical detector for detecting the intensity of light propagating in the second waveguide. The first waveguide and the second waveguide are disposed so as to extend in a direction substantially perpendicular to the air bearing bottom surface of the flying slider.
US08054569B2
A method and apparatus is presented to determine a lateral position of a read/write head relative to a sequential information storage medium having a servo signal encoded therein and moving adjacent to the read/write head, where the servo signal comprises a plurality of pulses. The method includes detecting the servo signal using the read/write head and calculating a timing interval between each of the pulses using a clock rate of a clock signal. The clock rate is then adjusted based upon the velocity of the sequential information storage medium.
US08054565B2
The present invention provides: a lens optical system having: a plastic lens; and a lens restraining member for mechanically restraining a thermal expansion of the plastic lens to control a variation of a curvature of lens due to a temperature change so as to suppress a variation of a focal position due to a temperature change; and a photoelectric encoder including the lens optical system.
US08054556B2
A lens adapted to image a first image plane at a reduced side onto a magnified side is provided. The lens has an optical axis. The lens includes a lens group and a concave reflective mirror. The lens group is disposed in the light path between the reduced side and the magnified side. The concave reflective mirror is disposed in the light path between the lens group and the magnified side. The offset of the first image plane with respect to the optical axis is greater than 100%. The throw ratio of the lens is less than 0.3.
US08054553B2
A method of controlling the illumination angle onto a target, including, illuminating onto the target with light from at least two light sources of pre-selected wavelengths; wherein each point on the target is illuminated by light from the light sources with a respective maximal illumination angle relative to a main illumination axis extending from substantially the center of the at least two light sources to the target, selecting a dichroic filter that transmits light from the at least two light sources as a function of the angle of incidence upon the filter, positioning the dichroic filter between the at least two light sources and the target to limit the transfer of light to light of the pre-selected wavelengths; and wherein the dichroic filter is selected to limit the maximal illumination angle illuminating each point on the target.
US08054531B2
Various embodiments of the present invention are directed to micro-electro-mechanical systems and photonic interconnects employing micro-electro-mechanical systems. One micro-electro-mechanical system embodiment of the present invention includes a lens structure and an actuator. The lens structure includes a substantially transparent membrane having a flexible, curved surface, and a reservoir holding fluid that is fluidly coupled to the membrane. The actuator system is operably coupled to the reservoir in order to exert pressure on the fluid to change the curvature of the membrane and the focal point of the lens structure.
US08054529B2
System and method for simultaneous display of multiple images using a single light modulator array. A preferred embodiment comprises a light source that produces a light with desired spectral characteristics, a color filter optically coupled to the light source, and an array of light modulators optically coupled to the color filter. The color filter filters light from the light source to produce light of desired wavelengths and the array of light modulators simultaneously displays multiple images onto a display plane. Portions of the array of light modulators are designed so that each portion can independently display an image and the light source provides needed light to display the image.
US08054528B2
By selectively placing color filters with different transmittance spectrums on an array of modulator elements each having the same reflectance spectrum, a resultant reflectance spectrum for each modulator element and it's respective color filter is created. In one embodiment, the modulator elements in an array are manufactured by the same process so that each modulator element has a reflectance spectrum that includes multiple reflectivity lines. Color filters corresponding to multiple colors, such as red, green, and blue, for example, may be selectively associated with these modulator elements in order to filter out a desired wavelength range for each modulator element and provide a multiple color array. Because the modulator elements are manufactured by the same process, each of the modulator elements is substantially the same and common voltage levels may be used to activate and deactivate selected modulation.
US08054524B2
A high-speed optical amplifier is considered to be an important optical device because of an increasing demand of routing, which is accompanied by an increase in complexity of networks. It is difficult to satisfy a response performance by related-art techniques, and there has been a problem in achieving a high-speed response performance of 10 microseconds or less.An optical amplifier according to the present invention includes: an input monitor means 500; an optical amplification means 310 including an optical amplification medium 300, and a control means 400 for performing feed-forward control. When the optical amplification means is controlled by the feed-forward control in response to a signal of the input monitor means 500, an overshoot signal is applied as a control signal so that a slow response performance specific to the optical amplification medium has been improved, and thereby high-speed response performance has been achieved.
US08054516B2
A document scanning device is provided that is able to accurately and easily scan paper fingerprint information, even if particulate rubbish such as paper powder or dust is adhering to the surface of a document platen glass. In an image scanning device able to scan using both a stationary document scanning method as well as document feed scanning method, paper fingerprint information is scanned using either of the above methods. Subsequently, a conveying unit and a scanning unit are moved so as to re-scan the paper fingerprint information in the same fingerprint acquisition region. The above operation is repeated until both sets of paper fingerprint information are coincident.
US08054513B2
An image is displayed on a rectangular display screen of the display unit by the steps of obtaining minimum or maximum positions of black dot in the width direction and longitudinal direction in an image data stored in an image memory; deciding a position of one corner portion of a rectangular effective image data area in the image data from the minimum or maximum positions in the width and longitudinal directions; and controlling the display unit to display the rectangular effective image data area based on the position of the decided one corner portion in the image data on the display screen of the display unit starting from the one corner portion.
US08054512B2
The presently described embodiments solve the problem of getting electronic calendar entries back onto the paper calendar. To do so, in one form, according to the presently described embodiments, an inkjet label printer is mounted next to the paper calendar. Each time a daily entry gets updated online, the label printer prints out a new sticky label whose size and markings correspond to the revised paper calendar entry for that day. It is then a simple process for the user to peel off the label and affix it to the correct location on the paper calendar.
US08054508B2
An image processing apparatus includes an image acquiring unit that acquires an original image data containing first data, and a data processing unit that edits the first data in the original image data thereby generating edited original image data, and outputs the edited original image data.
US08054504B2
A method separates a color vector into a colorant vector for a printing system that uses more than four colorants, for example cyan, magenta, yellow, black, orange and green colorants. According to the method, the separation process is split up into partial four colorant processes that contain opponent colors. For example, a first partial process is a cyan, magenta, yellow and black process; a second one is an orange, magenta, yellow and black process; and a third one is a cyan, green, yellow and black process. Continuity of magnitudes of the colorants is achieved across the boundaries of the color gamuts of the partial processes by imposing specific constraints on the combinations of colorants to render a given color. A computer implemented system and a print system are based on the method.
US08054502B2
A scanning optical apparatus includes, for example, a determination unit, a correction unit, a creating unit, and a drive control unit. The determination unit determines an amount of correction of an image clock for controlling an output timing of a beam for each pixel constituting one line in a main scanning direction of the beam. The correction unit corrects the image clock in accordance with the amount of correction that is determined. The creating unit creates an image signal that is utilized for driving a light source in accordance with the image clock that is corrected. The drive control unit controls driving of the light source in accordance with the image signal.
US08054486B2
A facsimile apparatus has a line interface for facsimile communication and is capable of communicating with a host computer through a remote host computer interface or a local host computer interface. The facsimile apparatus includes a facsimile data transferring unit for transferring facsimile data to the host computer through the remote host computer interface or the local host computer interface; an interface recognizing unit for recognizing the host computer interface that is connected from among the remote host computer interface and the local host computer interface; a transfer destination registering unit for registering a destination of the host computer to which the facsimile data transferring unit transfers the facsimile data through the remote host computer interface when the interface recognizing unit recognizes that the remote host computer interface is connected.
US08054484B2
There is provided an image forming device, comprising: a print unit configured to form an image on a recording medium in which a memory device is embedded; a detection unit configured to detect a condition of the memory device embedded in the recording medium, the detection unit being positioned on a downstream side in a feeding direction with respect to the print unit; and a notification control unit configured to provide notification concerning the condition of the memory device, in response to a fact that the detection unit detects that the memory device embedded in the recording medium is defective.
US08054479B2
The present invention is intended to improve the processing efficiency by shortening a time taken until completion of return processing when image processing is carried out via an external storage device such as a USB memory. There is provided an image processing apparatus including: a communication section capable of data communication with the external storage device; a detection section detecting that data communication with the external storage device is possible; an image forming section; a document reading section; and a control section performing return processing for returning the image processing section and/or the document reading section from a processing-disabled state in which image processing is impossible to a processing-enabled state in which image processing is possible, wherein if the detection section detects that data communication with the external storage device is possible, the control section determines whether the external device is an external storage device or not, and performs the return processing if it is determined that the external device is an external storage device. The time taken until completion of return processing is thus shortened to improve the processing efficiency.
US08054477B2
An image reading apparatus that is connectable with one or more image forming apparatuses and able to configure a copy system together with the image forming apparatuses connected thereto, comprises an instruction receiving unit that receives an instruction to shift to a copy mode; and an instruction transmitting unit that transmits a releasing instruction to release a power saving state to at least one of the image forming apparatuses, when the instruction receiving unit receives the instruction to shift to the copy mode.
US08054470B2
A method of spectroscopic analysis of a material using a laser ultrasound system. The method includes measuring amplitude displacement of a target surface that has been excited with a generation laser. The amplitude displacements relate to the target's optical absorption properties. Amplitude displacements are generated over a range of laser wavelengths to obtain an optical absorption signature useful to identify the target material characteristics.
US08054468B2
Apparatus and method for increasing the sensitivity in the detection of optical coherence tomography and low coherence interferometry (“LCI”) signals by detecting a parallel set of spectral bands, each band being a unique combination of optical frequencies. The LCI broad bandwidth source is split into N spectral bands. The N spectral bands are individually detected and processed to provide an increase in the signal-to-noise ratio by a factor of N. Each spectral band is detected by a separate photo detector and amplified. For each spectral band the signal is band pass filtered around the signal band by analog electronics and digitized, or, alternatively, the signal may be digitized and band pass filtered in software. As a consequence, the shot noise contribution to the signal is reduced by a factor equal to the number of spectral bands. The signal remains the same. The reduction of the shot noise increases the dynamic range and sensitivity of the system.
US08054457B2
A light intensity detecting device is provided to detect a light intensity according to pulse duration of a pulse signal without being affected by noise, including: a time measuring unit for measuring an elapsed time period of the pulse signal that has been raised; a signal state discriminating unit for obtaining a state of the pulse signal; a sampling unit for directing the signal state discriminating unit to obtain the state at a sampling interval corresponding to the elapsed time period; and a falling detecting unit for detecting the pulse signal that has been fallen when a fallen state of the pulse signal is successively obtained for two times. When the fallen pulse signal is detected, the sampling unit directs the signal state discriminating unit to obtain the state of the pulse signal at a time point, which is output as the pulse duration of the pulse signal.
US08054454B2
A system and method for standoff detection of explosives and explosive residue. A laser light source illuminates a target area having an unknown sample producing luminescence emitted photons, scattered photons and plasma emitted photons. A first optical system directs light to the target area. A video capture device outputs a dynamic image of the target area. A second optical system collects photons, and directs collected photons to a first two-dimensional array of detection elements and/or to a fiber array spectral translator device which device includes a two-dimensional array of optical fibers drawn into a one-dimensional fiber stack. A spectrograph is coupled to the one-dimensional fiber stack of the fiber array spectral translator device, wherein the entrance slit of the spectrograph is coupled to the one dimensional fiber stack.
US08054447B2
An exposure apparatus (EX) is an apparatus which exposes a substrate (P) by irradiating exposure light (EL) onto the substrate (P) via a projection optical system (PL) and a liquid (1). The exposure apparatus (EX) has a substrate table (PT) for holding the substrate (P), and a plate member (30) having a liquid repellent flat surface (30A) is replaceably provided to the substrate table (PT) to prevent the liquid from remaining, maintaining excellent exposure accuracy.
US08054441B2
A laminated optical film including a first optical anisotropic layer, and a second optical anisotropic layer, wherein Relationship (1), −10 nm≦ΔRe1−ΔRe2≦10 nm, is satisfied when a slow phase axis of the first optical anisotropic layer is substantially perpendicular to a slow phase axis of the second optical anisotropic layer, wherein Relationship (2), −10 nm≦ΔRe1+ΔRe2≦10 nm, is satisfied when the slow phase axis of the first optical anisotropic layer is substantially parallel to the slow phase axis of the second optical anisotropic layer, wherein an in-plane retardation value Re of the film as a whole satisfies 30 nm≦Re≦500 nm, where ΔRe1 denotes a value calculated from “Re1 (at a temperature of 50° C.)−Re1 (at a temperature of 25° C.)” concerning the first optical anisotropic layer, and ΔRe2 denotes a value calculated from “Re2 (at a temperature of 50° C.)−Re2 (at a temperature of 25° C.)” concerning the second optical anisotropic layer.
US08054438B2
A liquid crystal display (LCD) apparatus and a method of manufacturing the same include a seal line having two protrusions, one of the protrusions having a liquid crystal (LC) injection hole. Moreover, the LCD apparatus having the seal line constitutes a closed loop. The display apparatus and the manufacturing method thereof increase production yields because the number of apparatus substrates for the display apparatus obtained from a mother substrate is increased by minimizing a distance between two adjacent apparatus substrates on the mother substrate. The method of manufacturing an exemplary LCD apparatus includes a one drop filling method or a vacuum injection method.
US08054427B2
A liquid crystal display device, which is configured to have a liquid crystal layer held between a pair of substrates, includes a display area including a red color pixel, a green color pixel and a blue color pixel, a pixel electrode which is disposed in each of the color pixels, a counter-electrode which is opposed to the pixel electrode via an interlayer insulation film, and an alignment film which is disposed in contact with the liquid crystal layer and is subjected to such rubbing treatment as to restrict alignment of liquid crystal molecules included in the liquid crystal layer. The pixel electrode has a slit which is formed to be inclined with respect to a direction of rubbing of the alignment film, and the slit of the red pixel and the slit of the blue pixel are formed to be inclined in different directions.
US08054425B2
An alignment-treating method including a first irradiation step of conducting an alignment-treating for realizing an alignment of liquid crystals in a predetermined azimuth direction on a alignment layer of a substrate by obliquely irradiating the substrate with ultraviolet rays, and a second irradiation step of conducting an alignment-treating for realizing an alignment of liquid crystals in an azimuth direction different from the predetermined azimuth direction by obliquely irradiating a region of the substrate where ultraviolet ray irradiation has not been conducted in the first irradiation step with ultraviolet rays in an azimuth direction 180° different from an azimuth direction of ultraviolet ray irradiation in the first irradiation step. In the first and second irradiation steps, the substrate is obliquely irradiated with ultraviolet rays, through a mask having stripe-shaped light shielding area and stripe-shaped opening, in an azimuth direction parallel to a longer direction of the stripe-shaped opening.
US08054417B2
An LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) device includes a backlight unit, a lower polarizer positioned on the backlight unit, a liquid crystal layer positioned on the lower polarizer, and an upper reflection polarizer positioned on the liquid crystal layer. The upper reflection polarizer is configured such that a regularly arranged metallic line lattice is formed on a support. this LCD device may give a good mirror effect when power is intercepted, and also give a clear display with high brightness even at a bright place when power is supplied to operate the LCD device.
US08054416B2
A polarizer is provided comprising a subwavelength optical microstructure wherein the microstructure is partially covered with a light-transmissive inhibiting surface for polarizing light. The inhibiting surface can include a reflective surface, such as a metalized coating. The subwavelength optical microstructure can include moth-eye structures, linear prisms, or modified structures thereof. A polarizing structure is further provided comprising a plurality of moth-eye structures stacked on one another for polarizing light.
US08054413B2
A new light modulating material using interconnected unidirectionally oriented microdomains of a liquid crystal, dispersed in a stressed polymer structure, is provided. The light modulating material is prepared by dissolving the liquid crystal in an uncured monomer and then curing the monomer so that the polymer forms a well-developed interpenetrating structure of polymer chains or sheets that is uniformly dispersed through the film. When the film is subjected to stress deformation the liquid crystal undergoes a change in its unidirectional orientation. The concentration of the polymer is high enough to hold the shear stress, but is as low as possible to provide the highest switch of the phase retardation when an electric field is applied. The new materials are optically transparent and provide phase modulation of the incident light opposed to the low driving voltage, linear electro-optical response, and absence of hysteresis. It has been shown that these new materials may be successfully used in display applications, optical modulator, and beam steering devices.
US08054406B2
An exemplary backlight module (200) used for liquid crystal display device (20) includes a first frame (261), a light source (240), a heat dispersing member (280) disposed along the light source, and a second frame (270) defining a window at a middle portion thereof. The second frame cooperative with the first frame to form a space receiving the light source and the heat dispersing member therein.
US08054403B2
A backlight unit having improved reliability is disclosed.The backlight unit includes a support main formed of a mold having a rectangular frame shape, a plurality of LEDs arranged at a side of the support main, a light guide plate arranged parallel to the plurality of LEDs and converting a point light to a surface light, an optical sensor unit arranged at the other side of the support main and detecting light emitted from the plurality of LEDs, and a light incident hole formed at the other side of the support main corresponding to the optical sensor unit and guiding light output from the light guide plate to proceed toward the optical sensor unit by changing a path of the light.
US08054396B2
A display substrate includes a gate line, a data line, a pixel electrode, a storage line, a dual transistor, a connection transistor, a voltage-decreasing electrode, a first contact electrode and a second contact electrode. The voltage-decreasing electrode is disposed on the storage line. The voltage-decreasing electrode is connected to a connection drain electrode of the connection transistor. The first contact electrode overlaps with the first pixel part and is electrically connected to the first pixel part. The first contact electrode is connected to a first drain electrode of the dual transistor and a connection source electrode of the connection transistor. The second contact electrode overlaps with the second pixel part and is electrically connected to the second pixel part. The second contact electrode is connected to a second drain electrode of the dual transistor. Therefore, the aperture ratio of the display device may be increased.
US08054390B2
A transparent composite material is able to promote visibility in a transparent coordinate input device due to the reflection of display light while the generation of an interference fringe at an input operating time is restrained. Many ridge portions extending in one direction are formed on the surface of a first transparent resistance film. Such ridge portions are projected stripes formed in a triangular shape in section, and are constructed by alternately forming one set of slanting faces on the surface of the first transparent resistance film.
US08054389B2
A liquid crystal display apparatus which includes an optical compensation layer in addition to a liquid crystal panel and which is capable of preventing degradation of the optical compensation layer, thereby providing high long-term reliability in display characteristics, is provided. The liquid crystal display apparatus includes a liquid crystal panel 1 in which a liquid crystal layer 30 is interposed between a first substrate 10 and a second substrate 20; a protection substrate 3 disposed at least one side of the liquid crystal panel 1 so as to face the liquid crystal panel 1; and an optical compensation layer 5 interposed between the liquid crystal panel 1 and the protection substrate 3. In addition, the liquid crystal display apparatus further includes polarizing plates 110 and 110 disposed at either side of the liquid crystal panel 1 on which the protection substrate 3 is provided; an illumination optical system irradiating the liquid crystal panel 1 with light h through one of the polarizing plates 110 and 110, and a projector lens projecting the light h that passes through the liquid crystal panel 1.
US08054373B2
Provided are a lens-interchangeable digital photographing apparatus that can use a suitable lens according to a photographing circumstance, a method of controlling the lens-interchangeable digital photographing apparatus, and a recording medium having recorded therein a program for the method. The lens-interchangeable digital photographing apparatus includes a photographing circumstance analysis unit, a lens suitability determination unit for determining whether a lens installed in the digital photographing apparatus is suitable for a photographing circumstance, a lens search unit for searching for lenses suitable for a photographing circumstance, and a display unit. If the lens suitability determination unit determines that the installed lens is not suitable for the photographing circumstance, lenses suitable for the photographing circumstance analyzed by the photographing circumstance analysis unit from among lenses searched by the lens search unit are displayed on the display unit to be recommended.
US08054367B2
An image display device has a function that displays plural frame images by high-speed frame advancing, and includes: an operation portion for a high-speed frame advancing display operation for carrying out high-speed frame advancing display, and a stopping operation for stopping high-speed frame advancing; and a controlling unit controlling a display unit such that, when the high-speed frame advancing display operation is carried out, plural frame images are displayed at the display unit in a predetermined frame advancing order. The controlling unit controls the display unit such that, when the stopping operation is carried out, the high-speed frame advancing is stopped and frame images that were displayed are displayed at the display unit again by frame advancing in a reverse order that is opposite the frame advancing order.
US08054365B2
A solid-state image pickup device relating to the present invention comprises a pixel area where multiple pixels used for photoelectric conversion of incident light are two-dimensionally arranged. Vertical signal input lines to which vertical transfer signals for transferring signal charges generated at the pixels vertically in the pixel area are applied are connected to the pixel area. Furthermore, horizontal signal input lines to which horizontal transfer signals for horizontally transferring the signal charges are applied are connected to a horizontal transfer part for horizontally transferring the signal charges transferred vertically in the pixel area. A signal separation part separates vertical and horizontal transfer signals from a pulse signal supplied via a complex signal input terminal and supplies the separated signals to the vertical signal input line and the horizontal signal input line, respectively.
US08054362B2
A method and associated architecture for dividing column readout circuitry in an active pixel sensor in a manner which reduces the parasitic capacitance on the readout line. In a preferred implementation, column readout circuits are grouped in blocks and provided with block signaling. Accordingly, only column output circuits in a selected block significantly impart a parasitic capacitance effect on shared column readout lines. Block signaling allows increasing pixel readout rate while maintaining a constant frame rate for utility in large format high-speed imaging applications.
US08054361B2
A method and associated architecture for dividing column readout circuitry in an active pixel sensor in a manner which reduces the parasitic capacitance on the readout line. In a preferred implementation, column readout circuits are grouped in blocks and provided with block signaling. Accordingly, only column output circuits in a selected block significantly impart a parasitic capacitance effect on shared column readout lines. Block signaling allows increasing pixel readout rate while maintaining a constant frame rate for utility in large format high-speed imaging applications.
US08054355B2
An image sensor includes a first sensor layer having a first array of pixels and a second sensor layer having a second array of pixels. Each of the pixels has an optical center. The first sensor layer is stacked over the second sensor layer such that the optical centers of the first array of pixels are offset from the optical centers of the second array to form a predetermined pattern.
US08054354B2
A data transfer circuit includes at least one data transfer line that transfers digital data, at least one data detecting circuit connected to the transfer line, holding circuits that hold digital values corresponding to input levels and that transfer the digital values to the transfer line, a scanning circuit that selects a holding circuit from among the holding circuits, at least one test-pattern generating circuit that generates a predetermined digital value, the test-pattern generating circuit being connected to the transfer line, at least one test-column scanning circuit that selects the test-pattern generating circuit, and a start-pulse selecting circuit that controls starting of the scanning circuit and starting of the test-column scanning circuit. The start-pulse selecting circuit has a function of transferring the predetermined digital value to the data transfer line by activating the test-pattern generating circuit via the test-column scanning circuit.
US08054352B2
An image sensor includes a color filter array including a primary color pixel such as a green filter pixel for sensing a predetermined primary color, a first secondary color pixel such as a yellow filter pixel, and a second secondary color pixel such as a cyan filter pixel. The primary color pixel, the first secondary color pixel, and the second secondary color pixel form different area ratios in the color filter array. For example, the area ratio of the yellow filter pixel to the cyan filter pixel and the green filter pixel is 2:1:1 in the color filter array. In addition, the color filters of the pixels are compensated for crosstalk effect. Such an image sensor has enhanced color reproducibility and sensitivity.
US08054346B2
A video input processor is disclosed. The processor includes: an imaging signal-generating portion configured to image a subject and producing first imaging signals containing visible light components and a second imaging signal containing near-infrared light components; a gain adjustment portion configured to adjustably set a maximum gain value according to a relative magnitude between the visible light components and the near-infrared light components and adjust a gain for the first imaging signals at the set maximum gain value; and a noise reduction portion configured to reduce noises in the first imaging signals after the gain has been adjusted.
US08054342B2
An imaging apparatus includes a solid-state imaging device, a derive section and a signal processing section. The imaging device includes plural pixels arranged on a surface of a semiconductor substrate. The pixels include plural chromatic color pixels for plural colors and plural high-sensitivity pixels having a higher sensitivity to incident light than the chromatic color pixels. The drive section controls the imaging device to simultaneously start exposing the chromatic color pixels and exposing the high-sensitivity pixels, to read first signals from the high-sensitivity pixels during an exposure period, respectively and hold the read first signals, thereafter, to read second signals from the high-sensitivity pixels, respectively, and to read third signals from the chromatic color pixels, respectively. The signal processing section produces color image data based on the first signals, the second signals and the third signals.
US08054341B2
A digital photographing apparatus including an imaging device configured to continuously output image data of a subject in units of frames according to a predetermined drive clock, during consecutive photographing; a buffer memory configured to store a plurality of image frames output by the imaging device; a memory checking unit configured to detect a data overflow of the buffer memory; a digital signal processor configured to perform an overriding operation of sacrificing previously stored frame data and storing image frames recently obtained after the data overflow occurs in the buffer memory in replacement of the sacrificed framed data; and a recording medium configured to store the image frames in the buffer memory in the form of files.
US08054340B2
An imaging device detects an occurrence of a trigger event, stores images before and after the trigger event occurrence for a specified time and transmits them to an image management server. The image management server stores the image file and key information associated with the image file, the key information including information related to timing of the trigger event occurrence related to the image in an image DB. When the image management server receives a search condition, the image management server obtains an image file stored in association with the key information satisfying the designated search condition from the image DB.
US08054338B2
A method for determining a luminance threshold value of a video region includes: performing a plurality of luminance threshold value generation operations on the video region included in a plurality of video frames, respectively. Each luminance threshold value generation operation includes: generating a total luminance value according to a plurality of luminance values of a plurality of pixels in the video region; subtracting a current luminance threshold value temporarily stored in a register from the total luminance value to generate a luminance error value; performing a specific filtering operation on the luminance error value to generate a filtered luminous error value; accumulating the filtered luminance error value to generate an accumulation result; and updating the current luminance value in the register according to the accumulation result and a luminance approximative value.
US08054332B2
The system and method enables people to use their webcam as a virtual flashlight over their screen as a picture or video clip is playing. The position, tilt and rotation of the flashlight over the screen is recorded and smoothed to generate a compelling movie. Users move the webcam closer to the screen to focus on a specific area; users can rotate the webcam to generate compelling rotations, and users can pan the webcam to simulate looking at objects from a side.
US08054330B2
Systems and methods are disclosed for implementing and managing distributed video surveillance systems. Systems and methods in accordance with the present invention provide a well-organized structure for describing and implementing distributed video surveillance systems and service protocols for managing the surveillance activities of clusters of video surveillance cameras. In particular, the service protocols provide a high degree of control over the surveillance activities of video surveillance cameras. In addition, the service protocols also provide a great deal of flexibility in selecting and managing a wide range of analytical and managerial tools for available for analyzing and organizing video track information.
US08054329B2
A high resolution 2D-3D switchable autostereoscopic display apparatus includes: a backlight unit emitting light; a polarizer sheet changing the light emitted from the backlight unit so that the light has only a specific polarization direction; a polarization switch converting the direction of the polarization of incident light; a birefringent element array comprising a plurality of alternating first and second birefringent elements and changing the polarization direction of incident light so that the polarization of light transmitted by the first birefringent elements is perpendicular to the polarization of light transmitted by the second birefringent elements; a lenticular lens sheet separating and emitting incident light to a first eye viewing zone and a second eye viewing zone; and a display panel displaying an image.
US08054327B2
An optical deflector of the present invention includes a movable mirror and torsion bars supporting the mirror and formed integrally with the mirror. The mirror reciprocatingly vibrates to reflect a light beam to thereby deflect it. The mirror is curved in the form of an arch in a section including at least the torsion bars. The mirror deforms little during vibration even if it is thin. Small power can cause such a thin mirror to vibrate with a large amplitude.
US08054323B2
A reveal substrate includes a sensitive substrate having an opaque polymer sensitive to application of one of heat and pressure which upon one of being heated to a predetermined temperature and subjected to a predetermined pressure causes the opaque polymer to become transparent and a color material disposed in relation to the substrate in a manner to be obscured by the opaque polymer prior to one of the application of the predetermined heat and the predetermined pressure and is revealed subsequent thereto. A method of printing employing the reveal substrate is also provided.
US08054322B2
A method of controlling a computer system having a computer to generate and to transmit a video signal, a display to display the video signal transmitted from the computer, and an interface through which the computer communicates with the display, the method including transmitting a control command to check a blank edge line from the computer to the display; receiving the control command and determining whether an edge line of an image display area of the display is blank according to the control command; transmitting blank checking data from the display to the computer; and adjusting resolution of the image signal and transmitting the image signal from the computer to the display based on the transmitted blank checking data.
US08054313B1
In various embodiments, the motion of simulated or secondary objects, such as the motion of cloth, of computer imagery and computer generated animations may be viewed as a time-varying signal. Accordingly, simulation results can be “filtered” to repair, reduce, or eliminate “damage” to the motion signal of regions of the simulated object where “jumps,” “wigglies,” “sags,” “blemishes,” or high frequency perturbations may occur during simulation. Simulation repair may be performed using a coordinate frame from one or more regions of the simulated object or of another reference object whose motion is not “damaged” like the motion of the regions to be repaired. The coordinate frame can be non-linear, temporally varying, or the like, and can provide a suitable reference to repair simulation results in an efficient and time-optimized manner with quality results.
US08054308B2
A driving method of an LCD device adapted to improve the quality of pictures is disclosed. The driving method includes: deriving a frame detection signal from a data enable signal and a data clock signal; simultaneously deriving a start signal and a first gate clock signal from the frame detection signal and the data clock signal; and deriving a second gate clock signal from the first gate clock signal and the data clock signal. The first gate clock signal is identical with the start signal in a start time point of enable interval.
US08054305B2
A correction circuit includes a timing control circuit for dividing a drive period assigned for drive of display devices into plural calculation slots, a luminance calculation circuit for calculating luminance including an effect of a voltage drop for each calculation slot, an accumulation circuit for temporally accumulating the luminance for each calculation slot, a corrected data determination circuit for outputting, as a corrected data, the value determined in accordance with the calculation slot at the time point when the accumulated luminance reaches a target luminance value, and a conversion circuit for converting the corrected data into modulation data to be applied to a modulation circuit. The width of the calculation slot is shorter than the width of the slot for pulse width modulation in at least a part of the drive period. The conversion circuit reduces the bit width of the corrected data by pseudo-gradation processing.
US08054296B2
Pre-stored no-touch or no-hover (no-event) sensor output values can initially be used when a sensor panel subsystem is first booted up to establish an initial baseline of sensor output values unaffected by fingers or other objects touching or hovering over the sensor panel during boot-up. This initial baseline can then be normalized so that each sensor generates the same output value for a given amount of touch or hover, providing a uniform response across the sensor panel and enabling subsequent touch or hover events to be more easily detected. After the initial normalization process is complete, the pre-stored baseline can be discarded in favor of a newly captured no-event baseline that may be more accurate than the pre-stored baseline due to temperature or other variations.
US08054289B2
A haptic interface system includes a cable based haptic interface device and a controller. The controller receives information related to movement of a grip in real-space and generates a stereoscopic output for a display device. The stereoscopic output includes images of a virtual reality tool whose motions mimic motions of the real-space grip.
US08054285B2
The present invention discloses a liquid crystal display apparatus and a liquid crystal television which are provided with a backlight to be lighted up by a separately-excited inverter circuit and realize improvement of contrast in low brightness. A microcomputer 50 obtains a brightness average value of image data from a brightness average value detecting circuit 22, directs an inverter circuit 62 to oscillate at a duty factor corresponding to the obtained brightness average value, and directs an output processing circuit 33 to perform gamma correction processing with gamma correction data corresponding to the obtained brightness average value. When the brightness average value is lowered, the microcomputer 50 lowers the duty factor to be outputted therefrom and lowers the brightness of the backlight 61. Moreover, when the brightness average value is lowered, the microcomputer 50 directs the output processing circuit to perform gamma correction processing with gamma correction data for widening a brightness range.
US08054282B2
A liquid crystal display device includes a temperature-sensing unit measuring at least one of a temperature of the liquid crystal display device and an ambient temperature of the liquid crystal display device, and outputting a frequency modulation signal corresponding to the measured temperature, a timing controller modulating a frequency of a clock signal based on the frequency modulation signal to generate a modulated clock signal, and treating a video data based on the modulated clock signal to generate a treated video data, and a display panel displaying an image based on the modulated clock signal and the treated video data, the display panel including a gate line, a data line crossing the gate line and a switching element connected to the gate line and the data line.
US08054278B2
There is a need for decreasing a variation in times for writing to TFT elements for pixels in a direction along the extension of a gate line in a liquid crystal display apparatus. A display apparatus includes a display panel having multiple gate lines and multiple drain lines arranged in a matrix and a data driver for outputting a display data signal to each drain line. The data driver includes: an internal control signal generation circuit for generating an internal control signal for setting a timing to output a data signal to a drain line of each block on a block basis by dividing the plurality of drain lines into multiple blocks; and a register circuit for recording a setting for division of the block, a setting for a delay direction and a delay width of a timing to output the data signal, and a setting for rising and falling of an internal control signal.
US08054273B2
Provided is an electro-optical device including: a display unit including a plurality of display areas in which pixels are arranged; common electrodes provided in correspondence with the plurality of display areas; pixel electrodes provided in correspondence with the pixels and facing the common electrodes with an electro-optical material interposed therebetween; a driving control unit which controls writing of an image signal to the pixel electrode in each of the plurality of display areas; and a voltage applying control unit which controls applying of a predetermined voltage to the common electrode in each of the plurality of display areas; wherein the driving control unit is configured to stop the writing of the image signal to the pixel electrode during a predetermined period in a period close to at least one of a start time point or an end time point of the applying of the predetermined voltage, when the predetermined voltage is applied to the common electrode of the display area adjacent to one display area by the voltage applying control unit during a period in which the image signal is written to the pixel electrode in one of the plurality of display areas.
US08054267B2
An LCD includes parallel scan lines, and parallel data lines orthogonal to the scan lines, to define a plurality of pixel regions. Each of the pixel regions includes a red, a green, and a blue sub-pixel region. The red sub-pixel region includes a first and a second red sub-pixel zones received scanning voltages from a same scan line and data voltage signals from different data lines. The green sub-pixel region includes a first and a second green sub-pixel zones received scanning voltages from a same scan line and data voltage signals from different data lines. The blue sub-pixel region includes a first and a second blue sub-pixel zones received scanning voltages from a same scan line and data voltage signals from different data lines. All the first and second sub-pixel zones alternately display black images or images corresponding to pre-determined gray scales during two adjacent frames of the LCD.
US08054260B2
A driving method of a stacked light modulating device for recording an image therein, which includes selective reflection layers each having a cholesteric liquid crystal, reflecting light with different wavelengths within a visible range, and being different in a lower threshold value of texture change from a planar to a focal conic texture with respect to an externally applied voltage and an upper threshold value of texture change from the focal conic to a homeotropic texture, and a pair of electrodes disposed outside, includes applying between the pair of electrodes voltages including a voltage V1 and have a same frequency, to select an area exceeding or not exceeding the upper threshold value in each of the selective reflection layers, and applying voltages including a voltage V2 and have a same frequency different from the voltage V1, to select an area exceeding or not exceeding the lower threshold value.
US08054253B2
An organic light emitting diode display and an aging method thereof are presented. The method provides the organic light emitting diode display with improved reliability as a progressive dark defect is removed, and the lifetime and the white balance of the organic light emitting diode display is secured by executing an aging treatment of high luminance using a pixel circuit including an aging circuit for supplying the organic light emitting diode with an aging pulse.
US08054250B2
A pixel, an organic light emitting display, and a method for driving an organic light emitting display using the pixel, which can display an image with substantially uniform luminance. In one embodiment, the method for driving an organic light emitting display having a pixel disposed at an i-th horizontal line, the pixel having a drive transistor for enabling the flow of current to an organic light emitting diode, the method including providing a reference voltage to a gate electrode of the drive transistor, charging a second capacitor with a threshold voltage of the drive transistor, charging a first capacitor with a voltage corresponding to a data signal, and providing a current corresponding to the voltages in the first and second capacitors to the organic light emitting diode.
US08054246B2
A plasma display apparatus comprises a controller, data transmitting unit, data driver, and plasma display panel. The controller outputs m channels of image data and the data transmitting unit transmits the image data through the m channels. The data driver includes a data arranging unit which receives the m channels of image data and outputs n channels of addressing data. The number n may be greater than m. Also, the data arranging unit may include a memory for storing image data corresponding to one frame, so that a driver of the data arranging unit can receive image data from the controller in any input period of one frame period.
US08054245B2
A plasma display apparatus and a method of driving the plasma display apparatus are provided. A maintenance period of a sustain signal changes depending on a temperature of a plasma display panel or an ambient temperature of the plasma display panel.
US08054243B2
The set of inventions relates to display engineering and is used for displaying color alphanumeric and graphical information for designing and developing different infomercial display means on externally and internally located objects. The said invention makes it possible to improve the quality of displayed information, the operational reliability thereof and to reduce the costs by that the structural design and the arrangement of light clusters in the information desks of columns are optimized, and required dimensions of the information desks and the distance therebetween when a video field image is formed are determined. The elements of the running letters consist of two adjacent pixels having a common light-emitting-diode and the inventive arrangement configuration of the light-emitting-diodes in a pixel makes it possible to control the image resolution.
US08054241B2
A method of supporting multiple display configurations in a remote access environment, the remote access environment having a host computing device in communication with a viewer computing device comprises: receiving from a host computing device, by a viewer computing device having one or more viewer displays, a list of rectangles, each rectangle representing the boundaries of one of a plurality of host displays; presenting, by the viewer computing device to an end-user of the viewer computing device, a graphical user interface including means for selecting a configuration for displaying a window representing screen data of the plurality of host displays in the viewable area of the one or more displays of the viewer computing device; and displaying in the selected configuration, by the viewer computing device, the window representing the screen data of the one or more host displays. Corresponding systems are also described.
US08054240B2
An electronic apparatus includes: a housing provided with a first conductive pattern; a substrate provided with a first wiring layer in a surface thereof and fixed to the housing; and a first conductive member connecting the first conductive pattern and the first wiring layer. The first conductive pattern extends onto an outer surface and an inner surface of the housing. The first conductive member is in contact with each of at least a part of the first conductive pattern extending onto the inner surface and an end of the first wiring layer. Alternatively, an electronic apparatus includes: a housing provided with a conductive pattern and having a through part in a frame portion thereof; and a substrate provided with a wiring layer on a surface thereof and having a protruding part and fixed to the housing. The protruding part and the through part are fit. The conductive pattern extends onto an outer surface of the housing and onto an inner surface of the through part. At least some of the conductive pattern extending onto the inner surface is in contact with an end of the wiring layer.
US08054231B2
A mobile terminal including a metal case and an antenna structure that can exhibit optimum radiation performance is provided. The antenna structure includes an antenna having a radiation unit for transmitting and for receiving electric waves, a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) to which the antenna is mechanically coupled at one surface thereof and having a power supply unit electrically coupled to the radiation unit, and a case constructed using a metal material within which the PCB is disposed, wherein the case has at least one slot formed in a surface thereof opposite to the surface to which the PCB is fastened and adjacent to the radiation unit.
US08054228B2
An antenna structure for a magnetic resonance device constructed as a radiating or transmitting antenna of the magnetic resonance device, has a non-metallic antenna conductor containing a discharge gas. When energy is imparted to the discharge gas, the antenna conductor forms an electrically conducting gas discharge column and can be used as an electrically conducting antenna element.
US08054225B2
A method and device for wireless directional beam-forming transmission. The method for wireless directional beam-forming transmission between a first device and a second device comprises conducting one or more omni-directional transmissions between the first device and a third device; conducting one or more omni-directional transmissions between the second device and the third device; and determining directional information for directional beam forming transmissions between the first and second devices based on the omni-directional transmissions.
US08054224B1
A method and apparatus for creating an antenna system. A configuration for a plurality of antenna cells is selected for an antenna in the antenna system. Each antenna cell in the plurality of antenna cells comprises a plurality of antenna elements having a symmetric arrangement. A portion of antenna elements in the plurality of antenna elements for each antenna cell in the plurality of antenna cells on a substrate is selected to transmit electromagnetic waves.
US08054222B2
Method and apparatus for processing satellite signals from a first satellite navigation system and a second satellite navigation system is described. In one example, at least one first pseudorange between a satellite signal receiver and at least one satellite of the first satellite navigation system is measured. At least one second pseudorange between the satellite signal receiver and at least one satellite of the second satellite navigation system is measured. A first difference between a first time reference frame of the first satellite navigation system and a time reference and a second difference between a second time reference frame of the second satellite navigation system and the time reference are obtained. The at least one first pseudorange and the at least one second pseudorange are combined using the first and second differences in time references.
US08054218B2
A remotely-alterable electronic-ink based display device for displaying graphical indicia within a GPS system transmitting a plurality of GPS signals to the device display device. The device employs an addressable display assembly including a layer of electronic ink including a bi-stable non-volatile imaging material. The device includes an integrated circuit structure having a GPS signal receiver, a storage element for storing instructions, programs and data, and a programmed processor in electrical communication with the addressable display assembly and an antenna structure. A signal transmitting structure transmits signals from the antenna structure to the remote activator module. A signal receiving structure receives electromagnetic signals from the remote activator module, using the antenna structure. An on-board battery power structure, operably connected to the integrated circuit structure, supplies electrical power the integrated circuit structure. The GPS signal receiver receives GPS signals, and the programmed processor locally processes received GPS signals, determines the position of the display device, and transmits the same to the remote activation module.
US08054214B2
Systems and methods prepare ground-based supplemental weather radar information for integration with onboard weather radar information. An exemplary embodiment receives ground-based weather radar information from a ground-based weather radar station, the ground-based weather radar information referenced in a first coordinate system; generates supplemental weather radar information from the received ground-based weather radar information, wherein the supplemental weather radar information is referenced to a second coordinate system based upon at least latitude and longitude; and communicates the supplemental weather radar information, wherein the communicated supplemental weather radar information is integrated with weather radar information of an onboard weather radar system of an installation vehicle.
US08054210B2
An image sensor includes a pixel array, and a correlated double sample circuit coupled to one of the pixels in the pixel array. The correlated double sample circuit includes first and second inputs, and first and second sample capacitors respectively coupled to the first and second inputs. The first input is for receiving an analog signal from a pixel, and the second input is for receiving a time varying reference signal. The analog signal varies during a pixel readout period, and has a first level during a first reset period and a second-level during a second read period. A comparator circuit compares the time varying reference signal and the analog signal. The analog signal and the time varying reference signal are constantly read onto one of the first and second sample capacitors during both the first reset period and the second read period.
US08054208B2
Systems and apparatus are provided for interfacing a digital controller with an analog input means. The system comprises a digital controller with the input of the digital controller coupled to the output of the analog-to-digital converter. The system further comprises a digital-to-analog converter coupled to an analog interface circuit. The analog interface circuit comprises a reconfigurable RC network switchably coupled to a first amplifier or to a second amplifier. The analog interface circuit further comprises a third amplifier having an input being coupled to an output of the second amplifier and the output of the third amplifier being coupled to the one or more input signal paths to the first amplifier.
US08054206B2
A decoding method includes: inputting control information including first and second codec identifiers identifying first and second codecs corresponding to first and second material data, respectively, and first and second time information representing start times of decoding of the first and second material data, respectively; loading corresponding to the first codec identifier the first codec into the first decode processing unit; starting in the first decode processing unit corresponding to the first time information decoding of the first material data; and loading corresponding to the second codec identifier the second codec into the second decode processing unit.
US08054201B2
A real-image picking-up means picks up a real image of a blind area. A moving object detecting means recognizes a moving object from the real image and detects a moving state of the moving object. An imaginary-image specifying means specifies an indication manner of an imaginary image which is to be indicated for showing the moving state of the moving object. An indicating means indicates the imaginary image of the moving object in the indication manner which is specified by the imaginary-image specifying means such that the imaginary image of the moving object indicated by the indicating means overlaps the real image picked up by the real-image picking-up means. There can be provided a surroundings monitoring device for a vehicle which can easily recognize the state of the moving object in the image of the blind area.
US08054200B1
A right of way vehicle throws out a strobe light having pulses. The strobe light is picked up by the present control apparatus, which analyzes the pulses of the strobe light via an algorithm, and then sets off an alarm or warning device if the strobe light meets the conditions of the algorithm. The control apparatus includes a sensor component, a signal conditioner component, a microcontroller component, and an alarm or warning device component. The components may be housed as a package and located in the interior of a vehicle. The components may be housed separately or in separate packages. The separately housed components or separately housed packages may be located at various locations on or in the vehicle.
US08054198B2
An inexpensive unmanned mobile sensor and data collection rolling rover (“rollver) for exploring remote, inaccessible locations, such as deep craters and canyons, includes a hollow enclosure having a flexible wall that is expandable into the shape of a sphere, an apparatus for selectably expanding the wall of the enclosure, a sensor and instrumentation payload disposed within the enclosure and coupled to an inner surface of the wall of the enclosure, and a power supply for powering the payload at its destination. The rollver is adapted to roll to a target destination at least partially in response to at least one of an initial impetus imparted to the vehicle and gravitational forces acting thereon, and due to its relatively low cost, can be simultaneously deployed and used in an area of interest in relatively large numbers.
US08054194B2
Apparatus and methods for processing assets in a lockable container are disclosed. A decoupler receives information from the container or the asset in the container. The container may be associated with a security status, and the item may be associated with a processing status. The decoupler may move the container along a processing path in a sequence based on the security status of the container and/or the processing status of the asset. The decoupler may also lock or unlock the container while moving the container along the processing path. At least a portion of the processing path may be exposed to a magnetic field, which may lock or unlock the container and/o activate or deactivate a security tag associated with the container or the item. The decoupler may also write or read information to or from an RFID tag associated with the container and/or the asset. This information may be used in conjunction with benefit denial, audit, loss prevention, transaction management, and other similar systems.
US08054189B2
When a rechargeable battery of a life safety device reaches its end of life, the life safety device provides an audible signal indicating that replacement is required. When the device is disconnected from line power, the rechargeable battery still contains a significant amount of energy. The device automatically begins controlled discharge the battery until the stored energy has been reduced to a safe level for disposal of the life safety device and its battery.
US08054186B1
The animal repellent apparatus provides a safety reflector with a solar powered ultrasonic signal audible to deer and other animals. The apparatus is used in place of currently existing reflectors and is of like shape and size. The ultrasonic signal is repulsive to such animals and thereby wards them away from roads that use the apparatus. The low profile, impact resistant apparatus has a reflector on each side for visibility to motorists in either direction of traffic flow. While differing little from typical reflectors in outward appearance, the apparatus is internally equipped with a rechargeable battery, protected solar panel, and a sound chip for emitting the ultrasonic signal. Since the apparatus requires no patterned deployment, installation is straightforward and requires no measured or other particular arrangement. The apparatus can be installed sequentially, or sporadically.
US08054183B2
Method and system for safely transporting valuable articles to a client. A known amount of articles for transport are packed in a transport package comprising a security circuit and a security system for the valuable articles. In the armed state the valuable articles are devaluated in case of an unauthorized manipulation in the transport package. A first client identifier is given. The valuable articles in the transport package are transported to the client. A portable computer transported with the valuable articles serves for recording and/or capturing the first client identifier, for capturing a second client identifier, for evaluating the first client identifier and the second client identifier, and for establishing a communication connection with the security circuit of the transport package, in order to transfer and release the package into the not-armed state, if permitted after evaluating the client identifiers.
US08054179B2
Movable items on a stage have their position detected in three dimensions, and multiple different lights can be shined at the moving items even after they are moved. Shadowing can be detected and compensated.
US08054164B2
Transmitter for distributing data signals, characterised in that it is provided with receiving means for collecting one or several data signals, a control unit (5) and a transmitting unit (3) connected thereto for transmitting an above-mentioned data signal via a network to one or several addressable receivers (6) from a series of pre-selected users, after the above-mentioned control unit (5) has received a starting signal to this end.
US08054163B2
Interactive radio frequency tags that are responsive to external stimuli to change state are disclosed. The tags preferably include a passive radio frequency transponder, having an antenna, an interface for receiving an external stimulus, and one or more integrated circuits responsive to the external stimulus received at the interface to change the state of the transponder. Also disclosed is a “sensor tag” which changes state in response to a particular environmental stimulus. In addition, either of these “button” or “sensor” features may be combined with an output feature which visually, audibly, tactilely or otherwise signals the state or change of state of an RF tag, or the tag may be designed to produce an output in response to the external stimulus of the RF signal received at the tag's antenna.
US08054153B2
A variable inductor is provided, which includes a first lead having both ends to receive a pair of difference signals, a second lead having both ends to receive a pair of the difference signals, and a switch selectively supplying a pair of the difference signals to the second lead by turning on/off according to a control signal. Accordingly, a variable inductor can be implemented that is compact and maximizes the variation rate of inductance.
US08054142B2
Long-side length a1 to a5 of rectangular waveguide tubes in a long-side direction (magnetic field direction) become greater, the shorter a line length is (the closer a rectangular waveguide tube is to the center). ai and Li are set such that line lengths L1 to L5 of each rectangular waveguide tube is Li=mλgi (i=1 to 5, and m is a positive integer number), with guide wavelengths of each rectangular waveguide tube, determined by the length a1 to a5, as λg1 to λg5. Hence, the line length Li of each rectangular waveguide tube can be arbitrarily set, while maintaining a phase relationship between high frequency signals transmitted by each rectangular waveguide tube. When a difference in line lengths between rectangular waveguide tubes is set to be shorter, the degree of freedom in arrangement of the rectangular waveguide tubes can be improved while suppressing the degradation of propagation characteristics caused by temperature change.
US08054140B2
Low voltage oscillators that provide a stable output frequency with varying supply voltage are provided. The subject oscillators find use in a variety of different types of devices, e.g., medical devices, including both implantable and ex-vivo devices.
US08054139B2
A voltage-controlled oscillator is implemented with a succession of delay cells coupled in series to form an oscillator loop. The oscillator loop is supplied with reference voltages produced by a voltage generator. The reference voltages produce stable operation of the voltage-controlled oscillator. Cascode reference current generators are incorporated within the voltage generator to supply a cross-coupled arrangement of pull-up devices within each delay cell. The cross-coupled pull-up devices are instrumental in producing complementary output signaling from each delay cell. A pair of cascode current generators is configured in parallel to produce a magnitude of current according to an applied voltage and to be selectable for dual or single operation with a corresponding frequency determination.
US08054138B2
This invention makes it possible to reduce a power consumption of an electronic circuit (microcomputer, for example) while preventing malfunctioning of an oscillator by appropriately setting a power supply impedance of a low frequency oscillator corresponding to an operation mode. A high frequency oscillator, a medium frequency oscillator and a low frequency oscillator are provided as sources of system clocks. In addition, there is provided a quartz oscillator to generate a clock for a timepiece. When the high frequency oscillator is in operation, a power supply impedance of the quartz oscillator is reduced to improve a noise tolerance. In a waiting period during which the high frequency oscillator, the medium frequency oscillator and the low frequency oscillator are halted, on the other hand, the power supply impedance of the quartz oscillator is increased to suppress the power consumption.
US08054130B2
A method and corresponding circuit that adjusts the gain of an audio output stage having a class D amplifier, this method including the steps of setting the gain to a nominal value, analyzing an output signal during successive clock periods, counting the number of clock periods during which the signal is in a state corresponding to a saturation, decreasing the gain if the number reaches, before the end of a first time interval, a value corresponding to a first percentage, maintaining the gain constant if, at the end of a second time interval, different from the first interval, the number corresponds to a second percentage being comprised between the first percentage and a third percentage, and increasing the gain if, at the end of the second time interval, the number corresponds to a fourth percentage, lower than the third percentage.
US08054127B2
A feedforward distortion compensation amplifier includes an adjusting unit for adjusting a gain and a phase of an input signal, a first amplifier for amplifying a signal outputted from the adjusting unit, a delay unit for delaying the input signal, and a coupler for coupling a signal outputted from the delay unit to a signal outputted from the first amplifier. The feedforward distortion compensation amplifier further includes a first controller which detects a distortion component of the first amplifier to control an operation of the adjusting unit based on the distortion component, and a second controller which determines one distortion level from distortion levels based on a magnitude of the input signal, and compares the determined distortion level with the detected distortion component of the first amplifier to control an amplification rate of the first amplifier based on comparison results.
US08054126B2
A dynamic bias supply device for multiple parallel power amplifiers, in which a plurality of parallel power amplifiers including a Doherty amplifier are connected in parallel, is provided. The dynamic bias supply device includes a plurality of switches respectively corresponding to each of the parallel power amplifiers. The dynamic bias supply device is used in a distributed manner as multiple distributed dynamic bias switching circuits for the multiple parallel power amplifiers. Accordingly, performance deterioration is not caused by an additional connection structure, and it is possible to achieve high efficiency and high linearity of the power amplifiers.
US08054121B2
The limiter of the invention uses as a diode a stacked gate thin film transistor (TFT) including a floating gate. When the TFT including a floating gate is used, the threshold voltage Vth may be corrected by controlling the amount of charge accumulated in the floating gate even in the case where there are variations in the threshold voltages Vth of the TFT.
US08054120B2
An integrated circuit, comprises a wakeup terminal; a supply voltage terminal configured to receive a supply voltage; and a power control circuit. The power control circuit comprises an enable circuit coupled to the wakeup terminal and configured to generate a voltage monitoring enable signal as a response to a wakeup signal received at the wakeup terminal, and a voltage monitoring circuit for generating a supply voltage level indication signal. The voltage monitoring circuit is coupled to the supply voltage terminal and comprises an operation switch controlled by the voltage monitoring enable signal. The voltage monitoring circuit is configured to determine if the supply voltage is above a threshold voltage and set the supply voltage level indication signal accordingly. The integrated circuit further comprises processing circuitry, with the supply voltage level indication signal controlling the switching between a normal operation state and a standby state of the processing circuitry.
US08054117B2
A wideband delay-locked loop (DLL) circuit includes an internal clock signal generating unit providing an internal control signal by selecting and interpolating between two clock delay signals during a primary phase locking operation. The internal clock signal may be modified by a secondary phase locking operation if more delay is required to phase lock the internal clock signal to an external clock signal. A phase detection/control circuit generates various control signals based on a phase comparison of the internal clock signal and the external clock signal.
US08054108B2
A transmission driver including a main driving stage and a sub-driving stage is provided. The main driving stage has a main current source, and is adapted for receiving a first differential input data stream and outputting a differential output data stream by using the main current source. The sub-driving stage has two sub-current sources, and is adapted for receiving a second differential input data stream and counteracting/reducing the attenuation or distortion of the differential output data stream caused by a long transmission distance by using the sub-current sources. There is a delay of a specific bit length between the first and the second differential input data streams.
US08054107B2
An operational circuit includes: a first stage having a first input terminal for receiving an input signal and a second input terminal for receiving an output signal of the operational circuit, for outputting a first control signal at a first output terminal and a second control signal at a second output terminal according to the input signal and the output signal; a second stage coupled to the first stage, for generating the output signal according to a first driving current controlled by the first control signal and a second driving current controlled by the second control signal; and a protection circuit coupled between the first stage and the second stage, for detecting the first driving current to selectively adjust the first control signal.
US08054106B2
A load driving device according to an aspect of the invention may includes an output transistor connected between a power supply line and an output terminal, a load connected between the output terminal and a first ground line, a control circuit connected between a gate of the output transistor and a second ground line, the control circuit controlling turning on/off of the output transistor, and a compensation transistor that turns on when a potential of the second ground line assumes a predetermined value or higher, thereby maintaining an off state of the output transistor.
US08054103B1
A synchronous circuit for clock multiplexing and output-enable is implemented using a pair of logic gates and an output block. Select signals and enable signals with the corresponding logic sense are provided as inputs to the pair of logic gates, which generate respective logic outputs. The output block contains synchronizers clocked by respective input signals, and receives the logic outputs also as inputs. The output block provides a selected one of the input signals as an output, the provision of the selected input signal being accomplished in a synchronous fashion. Enabling and disabling of the output are also performed synchronously.
US08054101B2
A current source and a method for designing the current source are provided. The current source is designed by a recursive rule and enables controllable delay lines to provide linear delay and occupy smaller area than conventional controllable delay lines with thermometer code current sources do.
US08054095B2
A probe structure for an electronic device is provided. In one aspect, the probe structure includes an electrically insulating carrier having one or more contact structures traversing a plane thereof. Each contact structure includes an elastomeric material having an electrically conductive layer running along at least one surface thereof continuously through the plane of the carrier. The probe structure includes one or more other contact structures adapted for connection to a test apparatus.
US08054075B2
Featured are methods for magnetic resonance imaging of a volume, such a volume having susceptibility-generating objects or interfaces having susceptibility mismatches therein. Such a method includes selectively visualizing one of susceptibility-generating objects or interfaces having susceptibility mismatches as hyperintense signals, where such visualizing includes controlling variable imaging parameters so as to control a geometric extent of a signal enhancing effect, m more particular aspects of the present invention, such selectively visualizing includes attenuating or essentially suppressing signals from fat and/or water, namely on-resonant water protons, so as to thereby enhance a signal(s) associated with magnetic susceptibility gradient(s). Also featured are MRI systems, apparatuses and/or applications programs for execution on a computer system controlling the MRI data acquisition process embodying such methods.
US08054073B2
A magnetometer is provided comprising an atomic vapor in an enclosure, a source of light for preparing the vapor into a state exhibiting electromagnetically induced transparency, a first laser beam passing through the atomic vapor, a phase detector for detecting changes in phase of the first laser beam, and a controller which controls the light source and laser beam and receives the information detected by the phase detector in order to compute from those changes in phase a magnetic field strength in the presence of a selected background magnetic field of at least 0.001 T. Operation in the presence of a background field helps make this magnetometer suitable for diagnostic imaging applications.
US08054071B2
A magnetic field sensor includes a linear magnetic field sensor to produce a voltage proportional to a sensed magnetic field and an interface having only two terminals for external connections. The two terminals of the interface include a power supply terminal and a ground terminal. The interface includes a voltage-controlled current generating device that is connected between the two terminals and is controlled by the voltage to provide a current signal that is proportional to the sensed magnetic field.
US08054067B2
A magnetic sensor comprising a bridge circuit in which four magnetoresistive devices are connected, the magnetoresistive device comprising a spin-valve, giant-magnetoresistive film comprising a pinned layer having unidirectional magnetic anisotropy, a free layer whose magnetization direction is rotated in alignment with an external magnetic field direction, and an intermediate layer sandwiched by the pinned layer and the free layer, and at least one of the magnetoresistive devices meeting the condition of 36°≦θ<45°, wherein θ is an acute angle between its longitudinal direction and the magnetization direction of the pinned layer.
US08054065B2
An apparatus and a method for monitoring a ratio of at least two components being mixed use sensors detecting ferrous taggant particles in the component(s) and the mixture. The sensors include an annular drive coil positioned between inner and outer annular sense coils all surrounding a passage for material being sensed. The ratio is determined by comparing a signal generated by one sensor through which a taggant particle containing component is flowing with a signal generated by another sensor through which the mixture is flowing delayed by the time required for the component to flow from the one sensor to the another sensor. The signals can also be used to control the flow of the components and to check the mixture after use for such mixtures as asphalt and concrete.
US08054064B2
A sensor holder has an encoder and a wheel speed sensor arranged opposite to the encoder, via a predetermined air gap. An annular fitting member is formed by pressing an anti-corrosive steel plate. A holding portion is formed of injection moldable synthetic resin and is integrally formed with the annular fitting member. The annular fitting member includes a cylindrical portion axially extending from an incline portion. A seal is arranged inboard of the sensor and fit between the inner circumference of the cylindrical portion of the annular fitting member and the outer circumference of the inner ring. The wheel speed sensor is embedded in the holding portion. At least a surface of the annular fitting member contacting the holding portion is roughened by shot blasting to have a surface roughness Ra of 0.8 or more.
US08054060B2
A switched mode power supply unit realized by an integrated circuit comprising a control circuit controlling the operation of the switched mode power supply unit, wherein the control circuit is configured to provide a plurality of different circuit configurations for different operating environments. The circuit configuration for the control circuit is defined by a control signal received by the control circuit.
US08054054B2
A circuit for using a high voltage gate driver IC (HVIC) for regulation of external floating voltage sources without use of regulation circuits. The circuit including high and low switches; at least one external voltage source coupled to the high and low switches; an HVIC having at least one internal charge pumping voltage source circuit, the HVIC being coupled to gate terminals of the high and low switches; and at least one charge pumping capacitor coupled to the at least one internal charge pumping voltage source circuit for regulating the external voltage of at least one external voltage source.
US08054049B1
Electrical contacts in the battery compartment of a device will permit a battery to be inserted with the “+” pole of the battery against either one of the two contacts, with the “−” pole of the battery positioned against the other contact. A polarity-sensing circuit detects the battery's orientation. If a first orientation is detected, i.e., the “+” pole of the battery is touching Contact “A” and the “−” pole of the battery is touching Contact “B”, the polarity-sensing circuit mode-of-operation 1 will be selected. If the second orientation is detected, i.e., the “+” pole of the battery is touching Contact “B” and the “−” pole of the battery is touching Contact “A”, mode-of-operation 2 will be selected. A bridge rectifier, downstream from the polarity sensor, can ensure that the other circuits in the device receive power that is polarized correctly regardless of battery orientation.
US08054037B2
An electric power charge and discharge system for an electronic device having a battery, by which the electronic device can be used for a long period of time. In a wireless communication device including a wireless driving portion including a first battery and a wireless charging portion including a second battery, the first battery is charged by electric power from a fixed power supply and the second battery is charged by using electromagnetic waves existing in an external space. Further, the first battery and the second battery are discharged alternately, and during a period in which the first battery is discharged, the second battery is charged.
US08054036B2
A power transmission device performs power-saving power transmission that transmits a small amount of power as compared with normal power transmission when the power transmission device has detected that a battery of a load has been fully charged so that the operation of a charge control device (charge control IC) of the load is maintained, thereby enabling recharging due to a charge management function of the charge control device. Since the load state of a power reception device increases when recharging has started, the power transmission device detects an increase in the load state and changes power transmission from power-saving power transmission to normal power transmission. When the power reception device has been removed during power-saving power transmission, the power transmission device detects that the power reception device has been removed, and stops continuous power transmission so that unnecessary power consumption does not occur.
US08054035B2
In the field of portable electronic devices in the future, portable electronic devices will be desired, which are smaller and more lightweight and can be used for a long time period by one-time charging, as apparent from provision of one-segment partial reception service “1-seg” of terrestrial digital broadcasting that covers the mobile objects such as a cellular phone. Therefore, the need for a power storage device is increased, which is small and lightweight and capable of being charged without receiving power from commercial power. The power storage device includes an antenna for receiving an electromagnetic wave, a capacitor for storing power, and a circuit for controlling store and supply of the power. When the antenna, the capacitor, and the control circuit are integrally formed and thinned, a structural body formed of ceramics or the like is partially used. A circuit for storing power of an electromagnetic wave received at the antenna in a capacitor and a control circuit for arbitrarily discharging the stored power are provided, whereby lifetime of the power storage device can be extended.
US08054034B2
Battery management system to manage a battery having a plurality of cells and driving method thereof
A battery management system and a driving method thereof to manage a battery including a plurality of cells. The battery management system includes a sensing unit, an MCU, and a cell balancing unit. The sensing unit measures cell voltages of the plurality of cells. The MCU detects cells requiring cell balancing according to the plurality of measured cell voltages and generates a plurality of cell voltage signals to control the cell balancing of the detected cells. The cell balancing unit balances the cells according to the plurality of cell voltage signals, and the number of the cell voltage signals is fewer than the number of cells. The cell balancing unit generates a plurality of cell balancing signals corresponding to each of the plurality of cell voltage signals, and at least one of the cell voltage signals balances at least two of cells in the battery.
US08054033B2
A control method for a sensor-less, brushless, three-phase DC motor. A pulse-width modulation (PWM) duty cycle may be calculated. A voltage induced by rotation of a rotor may be sampled at a first expected zero crossing value to produce a first sampled voltage value. An average of a plurality of sampled voltage values, including voltage values sampled at a plurality of prior expected zero crossing values and the first sampled voltage value, may be calculated. The first sampled voltage value may be subtracted from the calculated average to produce a delta zero crossing error. The delta zero crossing error may be multiplied by a first constant representing electromechanical properties of the motor to produce a representation of an angular velocity. One or more time values may be generated based on the representation of the angular velocity. Operation of the motor may be controlled based on the one or more time values and the PWM duty cycle.
US08054031B2
A converter device includes a converter circuit that includes a reactor connected to a primary side power supply, and a step-up feeding device that has a step-up switching element connected to the reactor and that boosts electric power of the primary side power supply by on/off switching the step-up switching element and outputting a stepped-up electric power as a secondary voltage; a converter control device that PWM-controls on/off switching of the step-up switching element so that the secondary voltage becomes equal to a secondary target voltage; and a temperature detecting device that detects a temperature of the reactor, wherein the converter control device limits PWM-controlled on/off switching of the step-up switching element for step-up operation when the temperature of the reactor increases to a first predetermined value or higher.
US08054030B2
Permanent magnet alternating current (PMAC) motor systems and methods for starting or restarting PMAC motor system sensorless control algorithms are provided. One system includes a PMAC motor including a rotor, an inverter, and a controller. The controller includes control logic, start/restart logic, drive logic, current detect logic, and estimation logic configured to estimate a position of the rotor, a speed of the PMAC motor, or both based on current detected in each phase of the inverter. A start/restart method includes determining to start/restart the sensorless control algorithm and modifying the inverter voltage in response to the determined start/restart. The method also includes detecting current in each inverter phase after the inverter voltage is modified and estimating a rotor position, a PMAC motor speed, or both based on the current detected in each inverter phase after the inverter voltage is modified. Another controller includes means for performing the above start/restart method.
US08054023B2
A method of driving a sensorless brushless motor in PWM mode includes tristating a winding during a time window for detecting a zero-cross of the back electromotive force induced in the winding by rotation of a rotor, monitoring voltage of the tristated winding during an unmasked portion of the time window, and detecting during the time window a zero-cross event of the induced back electromotive force. The method includes verifying whether the zero-cross event occurred during the unmasked portion, modifying for the next cycle the duration of the time window and/or of the unmasked portion thereof based upon the verification, defining a safety interval in the unmasked time window, modifying the duration of the time window and/or of the unmasked portion thereof depending on whether the zero-cross event has been detected during the safety interval.
US08054021B2
A system comprises host logic and a programmable motor drive coupled to the host logic and configured to drive a motor. The programmable motor drive comprises a plurality of H-bridge circuits and the programmable motor drive is programmable to cause any two or more H-bridge circuits to be operated in parallel.
US08054018B2
A method of constant airflow control for a ventilation system is disclosed. The method includes various controls to accomplish a substantially constant airflow rate over a significant change of the static pressure in a ventilation duct. One control is a constant I·RPM control, which is primarily used in a low static pressure range. Another control is a constant RPM control, which is primarily used in a high static pressure range. These controls requires neither a static pressure sensor nor an airflow rate sensor to accomplish substantially constant airflow rate while static pressure changes. This is because these controls use only intrinsic control variables which are electric current and rotational speed of the motor. Also, the method improves the accuracy of the control by correcting certain deviations that are caused by the motor's current-RPM characteristics. To compensate the deviation, the method adopts a test operation in a minimum static pressure condition. Also disclosed is an apparatus for conducting these control methods.
US08054017B2
An apparatus for estimating rotor position for brushless motors capable of accurately estimating rotor position is provided. The apparatus may be used as a start-up system for brushless motors. The apparatus performs accurate estimation even though power source voltage fluctuates, and is able to provide compact configuration. The apparatus supplies voltage to the coils respectively. In each supplying period, the apparatus counts voltage supply period of time until current value reaches to a current threshold value. Since a coil indicative of rotor stop position is prone to be magnetically saturated. The apparatus estimates the rotor stop position based on the voltage supply periods. Then, the apparatus starts a switching sequence based on the rotor stop position.
US08054009B2
Embodiment relate to a lamp driving device and a liquid crystal display device having the same. The embodiments include a plurality of lamps having first and second electrodes, an inverter substrate supplying a high voltage alternating current to at least one of the first and second electrodes of the lamps, a plurality of capacitors connected to the first and second electrodes of the lamps, and a board capacitor connected to at least one of the capacitors.
US08054003B2
The present invention relates to an electronic ballast for operating a lamp (L) which has a Class E converter (T1, L1). When a lamp (L) is connected, the output current of the Class E converter (T1, L1) once a switching element (T1) of the Class E converter (T1, L1) has been switched off has a first and a second half-cycle of opposite polarity. The electronic ballast has a measurement apparatus for measuring the output current and a regulating apparatus for adjusting a switch-on time of the switching element. In this case, the measurement apparatus is designed to determine a first output current value of the first half-cycle and a second output current value of the second half-cycle, wherein the regulating apparatus for adjusting the switch-on time is fed a control variable based on the discrepancy between the two output current values.
US08053994B2
An intelligent wall switch comprises an extend operation panel including sensor areas with a first conducting film; a glass on the back sides of the sensor areas including second conducting films; a first circuit board including a backlight LED and an infrared emitter and connected to a flexible cable connected to the second conducting film; a frame on a back side of the glass; a controller system including a second circuit board having an AC-DC power module, relays, AC output connectors, an AC input connector all on a back side thereof, and having a flat cable connector, an infrared receiver, and multiple indicating LEDs all on a front side thereof; a connecting piece and a housing being used to receive the AC-DC power module, the connecting piece being disposed on a back side of the frame, the AC-DC power module being connected to the cable by the flat cable connector.
US08053990B2
A system, in certain embodiments, includes a high intensity discharge lamp having a composite leg. The composite leg includes a plurality of leg sections coupled together in series. The plurality of leg sections includes different materials, coefficients of thermal expansion, Poisson's ratios, or elastic moduli, or a combination thereof. A method, in certain embodiments, includes enclosing a high intensity discharge within a ceramic arc envelope. The method also includes reducing thermal stresses associated with the high intensity discharge via a composite leg extending outwardly from the ceramic arc envelope. The composite leg includes a plurality of leg sections coupled together in series. The plurality of leg sections includes different materials, coefficients of thermal expansion, Poisson's ratios, or elastic moduli, or a combination thereof.
US08053977B2
Light device comprising a substrate, at least one photo-organic layer, at least two electrode layers electrically separated by said at least one photo-organic layer, and at least one encapsulation layer, wherein said at least one photo-organic layer is positioned between said substrate and said at least one encapsulating layer, and wherein multiple openings are provided that extend through the light device to allow fluids and or heat to pass through, said openings being spaced apart from said at least one photo-organic layer.
US08053976B2
The present invention aims at the suppression of chromaticity irregularities and brightness irregularities by reflecting a result of an analysis of film forming misalignment of an organic EL layer. For this end, a drive circuit chip 6 is mounted on a lower side of a display panel 4, and a terminal portion 7 for connection with an external device (a host device) is mounted on an end edge of the lower side of a display panel 4. Film forming misalignment vectors (indicated by arrows) of sub pixels at an arbitrary point in a display region 5 fall within a first quadrant and an angle made between the vectors falls within 90°.
US08053971B2
An organic light emitting device and a method of fabricating the same are disclosed. The organic light emitting device includes a substrate, a first electrode positioned on the substrate, an insulating layer that is positioned on the first electrode and includes an opening exposing a portion of the first electrode, an organic emissive layer positioned inside the opening, a second electrode positioned on the organic emissive layer, and an auxiliary electrode that is positioned on or under the insulating layer and electrically connected to the second electrode.
US08053968B2
A light source module includes a power supply plate, a light emitting chip, and a body mold. The light emitting chip is disposed on the power supply plate to lean to one side with respect to a center of the power supply plate along a first direction and electrically connected to the power supply plate. The body mold is connected with the power supply plate to expose the light emitting chip. Therefore, a thickness of a backlight assembly employing the light source module may be reduced.
US08053963B2
A display device according to one embodiment of the invention includes a display panel for displaying an image and an optical filter attached to the display panel. The optical filter includes an external light anti-reflection layer, a color compensation layer, an external light shielding layer, and an electromagnetic interference (EMI) shielding layer. The external light shielding layer includes a barrier rib unit including black photoresist at a gap between the EMI shielding layer and the external light anti-reflection layer or the color compensation layer, for partitioning the gap.
US08053962B2
A fluorescent lamp having a protective polymeric sleeve to provide impact resistance and contain fragments if the lamp shatters. A UV-blocking layer is coated on the outside of the glass envelope of the lamp or on the inside of the sleeve to help protect the polymeric sleeve from UV degradation. The UV-blocking layer includes a UV-blocking component of Al2O3 or ZnO or SiO2 or TiO2 or mixtures thereof.
US08053961B2
The present invention is related to a color-mixture display unit and an image display apparatus using the same, wherein the image display apparatus includes at least one color-mixture pixel which is pre-disposed at plates of a light box so that a pattern is formed. Each of the color-mixture pixels is equipped with a red filter, a green filter and a blue filter, or equipped with a black filter or equipped with a transparent filter. At least one color-mixture LED is disposed within the light box and provides a backlight for the color-mixture pixel. In this regard, the color-mixture LEDs are controlled by an image controller and provide various color light beams with the color-mixture pixels. In addition, arrangement of each color filter within the color-mixture pixel is utilized so that color-mixture effect of dynamic image is shown.
US08053949B2
An electronic control device for a piezo-ceramic bending transducer designed as a trimorph, wherein a first voltage divider consisting of two resistor branches and powered by a first voltage source (Ust1) is provided, whose first resistor branch connects the first piezo-ceramic plate of the trimorph to its spacer layer. In addition, a second voltage divider is provided that consists of two resistor branches and the first resistor branch thereof connects the second piezo-ceramic plate of the trimorph to its spacer layer. The second resistor branch of the first voltage divider also forms the second resistor branch of the second voltage divider. Thus, by means of one voltage source, the one piezo-ceramic plate has an applied tensile stress and the other piezo-ceramic plate has an applied compressive stress, so that the flexural motion is reinforced by the two piezo-ceramic plates and thus only a small voltage has to be applied.
US08053948B2
There is provided an electrostatic induction conversion device which is small, has high conversion efficiency between electric energy and kinetic energy, and can prevent degradation of an electret. The electret is formed by injecting an electric charge into the vicinity of the surface of an insulating material, is disposed between two conductors, and is constructed so that it moves relatively to at least one of the conductors opposite to the electret and converts between electric energy and kinetic energy. As the insulating material forming the electret, it is preferable to use a polymer having a fluorine-containing aliphatic cyclic structure.
US08053942B2
The present axial gap motor is provided with: a rotor that is rotatable around a rotation axis; and a pair of stators that are opposed to each other with the rotor interposed therebetween from both sides in a rotation axis direction which is parallel with the rotation axis of the rotor. The rotor includes: a plurality of main magnets arranged in a circumferential direction so that a flux direction is parallel with the rotation axis direction; a sub permanent magnet which is disposed in the vicinity of a circumferential end portion of the main magnet and is magnetized in a direction perpendicular to the rotation axis direction and a radial direction; and a magnetic member which is provided on a surface of at least one of the one side and the other side in the rotation axis direction of the main magnet. A length of the magnetic member in the rotation axis direction is larger than a length of the sub permanent magnet in the rotation axis direction.
US08053938B2
A core assembly for an electric motor includes a heat exchanger comprising a plurality of fins. The fins define a plurality of cooling air passages that include offset fins that disrupt cooling air flow to reduce the formation of boundary layers and improve heat transfer capacity.
US08053933B2
A switching device for controlling the supply of power from a supply to a load comprises a solid-state switch arranged in parallel with a relay of normally closed type. The solid-state switch and the relay are arranged in series with the load and the power supply. The switch also comprises a control adapted to connect the power supply to the load by applying an activation signal to the solid-state switch to cause it to conduce, then de-energizing the relay and then removing the activation signal to the solid-state switch in that order. The control is also adapted to disconnect the power supply from the load by applying an activation signal to the solid-state switch to cause it to conduct, then energizing the relay and then removing activation signal to the solid-state switch in that order. A corresponding method of operation is also disclosed.
US08053929B2
A solar power array includes solar power panels, where each solar panel provides output current and voltage, separate DC-DC converters, where each solar panel is connected to a unique DC-DC converter, where each DC-DC converter is designed to maximize the power from each solar panel, and where each DC-DC converter produces a high voltage output, a high voltage DC bus coupled to the DC-DC converters that receives the high voltage output, and a DC-AC inverter that inverts the high voltage DC on the high voltage DC bus to an AC power signal for distribution to one or more AC loads.
US08053928B2
A power conversion circuit includes a driving circuit, an activating circuit, a converter and an auxiliary power source. The activating circuit receives a first power signal. The converter is used for converting the first power signal into a second power signal. The auxiliary power source is electrically connected to the activating circuit and the driving circuit. The auxiliary power source is driven by the driving circuit to issue either a first control signal to the activating circuit if the load is connected with the power conversion circuit or a second control signal to the activating circuit if the load is disconnected from the power conversion circuit. In response to the first control signal, the first power signal is converted into the second power signal and the second power signal is transmitted to the load. In response to the second control signal, the converter is disenabled.
US08053927B2
Methods and apparatus for providing uninterruptible power are provided by aspects of the invention. One aspect is more particularly directed to an uninterruptible power supply for providing power to a load. The uninterruptible power supply includes an input to receive input power, an output to provide output power, a plurality of battery modules that provide backup power, a power circuit coupled to the input, coupled to the plurality of battery modules and coupled to the output to provide power derived from at least one of the input power and the backup power to the output, a controller, a return line coupled to the controller and coupled to each of the battery modules, and a first sense line coupled to the controller and coupled to the plurality of battery modules. The controller and each of the battery modules are configured and arranged such that at least one characteristic of the battery modules is determined by the controller based on signals detected by the controller on the first sense line.
US08053926B2
A method and corresponding apparatus provide a determination of available power capacity of a phase of a power supply in a data center rack. The method includes metering the power of a power supply and calculating an average peak power draw per phase of the power supply. Using average peak power draw per phase of the power supply and the expected power draw data corresponding to data center equipment coupled to the power supply, the available power capacity can be calculated on a per phase of the power supply. A method and corresponding apparatus for managing data center equipment may use the phase based available power capacity calculations to determine the optimal placement of new data center equipment within a data center configuration.
US08053923B2
A light emitting diode apparatus that includes a single DC/DC converter section that has two circuits connected in parallel: a flyback type boosting circuit and a boosting circuit. The former includes a transformer and a switching device and the like to boost DC voltage of a DC power supply, and the latter includes a transformer and a switching device and the like to do likewise. A control section carries out switching control of the switching devices and in such a manner that shifts from each other the phases of current Ida and current Idb to be supplied from the two boosting circuits and to a plurality of LED and the like connected in series in a light emitting section.
US08053921B2
A target power value determining unit determines target power values Pc1* and Pc2* such that a sum SPc* of target load powers as a sum of target load power Pc1* and target load power Pc2* does not exceed a sum SWin of allowable charging powers and a sum SWout of allowable discharging powers. In accordance with the generated target load power values Pc1* and Pc2*, switching commands PWM1 and PWM2 are generated. Consequently, an inverter executes a power conversion operation such that the powers exchanged between a main line ML and motor generators attain to the target load power values Pc1* and Pc2*, respectively.
US08053919B1
A wind turbine having a large circular rotor wheel formed of concentric inner and outer rings with adjustable elliptical blades extending therebetween. The inner and outer rings are rotatably supported in a vertical plane to rotate about a horizontal axis by circumferential arcuate bearing supports connected by support arms to yaw mechanisms on a support tower which pivot about a vertical axis, and the outer ring is partially supported on the top of a horizontal rotatable revolving track which revolves around the tower and drives power wheels that operate water pumps, air pumps, and/or or electrical generators. A load shedding mechanism allows the power wheels to be selectively engaged or disengaged from the pump or generator load depending upon the available wind power to maintain rotation of the circular rotor wheel and horizontal rotatable revolving track without the load.
US08053917B2
Reactive power is supplied in accordance with a reactive-power supply instruction from a power grid while ensuring a variable-speed range of a wound-rotor induction generator. A variable-speed power generator includes a prime mover that generates motive power by using natural energy; an electric generator that includes a stator having a primary winding and a rotor having a secondary winding, the stator and the rotor being connected to a power grid, and that generates electric power based on the motive power generated by the prime mover; and a power converter connected to the stator and the rotor, wherein the power converter does not supply reactive power to the power grid, and wherein the variable-speed power generator includes a power-converter controller that causes the electric generator to operate at a rotation speed set to be higher than or equal to a synchronous speed and increases reactive power supplied to the power grid when a reactive-power supply instruction for supplying reactive power to the power grid is obtained from the power grid.
US08053915B2
A rotary electric machine for a vehicle includes a rotor, a stator and a rectifying device for current AC/DC conversion. The machine operates as a motor and a generator. The machine includes a multi-phase windings, switching elements forming a rectifying device, and a controller for controlling a current path of the multi-phase windings by switching the switching elements on and off to perform two modes of operation. The switching elements are switched such that one end of each windings is connected to either a high electrical potential end or a low electrical potential end of the rectifying device and the other ends of the windings connected together to be the same electrical potential are connected to either the high electrical potential end or the low electrical potential end in the rectifying device.
US08053910B2
To provide a semiconductor substrate whose columnar member for alignment is difficult to fall off and a manufacturing method thereof. An alignment mark 24 (columnar member for alignment) and protection posts 26 surrounding the alignment mark 24 to protect the alignment mark are disposed in an alignment mark forming region 14 of a semiconductor wafer 101 (semiconductor substrate). Each of the protection posts has a diameter (maximum diameter) of, for example, 0.6 μm. The protection posts 26 are arranged such that the diameter of each of the columnar protection posts 26 is greater than a diameter (for example, 0.2 μm) of the alignment mark 24. That is, the protection posts 26 are arranged such that the contact area between each of the protection posts 26 and an underlayer thereof (dummy wire layer 22) is greater than the contact area between the alignment mark 24 and an underlayer thereof (dummy wire layer 22).
US08053903B2
A method of creating a semiconductor chip having a substrate, a doped semiconductor material abutting the substrate and a device pad at an outer side of the doped semiconductor material involves creating a via through at least a portion of the substrate, the via having a periphery and a bottom at a location and depth sufficient to bring the via into proximity with the device pad but be physically spaced apart from the device pad, introducing an electrically conductive material into the via, and connecting the electrically conductive material to a signal source so the signal will deliberately be propagated from the electrically conductive material to the device pad without any direct electrical connection existing between the electrically conductive material and the device pad.
US08053902B2
An integrated circuit structure includes a semiconductor substrate; and an interconnect structure overlying the semiconductor substrate. A solid metal ring is formed in the interconnect structure, with substantially no active circuit being inside the solid metal ring. The integrated circuit structure further includes a through-silicon via (TSV) having a portion encircled by the solid metal ring. The TSV extends through the interconnect structure into the semiconductor substrate.
US08053901B2
The present invention provides a method of forming a rigid interconnect structure, and the device therefrom, including the steps of providing a lower metal wiring layer having first metal lines positioned within a lower low-k dielectric; depositing an upper low-k dielectric atop the lower metal wiring layer; etching at least one portion of the upper low-k dielectric to provide at least one via to the first metal lines; forming rigid dielectric sidewall spacers in at least one via of the upper low-k dielectric; and forming second metal lines in at least one portion of the upper low-k dielectric. The rigid dielectric sidewall spacers may comprise of SiCH, SiC, SiNH, SiN, or SiO2. Alternatively, the via region of the interconnect structure may be strengthened with a mechanically rigid dielectric comprising SiO2, SiCOH, or doped silicate glass.
US08053899B2
A method and apparatus for providing a conductive structure adjacent to a damascene conductive structure in a semiconductor device structure. The semiconductor device structure includes an insulation layer with at least one damascene conductive structure formed therein, wherein the at least one damascene conductive structure includes an insulative, protective layer disposed thereon. The insulative material of the protective layer is able to resist removal by at least some suitable etchants for the insulative material of the insulation layer adjacent to the at least one damascene conductive structure. A self-aligned opening is formed by removing a portion of an insulation layer adjacent the at least one damascene conductive structure. The self-aligned opening is then filled with a conductive material to thereby provide another conductive structure adjacent to the at least one damascene conductive structure.
US08053895B2
A metal line of a semiconductor device includes an insulation layer formed on a semiconductor substrate. The insulation layer has a metal line forming region. A diffusion barrier is formed on a surface of the metal line forming region of the insulation layer. The diffusion barrier includes a multi-layered structure that includes an MoB2 layer, an MoxByNz layer and an Mo layer. A metal layer is formed on the diffusion barrier to fill the metal line forming region of the insulation layer.
US08053887B2
A semiconductor assembly includes a substrate with at least a CMOS region and a seal ring region and an optional micro electro mechanical system (MEMS) region, a shallow trench isolation disposed in the CMOS region of the substrate, an optional micro electro mechanical system device disposed in the micro electro mechanical system region, a plurality of recesses disposed in the seal ring region of the substrate, a first metal-oxide semiconductor disposed in the CMOS region, a dielectric layer disposed on the substrate and on the recesses, and a seal ring disposed in the seal ring region and embedded in the dielectric layer to cover and fill up the recesses, wherein the seal ring region surrounds at least the CMOS region and the optional MEMS region.
US08053882B2
A stacked semiconductor device includes a plurality of stacked chips, each having a plurality of elements to receive a signal. At least one first ladder main signal line for receiving the signal is arranged to pass through the chips. At least one second ladder main signal line is arranged to pass through the chips. A plurality of ladder buffers buffer the signal applied from the first ladder main signal line to the second ladder main signal line. The signal is uniformly distributed to the stacked chips using a ladder type circuit network technique.
US08053880B2
An electronic component is disclosed including a plurality of stacked semiconductor packages. A first such embodiment includes an internal connector for electrically coupling the stacked semiconductor packages. A second such embodiment includes an external connector for electrically coupling the stacked semiconductor packages.
US08053874B2
A semiconductor package is disclosed. The package includes a leadframe having drain, source and gate leads, a semiconductor die coupled to the leadframe, the semiconductor die having a plurality of metalized source areas and a metalized gate area, a patterned source connection having a plurality of dimples formed thereon coupling the source lead to the semiconductor die metalized source areas, a patterned gate connection having a dimple formed thereon coupling the gate lead to the semiconductor die metalized gate area, a semiconductor die drain area coupled to the drain lead, and an encapsulant covering at least a portion of the semiconductor die and drain, source and gate leads.
US08053871B2
A metal barrier is realized on top of a metal portion of a semiconductor product, by forming a metal layer on the surface of the metal portion, with this metal layer comprising a cobalt-based metal material. Then, after an optional deoxidation step, a silicidation step and a nitridation step of the cobalt-based metal material of the metal layer are performed. The antidiffusion properties of copper atoms (for example) and the antioxidation properties of the metal barrier are improved.
US08053865B2
An integrated circuit structure combining air-gaps and metal-oxide-metal (MOM) capacitors is provided. The integrated circuit structure includes a semiconductor substrate; a first metallization layer over the semiconductor substrate; first metal features in the first metallization layer; a second metallization layer over the first metallization layer; second metal features in the second metallization layer, wherein the first and the second metal features are non-capacitor features; a MOM capacitor having an area in at least one of the first and the second metallization layers; and an air-gap in the first metallization layer and between the first metal features.
US08053864B2
An inexpensive variable inductor has inductance value continuously changeable without reducing a Q value. When a control voltage is applied to a control terminal of a MOS transistor from a power supply, a continuity region is formed in a channel, and a region between main terminals becomes conductive. When the control voltage is changed, length of the continuity region in the channel is changed. This changes length of a path area of an induced current, flowing in an induced current film. Thus, the amount of induced current is increased or decreased. Therefore, when the control voltage of the MOS transistor is changed, the inductance value of the coil is continuously changed.
US08053862B2
An integrated circuit and a fuse therefore are disclosed. The integrated circuit fuses includes a plurality of terminals coupled by a fuse element, wherein the fuse element is located in a non-last metal layer and/or wherein each terminal is fully-landed on an upper surface of a wire of the fuse element. As a result, there is no explosion that causes damage to surrounding material. In addition, use of the wet etchant allows positioning of a fuse in any metal layer including any non-last metal layer, thus increasing design possibilities.
US08053861B2
Provided are methods and apparatuses for depositing barrier layers for blocking diffusion of conductive materials from conductive lines into dielectric materials in integrated circuits. The barrier layer may contain copper. In some embodiments, the layers have conductivity sufficient for direct electroplating of conductive materials without needing intermediate seed layers. Such barrier layers may be used with circuits lines that are less than 65 nm wide and, in certain embodiments, less than 40 nm wide. The barrier layer may be passivated to form easily removable layers including sulfides, selenides, and/or tellurides of the materials in the layer.
US08053849B2
Thin effective gate oxide thickness with reduced leakage for replacement metal gate transistors is achieved by forming a protective layer between the gate oxide layer and metal gate electrode, thereby reducing stress. Embodiments include forming a protective layer of amorphous carbon containing metal carbides decreasing in concentration from the metal gate electrode toward the gate oxide layer across the protective layer. Embodiments of methodology include removing the removable gate, depositing a layer of amorphous carbon on the gate oxide layer, forming the metal gate electrode and then heating at an elevated temperature to diffuse metal from the metal gate electrode into the amorphous carbon layer, thereby forming the metal carbides. Embodiments also include metal gate transistors with a gate oxide layer having a high dielectric constant and silicon concentrated at the interfaces with the metal gate electrode and substrate.
US08053843B2
A semiconductor device for ESD protection includes a semiconductor substrate of a first conductivity type and a well region of a second conductivity type formed within the substrate. The well region is characterized by a first depth. The device includes an MOS transistor, a first bipolar transistor, and a second bipolar transistor. The MOS transistor includes a first lightly doped drain (LDD) region of a second depth within the well region, and a drain region and an emitter region within in the first LDD region. The emitter region is characterized by a second conductivity type. The first bipolar transistor is associated with the emitter region, the first LDD region, and the well region, and is characterized by a first trigger voltage. The second bipolar transistor is associated with the first LDD region, the well region, and the substrate, and is characterized by a second trigger voltage.
US08053840B2
The invention relates to thin film transistors comprising novel dielectric layers and novel electrodes comprising metal compositions that can be provided by a dry thermal transfer process.
US08053838B2
A semiconductor structure, a fabrication method, and a design structure for a FinFet. The FinFet includes a dielectric layer, a central semiconductor fin region on the dielectric layer, a first semiconductor seed region on the dielectric layer, and a first strain creating fin region. The first semiconductor seed region is sandwiched between the first strain creating fin region and the dielectric layer. The first semiconductor seed region includes a first semiconductor material. The first strain creating fin region includes the first semiconductor material and a second semiconductor material different than the first semiconductor material. A first atom percent of the first semiconductor material in the first semiconductor seed region is different than a second atom percent of the first semiconductor material in the first strain creating fin region.
US08053837B2
There is provided a method of removing trap levels and defects, which are caused by stress, from a single crystal silicon thin film formed by an SOI technique. First, a single crystal silicon film is formed by using a typical bonding SOI technique such as Smart-Cut or ELTRAN. Next, the single crystal silicon thin film is patterned to form an island-like silicon layer, and then, a thermal oxidation treatment is carried out in an oxidizing atmosphere containing a halogen element, so that an island-like silicon layer in which the trap levels and the defects are removed is obtained.
US08053836B2
An oxide semiconductor thin-film transistor, comprising: a source electrode and a drain electrode formed on a substrate; a composite semiconductor active layer formed between the source electrode and the drain electrode; a gate dielectric layer formed on the source electrode, the composite semiconductor active layer and the drain electrode; and a gate electrode formed on the gate dielectric layer and corresponding to the composite semiconductor active layer; wherein the composite semiconductor active layer comprises a low carrier-concentration first oxide semiconductor layer and a high carrier-concentration second oxide semiconductor layer.
US08053833B2
A fin field effect transistor (fin FET) is formed using a bulk silicon substrate and sufficiently guarantees a top channel length formed under a gate, by forming a recess having a predetermined depth in a fin active region and then by forming the gate in an upper part of the recess. A device isolation film is formed to define a non-active region and a fin active region in a predetermined region of the substrate. In a portion of the device isolation film a first recess is formed, and in a portion of the fin active region a second recess having a depth shallower than the first recess is formed. A gate insulation layer is formed within the second recess, and a gate is formed in an upper part of the second recess. A source/drain region is formed in the fin active region of both sides of a gate electrode.
US08053826B2
The charge retention characteristics of a non-volatile memory, particularly, a MONOS-type non-volatile memory is improved. In a non-volatile memory cell including a tunnel silicon oxide film (107), a silicon nitride film (104) serving as a charge storage film, a silicon oxide film (105), and a gate electrode (108) which are sequentially formed on a semiconductor substrate, the tunnel silicon oxide film (107) has a stacked structure of a silicon oxynitride film (102) and a silicon oxide film (103). Herein, it is configured such that a density of nitrogen atoms contained in the silicon oxynitride film (102) decreases as a distance from an interface with the semiconductor substrate increases in a film-thickness direction of the silicon oxynitride film (102).
US08053808B2
A semiconductor power device supported on a semiconductor substrate includes a plurality of transistor cells each having a source and a drain with a gate to control an electric current transmitted between the source and the drain. The semiconductor further includes a source metal connected to the source region, and a gate metal configured as a metal stripe surrounding a peripheral region of the substrate connected to a gate pad wherein the gate metal and the gate pad are separated from the source metal by a metal gap. The semiconductor power device further includes an ESD protection circuit includes a plurality of doped polysilicon regions of opposite conductivity types constituting ESD diodes extending across the metal gap and connected between the gate metal and the source metal on the peripheral region of the substrate.
US08053804B2
Disclosed herein is a backlight unit equipped with LEDs. The backlight includes an insulating substrate, a plurality of LED packages, an upper heat dissipation plate, and a lower heat dissipation plate. The insulating substrate is provided with predetermined circuit patterns. The LED packages are mounted above the insulating substrate, and are electrically connected to the circuit patterns. The upper heat dissipation plate is formed on the insulating substrate, and is configured to come into contact with the circuit patterns and to dissipate heat. The lower heat dissipation plate is formed on the insulating substrate, and is configured to transmit heat transmitted through the upper heat dissipation plate. The upper heat dissipation plate and the lower heat dissipation plate are connected to each other by at least one through hole, and the through hole and the upper heat dissipation plate have a predetermined area ratio.
US08053801B2
A photodetector including a photodiode formed in a semiconductor substrate and a waveguide element formed of a block of a high-index material extending above the photodiode in a thick layer of a dielectric superposed to the substrate, the thick layer being at least as a majority formed of silicon oxide and the block being formed of a polymer of the general formula R1R2R3SiOSiR1R2R3 where R1, R2, and R3 are any carbonaceous or metal substituents and where one of R1, R2, or R3 is a carbonaceous substituent having at least four carbon atoms and/or at least one oxygen atom.
US08053798B2
The present invention provides a light emitting device which comprises a blue light emitting diode, and at least an orthosilicate based phosphor for emitting light ranging from a green to yellow regions and a nitride or oxynitride based phosphor for emitting light in a red region over the light emitting diode. Accordingly, since white light with a continuous spectrum ranging from green to red can be implemented, a light emitting device with improved color rendering can be provided, and the light emitting device can be used for a general illumination or a flash. Further, since the phosphors having stable chemical characteristics against their external environment such as moisture are employed, the stability in optical characteristics of the light emitting device can also be improved.
US08053796B2
A solid state light emitting device includes a laminated substrate structure (120), an LED chip (30), a transparent capsulation material (50) and an electric component (40). The laminated substrate structure includes a first substrate (10) and a second substrate (20) attached to each other by a sintering process. The first substrate has a mounting surface (100) and a receiving through hole (11) defined in the mounting surface thereof. The LED chip is mounted on the mounting surface of the first substrate. The transparent capsulation material envelops the LED chip therein. The electric component is received in the receiving hole and mounted on the second substrate. The electric component is located below the mounting surface of the first substrate.
US08053794B2
A nitride semiconductor light-emitting device according to the present invention comprises a first nitride semiconductor layer; an active layer formed on the first nitride semiconductor layer; a second nitride semiconductor layer formed on the active layer; and a third nitride semiconductor layer having AlIn, which is formed on the second nitride semiconductor layer. And a nitride semiconductor light-emitting device comprises a first nitride semiconductor layer; an n-AlInN cladding layer formed on the first nitride semiconductor layer; an n-InGaN layer formed on the n-AlInN cladding layer; an active layer formed on the n-InGaN layer; a p-InGaN layer formed on the active layer; a p-AlInN cladding layer formed on the p-InGaN layer; and a second nitride semiconductor layer formed on the p-AlInN cladding layer.
US08053790B2
The optical device includes a waveguide and a light sensor on a base. The light sensor includes a light-absorbing medium configured to receive a light signal from the waveguide. The light sensor also includes field sources for generating an electrical field in the light-absorbing medium. The field sources are configured so the electrical field is substantially parallel to the base.
US08053781B2
The present invention has an object to provide an active-matrix liquid crystal display device that realizes the improvement in productivity as well as in yield. In the present invention, a laminate film comprising the conductive film comprising metallic material and the second amorphous semiconductor film containing an impurity element of one conductivity type and the amorphous semiconductor film is selectively etched with the same etching gas to form a side edge of the first amorphous semiconductor film 1001 into a taper shape. Thereby, a coverage problem of a pixel electrode 1003 can be solved and an inverse stagger type TFT can be completed with three photomask. Selected figure is FIG. 15.
US08053779B2
Provided are a thin film transistor (TFT) panel, a method of fabricating the same, and an organic light emitting display device (OLED) including the same. The TFT panel has a TFT region and a capacitor region. A TFT is formed in the TFT region and a capacitor is formed in the capacitor region. The TFT includes an active layer that includes a source and a drain regions. A gate insulation layer is formed on the active layer, and a gate electrode is formed on the gate insulation layer over the active layer. A source and a drain electrodes are formed over the active layer, and connected to the source and drain regions, respectively. In the TFT region, an interlayer insulation layer is formed between the gate electrode and the source/drain electrodes. In the capacitor region, an interlayer insulation layer is formed between a capacitor lower electrode and a capacitor upper electrode to form a capacitor. The interlayer insulation layers of the TFT region and the capacitor region have different layer structures and have different dielectric constants. Therefore, the capacitor region can have higher capacitance while the TFT region can have lower capacitance to reduce parasitic capacitance.
US08053778B2
A thin film transistor of the present invention has an active layer including at least source, drain and channel regions formed on an insulating surface. A high resistivity region is formed between the channel region and each of the source and drain regions. A film capable of trapping positive charges therein is provided on at least the high resistivity region so that N-type conductivity is induced in the high resistivity region. Accordingly, the reliability of N-channel type TFT against hot electrons can be improved.
US08053775B2
The liquid crystal display device of this invention includes a plurality of picture element regions each defined by a first electrode provided on a face of a first substrate facing a liquid crystal layer and a second electrode provided on a second substrate so as to oppose the first electrode via the liquid crystal layer sandwiched therebetween. In each of the picture element regions, the first electrode has a plurality of openings and a solid portion, the liquid crystal layer is in a vertical orientation state when no voltage is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode, and when a voltage is applied between the first electrode and the second electrode, a plurality of liquid crystal domains each in a radially-inclined orientation state are respectively formed in the plurality of openings and the solid portion by inclined electrode fields generated at respective edge portions of the openings of the first electrode.
US08053772B2
A method of depositing a film of a metal chalcogenide including the steps of: contacting an isolated hydrazinium-based precursor of a metal chalcogenide and a solvent having therein a solubilizing additive to form a solution of a complex thereof; applying the solution of the complex onto a substrate to produce a coating of the solution on the substrate; removing the solvent from the coating to produce a film of the complex on the substrate; and thereafter annealing the film of the complex to produce a metal chalcogenide film on the substrate. Also provided is a process for preparing an isolated hydrazinium-based precursor of a metal chalcogenide as well as a thin-film field-effect transistor device using the metal chalcogenides as the channel layer.
US08053767B2
Provided are a flexible and transparent carbon nano tube (CNT) thin film transistor using a degradable polymer substrate, and a display adapting the CNT thin film transistor. The polymer substrate is formed of a polymer material that is naturally degraded, and a CNT channel, where a semiconductive CNT is dispersed on a transparent organic material, is prepared on the polymer substrate. Source and drain electrodes, where a conductive CNT is ejected on a transparent organic material, are connected to both sides of the CNT channel. A gate, where a conductive CNT is dispersed on a transparent organic material, is disposed on or below the CNT channel, and a gate insulation layer including a transparent organic material is disposed between the CNT channel and the gate.
US08053764B2
An exemplary organic semiconductor copolymer includes a polymeric repeat structure having a polythiophene structure and an electron accepting unit. The electron accepting unit has at least one electron-accepting heteroaromatic structure with at least one electron-withdrawing imine nitrogen in the heteroaromatic structure or a thiophene-arylene comprising a C2-30 heteroaromatic structure. Methods of synthesis and electronic devices incorporating the disclosed organic semiconductors, e.g., as a channel layer, are also disclosed.
US08053761B2
Disclosed are methods of fabricating organic thin film transistors composed of a substrate, a gate electrode, a gate insulating film, metal oxide source/drain electrodes, and an organic semiconductor layer. The methods include applying a sufficient quantity of a self-assembled monolayer compound containing a live ion to the surfaces of the metal oxide electrodes to form a self-assembled monolayer. The presence of the live ion at the interface between the metal oxide electrodes and the organic semiconductor layer modifies the relative work function of these materials. Further, the presence of the self-assembled monolayer on the gate insulating film tends to reduce hysteresis. Accordingly, organic thin film transistors fabricated in accord with the example embodiments tend to exhibit improved charge mobility, improved gate insulating film properties and decreased hysteresis associated with the organic insulator.
US08053760B2
A thin film transistor includes a source electrode, a drain electrode, a semiconducting layer, and a gate electrode. The drain electrode is spaced from the source electrode. The semiconducting layer includes a carbon nanotube structure comprised of carbon nanotubes. The gate electrode is insulated from the source electrode, the drain electrode, and the semiconducting layer by an insulating layer. The carbon nanotube structure is connected to both the source electrode and the drain electrode, and an angle exist between each carbon nanotube of the carbon nanotube structure and a surface of the semiconductor layer, and the angle ranges from about 0 degrees to about 15 degrees.
US08053758B2
A semiconductor device for correcting an input signal and outputting a corrected signal are provided. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor layer, a plurality of first conductors formed on one of faces of the semiconductor layer and serving as input terminals to which a signal is input, second conductors of the number larger than that of the first conductors at density higher than that of the first conductors, formed on the other face of the semiconductor layer, a high impurity concentration region provided on the semiconductor layer side of an interface between the second conductor and the semiconductor layer, an insulating layer formed on the other face, and a plurality of third conductors formed on the insulating layer and serving as output terminals for outputting the processed signal.
US08053750B2
A phase change memory device includes a silicon substrate having a cell region and a peripheral region. A first insulation layer is formed in the cell region and includes a plurality of holes. Cell switching elements are formed in the holes of the first insulation layer and heat sinks are formed on the cell switching elements. The heaters are formed on the center of the heat sinks and spacers are formed on the sidewalls. A gate is formed in the peripheral region of the silicon substrate formed of a gate insulation layer, a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer, and a hard mask layer. A second insulation layer covers the entire surface of the resultant silicon substrate and exposes the spacers and the heaters and the hard mask layer. Finally, a stack pattern of a phase change layer and a top electrode is formed on the heaters.
US08053749B2
A memory comprising at least one memory cell operationally connected to a bit line, a source line and a word line. The memory cell comprises a substrate having a first source contact, a second source contact, and a bit contact between the first source contact and the second source contact, a first transistor gate electrically connecting the first source contact and the bit contact and a second transistor gate electrically connecting the bit contact and the second source contact. The word line electrically connects the first transistor gate to the second transistor gate.
US08053748B2
Embodiments include methods, apparatus, and systems with integrated circuits having phase change devices. One embodiment includes an integrated circuit die and a phase change die having a phase change material that changes phases when a temperature at the integrated circuit die exceeds a threshold for a predetermined amount of time.
US08053747B2
A method for cleaning a substrate processing apparatus in which a first ion beam generator and a second ion beam generator are arranged opposite to each other to sandwich a plane on which a substrate is to be placed, and which processes two surfaces of the substrate, comprises steps of retreating the substrate from a position between the first ion beam generator and the second ion beam generator, and cleaning the second ion beam generator by emitting an ion beam from the first ion beam generator to the second ion beam generator.
US08053746B2
The present invention relates to an irradiation device for irradiating an irradiation object with heavy charged particles at an irradiation station, comprising a particle accelerator for providing a particle beam and a swivelling device for swivelling the particle beam impinging on the irradiation object, wherein the swivelling device comprises a carrier pivotable about an axis. In accordance with the invention, the irradiation device is characterized in that the particle accelerator is mounted on the pivotable carrier.
US08053745B2
A device for circumscribing a target site with a beam. The target site is located within a target body. The path of the beam is varied rotationally so as to form a cone with an isocenter at the cone's apex. The isocenter is fixed on the approximate center of the target site. The target body is rotated about a vertical axis passing approximately through the center of the target site, and the rates of rotation of the beam path and body, respectively correspond so that the beam intersects an axis passing through the target site at an approximately constant angle.
US08053744B2
A method for using information encrypted with a nucleic acid molecule to backtrack an item's path or identify a point of origin. Unique nucleic acid-containing tags are seeded at one or more geographic locations. Using sequence analysis techniques, the person or object of interest is examined for the presence of one or more of the seeded nucleic acids. The geographic location associated with each detected nucleic acid is used to backtrack the item's path or extrapolate a probable point of origin.
US08053724B2
An instrumentation setup is provided to process electronic signals in a positron imager functioning in two different modes of operations for scanning both bulk and thin film materials. According to one part of an implementation, an instrumentation setup comprises an XY-rastering stepper motor apparatus coupled with LVDTs (Linear Variable Differential Transformers), and nuclear signal processing and high speed data acquisition sections. Imaging of bulk material samples may be enabled by scanning a positron point source across a surface of samples. In another part of the irnplenientation, the instrumentation setup may comprise an electromagnetic deflection control arrangement in conjunction with a guided monoenergetic positron beam together with nuclear signal processing and data acquisition arrangements. This part of the implementation may scan and produce images for thin film samples. The instrumentation setup is capable of producing high quality real-time S-parameter images.
US08053723B2
A mass spectrometer data dependent method and apparatus is introduced to alter scanning parameters based upon data acquired during that scan. Such a method an apparatus may include the identification of ion species of interest meeting user specified criteria so that a determination can be made as to whether or not the present scan is to be continued, terminated, or alternatively paused while such a decision is being made. Such a method of operation saves overall cycle time and allows examination of, for example, marker ion ratios for additional peptides that might otherwise be missed.
US08053722B1
A method of forming a light sensor array includes tuning a resistance level of a plurality of resistors. The resistors are included in a light sensor array for use with a positron emissision tomography (PET) scanner system. The light sensor array includes detection circuits that each includes one of the resistors connected in series with an avalanche photodiode.
US08053716B1
An imaging system comprises a first charge-coupled device (CCD), a second CCD, and a processor. The first CCD is configured to receive one or more light flashes, record a first set of data based on the light flashes, shift the first set of data in a first direction, read out the first set of data, and read out continuously. The second CCD is configured to receive the one or more light flashes, record a second set of data based on the light flashes, shift the second set of data in a second direction opposite to the first direction, read out the second set of data, and read out continuously. The processor, coupled to the first CCD and second CCD, is configured to determine a time and a location of the one or more light flashes based on the first set of data and the second set of data.
US08053707B2
A barbecue grill for cooking an object. The barbecue grill includes a first resistive element subassembly energizable for generating heat to cook the object, and a second resistive element subassembly energizable for generating heat to cook the object.
US08053704B2
Disclosed are systems for scoring non-flat materials including non-flat glass sheets (1000). In one embodiment, a laser scoring system is described. The laser scoring system includes a laser (102) and an optical head (106). The optical head (106) is configured to receive output from the laser (102) and focus the output into an elongated laser beam having a beam waist and an extended focal depth of greater than +/−5 mm relative to the center of the beam waist with a power density sufficient for scoring a material having at least a portion within the extended focal depth. In one aspect the system can include a beam expander (104). The beam expander (104) receives the output from the laser (102), expands the output from the laser to an expanded laser beam, and transmits the expanded laser beam to the optical head (106).
US08053703B2
An exemplary laser cutting device (300) includes a laser source (40), a lens module (51), a sprayer (60), a first rotating subassembly (52), and a second rotating subassembly (53). The lens module is configured for focusing a laser beam emitting from the laser source. The first rotating subassembly is connected to the lens module and configured for driving the lens module to rotate relative to the laser source. The second rotating subassembly is rotatably connected to the lens module. The sprayer is connected to the second rotating subassembly and driven to rotate relative to the laser source by the second rotating subassembly.
US08053697B2
A keyboard includes a keyboard base, a membrane circuit substrate, and a press key set having a plurality of press keys. Each of the press keys includes: a keycap, a linkage assembly including intersecting first and second link levers, and a first pivot mechanism to interconnect pivotally the first and second link levers, and an elastic element. The first pivot mechanism includes: a female element having a first opening formed in one of upper and lower surfaces of the first link lever; and a flexible male element outwardly protruding from a lateral surface of the second link lever. The male and female elements are configured such that after the male element is elastically deformed to be pressed into the female element via the first opening, the male element is restored to its original form to be limited in the female element.
US08053691B2
A Park inhibition solenoid assembly for preventing the undesirable shifting of a transmission from an out-of-Park mode to a Park mode includes a follower and an armature slidably disposed within a valve body/housing and within a solenoid. The follower is moveable between an out-of-Park position and a Park position and the armature is moveable between an unlocked position and a locked position. The follower and armature include detents for supporting a bearing. The armature and bearing prevent the follower from moving from the out-of-Park position to the Park position when the armature is held in place in the lock position by the solenoid.
US08053687B2
Provided are a semiconductor device and a touch sensor device. The semiconductor device includes a die including a sense signal generator for sensing a touch signal to generate a sense signal; a conductive die-attach pad attached to the die to generate the touch signal; and a package for packaging the die and the die-attach pad, wherein the die-attach pad generates the touch signal depending on whether a touch object comes into contact with the package. The touch sensor device includes a plurality of semiconductor devices connected in a daisy-chain communication mode, wherein each of the semiconductor devices includes a die including a sense signal generator for sensing a touch signal to generate a sense signal; a conductive die-attach pad attached to the die to generate the touch signal; and a package for packaging the die and the die-attach pad, wherein the die-attach pad generates the touch signal depending on whether a touch object is brought into contact with the package. The semiconductor device enables the size and position of a touch pad to be known in advance during the fabrication of a die so that a sensitivity adjusting process can be simplified. Also, since the touch pad is included in a touch sensor, a system can be simply configured at low cost. Furthermore, the touch sensor device requires no additional sensitivity adjusting process and enables a plurality of touch sensor systems to be constructed at low cost by simply connecting a small number of electrical signals.
US08053677B2
An electronic apparatus includes a multilayer wiring structure having insulating layers and wiring layers which are stacked and having a surface on which an electronic component is mounted, a dipole antenna formed on a surface 13A of the multilayer wiring structure, a radiating plate disposed on the surface together with the dipole antenna, and a radiating path formed in the multilayer wiring structure and serving to transfer a heat generated in the electronic component to the radiating plate.
US08053676B2
A substrate panel primarily comprises a plurality of substrate strips arranged in an array, one or more current input lines, a plurality of cascaded lines connecting between the substrate strips, and a current input buffer gate. Current input lines connect a current input side of the substrate panel to the adjacent substrate strips. The current input buffer gate has a frame around the substrate strips and a plurality of meshes where the frame intersects with the current input lines and the meshes intersect with the cascaded lines with both ends of the meshes connecting to the frame. Therefore, the current can be evenly distributed to each substrate strip during plating processes to improve the issues of different plating thicknesses and different plating roughness caused by different current densities and to protect the internal circuits inside the substrate strips from the damages due to current surges and unstable voltages.
US08053671B1
An electrical device cover assembly configured for mounting over an electrical device is described. The electrical device cover assembly comprises a base comprising an opening large enough to receive an electrical device. A lid comprising a lid face, a lid ring, and an expansion section between the lid face and the lid ring, the lid coupled to the base and comprising an inside surface and an expansion section, the expansion section expandable from a first depth to a second depth at least twice as deep as the first depth is provided. An expansion arm moveable between a first collapsed position when the expansion section is at its first depth and an second expanded position when the expansion section is at its second depth, wherein in the second position the expansion arm is in contact with and supports the lid at its second depth is also provided.
US08053668B2
A housing structure includes an upper housing, a lower housing, a first waterproof member and a second waterproof member. The upper housing has a first connecting portion, and the lower housing has a second connecting portion. The upper housing and the lower housing are connected to each other by the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion. The first waterproof member is disposed between the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion. The second waterproof member is disposed between the first connecting portion and the second connecting portion. Wherein, a distance is formed between the first waterproof member and the second waterproof member.
US08053666B2
A p type amorphous silicon layer is stacked, by a CVD method, on a main surface of an n type single-crystalline silicon substrate; an n type amorphous silicon layer is stacked, by the CVD method, on a surface opposite to the surface on which the p type amorphous silicon layer is stacked; and, by using a laser ablation processing method, through-holes are formed in the n type single-crystalline silicon substrate, the p type amorphous silicon layer, and the n type amorphous silicon layer. Subsequently, an insulating layer is formed on an inner wall surface of each of the through-holes, and then a conductive material is filled therein.
US08053662B2
Devices and methods for collecting solar energy using photovoltaic material are disclosed.
US08053661B2
A photoelectric conversion element is provided and includes: an electrically conductive thin layer; an organic photoelectric conversion layer containing a compound having a partial structure represented by the following formula (I) and a fullerene or a fullerene derivative; and a transparent electrically conductive thin layer. X represents O, S or N—R10, R10 represents a hydrogen atom or a substituent, Rx and Ry represent a hydrogen atom or a substituent, with at least one representing an electron-withdrawing group, Rx and Ry may combine to form a ring, R represents a bond (—), a hydrogen atom or a substituent, with at least one being the bond, nr represents an integer of 1 to 4, R's may be the same or different when nr is 2 or more, and R's at the 2- and 3-positions or R's at the 5- and 6-positions may combine with each other to form a ring.
US08053647B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV006790. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV006790, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV006790 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV006790 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV006790.
US08053637B2
Reported herein are methods for obtaining stably transformed callus in Taxus media ‘Hicksii’, including particularly methods that involve using needles, stem, or bark peel as explant material for transformation. Also provided are descriptions of several promoter activities in directing reporter gene expression in Taxus media cells, in particular cells in suspension cultures, callus and needles. Transgenic plants (e.g., Taxus plants), plant cells, cell lines, and tissues (including seeds) are also provided, in particular those that express one or more enzymes in a paclitaxel biosynthesis pathway.
US08053634B2
A method of acylating the 3′ position of anthocyanin using an enzyme that transfers an aromatic acyl group to a sugar at the 3′ position of anthocyanin or a gene encoding the enzyme.
US08053630B2
The invention provides plant gene promoters, and essential promoter elements, which are root-specific and/or induced by parasitic nematodes. The promoters of the invention are useful for controlling expression of nucleic acids of interest in plant roots.
US08053623B2
A reinforced closure anchor includes a first layer having an adhesive side, an opposite non-adhesive side, and an outer edge. An anchor member layer having a reinforcing structure is disposed on the first layer. The anchor member includes an adhesive side and an opposite non-adhesive side. The anchor member adhesive side is adhered to the first layer non-adhesive side. The anchor member is disposed within the outer edge of the first layer.
US08053619B2
Process for the production of alkenes from a feedstock comprising monohydric aliphatic paraffinic alcohols having from 2 to 3 carbon atoms, in which the monohydric aliphatic paraffinic alcohols containing 2 to 3 carbon atoms are dehydrated into the corresponding same carbon number alkenes at a pressure of more than 0.5 MPa but less than 4.0 MPa and at a temperature of less than 300° C. The alcohols present in the feedstock comprise ethanol, propanol(s), less than 1 wt % of methanol and less than 1 wt % of C3+ alcohols.
US08053614B2
The invention relates to a new base stock material. Specifically the invention relates to a saturated hydrocarbon composition and particularly to a composition based on biological raw materials, to be used as a high-quality base oil or to be used as a component in the production of a base oil having a high viscosity index and good low temperature properties. The composition contains saturated hydrocarbons and has a narrow carbon number range.
US08053612B2
A process for making a fluorinated olefin. The process has the step of dehydrochlorinating a hydrochlorofluorocarbon having at least one hydrogen atom and at least one chlorine atom on adjacent carbon atoms in the presence of a catalytically effective amount of a catalyst composition. The catalyst composition is represented by the following: n wt. % MX/M′OyFz, wherein 0
US08053611B2
A process is disclosed for the manufacture of 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoropropane and 1,1,1,2,3,3-hexafluoropropane, hexafluoropropene and/or 1,1,1,2,3,3,3-heptafluoropropane. The process involves (a) reacting HF, Cl2, and at least one halopropene of the formula CX3CCl═CClX (where each X is independently F or Cl) to produce a product comprising CF3CCl2CF3 and CF3CClFCClF2; (b) reacting CF3CCl2CF3 and CF3CClFCClF2 produced in (a) with hydrogen, optionally in the presence of HF, to produce a product comprising CF3CH2CF3 and at least one of CHF2CHFCF3, CF3CF═CF2 and CF3CFHCF3; and (c) recovering from the product produced in (b), CF3CH2CF3 and at least one of CHF2CHFCF3, CF3CF═CF2 and CF3CFHCF3. In (a), the CF3CCl2CF3 and CF3CClFCClF2 are produced in the presence of a chlorofluorination catalyst including (i) a crystalline alpha-chromium oxide where at least 0.05 atom % of the chromium atoms in the alpha-chromium oxide lattice are replaced by divalent copper, and/or (ii) a chromium-containing composition of (i) which has been treated with a fluorinating agent.
US08053610B2
The present invention relates to a method for purifying an aqueous solution of fermentation alcohol to give anhydrous alcohol, wherein a mash column is controlled such a manner that an alcohol concentration of an alcohol/water mixed vapor distilled from a mash column is less than 50% by weight and a reflux amount of a condensate to a distillation column is controlled such a manner that an alcohol concentration of an alcohol/water mixed vapor that is distilled from the distillation column is 55 to 85% by weight. According to the present method, the purification for obtaining an anhydrous alcohol from an aqueous solution of a fermentation alcohol with the use of a mash column, a pressurized distillation column and a membrane separator can be more conveniently carried out with an extremely high energy efficiency as the whole process.
US08053609B2
A solid (i.e., heterogeneous) catalyst useful for preparing an alkylene glycol from the corresponding alkylene oxide as well as a process for the catalytic hydration of an alkylene oxide to an alkylene glycol utilizing such a catalyst are provided. The catalyst of the present invention is based on an ion exchange resin including polystyrene crosslinked with from about 2 to about 10 weight (wt.) % divinyl benzene. The ion exchange resin further includes quaternary ammonium groups or quaternary phosphonium groups. The process includes reacting water and an alkylene oxide in at least one reactor under conditions to form an alkylene glycol, wherein the at least one reactor includes a catalyst based on an ion exchange resin that includes polystyrene crosslinked with from about 2 to about 10 weight (wt.) % divinyl benzene.
US08053599B2
The present invention relates to a medicament which is useful for neurodegenerative diseases, which comprises about 1 to about 5 equivalents of a basic metal ion based on 1 equivalent of (2R)-2-propyloctanoic acid or a salt thereof, which is supplied from a metal salt of weak acid or a metal hydroxide, and optionally further comprises an additive. The medicament of the present invention is a medicament which a pH of suitable for intravenous administration, is resistant to fluctuations of the pH and is not clouded when it is dissolved in an infusion, and an injection and the like can be prepared therefrom by using any dissolving liquid and/or dilution liquid.
US08053590B2
The invention relates to a method for producing enantiomers form of 2,3-diaminopropionic acid derivatives of formula (I) by asymmetric hydrogenation from compounds of formula (II).
US08053584B2
The present case relates to a process for the purification of lactide from a crude lactide vapor product stream which process comprises a rectification/condensation step leading to a lactide-enriched condensate.
US08053582B1
A cross-linked polyisocyanate polymer and a process for preparation of a polymer having the general structure (I) including reacting an effective amount of tetrazole polyol with isocyanate resin, combining at a temperature in the range of about 50° C. to about 100° C. for a time period in the range of about 1 to about 24 hours and cooling to room temperature producing a cross-linked polyisocyanate polymer.
US08053580B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide (1) a process for manufacturing alkali metal salts of 2-[{4-(3-methoxypropoxy)-3-methylpyridin-2-yl}methylsulfinyl]-1H-benzimidazole which are useful as gastric acid secretion inhibitors, anti-ulcer agents and other drugs and (2) salts of 2-[{4-(3-methoxypropoxy)-3-methylpyridin-2-yl}methylsulfinyl]-1H-benzimidazole with amines which are intermediates for the production of the alkali metal salts, and a process for manufacturing the same. According to the present invention, disclosed are salts represented by the following formula (I): (wherein A+ represents an isopropylammonium ion, sec-butylammonium ion or cyclopentylammonium ion).
US08053576B2
Spirocyclic cyclohexane compounds corresponding to formula I a method for producing them, pharmaceutical compositions containing them, and methods of using them.
US08053574B2
Phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase inhibitor compounds, their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, and prodrugs thereof; compositions of the new compounds, either alone or in combination with at least one additional therapeutic agent, with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier; and uses of the new compounds, either alone or in combination with at least one additional therapeutic agent, in the prophylaxis or treatment of proliferative diseases characterized by the abnormal activity of growth factors, protein serine/threonine kinases, and phospholipid kinases.
US08053570B2
The present invention relates to a method for producing an α-form titanylphthalocyanine represented by the formula (1): which has a peak at a Bragg angle (2θ±0.2°) in X-ray diffraction spectrum with CuK α-ray: 7.5°, 10.2°, 12.6°, 13.2°, 15.1°, 16.3°, 17.3°, 18.3°, 22.5°, 24.2°, 25.3° and 28.6°, wherein the method includes steps of: (I) subjecting a crude titanylphthalocyanine having an α-form polymorph to an acid pasting treatment, and then filtering and washing with water to give a water-containing wet cake, and then subjecting the wet cake to drying and crushing to give a low crystalline titanylphthalocyanine; (II) adding a dispersing aid to the low crystalline titanylphthalocyanine and dispersing at room temperature, in DMF, to prepare a polymorph; and (III) filtering, washing, and drying under a reduced pressure.
US08053562B2
The present invention relates to a new class of modified antibody fragments. The present invention provides an antibody fragment to which one or more effector molecules is attached characterized in that the native interchain disulphide bond between the heavy (CHI) and light (CL) chain constant regions is absent and the heavy chain (CHI) and light chain (CL) constant regions are linked by an interchain disulphide bond between a pair of engineered cysteines, one in the light chain constant (CL) region and the other in the heavy chain constant (CHI) region.
US08053561B2
The invention is a proteinaceous construct comprising a Factor VIII molecule having at least a portion of the B domain intact, which is conjugated to a water-soluble polymer such as polyethylene glycol having a molecular weight of greater than 10,000 Daltons. The construct has a biological activity of at least 80% of the biological activity of native Factor VIII, and the in vivo half-life of the construct is increased by at least 1.5 fold as compared to the in vivo half-life of native factor FVIII.
US08053557B2
It is an objective of the present invention to identify SPARC protein-derived peptides that are able to induce human killer T cells and helper T cells having cytotoxic activity to tumors, and to provide a means for carrying out a tumor immunotherapy of patients with various types of cancers overexpressing SPARC. The present invention provides a peptide of any of the following: (A) a peptide which consists of the amino acid sequence as shown in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 1 to 3; or (B) a peptide which consists of an amino acid sequence comprising a substitution or addition of one or several amino acids with respect to the peptide consisting of the amino acid sequence as shown in any one of SEQ ID NOS: 1 to 3, and which has capacity to induce cytotoxic (killer) T cells.
US08053555B2
Peptides have been generated that have binding affinity to carbon nanostructures and particularly carbon nanotubes. Peptides of or the invention are generally about twelve amino acids in length. Methods for generating carbon nanotube binding peptides are also disclosed.
US08053551B2
Described is a novel family of cell surface serpentine transmembrane antigens. Two of the proteins in this family are exclusively or predominantly expressed in the prostate, as well as in prostate cancer, and thus members of this family have been termed “STEAP” (Six Transmembrane Epithelial Antigen of the Prostate). Four particular human STEAPs are described and characterized herein. The human STEAPs exhibit a high degree of structural conservation among them but show no significant structural homology to any known human proteins. The prototype member of the STEAP family, STEAP-1, appears to be a type IIIa membrane protein expressed predominantly in prostate cells in normal human tissues. Structurally, STEAP-1 is a 339 amino acid protein characterized by a molecular topology of six transmembrane domains and intracellular N- and C-termini, suggesting that it folds in a “serpentine” manner into three extracellular and two intracellular loops. STEAP-1 protein expression is maintained at high levels across various stages of prostate cancer. Moreover, STEAP-1 is highly over-expressed in certain other human cancers.
US08053545B2
Processes for making ivalent germanium and tin compounds are provided. The divalent germanium and tin compounds have been found to be efficient catalysts for the formation of polyurethanes.
US08053544B2
The present invention is to provide a silicone having (meth)acryl groups on both ends of a molecule and represented by the formula (I): wherein R1 is represented by the following formula: wherein n is 3 or 4, k is an integer of from 1 to 15, j is an integer of from 0 to 15, and Q2 is a methyl group or a hydrogen atom; R2 is, independently of each other, a group selected from the group consisting of hydrocarbon groups and halogenated hydrocarbon groups, both having 1 to 10 carbon atoms; R3 is a group represented by the following formula: —CmH2mO(C2H4O)x(C3H6O)yQ1 wherein m is 3 or 4, x is an integer of from 1 to 15, y is an integer of from 0 to 15, and Q1 is a methyl group or a hydrogen atom; a is an integer of from 1 to 500; and b is an integer of from 1 to 100, with a total of a and b being 50 to 500.
US08053531B2
A hydrogenated crystalline norbornene ring-opening polymer is obtained by hydrogenating 80% or more of carbon-carbon double bonds of a ring-opening polymer that is obtained by ring-opening polymerization of norbornene monomers including 90 to 100 wt % of 2-norbornene and 0 to 10 wt % of a 2-norbornene derivative having a substituent which does not include an aliphatic carbon-carbon double bond in the presence of a branching agent, the hydrogenated crystalline norbornene ring-opening polymer having a melting point of 110 to 145° C. and a branching index of 0.3 to 0.98, and a molded article is obtained by molding the hydrogenated crystalline norbornene ring-opening polymer. The hydrogenated crystalline norbornene ring-opening polymer has excellent industrial productivity, and the molded article has excellent productivity and moisture resistance.
US08053530B2
A polymer useful as an ion conductor in fuel cells includes a perfluorocyclobutyl moiety and pendant PFSA side groups. The polymer is made by a variation of the Ullmann reaction. Ion conducting membranes incorporating the polymer are provided.
US08053526B2
A process aid for improving the processability of non-fluorinated melt processible polymers contains a fluoroelastomer having a Mooney viscosity (ML (1+10) at 121° C.) between 30 and 100 and at least two interfacial agents, one a polycaprolactone having a Mn between 2000 and 8000 and the other a polyalkylene oxide having a Mn between 3000 and 5000.
US08053521B2
The present invention relates to polishing pads, including at least 60 to 99 parts by weight of a polymer matrix (A) having 1,2-polybutadiene; and 1 to 40 parts by weight of component (B) having a copolymer having a polyether block, where the total amount of the polishing pad is 100 parts by mass, polymer matrix (A) includes 1,2-polybutadiene in an amount of at least 60 parts by weight, relative to 100 parts by mass of the polishing pad, component (B) includes the copolymer having a polyether block in an amount of at most 40 parts by weight relative to 100 parts by mass of the polishing pad, and the polishing pads have a surface resistivity of 2.6×107 to 9.9×1013Ω.
US08053520B2
An initiator for the terminal group of the polymer product of an atom or group radical transfer polymerisation has an activated carboxyl or an amine group which is reacted with an amine or carboxyl (respectively) group containing biologically active compound. The initiator is preferably 4-(3-(2-bromo, 2-methyl-propionate)phenyl)-propionic acid N-hydroxysuccinimide ester or 2-bromo, 2-methyl-propionic acid N-hydroxysuccinimide ester. The monomers preferably comprise a zwitterionic monomer such as 2-methacryloxyethyl-2′-trimethyl ammoniumethyl phosphate inner salt.
US08053504B1
A polyvinyl butyral (PVB) resin has a meso/racemic stereoisomer ratio of from about 2.5 to about 5.0. A process for preparing this PVB resin is described. Manipulation of the PVB stereoisomer ratio can provide an additional method of controlling the physical properties of a plasticized composition comprising the PVB resin, in addition to or in lieu of changing additives or otherwise manipulating the components of the plasticized PVB resin composition.
US08053502B2
The invention concerns to a composition comprising: at least one fluorinated polymer (A), at least one interfacing agent (B), and at least one stabilizer (C) of formula (I) wherein Ar1 and Ar2 represent an aryl group. The composition is used as an agent for extruding a thermoplastic polyolefin or resin. The invention also concerns an extruding method consisting in: (i) contacting in the solid phase a composition as defined above with a thermoplastic polyolefin or a thermoplastic resin; (ii) then extruding the mixture obtained in (i) in the form of a film, a tube, a profiled section or a hollow body.
US08053500B2
To provide a flame-retardant polyamide resin composition generally excellent in flame resistance, mechanical characteristics and electrical characteristics, and suitable for electrics/electronics components and vehicles. Used is a flame-retardant polyamide resin composition comprising, a polyamide resin (A), a phosphorus-containing flame retarder (B), and glass fiber having a non-circular cross-section (C), wherein the contents in the composition are 15 to 78% by weight for the polyamide resin (A), 2 to 20% by weight for the phosphorus-containing flame retarder (B), and 20 to 65% by weight for the glass fiber having a non-circular cross-section (C).
US08053496B1
A process for producing a rubber wet master batch contains at least a filler, a dispersing solvent and a rubber latex liquid as raw materials, comprising: a step (I) of, at the time of dispersing the filler into the dispersing solvent, adding at least one portion of the rubber latex liquid thereto, thereby preparing a slurry containing the filler to which rubber latex particles adhere; a step (II) of mixing the slurry with the rest of the rubber latex liquid, thereby preparing the rubber latex liquid containing the rubber-latex-particle-adhering filler; and a step (III) of solidifying and drying the rubber latex liquid containing the rubber-latex-particle-adhering filler.
US08053483B2
A gas adsorbent which has sufficient gas adsorptivity for noxious gas components in a cigarette when brought into contact with a gas stream having a high flow rate as that when it passes through a cigarette filter, and which releases a small amount of bad odor components such as amine impurities and free noxious components which adversely affect health such as aromatic compounds derived from the gas adsorbent itself, the gas adsorbent satisfying conditions (I), (II), (IV) and (V) or conditions (I), (III), (IV) and (V), as described in the specification.
US08053477B2
Compounds that bind S100 and inhibit the S100-p53 protein-protein interaction and activate the tumor suppressor activity of p53, and thus which have an antineoplastic effect are disclosed, as well as methods for identifying these compounds, compositions comprising the same, and methods of using the same to treat cancer.
US08053462B2
This invention relates to a compound represented by formula (I) or a salt thereof, and a therapeutic agent for osteoporosis, an osteoblast activator, and an osteoclast suppressor comprising the same: wherein X represents a halogen atom; R1 represents a hydrogen atom, substituted or unsubstituted C1-6 alkyl, substituted or unsubstituted C2-6 alkenyl, substituted or unsubstituted C2-6 alkynyl, a substituted or unsubstituted aromatic group, substituted or unsubstituted aralkyl, substituted or unsubstituted acyl, substituted or unsubstituted arylsulfonyl, substituted or unsubstituted C1-6 alkylsulfonyl, or hydroxyl; R2 represents substituted or unsubstituted C1-21 alkyl; R3, R5 and R6, which may be the same or different, each represent a hydrogen atom or a halogen atom; and R4 represents a hydrogen atom or substituted or unsubstituted C1-6 alkyl.
US08053459B1
The present invention synthesizes a series of selenolo[3,2-c]pyrazole and selenolo[2,3-c]pyrazole derivatives, and discovers their anticancer activity.
US08053444B2
The present invention relates to a stable pharmaceutical composition that includes sirolimus. The pharmaceutical composition includes sirolimus in the amorphous form, a fatty acid ester, such as glyceryl behenate, and a pharmaceutically acceptable polymer wherein the fatty acid ester is present at a concentration of less than 10% w/w compared to the total weight of the composition.
US08053443B2
N-Substituted indenoisoquinoline compounds, and pharmaceutical formulations of N-substituted indenoisoquinoline compounds are described. Also described are processes for preparing N-substituted indenoisoquinoline compounds. Also described are methods for treating cancer in mammals using the described N-substituted indenoisoquinoline compounds or pharmaceutical formulations thereof.
US08053437B2
The present invention relates to compounds of formula (I), and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, wherein: R3 is tert-butylmethyl, sec-butyl or tert-butyl; X is CH or N; and R4 is optionally substituted C1-8 alkyl or optionally substituted C3-8 cycloalkyl. The invention further relates to pharmaceutical compositions comprising compounds of formula (I), and the use of such compounds in the treatment of a disease selected from osteoporosis, Paget's disease, Chagas's disease, malaria, gingival diseases, hypercalaemia, metabolic bone disease, diseases involving matrix or cartilage degradation, and bone cancer disorders such as bone metastases and associated pain.
US08053434B2
The present disclosure provides compounds that inhibit protein kinases, such as JAK, Axl, or Syk kinases, compositions comprising the compounds and methods of using the compounds to inhibit protein kinase and treat and/or prevent diseases associated with inappropriate kinase activity. The compounds of the present invention are according to structural formula (I): or a salt or N-oxide thereof, wherein B is selected from
US08053431B2
The use of substituted amides for modulating the activity of 11-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11HSD1) and the use of these compounds as pharmaceutical compositions, are described. Also a novel class of substituted amides, their use in therapy, pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds, as well as their use in the manufacture of medicaments are described. The present compounds are modulators and more specifically inhibitors of the activity of 11HSD1 and may be useful in the treatment, prevention and/or prophylaxis of a range of medical disorders where a decreased intracellular concentration of active glucocorticoid is desirable.
US08053430B2
Methods are provided of treating renal cancer by administration of certain 3,3′,4,4′-tetrahydroxy-2,2′-bipyridine-N,N′-dioxide compounds, especially 3,3′,4,4′-tetrahydroxy-2,2′-bipyridine-N,N′-dioxide (Orellanine), using particular administration protocols and dosing regimens, as well as pharmaceutical compositions suitable for use in the treatment methods that are provided.
US08053423B2
The present invention is directed to a stabilized cross-linked hydrogel matrix comprising a first high molecular weight component and a second high molecular weight component that are covalently linked, and at least one stabilizing or enhancing agent, wherein the first high molecular weight component and the second high molecular weight component are each selected from the group consisting of polyglycans and polypeptides. This stabilized hydrogel matrix may be prepared as bioactive gels, pastes, slurries, cell attachment scaffolds for implantable medical devices, and casting or binding materials suitable for the construction of medical devices. The intrinsic bioactivity of the hydrogel matrix makes it useful as a gel or paste in multiple applications, including as a cell attachment scaffold that promotes wound healing around an implanted device, as gels and pastes for induction of localized vasculogenesis, wound healing, tissue repair, and regeneration, as a wound adhesive, and for tissue bulking.
US08053414B2
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.
US08053412B2
Recombinant NELL peptides and methods of preparing the same are disclosed.
US08053380B2
Impact copolymers, comprising an in-reactor blend of homopolymer polypropylene and an ethylene-propylene rubber, can be processed into spunbond non-woven fabrics. These fabrics have been shown to have increased ultimate extension without reduction in the ultimate tensile strength, as compared to conventional homopolymer polypropylene derived spunbond non-wovens.
US08053379B2
A polyester garment material including a set of 100% polyester warp yarns and a set of 100% polyester weft yarns, wherein the warp and weft yarns are interlaced to form the garment material. The warp and weft yarns comprise of air-jet spun polyester fibers that wisk moisture away from an individual wearing the garment material and, therefore, provide a quick-drying, breathable garment material that simulates the absorbency characteristics of cotton yarns. The set of polyester warp yarns and the set of polyester weft yarns may be interlaced to form a ground fabric, where a set of polyester pile yarns may then be interlaced with the ground fabric so that the pile yarns extend outwardly (e.g., forming a plurality of loops) on the front side, back side, or both sides of the ground fabric.
US08053373B2
A semiconductor-on-insulator structure includes a buried dielectric layer interposed between a base semiconductor substrate and a surface semiconductor layer. The buried dielectric layer comprises an oxide material that includes a nitrogen gradient that peaks at the interface of the buried dielectric layer with at least one of the base semiconductor substrate and surface semiconductor layer. The interface of the buried dielectric layer with the at least one of the base semiconductor substrate and surface semiconductor layer is abrupt, providing a transition in less than about 5 atomic layer thickness, and having less than about 10 angstroms RMS interfacial roughness. A second dielectric layer comprising an oxide dielectric material absent nitrogen may be located interposed between the buried dielectric layer and the surface semiconductor layer.
US08053361B2
A method for forming a semiconductor device is presented. A substrate prepared with a dielectric layer formed thereon is provided. A first upper etch stop layer is formed on the dielectric layer. The first upper etch stop layer includes a first dielectric material. The dielectric layer and first upper etch stop layer are patterned to form an interconnect opening. The interconnect opening is filled with a conductive material to form an interconnect. The interconnect and first upper etch stop layer have coplanar top surfaces. A second upper etch stop layer is formed over the coplanar top surfaces. The second upper etch stop layer includes a second material having sufficient adhesion with the first material to reduce diffusion of the conductive material.
US08053359B2
A method for processing a semiconductor structure includes the steps of capping a top surface of the semiconductor structure that defines the metallization layer with a thin stop layer, forming a dielectric layer over the thin stop layer, wherein the dielectric layer defines at least one area where the thin stop layer is exposed, and removing the exposed thin stop layer to expose a top surface of the metallization layer using etchant gases substantially free from oxygen, so that the metallization layer is substantially free of damage.
US08053357B2
A common problem associated with damascene structures made of copper inlaid in FSG (fluorinated silicate glass) is the formation of defects near the top surface of the structure. The present invention avoids this problem by laying down a layer of USG (undoped silicate glass) over the surface of the FSG layer prior to patterning and etching the latter to form the via hole and (for a dual damascene structure) the trench. After over-filling with copper, the structure is planarized using CMP. The USG layer acts both to prevent any fluorine from the FSG layer from reaching the copper and as an end-point detector during CMP. In this way defects that result from copper-fluorine interaction do not form and precise planarization is achieved.
US08053340B2
A transistor which includes halo regions disposed in a substrate adjacent to opposing sides of the gate. The halo regions have upper and lower regions. The upper region is a crystalline region with excess vacancies and the lower region is an amorphous region. Source/drain diffusion regions are disposed in the halo regions. The source/drain diffusion regions overlap the upper and lower halo regions. This architecture offers the minimal extension resistance as well as minimum lateral diffusion for better CMOS device scaling.
US08053336B2
A method of forming an integrated circuit structure including providing a wafer comprising a front surface and a back surface, wherein the wafer comprises a chip; forming an opening extending from the back surface into the chip; filling an organic material in the opening, wherein substantially no portion of the organic material is outside of the opening and on the back surface of the wafer; and baking the organic material to cause a contraction of the organic material.
US08053326B2
A semiconductor device, includes: a first storage node contact plug penetrating a first interlayer insulation layer and partially protruding above the first interlayer insulation layer; a second storage node contact plug contacting the first storage node contact plug that protrudes above the first interlayer insulation layer; a storage node contacting a top surface of the second storage node contact plug; and a second interlayer insulation layer formed over the first interlayer insulation layer, wherein the second interlayer insulation layer surrounds an outer sidewall at a bottom region of the first storage node, and the second storage node contact plug, and wherein the first storage node contact plug protruding above the first interlayer insulation layer and the second storage node contact plug.
US08053323B1
The present disclosure provides a method of fabricating a semiconductor device. The method includes forming a patternable layer over a substrate. The method includes forming a first layer over the patternable layer. The method includes forming a second layer over the first layer. The second layer is substantially thinner than the first layer. The method includes patterning the second layer with a photoresist material through a first etching process to form a patterned second layer. The method includes patterning the first layer with the patterned second layer through a second etching process to form a patterned first layer. The first and second layers have substantially different etching rates during the second etching process. The method includes patterning the patternable layer with the patterned first layer through a third etching process.
US08053314B2
Disclosed are embodiments of an asymmetric field effect transistor structure and a method of forming the structure in which both series resistance in the source region (Rs) and gate to drain capacitance (Cgd) are reduced in order to provide optimal performance (i.e., to provide improved drive current with minimal circuit delay). Specifically, different heights of the source and drain regions and/or different distances between the source and drain regions and the gate are tailored to minimize series resistance in the source region (i.e., in order to ensure that series resistance is less than a predetermined resistance value) and in order to simultaneously to minimize gate to drain capacitance (i.e., in order to simultaneously ensure that gate to drain capacitance is less than a predetermined capacitance value).
US08053311B2
The present invention provides a dielectric film having a high permittivity and a high heat resistance. An embodiment of the present invention is a dielectric film (103) including a composite oxynitride containing an element A made of Hf, an element B made of Al or Si, and N and O, wherein mole fractions of the element A, the element B, and N expressed as B/(A+B+N) range from 0.015 to 0.095 and N/(A+B+N) equals or exceeds 0.045, and has a crystalline structure.
US08053281B2
A method is provided for forming a microelectronic package at a wafer level. Such method can include providing a semiconductor wafer having a surface with a pattern of electrical contacts thereon. An interposer component can be provided which has a compliant dielectric layer bonded to a conductive layer. A pattern of holes can be formed through the compliant dielectric layer and the conductive layer which corresponds to the pattern of electrical contacts. The compliant dielectric layer can be contacted with the semiconductor wafer surface so that the pattern of holes is in an aligned position with the pattern of contacts and the compliant dielectric layer and the semiconductor wafer surface then bonded in the aligned position to unite the semiconductor wafer and the interposer component to form a wafer level semiconductor package. The wafer level semiconductor package can be diced to form individual semiconductor chip packages.
US08053279B2
Methods and systems for imaging and cutting semiconductor wafers and other microelectronic device substrates are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a system for singulating microelectronic devices from a substrate includes an X-ray imaging system having an X-ray source spaced apart from an X-ray detector. The X-ray source can emit a beam of X-rays through the substrate and onto the X-ray detector, and X-ray detector can generate an X-ray image of at least a portion of the substrate. A method in accordance with another embodiment includes detecting spacing information for irregularly spaced dies of a semiconductor workpiece. The method can further include automatically controlling a process for singulating the dies of the semiconductor workpiece, based at least in part on the spacing information. For example, individual dies can be singulated from a workpiece via non-straight line cuts and/or multiple cutter passes.
US08053273B2
A silicon/carbon alloy may be formed in drain and source regions, wherein another portion may be provided as an in situ doped material with a reduced offset with respect to the gate electrode material. For this purpose, in one illustrative embodiment, a cyclic epitaxial growth process including a plurality of growth/etch cycles may be used at low temperatures in an ultra-high vacuum ambient, thereby obtaining a substantially bottom to top fill behavior.
US08053264B2
A method for photoelectrochemical (PEC) etching of a p-type semiconductor layer simply and efficiently, by providing a driving force for holes to move towards a surface of a p-type cap layer to be etched, wherein the p-type cap layer is on a heterostructure and the heterostructure provides the driving force from an internal bias generated internally in the heterostructure; generating electron-hole pairs in a separate area of the heterostructure than the surface to be etched; and using an etchant solution to etch the surface of the p-type layer.
US08053261B2
A method of fabricating a light emitting device includes forming a plurality of light emitting elements on light emitting element mounting regions, respectively, of a substrate, forming lens supports on the light emitting element mounting regions, respectively, are raised relative to isolation regions of the substrate located between neighboring ones of the light emitting element mounting regions, and forming lenses covering the light emitting elements on the lens support patterns, respectively.
US08053258B2
The present invention is a composition that may be used for sealing applications in the manufacture of electronic devices. The composition includes organic vehicles that may be removed upon low temperature firing in air or inert atmospheres. The present invention is further a process for the use of the composition.
US08053248B2
A suitable container for plasma lyophilization has been designed for lyophilization (lyo-bag), storage, reconstitution and administering of blood products. A rigid support frame for use with a lyo-bag with sidewalls was designed as an external removable supportive system, which provides the necessary stability for the flexible container during lyophilization. A removable bottom wall support sheet was designed for use with any flexible container for lyophilization.
US08053246B2
To provide a method for enhancing analysis sensitivity of bio-related molecules in mass spectrometry. To provide a method for rapidly and conveniently analyzing biological acid molecules using the method of enhanced analysis sensitivity in mass spectrometry.A method of preparing a bio-related molecule to be subjected to mass spectrometry, in which at least a part of acid group(s) is esterified, comprising reacting a bio-related molecule comprising an acid group(s) with a triazene compound to esterify at least a part of said acid group(s). A method of analyzing bio-related molecules comprising reacting a bio-related molecule comprising an acid group(s) with a triazene compound to esterify said acid group(s), and then subjecting said bio-related molecule having an esterified acid group(s) to mass spectrometry.
US08053244B2
A biosensor is described. The biosensor includes a fixed multilayer stack providing a magnetization oscillation, a voltage source electrically coupled to the fixed multilayer stack, and a binding molecule covalently bonded to the biosensor. The voltage source provides a direct current through the fixed multilayer stack to generate the magnetization oscillation and a target molecule including a magnetic nanoparticle forms a complex with the binding molecule and alters the magnetization oscillation.
US08053242B2
The crystallization of chemical species/polymorphs comprises forming droplets of a solution of a substance with optionally different concentrations of said substance in an inert phase; producing and storing the droplets in at least one storage microchannel (1); forming crystals in all droplets; increasing the temperature in order to induce the dissolution of at least a portion of the crystals in at least some droplets; and analyzing the crystallization and dissolution process.
US08053239B2
A method for extracting proteins from heterogeneous fluids by precipitation using microfluidics. The method uses an automated protocol for precipitation of proteins onto surfaces, rinsing the precipitates to remove impurities, and resolubilization in buffer for further analysis. The method is compatible with proteins representing a range of different physicochemical properties, as well as with complex mixtures such as fetal bovine serum and cell lysate. In all cases, the quantitative performance (measured using a fluorescent assay for % recovery) was comparable to that of conventional techniques, which are manual and require more time.
US08053227B2
A biosensor provided herein includes a semiconductor laser device having an optical resonator with at least one reflective surface and a light output surface, and a surface plasmon resonance (SPR) unit disposed on the reflective surface of the optical resonator. The SPR unit has specific biological molecules fixed thereon for reacting with corresponding biological molecules of an analyzed object.
US08053224B2
The present invention relates to a glucose-induced inactivation/degradation resistant transporter gene and use thereof, and more particularly to a brewery yeast having excellent assimilability of oligosaccharides (maltose, maltotriose, etc.), an alcoholic beverage produced using the yeast, and so on. In particular, the present invention relates to a glucose-induced inactivation/degradation resistant transporter such as Mal21p, etc., a gene encoding the same, a method of producing an alcoholic beverage using the same; and so on.
US08053222B2
A mutated severe acute respiratory syndrome-associated coronavirus 3C-like protease and use thereof for cleaving a protein that includes a cleavage site recognizable by the mutated protease to yield a polypeptide fragment of interest.
US08053206B2
There is disclosed a pharmaceutical composition and method for treating sepsis, including septic shock and ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome), comprising administering an effective amount of a HMG1 antagonist. There is further disclosed a diagnostic method for monitoring the severity or potential lethality of sepsis or septic shock, comprising measuring the serum concentration of HMG1 in a patient exhibiting or at risk or exhibit sepsis or septic shock symptoms. Lastly, there is disclosed a pharmaceutical composition and method for effecting weight loss or treating obesity, comprising administering an effective amount of HMG1 or a therapeutically active HMG1 fragment.
US08053193B2
The invention provides a method for judging whether cancer cells are present or not in a sample, comprising a obtaining step of obtaining values related to an expression level of a caner marker gene and a housekeeping gene; a first comparing step of comparing the value related to the expression level of the cancer marker gene with a first threshold value; a normalizing step of normalizing the value related to the expression level of the cancer marker gene based on the value related to the expression level of the housekeeping gene; a second comparing step of comparing the normalized value with a second threshold value; and a judging step of judging whether cancer cells are present or not in the sample based on comparison results obtained in the first and second comparing steps, as well as an apparatus for judging whether cancer cells are present or not.
US08053188B2
This invention relates to methods, reagents and kits for enriching nucleic acid sequences. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods, reagents and kits for sample preparation including sample modification, sample enrichment and amplification.
US08053187B2
A method of modulation of synthesis capacity on and cleavage properties of synthetic oligomers from solid support is described. The method utilizes linker molecules attached to a solid surface and co-coupling agents that have similar reactivities to the coupling compounds with the surface functional groups. The preferred linker molecules provide an increased density of polymers and more resistance to cleavage from the support surface. The method is particularly useful for synthesis of oligonucleotides, oligonucleotides microarrays, peptides, and peptide microarrays. The stable linkers are also coupled to anchor molecules for synthesis of DNA oligonucleotides using on support purification, eliminating time-consuming chromatography and metal cation presence. Oligonucleotides thus obtained can be directly used for mass analysis, DNA amplification and ligation, hybridization, and many other applications.
US08053184B2
The present invention provides for soybean plant and seed comprising transformation event MON89788 and DNA molecules unique to these events. The invention also provides methods for detecting the presence of these DNA molecules in a sample.
US08053182B2
The present invention provides methods and kits for predicting transplant rejection or tolerance. Methods for predicting the probability of cardiac allograft rejection via profiling of peripheral blood gene expression are also provided.
US08053178B2
A method for patterning objects, e.g., semiconductor wafer, glass plate, composite, etc. The method includes providing an object, which has an overlying layer of photosensitive material. The method includes selectively applying light through one or more fiber cores from a plurality of fiber cores. Each of the fiber cores has an input end and an output end. Each of the input ends is coupled to the optical source. The plurality of fiber cores is numbered from 1 through N, where N is an integer greater than 1. Each of the output ends is also numbered from 1 through N, which corresponds respectively to each of the plurality of fiber cores numbered from 1 through N. The method exposes the photosensitive material from light emitted selectively through the one or more fiber cores. The one or more fiber cores out(s) light respectively through one or more output ends of the fiber cores. Each of the output ends numbered from 1 through N is associated with a pixel numbered respectively from 1 through N.
US08053176B2
The present invention provides a patterning method of an organic EL device that can easily and efficiently be performed with high definition, and that can control a contrast by a luminous brightness.In an organic EL device having an organic layer, including an organic luminescent material, formed between a pair of counter electrodes, ultraviolet ray is irradiated to the organic layer, and the amount of irradiation is changed to form an emission pattern having a contrast caused by a luminous brightness corresponding to the amount of the irradiation of the ultraviolet ray.
US08053172B2
Photolithography compositions and methods. A first layer of a first photoresist is formed on a substrate. A second layer of a second photoresist is formed directly onto the first layer. The second polymer of the second photoresist includes an absorbing moiety. The second layer is patternwise imaged and developed, resulting in removal of base-soluble regions. A relief pattern from the second layer remains. The relief pattern and the first layer are exposed to a second dose of the radiation. The polymer in the relief pattern absorbs a portion of the second dose. A fraction of the second dose passes through the at least one region of the relief pattern and exposes at least one region of the first layer. The relief pattern and base-soluble regions of the first layer are removed. A relief pattern from the first layer remains. A second photolithography method and a photoresist composition are also included.
US08053170B2
A method of on-press developing a high-speed laser sensitive lithographic printing plate with ink and/or fountain solution is described. The printing member comprises on a substrate a photosensitive layer soluble or dispersible in ink and/or fountain solution and capable of hardening upon exposure to a laser. The plate is exposed with a laser and on-press developed with ink and/or fountain solution. At least a portion of the on-press development is performed with the plate under a yellow-red light or in substantial darkness, and at least a portion of the lithographic printing is performed under white light.
US08053167B2
Curable compositions have high sensitivity and excellent developability, and further have good storage properties as required. The compositions include a hydroxythiol compound represented by Formula (1) below and a compound with an ethylenically unsaturated double bond: wherein R1 and R2 are each independently a hydrogen atom, a C1-10 alkyl group or an aromatic ring; X is an aliphatic group, an aromatic ring-containing group or a heterocyclic ring-containing group; Y is an ester bond; k and l are each an integer ranging from 1 to 20; m is an integer of 0, 1 or 2; and n is 0 or 1.
US08053166B2
Embodiments in accordance with the present invention provide waveguide structures and methods of forming such structures where core and laterally adjacent cladding regions are defined. Some embodiments of the present invention provide waveguide structures where core regions are collectively surrounded by laterally adjacent cladding regions and cladding layers and methods of forming such structures.
US08053164B2
The present invention relates to a resist composition with a hardener and a solvent, and a method for forming a pattern using the resist composition. The hardener has a thermal-decomposable core part, and a first photosensitive bond art. The solvent has a low-molecular resin, and a second photosensitive bond part.
US08053159B2
An absorbing composition is described herein that includes at least one inorganic-based compound, at least one absorbing compound, and at least one material modification agent. In addition, methods of making an absorbing composition are also described that includes: a) combining at least one inorganic-based compound, at least one absorbing compound, at least one material modification agent, and one or more solvents to form a reaction mixture, wherein the at least one material modification agent comprises at least one acid and water; and b) heating the reaction mixture to form an absorbing material, a coating or a film.
US08053152B2
A photoconductor that includes a supporting substrate, a ground plane layer, a hole blocking layer, a photogenerating layer, and at least one charge transport layer, and where the hole blocking layer includes a boron containing compound.
US08053149B2
A method for producing a color filter for an image sensor capable of obtaining pixels each constituted substantially into a rectangular shape and having a favorable cross-sectional pattern profile and capable of effectively preventing the deformation of a dye-containing pixel even in a case of conducting post-baking or the like, the production method comprising the processes of coating a dye-containing photo-curable composition on a substrate directly or by way of another layer, then drying to form a coating film, exposing the coating film, putting the exposed coating film to alkali development and irradiating a Ultraviolet radiation to alkali-developed coating film while heating at 20 to 50° C.
US08053139B2
The present invention provides structures and methods that utilize fuel reformation to assist in thermal management of a channel-less SOFC at the device cell and/or stack assembly level. At the device level, passive and/or active control of unreformed fuel, or a mixture of reformed and unreformed fuel, is used to inject fuel in a distributed manner along the anode chamber of the channel-less SOFC. The injected fuel can be controlled in its composition, pressure, velocities, and/or flow rates. Additionally, present invention provides thermal management across a plurality of fuel cells in a stack assembly by actively controlling fuel composition, pressure, velocities, and/or flow rates provided to fuel inlets of the fuel cells.
US08053134B2
A fuel cell system is provided including a fuel cell stack having a first end and second end, the stack comprising at least one fuel cell, a first end unit disposed adjacent the first end of the fuel cell stack, a second end unit disposed adjacent the second end of the fuel cell stack, and a compression retention system. The compression retention system includes at least one generally planar strip forming at least one bend, wherein the at least one strip extends from the first end unit to the second end unit of the fuel cell system. The at least one bend of the planar strip can form at least one serpentine shape.
US08053128B2
An emergency shutdown apparatus for a solid-oxide fuel cell system, including a fuel cell stack, comprises a reservoir containing a reducing fluid, a valve enabling or preventing flow of the reducing fluid from the reservoir to the fuel cell stack, a timing circuit operating and controlling the valve, and a battery powering the timing circuit. The apparatus for an emergency system shutdown is able to operate independently of the main power plant and does not require any active control from the solid-oxide fuel cell system. The disclosed apparatus is entirely a stand-alone component that may be added to any conventional solid-oxide fuel cell system. The apparatus in accordance with the invention can be recharged, allowing the same hardware to be used over and over, however, a disposable unit could be used if found to be desirable.
US08053111B2
A biplate assembly may include a biplate, a negative electrode and a positive electrode. A method for manufacturing the biplate assembly may involve selecting the size of the biplate and arranging the positive electrode, which is formed by a compressed first powder, to a first side of the biplate. The first powder contains positive active material. The method may also involve arranging the negative electrode, which is formed by a compressed second powder, to a carrier arranged within the biplate assembly. The second powder contains negative active material. The carrier may be a side opposite to the first side of the biplate. The biplate assembly may be implemented in a bipolar battery.
US08053110B2
A surface treated anode and a lithium battery using the same are provided. The surface treated anode includes a current collector, and an anode active material layer formed on the current collector. The anode active material layer is treated with an amine group containing compound.
US08053109B2
A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary battery has a high initial capacity and excels in cycle characteristics and storage characteristics even when charged until the potential of the positive electrode active material exceeds as high as 4.3V versus lithium. The non-aqueous electrolyte of the secondary battery contains both 1,3-dioxane and a sulfonic acid ester compound.
US08053108B2
An organic electrolytic solution comprising a nonaqueous solvent and a lithium salt, wherein the organic electrolytic solution comprises a compound of Formula 1 and at least one selected from compounds of Formulas 2 through 5: wherein R1 a C1˜C10 alkoxy group, wherein R2 and R3 are independently unsubstituted C1˜C5 alkyl group or C1˜C5 alkyl group substituted with halogen atom, wherein n is an integer between 1 and 6.
US08053104B2
A pouch type battery includes a pouch case having a front region, a rear region, first and second side regions, and a cover, wherein the first side region connects the front region to the rear region at a first side of the battery, and the second side region connects the front region to the rear region at a second side of the battery, the first and second sides being opposite to one another, the rear region has a recess therein to accommodate an electrode assembly, and two extending portions extend from first and second sides of the recess, the two extending portions being wrapped around to form the first and second side regions and the front region, inward-facing surfaces of the two extending portions being bonded to each other to form a first seal in the front region, at least one of the extending portions extending beyond the first seal and being further wrapped around to form the cover, the cover extending at least partially across the front region.
US08053098B2
A power storage unit has: a plurality of power storage modules each constituted of a power generation element which in a power generation element case containing the power generation element; and a power storage unit case containing the power storage modules and an insulative liquid, wherein at least two of the power storage modules have a first valve that switches from a closed state to an open state in response to the pressure in the power generation element case increasing up to a first threshold and a second valve that switches from a closed state to an open state in response to the pressure at the outside of the power generation element case increasing up to a second threshold.
US08053094B2
New organic light-emitting diodes and related electroluminescent devices and methods for fabrication, using siloxane self-assembly techniques.
US08053087B2
The invention relates to an antifriction composite comprising a metal support layer, an intermediate layer produced from an aluminum alloy and a bearing layer produced from an aluminum alloy. The components of the aluminum alloys of the intermediate layer and the bearing layer are identical except for an additional soft phase portion in the bearing layer. Said soft phase portion may include lead, tin and/or bismuth. The invention also relies to a method for producing the inventive antifriction composite.
US08053075B2
The invention relates to a crystalline ion-conducting material made of LiMPO4 nanoparticles, wherein M is selected from Cr, Mn, Co, Fe and Ni, in addition to mixtures thereof and the nanoparticles have an essentially flat prismatic shape. The invention also relates to a method for producing said type of crystalline ion-conducting material which consists of the following steps: a precursor component is produced in a solution front a lithium compound of a component containing metal ions M and a phosphate compound, the precursor compound is subsequently precipitated from the solution and, optionally, a suspension of the precursor compound is formed, the precursor compound and/or the suspension is dispersed and/or ground, and the precursor compound and/or the suspension is converted under hydrothermal conditions and subsequently, the crystalline material is extracted.
US08053060B2
A substrate for artificial leathers which is composed of a nonwoven fabric made of fiber bundles of microfine fibers having an average single fiber fineness of 0.5 dtex or less and an elastic polymer impregnated into the nonwoven fabric. The substrate for artificial leathers satisfies the following requirements 1 and 2: (1) the number of fiber bundles which are oriented to a thickness direction of the nonwoven fabric is 75 to 300 per 1 cm of width which is perpendicular to the thickness direction, when measured on a cross section parallel to the thickness direction; and (2) the number of cross sections of the fiber bundles which are oriented to the thickness direction is 30 to 800 per 1 mm2, when measured on a cross section perpendicular to the thickness direction. The substrate for artificial leathers is suitable for the production of a grain-finished artificial leather which combines a non-repulsive softness and firm hand resembling natural sheep leathers and has fine buckling wrinkles, and a suede-finished or nubuck artificial leather having a surface touch with fine texture and a grace writing effect each being hitherto not obtained.
US08053049B2
A packaged insulation product is provided comprising at least one insulation product oriented for storage or transportation and disposed in a package, wherein the package comprises a vapor-permeable membrane.
US08053045B2
The present invention relates to a styrene-butadiene latex, a preparation method thereof and a coating liquid containing the same, more precisely a styrene-butadiene latex binder for ink-jet paper containing ethylenically unsaturated monomer by 0.1-1.5 weight parts with lowering surface negative charge density, a preparation method thereof and a coating liquid containing the same. The present invention provides a coating liquid for ink-jet paper having excellent price competitiveness and coating work-ability and at the same time reducing energy cost for drying process and thereby provides an ink-jet paper with excellent printing quality.
US08053041B2
There has been a need for an overcoat film composition that functions as an overcoat film in terms of high transparency and flatness, and that also functions as an aligning film in terms of liquid crystal molecular alignment. There has also been a need to lower the cost of manufacturing a liquid crystal display element. There is provided an overcoat film composition comprising one or more compounds selected from the group of polyester-polyamic acids (A1) obtained using at least a polyhydric hydroxy compound (a1), a diamine (a2), and a compound having two or more acid anhydride groups (a3), and polyester-polyimides (A2) that are imidization products thereof, and a polyamic acid (B).
US08053037B2
A device for patterning structures on a substrate includes an imaging device having a scanning tip, a light emitting device, and a space around the scanning tip. The space comprises a vapor of a material which is suitable for Chemical Vapor Deposition onto the substrate when decomposed. The light emitting device is adapted to emit a light beam, which has an intensity not capable to decompose the vapor, onto the scanning tip in such a way that an electromagnetic field induced by the light beam near the scanning tip is high enough to decompose the vapor.
US08053033B2
A method of protecting a brake caliper is provided. The method includes the steps of cleaning an outer surface of a brake caliper and blending a liquid protective covering solution in an applicator mix the coating composition. The applicator is primed to start the flow of the solution. A first coat of the protective solution is applied to the brake caliper and allowed to dry. Additional coats can be applied as desired. The protective solution includes a water based or alcohol based solvent, a binder selected from the group consisting of an acrylic, a polyurethane, a polyester melamine and acrylate resins or blends thereof and an acrylic copolymer.
US08053028B2
A conductive polymer film having an antistatic function and an electromagnetic wave shielding function, and also having excellent optical properties such as transparency even if the film is arranged in the interior of LCD. The conductive polymer film comprises a polymer film and a conductive polymer adhered to the surface thereof, wherein the conductive polymer comprises polythiophene or polythiophene derivatives, the polymer film comprises an acetyl cellulose material or a norbornene material, a layer of the conductive polymer has a thickness of 3 μm or less, and the conductive polymer film has a visible light transmission of 78% or more and a surface resistivity of 103-1012 Ω/square.
US08053019B2
A coating and a method of coating an implantable medical device, such as a stent, is disclosed. The method includes subjecting the coating to a thermal condition such as a temperature above the glass transition temperature of a polymer included in the coating.
US08053018B2
The invention provides an implantable membrane for regulating the transport of analytes therethrough that includes a matrix including a first polymer; and a second polymer dispersed throughout the matrix, wherein the second polymer forms a network of microdomains which when hydrated are not observable using photomicroscopy at 400× magnification or less. In one aspect, the homogeneous membrane of the present invention has hydrophilic domains dispersed substantially throughout a hydrophobic matrix to provide an optimum balance between oxygen and glucose transport to an electrochemical glucose sensor.
US08053015B2
Disclosed is a hard fat which can be a basic ingredient for obtaining a margarine or shortening having favorable meltability in the mouth of a lauric fat, and also having favorable plasticity, as well as a margarine or shortening in which the hard fat is used, and confectioneries and breads using the same are provided. A hard fat containing 25 to 45% by mass of a lauric acid, having an iodine value of 0 to 25, and having the following triglyceride composition: triglycerides (CN 32 to 54 TG) of 85 to 100% by mass; triglycerides (CN 32 to 38 TG) of 30 to 50% by mass; triglycerides (CN 40 to 46 TG) of 25 to 55% by mass; triglycerides (CN 48 to 54 TG) of 10 to 30% by mass, and further having the following constituent triglyceride ratio: ((CN 32 to 38 TG)/(CN 40 to 46 TG)) of 0.5 to 1.5; ((CN 32 to 38 TG)/(CN 48 to 54 TG)) of no less than 1.0; and ((CN 40 to 46 TG)/(CN 48 to 54 TG)) of no less than 1.0.
US08053012B2
An apparatus for preparing a coffee beverage inducing the passage of an extraction fluid through a dose of coffee by heating said fluid, contains a separating device arranged to separate a fraction of said beverage obtained with a prevalently liquid phase of said fluid from a further fraction of said beverage obtained with a prevalently steam phase of said fluid; an apparatus for preparing a coffee beverage by imbibing a dose of coffee with an extraction fluid driven by heating through said dose, comprises an inhibition device arranged to inhibit said imbibing when said fluid contains a substantial steam phase; a method for obtaining a coffee beverage involves heating an extraction fluid so as to induce the passage of said extraction fluid through a dose of coffee to obtain said beverage and separating a fraction of said beverage obtained with a prevalently liquid phase of said extraction fluid from a further fraction of said beverage obtained with a prevalently steam phase of said extraction fluid is provided for.
US08053009B2
The present invention concerns a one piece squeezable container for chilled or frozen products comprising a body formed by a wall and closing means, said body having in his greater section a dimension d1 and a neck with an internal diameter d2, a wall thickness comprised between 30 and 500 pm, being made from a semicrystalline PET and wherein the ratio volume of the body of the container per gram of PET of the body is comprised between 20 and 100.
US08053008B2
A method of manufacturing a flavor pouch containing flavorant selected from one or more of tea, coffee, rose hips, honey, royal jelly, fruit extracts, mint, sweeteners, exotic flavors, and the like includes feeding a strip of fabric along a feed path, placing preselected amounts of flavorant material at spaced apart locations along the strip, forming flavor pouches by sealing portions of the strip together to enclose each preselected amount of flavorant material, and separating the flavor pouches from the strip. The pouches can have various shapes including crescent and oval shapes.
US08053006B2
A bread making method including: a cold sponge process where strong flour, dried yeast, yeast food, salt, an improver, and water are mixed, stirred at low speed, stirred at high speed, and then fermented at a temperature and relative humidity; a dough process in which the resulting mixture of the cold sponge process is mixed with strong flour, sugar, salt, dried milk, dried yeast, margarine, and water, and the to resulting mixture is given a floor time and then divided into pieces; a freezing storage process in which the dough is frozen, wrapped in plastic, and stored at a temperature of less than −18 degrees C.; a thawing process in which the resulting dough pieces of the freezing process are thawed; and a second fermentation process in which each of the resulting dough pieces is molded and subjected to a second fermentation.
US08053001B2
The present invention relates to a herbal mixture extract of Rehmanniae Radix Preparata and Acanthopanacis Cortex and a composition comprising the same for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis. The herbal mixture extract of the present invention enhances the expression of osteoprotegerin (OPG) in osteoblasts and effectively inhibits the generation and activation of osteoclasts, so that it can be effectively used for the prevention and treatment of osteoporosis.
US08052998B2
The invention concerns particulate vectors designed to improve oral absorption of active principles, characterized in that they consist of a polymeric matrix comprising at least a biodegradable polymer associated with at least a polycationic polymer.
US08052996B2
An osmotic delivery system flow modulator includes an outer shell constructed and arranged for positioning in an opening, an inner core inserted in the outer shell, and a fluid channel having a spiral shape defined between the outer shell and the inner core. The fluid channel is adapted for delivery of an active agent formulation from the reservoir of the osmotic delivery system.
US08052980B2
A method for treating a patient suffering from arthritis and associated pain include the administration to the patient of a therapeutically effective amount of a neurotoxic component of neurotoxin selected from a group consisting of Botulinum toxin types A, B, C, D, E, F and G.
US08052967B2
Provided are methods and means to increase the stability and/or the packaging capacity of recombinant adenoviruses, by overexpression of pIX in an adenoviral packaging cell, by retaining at least a part of the E1B-55K region in the recombinant adenoviral vector or by regulating pIX with a heterologous promoter. The invention further relates to methods and means for the production of such adenoviruses on complementing cell lines, wherein the early region 4 open reading frame 6 (E4-orf6) encoding nucleic acid is present in the adenovirus and wherein the E4-orf6 gene product is compatible with one or more products of the E1 gene products in the complementing cell, such that the adenoviral vector can be efficiently produced by the complementing cell.
US08052963B2
The present invention relates to compounds of the formula (I), where R1 to R3 each, independently of one another, denote H, hydroxyl or alkoxy having 1 to 8 C atoms, R4 denotes alkyl having 1 to 4 C atoms, H, hydroxyl or alkoxy having 1 to 8 C atoms, R5 denotes H or hydroxyl, and R6 denotes H or alkyl having 1 to 18 C atoms, or salts thereof, but where all R1 to R4 together cannot be equal to H, to compositions, and to the preparation and use thereof.
US08052955B2
Lithium-based materials and methods of forming the same. In at least one embodiment of a method of forming a lithium-based material of the present disclosure, the method comprises the steps of combining a first quantity of a first lithium-based component and a second quantity of a second lithium-based component with a titanium-based component to form a mixture, the first lithium-based component having a first melting point and the second lithium-based component having a second melting point higher than the first melting point of the first lithium-based component, and heating the mixture to a first temperature above the first melting point but below the second melting point for a period of time to form a resultant end product.
US08052951B2
Disclosed are structures formed as bulk support media having carbon nanotubes formed therewith. The bulk support media may comprise fibers or particles and the fibers or particles may be formed from such materials as quartz, carbon, or activated carbon. Metal catalyst species are formed adjacent the surfaces of the bulk support material, and carbon nanotubes are grown adjacent the surfaces of the metal catalyst species. Methods employ metal salt solutions that may comprise iron salts such as iron chloride, aluminum salts such as aluminum chloride, or nickel salts such as nickel chloride. Carbon nanotubes may be separated from the carbon-based bulk support media and the metal catalyst species by using concentrated acids to oxidize the carbon-based bulk support media and the metal catalyst species.
US08052949B2
Configurations herein include a novel process and apparatus for generating and maintaining sulfur trioxide gas. The generation system and process operate to provide sulfur trioxide calibration gas for calibrating sulfur trioxide detection devices. The system and process provides a known, concentration of sulfur trioxide gas via a heated catalyst, which enables accurate calibration of measurement equipment. The system functions in part by controlling temperature, amount of moisture, residence time, catalyst selection, diluting generated sulfur trioxide and by locating the sulfur trioxide generator at a point of injection of a sulfur trioxide detection system.
US08052938B2
The present invention provides a reactor system having: (1) a first reactor receiving an oxygenate component and a hydrocarbon component and capable of converting the oxygenate component into a light olefin and the hydrocarbon component into alkyl aromatic compounds; (2) a separator system for providing a first product stream containing a C3 olefin, a second stream containing a C7 aromatic, and a third stream containing C8 aromatic compounds; (3) a first line connecting the separator to the inlet of the first reactor for conveying the second stream to the first reactor; (4) a second line in fluid communication with the separator system for conveying the C3 olefin to a propylene recovery unit, and (4) a third line in fluid communication with the separator system for conveying the C8 aromatic compounds to a xylene recovery unit.
US08052937B2
A catalyst composition for facilitating the oxidation of soot from diesel engine exhaust is provided. The catalyst composition includes a catalytic metal selected from Pt, Pd, Pt—Pd, Ag, or combinations thereof, an active metal oxide component containing Cu and La, and a support selected from alumina, silica, zirconia, or combinations thereof. The platinum group metal loading of the composition is less than about 20 g/ft3. The catalyst composition may be provided on a diesel particulate filter by impregnating the filter with an alumina, silica or zirconia sol solution modified with glycerol and/or saccharose, impregnating the filter with a stabilizing solution, and impregnating the filter with a solution containing the active metal oxide precursor(s) and the catalytic metal precursor(s). The resulting catalyst coated diesel particulate filter provides effective soot oxidation, exhibits good thermal stability, has a high BET surface area, and exhibits minimal backpressure.
US08052936B2
In a particulate filter, a catalyst layer containing Pt-carried activated alumina particles, CeZr-based mixed oxide particles and ZrNd-based mixed oxide particles is formed, the proportion of the total amount of the CeZr-based mixed oxide particles and the ZrNd-based mixed oxide particles in the total amount of the Pt-carried activated alumina particles, the CeZr-based mixed oxide particles and the ZrNd-based mixed oxide particles is 10% to 60% by mass, both inclusive, and the mass ratio of the CeZr-based mixed oxide particles to the ZrNd-based mixed oxide particles is 20/80 to 80/20, both inclusive. This configuration enhances the particulate burning property and the low-temperature exhaust gas conversion efficiency.
US08052934B2
The scent delivery device employs a housing and scent generator which selectively releases scent. The housing is mounted on a counter and allows a user to selectively sample a variety of scent. The scent travels to the user's nose by diffusion.
US08052925B2
A low carbon resulfurized free-machining steel having a high machinability is provided. This steel comprises 0.02 to 0.15% by mass of C, up to 0.004% by mass (more than 0% by mass) of Si, 0.6 to 3% by mass of Mn, 0.02 to 0.2% by mass of P, 0.2 to 1% by mass of S, up to 0.005% by mass (more than 0%) of Al, 0.008 to 0.04% by mass of O, and 0.002 to 0.03% by mass of N; and the average oxygen concentration in the MnS in the steel is at least 0.4% by mass.
US08052918B2
A method of producing a carbon-based material having an activated surface includes: (a) mixing an elastomer and a carbon material, and dispersing the carbon material by applying a shear force to obtain a composite elastomer; and (b) heat-treating the composite elastomer at a temperature for vaporising an elastomer to vaporize the elastomer in the composite elastomer.
US08052912B2
This disclosure describes a method for crimping a polymeric stent onto a catheter for percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty or other intraluminal interventions. The method comprises crimping the stent onto a catheter when the polymer is at a target temperature other than ambient temperature. The polymer can optionally comprise drug(s).
US08052911B2
Using a slurry filler having a container having an opening top and storing plugging slurry and a cover attached to the opening top of the container and having a flat upper face and through-holes communicating the inside and the outside of the container and being disposed to correspond to cells to be plugged on an end face of the honeycomb structure, the honeycomb structure is set on the cover by positioning so that opening ends of cells to be plugged of the honeycomb structure match positions of through-holes of the cover, and the plugging slurry stored in the container is filled inside opening ends of cells to be plugged through the through-holes to form the plugged portions. According to this manufacturing method, a plugged honeycomb structure having no defects can be manufactured at low costs for a short time without restriction on operation circumstances with less industrial waste.
US08052910B2
There is provided a continuous molding method capable of varying a thickness of a prepreg molded article.A molding material 10 is prepared such that three plies, for example, of prepreg 31, 32, 33 are laminated with different end face positions on each face of a prepreg laminate 20 of a carbon fibre or the like, and prepreg peel plies 41, 42, 43 are arranged continuously to the respective plies of the prepreg 31, 32, 33. This molding material 10 is transformed into a sheet and continuously sent out to a hot press for molding, which is then heated in a post-curing oven for a prescribed period of time for thermosetting. After the molding, the prepreg peel ply 40 is peeled and removed so that a product whose sectional thickness varies can be obtained.
US08052901B2
A light guide plate mold is configured for manufacturing a light guide plate having a number of microstructures. The light guide plate mold includes a substrate and a number of heating members. The substrate defines a number of grooves therein. The heating members are respectively received in the grooves. Each heating member has a height less than a depth of the corresponding groove. The grooves and the heating members cooperatively define a number of receiving spaces for forming the microstructures of the light guide plate.
US08052894B2
A compound having a structural unit of Formula: (I). A polymer having a structural unit of Formula: (II). A conjugated polymer having one or more side groups of the following Formula: (III). Additionally, compositions, polymer blends, films, coatings, and electronic devices prepared from such polymers.
US08052892B2
Polyfluorene polymers and copolymers having substantial amounts (10-100%) of fluorenes coupled at the 2 and 5 positions of fluorene are useful as active layers in OLED devices where triplet energies >2.10 eV are required.
US08052876B2
A process is described for treating effluents from oil production units for discharge or reutilization, to remove oil and other soluble toxic contaminants such as sulphides, benzenes, toluenes, xylenes and polyaromatic hydrocarbons, before discharging or reusing this effluent, especially in an offshore environment. This process for effluent treatment includes a step of changing the thermodynamic equilibrium conditions of an oil-in-water emulsion, followed by a step of separating the oil and the water, to be carried out in an offshore oil production unit.
US08052875B2
An apparatus and method for continuous separation of magnetic particles from non-magnetic fluids including particular rods, magnetic fields and flow arrangements.
US08052863B2
The gas sensor control apparatus develops a first voltage based on a first reference voltage at a negative terminal of a gas sensor device through a resistor and a second voltage based on a second reference voltage at a positive terminal of the gas sensor device. A controller samples through the resistor a sensor current, as created upon the development of the first and second voltage for measuring the concentration of gas. When the impedance of the gas sensor device is measured, the controller alternates the first voltage across the first reference voltage. The value (i.e., a zero-point) of the voltage applied to the gas sensor device when the sensor current is zero (i.e., 0 mA) depends upon the first and second reference voltages. The zero-point is corrected by regulating the second reference voltage to match an applying voltage characteristic to the gas sensor device correctly.
US08052858B2
A resin material is brought into contact with a first solution containing ozone, and at the same time, ultraviolet rays are irradiated. The activation due to the treatment with ozone water and the activation due to the treatment with ultraviolet rays are synergistically operated to enable the formation of a plated coating having excellent adhesive strength by a short treatment. In addition, even by a long treatment, the adhesive strength can be restrained from lowering. Consequently, a plated coating having excellent adhesion can be formed without roughening the surface of the resin material by a short pretreatment.
US08052856B2
A support for capillaries comprises a ceramic member having a flat surface area on which the capillaries are to be aligned. The flat surface area has a flatness of not more than 0.02 mm and has a mean spacing of waviness motifs (AW) of not more than 100 μm.
US08052845B2
The reflux divider for a separation column has portions for the transfer of material arranged in parallel which are mutually bounded by a vertical dividing wall and which include members for the controlled dividing of a liquid to be treated. A reflux divider feeds part flows to the respective portions employing connection lines that are feed from a common container. A restrictor valve is used in one connection line to control the flow based on signals from a pair of flow meters.
US08052842B2
An improved method for making compressed structural fiberboard by extruding agricultural fibrous matter into a compressed structural fiberboard. The improved method includes providing a preselected volume of agricultural fibrous matter and preconditioning the agricultural fibrous matter to have a predetermined moisture level. The agricultural fibrous matter is separated and cleaned, and steam is added until a predetermined level of moisture is reached within the agricultural fibrous matter. Borax is also added to the agricultural fibrous matter to prevent the formation of bacteria. The agricultural fibrous matter is conveyed throughout the process on conveyors having variable drives, wherein the level of the agricultural fibrous matter on the conveyors is sensed such that a signal is provided to adjust the speed of the conveyors in order to provide a predetermined level of agricultural fibrous matter. The agricultural fibrous matter is then extruded to form a compressed structural fiberboard.
US08052841B2
The invention relates to a process for manufacturing paper, in which a filler is pretreated and suspended to form an aqueous slurry, the aqueous slurry obtained is combined with an aqueous suspension containing cellulose fibers to form a stock, the stock obtained is treated at least with a cationic retention agent and the treated stock is filtered to form paper. Retention and optical properties are improved by the filler being pre-treated with inorganic colloidal particles having an average size less than 100 nm.
US08052836B2
Laser-based methods of stripping different types of fiber optic cables (100) are disclosed. The method includes directing a focused laser beam (202) onto the cable's protective cover (114). The method also includes moving the fiber optic cable relative to the focused laser beam in a direction substantially along a central axis (AC) to form a substantially axially oriented groove (250) in the protective cover, wherein the groove does not reach one or more optical fibers (110) carried by the cable. The method can further include opening the protective cover at the groove to form a split protective cover portion (114S), and removing the split protective cover portion from the fiber optic cable. Methods of stripping a cable by forming two grooves in the protective cover using two focused laser beams are also disclosed.
US08052826B2
A beaded composite panel is fabricated using composite plies. An opening is formed in each of plies, and each ply is laid up on a bead feature and drawn down over the bead feature in the area of the opening so as to widen the opening into a gap allowing the ply to conform to the contour of the bead feature. Patches are fabricated and placed on the plies overlying over the openings. The laid-up plies are compacted and cured.
US08052825B2
A method for producing a composite material having a carbon nanotube array, includes the steps of: (a) providing the carbon nanotube array, the carbon nanotube array has a first end surface and a second end surface opposite to the first end surface; (b) providing a first board and a second board, fixing the first end surface of the carbon nanotube array on the first board, fixing the second end surface of the carbon nanotube array on the second board; (c) packaging the first board and the second board to form an apparatus having an entrance; (d) providing a liquid polymer precursor, applying the liquid polymer precursor from the entrance to the apparatus until the liquid polymer precursor submerge carbon nanotube array; and (e) solidifying the liquid polymer precursor.
US08052819B2
Embodiments of the invention relate to a fiber application method and a fiber application machine for producing parts in composite material, such as for the application of a band of fibers on convex surfaces and/or with edges. The machine comprises a fiber application head and a moving system for moving the application head. The application head comprises a compacting system including a compacting roller intended to come in contact against the application surface to apply the band, and a compacting member placed downstream from the compacting roller and exhibiting a substantially planar contact surface, said compacting member being capable of being pressed by its contact surface, against an application surface, substantially on the entire width of a band, by at least one contact line.
US08052800B2
A method and aqueous composition are provided for removing at least a portion of a coating from the surface of a substrate. The coating comprises an insulative material, and is contacted with an aqueous composition. The aqueous composition comprises dimethyl formamide.
US08052799B2
An apparatus and a method for operating the same. The method includes providing an apparatus which includes a chamber, wherein the chamber includes first and second inlets, an anode and a cathode structures in the chamber, and a wafer on the cathode structure. A cleaning gas is injected into the chamber via the first inlet. A collecting gas is injected into the chamber via the second inlet. The cleaning gas when ionized has a property of etching a top surface of the wafer resulting in a by-product mixture in the chamber. The collecting gas has a property of preventing the by-product mixture from depositing back to the surface of the wafer.
US08052795B2
A catalyst-enhanced chemical vapor deposition (CECVD) apparatus and a deposition method, in which tension is applied to a catalyst wire in order to prevent the catalyst wire from sagging due to thermal deformation, and additional gas is used to prevent foreign material from being generated. The CECVD apparatus may be constructed with a process chamber, a showerhead to introduce process gas into process chamber, a tensile catalyst wire structure provided in the process chamber to decompose the gas introduced from the showerhead, and a substrate on which the gas decomposed by the catalyst wire structure is deposited, so that the tension is applied to a catalyst wire in order to prevent the catalyst wire from sagging due to thermal deformation, and additional gas is used to prevent foreign material from being generated, thereby eliminating occurrences of non-uniform temperatures of a substrate and non-uniform film growth, and concomitantly enhancing the durability of the catalyst wire.
US08052794B2
A method for locally controlling the stoichiometry of an epitaxially deposited layer on a semiconductor substrate is provided. The method includes directing a first reactant gas and a doping gas across a top surface of a semiconductor substrate and directing a drive gas and a second reactant gas against the substrate separately from the first reactant gas in a manner that rotates the substrate while introducing the second reactant gas at an edge of the substrate to control each reactant separately, thereby compensating and controlling depletion effects and improving doping uniformity in resulting epitaxial layers on the substrate.
US08052790B2
A silicon crystallization mask of the present invention includes; a main exposure portion including a plurality of complete light transmission regions which completely transmit light therethrough, and a preliminary exposure portion including a plurality of incomplete light transmission regions, which each partially transmit light therethrough, wherein at least two of the incomplete light transmission regions have different magnitudes of light transmittance from each other.
US08052787B2
A porous bio-material and a method of preparation thereof. The method includes the following steps. First, a body is formed by mixing a bio-ceramic powder, a water-absorbing natural organic material and a liquid. The water-absorbing natural organic material is selected from the group consisting of carrageenan and agar. Then, the body is partially dried to form a machinable porous bio-material. The sizes of pores and porosity can be tailored by controlling the extent of drying so that the porous bio-material with acceptable strength can be obtained.
US08052783B2
A rotary adsorber for continuous bulk separations is disclosed. The rotary adsorber includes an adsorption zone in fluid communication with an influent adsorption fluid stream, and a desorption zone in fluid communication with a desorption fluid stream. The fluid streams may be gas streams or liquid streams. The rotary adsorber includes one or more adsorption blocks including adsorbent structure(s). The adsorbent structure adsorbs the target species that is to be separated from the influent fluid stream. The apparatus includes a rotary wheel for moving each adsorption block through the adsorption zone and the desorption zone. A desorption circuit passes an electrical current through the adsorbent structure in the desorption zone to desorb the species from the adsorbent structure. The adsorbent structure may include porous activated carbon fibers aligned with their longitudinal axis essentially parallel to the flow direction of the desorption fluid stream. The adsorbent structure may be an inherently electrically-conductive honeycomb structure.
US08052762B1
Disclosed herein are compositions suitable for use in dyeing keratin-containing fibers. Further disclosed herein are colorant systems and compositions comprising the colorant systems. Also disclosed are kits comprising one or more colorant systems and an activator composition.
US08052761B2
A voluntary opening prosthetic split hook terminal device is provided with an adjustable pinch force, functional grasping contours and illumination capabilities. Embodiments of the present invention include a tensioning mechanism that permits adjustment of the tension of a spring member to increase or decrease the pinching force of the device. The tensioning mechanism may be repositioned among multiple positions to vary the tension in a spring member. Movement of the tensioning mechanism utilizes principles of mechanical leverage in a way such that the force applied by the spring member does not need to be directly opposed in order to reposition the tensioning mechanism and the tensioning device will automatically lock into a selected position. Additional embodiments include digits with dual internal edges and logarithmic spiral contours for enhanced grasping of objects. Still further embodiments include illumination for functional and aesthetic purposes.
US08052759B2
A hernia prosthesis includes a first portion defining a bag joined to a second portion constituting a one-piece body. A top plate of the first portion has a plurality of radial tabs around a central opening. The second portion has three distinct successive zones including a first median zone in the form of a very long sheath for introducing and securing an inserter-unfolder device. The median portion is prolonged downwards by a plurality of bands uniformly radially disposed and having bottom ends divided into two each respectively to form two tongues in a Y fastening configuration. Each tongue is fastened by its terminal end to one of the tabs. The second portion, in a top zone, beyond the sheath, comprises two very high tongues which have, in their top portion, a longitudinal slit in their width for attaching the inserter-unfolder device.
US08052755B2
An ulnar prosthesis assembly comprising a head formed with a curved surface extending between opposed ends and a stem. One of the ends of the head has an attachment bore defined therein. The attachment bore generally has a first diameter and includes an attachment groove thereabout with a second diameter greater than the first diameter to define at least one attachment shoulder. The stem has a stem body extending between a proximal end configured for implantation in a target bone and a distal end configured to be received in the attachment bore. The distal end has a locking flange extending radially therefrom. The locking flange defines a locking shoulder having a diameter greater than the first diameter such that upon receipt in the attachment bore, the locking shoulder engages the attachment shoulder.
US08052754B2
An intervertebral endoprosthesis for insertion into the intervertebral space between two adjacent vertebrae is provided that includes first and second base members, each having a first surface configured to engage one of the vertebrae and a second opposite surface and a resilient insert disposed between the base members. The insert includes an outer shell defining an interior chamber and is disposed in contacting engagement with the second surface of each of the base members. The resilient insert further includes a core disposed within the chamber and connected to the outer shell. The intervertebral endoprosthesis further includes first and second coupling members, each of the coupling members extending between the core of the resilient insert and one of the base members. The first and second coupling members independently couple the first and second base members to the resilient insert, wherein the first and second base members are movable independently of one another and the adjacent vertebrae are movable independently of one another when the intervertebral endoprosthesis is inserted into the disc space.
US08052739B2
A stent shaped as a three-dimensional body which is formed by interlaced threads (1) arranged in multistart turns of a helical line. The threads (1) are arranged in at least two groups (2 and 3) of the helical turns featuring opposite senses of helix. The stent ends are established by sections (5) where the turns of one helical line merge into those of the other helical line, said sections appearing as a single length of the thread (1).
US08052729B2
An anterior lumbar plate for attachment with bone screws to selected vertebrae of a person's spine is combined: (a) with separate L5 and S1 drill guides separately and removably attachable to the lumbar plate, and (b) with lock plates removably attachable to the lumbar plate to prevent unscrewing of installed bone screws. This invention further provides a method for implanting and locking in place the L5 and S1 bone screws. This invention is adaptable for L4-L5, L4-L5-S1, and L5-S1 lumbar plates.
US08052717B2
The invention provides an embolic filter, a support structure therefor, and methods for preparing said filter for retrieval.
US08052716B2
A embolic protection system 1 comprises a guidewire 99 for advancing through a vasculature, the guidewire 99 having a distal end and a proximal end; an embolic protection filter 1 having a filter body 41 with a distal end and a proximal end, the filter body 41 providing for a collapsed configuration and an expanded deployed configuration. The embolic protection filter body 41 has a guidewire path for slidably receiving the guidewire 99 to permit movement of the filter 1 relative to the guidewire 99 when the filter 1 is in the collapsed configuration and the expanded deployed configuration. A delivery catheter 2 is advanceable over the guidewire 99 for delivery of the embolic protection filter 1; the delivery catheter 2 having a proximal end and a distal end. The filter 1 is deployed from the distal end of the delivery catheter 2 into the expanded deployed configuration. A retrieval catheter 3 is also advanceable over the guidewire 99 for retrieval of the filter 1, the retrieval catheter 3 having a distal end and a proximal end; and engagement elements for engaging the embolic protection filter 1 with the guidewire 99 for retrieval of the filter 1 into the retrieval catheter 3 in the collapsed configuration.
US08052710B2
An instrument for endoscopic surgery comprises a retractor having independently spreadable retractor blades pivotally mounted at the distal end of a tube, through which a balloon dissector can be passed. The blades are pivoted on axes transverse to the elongation of the tube. The blades are externally convex and internally concave in cross-sectional planes to which the elongation of the tube is perpendicular. The balloon is transparent, and the balloon dissector is provided with an image transmitter for visualization of tissue dissection.
US08052707B2
A patient's skin puncturing device, particularly for collecting a blood sample for diagnostic purposes, including a housing, a lancet slidably positioned inside the housing and having a body with a sheathed puncturing needle seated therein, and a push button positioned at the one end of the housing. Between a face end of the push button and the lancet body a drive spring is placed, and between the other end of the housing, which is provided with an opening for the puncturing needle, and the lancet body a return spring is placed. Between the housing and the lancet body is placed a lancet actuation lock, preferably in the form of interlocks of a washer. The device has a drive spring catch, preferably in the form of grabs of the washer, to preclude the drive spring from following the lancet in the puncture phase and in the retraction phase of the lancet.
US08052701B1
Methods and apparatuses for treating a vulnerable plaque are described herein. In one aspect of the invention, the exemplary apparatus includes a medical device to treat a vulnerable plaque within a body lumen, where the medical device is adapted to position a rupturing device to rupture a fibrous cap of a vulnerable plaque. In one particular embodiment, the medical device includes a rupturing wire having a predetermined pattern to enable the rupturing device to rupture the fibrous cap of the vulnerable plaque. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.
US08052699B1
Viscerotomy closure devices and methods of use close a hole in a bodily organ, such as one created during a natural orifice transgastric surgery procedure. A mesh with a hole in its center and an attached loop of suture having a Roeder knot is mounted on the protruding rod of an end-to-end anastomosis stapler between the anvil and the staple carrying member. The mesh covers the staple receiving slots. When rotated when in contact with tissue, an augur-shaped blade attached to the anvil's exterior self-feeds the tissue through a notch in the anvil's base into the space between the anvil and the staple carrying member. After the stapler is fired to staple the mesh to the tissue and create a viscerotomy, a knot pusher cinches the loop of suture and subsequently tightens the Roeder knot to maintain the cinch.
US08052697B2
A medical device for clamping the stomach in morbid obesity surgery consists of a silicone frame that is essentially U-shaped, having opposing legs self-hinged to a bight portion interconnecting the legs. The opposing legs have sufficient stiffness to permit limited bending and have inner surfaces that sealingly carry an inflatable balloon which can be selectively inflated or aspirated after the device has been clamped to the stomach to adjust the gastric restriction stoma. A flexible latch member carried by one of the legs has at least one serration which is inserted into a latch cavity of the opposing leg to lock the opposing legs in fixed spaced relationship. Lumens within the legs communicate with a fluid supply source and respective inflatable balloon for selective inflation or aspiration of the inflatable balloons. The medical device for clamping the stomach may be self-adjusting upon distention and contraction of the proximal stomach. A platform member having finger extensions which are biased to remain in compressive engagement with the anterior surface of the proximal stomach reduce the gastric restriction stoma from its nominal position upon distention of the proximal stomach and enlarge the reduction upon contraction of the proximal stomach to the nominal position.
US08052694B2
A medical device for manipulation of material in a tissue includes a sheath, an object engaging unit, and a flexible coupler. The object engaging unit has an operative end and a base. The flexible coupler includes a longitudinal axis and a distal portion; the distal portion is associated with the base of the object engaging unit and is bendable in an arc to various ranges. The flexible coupler confers lateral movement on the object engaging unit thereby permitting manipulation and/or retrieval of material lodged or disposed in heretofore often inaccessible tissue regions. The sheath has a longitudinal axis and a lumen. The object engaging unit is in a collapsed position when it is within the sheath lumen and an expanded position when it is extended beyond the sheath.
US08052692B2
Novel cutting guides and surgical methods for use in knee arthroplasty are described. Embodiments of the inventive cutting guide apparatus include fixed and adjustable cutting guide blocks having a series of slots designed to accommodate a cutting saw. The cutting guides and surgical method are designed to allow for the provision of all desired surgical cuts upon the distal end of the femur, for subsequent implantation of a prosthesis thereto, without having to remove the cutting guide block.
US08052688B2
An electromagnetic pedicle awl utilizes a tightly focused time-varying magnetic flux to create a localized electromotive force (EMF) near the tip of a pedicle awl. The localized EMF creates localized eddy currents in nearby nerves which in turn excite ionic nerve channels, the excitation being detected by an electromyographic recording device. In comparison to the electrically stimulated pedicle awl of the prior art, the electromagnetic pedicle awl only excites nerves directly in front of and directly to the side of the tip. The electromagnetic pedicle awl is comprised of a tapered awl or drill tip in combination with a solid core surrounded by a solenoid. A pulsed electric current source drives the solenoid to create a time-varying magnetic field in the vicinity of the tapered tip. The awl or drill tip may be stationary with respect to the solenoid or it may rotate. The electromagnetic pedicle awl in combination with an EMG detector connected to a patient is very sensitive to the pedicle hole position with respect to adjacent nerves and reduces false placement failure.
US08052680B2
A process for preventing atrial premature contractions originating within a pulmonary vein from being conducted into the left atrium of a human heart. More specifically, an ablation lesion is formed which electrically isolates the located source of the atrial premature contraction in the pulmonary vein from connection with the left atrium and blocks passage of the atrial premature contraction originating from the located source. In one embodiment, the steps of the process include advancing a medical device into the left atrium of a human heart, introducing the advanced medical device into the pulmonary vein from the left atrium of a human heart, sensing electrical activity within the pulmonary vein using the introduced medical device, locating a source of the atrial premature contraction within the pulmonary vein using the sensed electrical activity, and forming an ablation lesion in tissue of the pulmonary vein at a location proximal from the located source of the atrial premature contraction within the pulmonary vein. Conductive media and various medical devices may be used with the process.
US08052674B2
A laser system for treating an eye having a cornea, the laser system including a laser beam source capable of generating a laser beam, an eye position detector which includes at least a corneal tracker, the corneal tracker being responsive to movement of an anterior portion of the cornea, the corneal tracker constructed to detect movement of the cornea based on a set of spaced apart optical manifestations from the outer surface of the anterior portion of the cornea, and a beam controller, the beam controller being responsive to the eye position detector to direct the laser beam with controlled energy from the laser beam source to a desired location on the eye.
US08052671B2
An apparatus for monitoring the intra-abdominal pressure of a patient includes a urinary catheter (102) connected to a urine valve (250) providing selectable communication between a discharge end of the urinary catheter (102) and either a drain (224) or a fluid source (104). Preferably, the urine valve (250) is adapted for remote actuation and has a housing adapted to resist patient discomfort from leg-valve (250) contact. Plumbing structure desirably maintains fluid supply (225) and drain (223) conduits in a substantially parallel arrangement to assist routing those conduits (225, 223) between a patient's legs. When the urine valve (250) is oriented to permit communication with the fluid source (104), an infusion pump (116′) may be used to infuse a known quantity of fluid through the urine valve (250) and into the patient's bladder (216). A pressure transducer (218) desirably is connected in-circuit to indicate the fluid's pressure and avoid pressure fluctuations induced by system components. To facilitate the infusion process, an automatic flow control device may be included in a fluid supply path (225) and arranged to permit repetitive operation of a syringe (116′) to inject a bolus of fluid into the patient's bladder (216). Subsequent to making a pressure measurement, the urine valve (250) is returned to the bladder (216) draining position.
US08052663B2
The present invention concerns a male incontinence guard 10. The guard is divided by a transverse dividing line 25 into a front region 18 with a front transverse edge 20 and a rear region 22 with a rear transverse edge 24. The guard 10 tapers towards the rear transverse edge 24. The garment-facing surface 26 of the guard 10 comprises a first 28 and a second 30 strand of adhesive means. The location and dimensions of the first 28 and second 30 strand of adhesive means provides improved fastening of the guard 10 to the underwear of the wearer.
US08052661B2
A needle assembly 10 compromising an infusion needle 11 that includes a needle cannula 13 made of a superelastic material such as Nitinol. The needle cannula is cold-worked or heat annealed to produce a preformed bend 16 that can be straightened within passageway 21 of a coaxial outer cannula 12 for introduction into the body of a patient. Upon deployment from the outer cannula, the needle cannula substantially returns to the preformed configuration for the introduction or extraction of materials at areas lateral to the entry path of the needle assembly. The needle assembly can compromise a plurality of needle cannulae than can be variably arranged or configured for attaining a desired infusion pattern.
US08052654B2
A syringe (10) has a plunger (20), a barrel (11) and a collar (40, 50) with two pawls (42A, 42B). The plunger has two opposed ratchets (23A, 23B) that align with the one each of the pawls and thereby or impede, withdrawal of the plunger during or following depression of the plunger. The barrel has a collar with an inner (50) and an outer member (40) that are incapable of rotation relative with respect to each other. The outer member has the two pawls (42A, 42B) and two fingers that slidably engage opposed guide slots (28) on the plunger to thereby prevent or minimize rotation of the plunger relative to the collar. The inner member of the collar is operable to prevent engagement of the plunger ratchet by the two pawls until the plunger is depressed.
US08052649B2
A medical tubing securement assembly includes a base having a disc, and a retaining adapter removably and rotatably attached to the disc. The retaining adapter includes a longitudinal passage for receiving a locking adapter. The locking adapter includes a longitudinal passage for receiving a medical tube. Once the tube is inserted into the locking adapter, the locking adapter may be rotated within the retaining adapter, around the tube, to secure the tube within the securement assembly.
US08052635B1
A breast pump with a speed, a maximum vacuum, and a minimum vacuum combined with a selectively collapsing breast cup mimics the action of a suckling infant. The speed and maximum vacuum are user selectable to adjust the pump to the particular user. The breast cup is made of a flexible material with a thickness designed to first collapse around the areola area of a breast to mimic an action of a suckling infant.
US08052626B2
A HFCWO apparatus includes a housing having a port, a therapy system carried by the housing and operable to deliver HFCWO therapy to a patient in accordance with a set of operating parameters, and a memory device couplable to the port for storing at least a portion of the set of operating parameters. The therapy system may be operable in accordance with the portion of the set of operating parameters stored in the memory device. The apparatus may comprise a wireless transmitter carried by the housing and operable to wirelessly transmit data relating to HFCWO therapy to a wireless device, such as a printer, PC, a PDA, and the like.
US08052625B2
A massage device includes an outer casing, a driving mechanism and at least one massage module. The massage module includes an inclined rotary plate coupled to a main gear seat having central massage balls. When the inclined rotary plate rotates, the main gear seat and the central massage ball are driven to rotate. The main gear seat engages with a plurality of planetary gears, each of which is coupled with a massage arm. An upper end of the massage arm has a peripheral massage ball disposed thereon and a lower end of the massage arm contacts with the inclined rotary plate. A rotation of the inclined rotary plate drives massage arms and the peripheral massage balls thereon to rotate via the planetary gear as well as to move the massage arms up and down, thereby providing a massage of kneading and acupressure.
US08052617B2
A portable sampling or testing device for pharmacokinetics and physiology studies and a method for using the device in conducting tests on stationary or moving animals, or human test subjects, is disclosed. The device includes an apparatus for conducting a test on a freely moving subject, or a device which may be moved by a technician to be positioned over an immobile subject, such as a premature infant or unconscious human subject in an intensive care ward. The device is designed and sized to be mobile. In one embodiment, the device comprises a wheeled cart which may be moved by a human test subject operably connected to it. In another embodiment, the device comprises a wheeled carriage positioned above an animal which wears a sling connected to the device. The device may include an uninterruptible power supply. The method provides for sampling bodily fluids or acquiring physiological readings from the test subject. The method provides for removal of body fluids with or without reintroduction of the withdrawn bodily fluids back into the freely moving subject.
US08052615B2
A biopsy device for harvesting tissue samples from a body of a living being, e.g. in percutaneous aspiration biopsy, includes a handle unit, a hollow needle comprised in a disposable unit, which is releasably attached to the handle unit, and a sample-receiving device, which is movable in the hollow needle between two positions. Tissue is severed when the sample-receiving device is in a first one of the positions, and the severed tissue sample is ejected from the sample-receiving device in a second one of the two positions. A control system is provided for controlling movement of the sample-receiving device and for arresting the sample-receiving device in the second position. The distance between the two positions and/or a length of the hollow needle may be detectable in a calibration cycle, which is automatically initiated upon attachment of the disposable unit to the handle unit. The disposable unit may include electronic memory means for communicating with the control system.
US08052611B2
A hospitalization management system including a heart failure analyzer that receives diagnostic data including at least sensor data representative of one or more physiological signals sensed from a hospitalized patient using one or more sensors and assesses risk of rehospitalization for the patient using the diagnostic data. The outcome of the risk assessment is used during and following the patient's hospitalization for reducing the risk of rehospitalization.
US08052610B2
An implantable medical device includes a sensor for sensing a first signal in a patient, detection circuitry for receiving the first signal, determining a parameter therefrom, and detecting a first event in response to the parameter. The device further includes control circuitry configured to receive a second signal corresponding to a second event and to determine a threshold from the stored parameter in response to receiving the second event signal. The detection circuitry detects the first event in response to the parameter crossing the determined threshold.
US08052604B2
A combined imaging/HIFU probe includes an imaging scan head, a HIFU transducer, and an outlet port that delivers a flow of fluid across the HIFU transducer. At least a portion of the body cavity is filled with fluid in which the probe is immersed. The fluid provides a coupling for transmission of ultrasound energy between the probe and the patient. A flow of fluid may also be used to flush obstructions from an area of tissue near the HIFU transducer. Further described herein is a cuff to help retain fluid in the body cavity, a regulator to regulate fluid flow with respect to the body cavity according to a desired fluid pressure, and a cover for the HIFU transducer that has at least one perforation defined therethrough to allow fluid to flow through the cover. Further disclosed herein are methods of deploying a combined imaging/HIFU probe in a body cavity.
US08052602B2
An object of the invention is to provide an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus that can conduct elastic modulus measurement with high accuracy without enlarging the circuit scale.A calculator 3 uses a signal from a receiver-transmitter 2 to calculate the motion velocity or the move displacement of body tissue and the strain variation of the body tissue. A frequency analyzer 4 conducts frequency analysis of the motion velocity and the move displacement of the body tissue found in the calculator 3. A strain induced by stress and elastic wave separator 5 separates a frequency component with strain of an arterial wall caused by blood pressure change caused by pulsation of the heart, a frequency component of vibration caused by flow of blood into the lumen of artery, and a frequency component of noise based on the determination result of the frequency analyzer 4. An elastic modulus calculator 6 calculates the elastic modulus of the body tissue based on the calculation result of the motion of the body tissue obtained in the calculator 3, etc.
US08052589B2
A shaft of a sheet conveying roller is a pipe shaft. Both ends of the pipe shaft are formed into small-diameter portions, and a mounted portion on which a friction member is provided is formed into a large-diameter portion, which has a diameter larger than a diameter of the both ends of the pipe shaft.
US08052587B1
A yoga brick includes first and second casings. Each of the first and second casings includes inner and outer faces spaced along a first axis, a peripheral wall extending between the inner and outer faces, and a first recessed portion formed in the outer face. The first recessed portion includes a wavy holding face having a plurality of anti-slipping ribs. Each of the first and second casings can further include a second recessed portion formed in the outer face thereof. The second recessed portion includes a wavy holding face having a plurality of anti-slipping ribs. The first and second casings can be engaged with each other with the first recessed portion of the first casing aligned with the second recessed portion of the second casing along the first axis and with the second recessed portion of the first casing aligned with the first recessed portion of the second casing along the first axis.
US08052578B2
A hydraulic vehicle clutch system and preemptive control method includes a hydraulic vehicle clutch, a vehicle speed sensing device, a shift position sensing device, and a hydraulic pressure generating system. The pressure generating system sends hydraulic fluid to the clutch at a first pressure when (1) the vehicle speed sensing device indicates that the vehicle speed is at or below a threshold vehicle speed and (2) the shift position sensing device indicates that the shift position is in a nondrive position and at a second, higher pressure when (1) the vehicle speed sensing device indicates that the vehicle speed is at or below the threshold vehicle speed and (2) the shift position sensing device indicates that the shift position is in a drive position.
US08052556B2
Methods are disclosed for controlling a variable-speed transmission utilizing a pulley structure including first and second pulley members coupled for free rotation together about a shaft. The second pulley member can be axially movable relative to the first pulley member, and can include a pulley contact surface disposed generally opposite to the first pulley member. A coupling member is provided for communicating with the shaft to rotatably drive the shaft. The coupling member includes a coupling member contact surface disposed for selective frictional engagement by the pulley contact surface. Torque can be selectively coupled and decoupled to a transmission, as well as vary a speed of the transmission.
US08052542B1
A ball retriever for use on golf balls by being selectively positioned on the head of a golf club iron. The ball retriever defines an open cup having contoured side walls with a cutaway area where for visibility during use. A powerful magnet is secured within the base of the cup providing magnetic attraction and selective positioning and removal attachment on to any ferrous metal club head face.
US08052540B2
A putting trainer has a long strip mounted to the head along a length of the putter head. The long strip has a pair of ends, namely a close end toward the player and a far end away from a player. The putting trainer has a ball path having a pair of columns of sensors, namely a column of right sensors and a column of left sensors. The pair of columns of sensors detect the motion of the long strip over the pair of columns of sensors. An audio output from a speaker provides feedback to the player. A golf trainer also includes a golf putter having a handle, a shaft connected to the handle, a hosel connected to the shaft and a putter head connected to the hosel.
US08052537B2
A wheel hub-constant velocity joint unit in which a wheel hub (60, 90) with a passage opening (59, 89) that carries inner shaft teeth (44, 74) is tensioned with the outer joint part (46, 76) of a constant velocity joint (42, 72) on which a journal (53, 83) is formed with outer shaft teeth (54, 84), wherein inner shaft teeth (44, 74) of the passage opening (59, 89) and outer shaft teeth (54, 84) of the journal (53, 83) mesh in each other and a two-row wheel bearing (43, 73) is pushed onto the wheel hub (60, 90) that includes an inner bearing ring (64, 94) on which a front face (52, 82) of the outer joint part (46, 76) is supported directly, wherein the pitch circle diameter (TKD) of the roller bearing is greater than the pitch circle diameter (PCD) of the constant velocity joint.
US08052534B2
An interactive entertainment system including numerous thematically-related elements, and particularly including one or more pliant, design-bearing ornaments which are transferable and/or attachable nearly anywhere. Each ornament includes and defines a character embodied in a design fixed thereupon, and such characters provide a thematic-basis and continuity throughout the numerous features and elements of the invented entertainment system. The ornaments are typically universally-interchangeable within the system embodiments, being operably attachable and detachable via reciprocal hook and loop fastener, for example, with any of a great variety of structures, each structure configured for coupling an ornament with one or more of a great variety of substrates. Other thematically-related elements include but are not limited to an interactive game, a combination greeting card/gift box/display unit, alternative means for affixing and/or transferring ornament-embodied designs to substrates, ornamental ‘trading’ cards, a collection/display means configured, for example, as an album, and others.
US08052533B2
A game machine which can improve an interest of selection of an action type of a player character is provided. A line output controlling unit (82) sequentially outputs a plurality of line strings corresponding to line identification information selected by a line selection unit (76) in a given order and at a given timing. A player character action type selection receiving unit (84) receives selection of an action type of a player character in at least a period after the line output controlling unit (82) outputs. A parameter value updating unit (80) changes, according to a combination of a selected action type of the player character and an action type of the enemy character corresponding to the selected line identification information, a parameter value indicating a state of an enemy character by an amount based on a time of selection of the action type of the player character.
US08052530B2
To provide a network game system for switching a server-client machine without deteriorating the excitement of a game. A network game system (10) causes each of a plurality of game machines (12) to operate as a client and at least one of the plurality of game machines (12) to also operate as a server, thereby providing a game to be played by the players of the plurality of game machines (12). A game play evaluation value calculation unit (40) calculates a play evaluation value corresponding to each of the plurality of game machines (12) during a game. In the case where a predetermined switching determination time arrives during the game, a server switching unit (52) switches the game machine (12) operating as the server from the game machine (12) currently operating as the server to another game machine (12) of the plurality of game machines (12), based on the evaluation value calculated by the play evaluation value calculation unit (40).
US08052527B2
A plurality of first missions (mission A (M 1A), mission B (M1B), and mission C (M1C)) are set corresponding to different battle areas in a game space 2. The operations of NPCs are automatically controlled so that friend NPCs 8 and enemy NPCs 9 involved in each first mission simultaneously fight a battle in parallel. A player character 6 is automatically determined to have participated in the first mission for which the player character 6 has approached the battle area or the first mission in which the enemy NPC 9 which has been shot down by the player character 6 is involved, and individual mission support contribution points Pa, Pb, Pc, and total support contribution points Pt are increased when the player character 6 has shot down the enemy NPC 9. When the player has performed a support request operation input, the total support contribution points Pt are decreased by given points. A support character 8s is selected from surviving friend NPCs 8a and 8b involved in the first missions which have been accomplished. The support character 8s is controlled to approach the present position of the player character 6 and support the player character 6 corresponding to the type of support request.
US08052526B2
A wagering game system includes at least one server configured to generate wagering event data for presentation to players that play against each other using the wagering event data, and generate a bonus award to be provided to at least one of the players, wherein the bonus award includes at least one of a progressive jackpot and a mystery jackpot. The wagering game system also includes at least one wagering device configured to present the wagering event data to a player and receive player input from the player, and an interface device configured to communicate with the wagering device to provide wagering event data to the wagering device, and send player input from the wagering device to the server, wherein the player utilizes the wagering device to play against other players based on the wagering event data.
US08052525B2
Disclosed is a system for providing and protecting online FLASH games, the system including: a game view module configured to provide a FLASH game view for realizing game content as a FLASH application on a game screen displayed on a user terminal; and a game skin module configured to provide a FLASH game skin comprising a frame of FLASH game content, wherein the game skin module is configured to operate in response to, at least in part, selecting performance of a predetermined FLASH game through a web server, and configured to control the game view module to perform the FLASH game content by referring to pre-stored FLASH game execution information based at least in part on a game ID of the selected FLASH game, so that the game view FLASH source information is provided from the FLASH game execution information.
US08052515B2
A display unit displays symbols in a plurality of columns, and in particular arranges the symbols in the same order in two or more of the columns. A game controller unit determines an arrangement of symbols at random on a condition that symbols are arranged in the same order and at the same positions in the two or more columns. A display controller unit causes the display unit to spin the two or more columns of symbols from the same position in synchronization with each other, and stop the two or more columns at the same position to display the arrangement of symbols determined by the game controller unit.
US08052510B2
In a horse race gaming machine 1, when a regular denomination process of S201 is executed, a regular BET image, wherein the minimum bet amount a player can specify is “1”, is displayed on a sub monitor 113 of a station 101. In the meantime, when a high denomination process of S208 is executed, a high BET image, wherein the minimum bet amount a player can specify is “2”, is displayed instead of the regular BET image, on the sub monitor 113 of the station 101. For executing the high denomination process of S208, for example, a player has to insert an IC card 119 into a reader/writer 118 (S203: YES), and further, the player has to touch a high button in the regular BET image of the sub monitor 113 (S207: YES).
US08052502B2
Simulated eye structure for plush toys, dolls, mannequins or other simulated or fanciful inanimate articles, sculptures, figurines and the like including at least one receptacle housing for a light source such as a light emitting diode. The receptacle housing has an external surface constructed as a substantially translucent cover having generally opaque regions representing iris/pupil and/or eyelid areas. The receptacle housing is provided with circuitry including a switch which may be a pressure activated type providing power to the light source. A timing circuit may be reset for circuitry activation cycles. The fabrication of the simulated eye structures with covered housings results in an inanimate article with softly illuminated eyes with uses ranging from retail advertising displays to interactive nightlights safely enjoyed by children as nighttime companions.
US08052498B2
A method of forming a color filter touch sensing substrate integrates touch-sensing structures/elements of a touch panel into the inner side of the color filter substrate, which faces a thin film transistor substrate, and forms patterned assistant electrodes on the surfaces of the transparent sensing pads for decreasing the equivalent resistance of the touch-sensing structures/elements. Moreover, since an adjacent transparent conductive layer and an assistant electrode layer are patterned to form the transparent sensing pads and the patterned assistant electrodes, a simplified pattern-transferring process can be applied to the transparent sensing pads and the patterned assistant electrodes, or bridge structures can be formed from the assistant electrode layer for electrically connecting between some transparent sensing pads. Therefore, the forming process is simplified.
US08052490B2
There is provided a device for electrically conductive contacting of a pipe having a band shaped metallic clamp (2) with two end parts (6, 7), wherein the clamp is equipped with parts of a closing device (11, 13, 14) at both end parts. The device has a separator (4) made from electrically conductive material, wherein the separator is deformable under pressure and wherein the separator is attached to the inner surface of the clamp. The device further comprises insulating material (3), wherein the clamp is embedded in the insulating material leaving free the inner surface required for making contact with the pipe. Furthermore, the embedded material leaves free both end parts of the clamp enabling a direct contact between both end parts in an assembly position of the device around the pipe.
US08052482B1
A female electrical connector includes an insulative housing, a rack mounted in the insulative housing and 8 pcs of gold pins arranged in the rack for signal transmission. The 1st, 3rd and 5th pins each have the respective top end extending obliquely backwardly from the front side of the rack and then curved and closely attached to the rear side of the rack so that the transmission direction of the 1st, 3rd and 5th pins is reversed to that of the 2nd, 4th, 6th, 7th and 8th pins, enabling the female electrical connector for signal transmission in the fully bandwidth range of 1˜500 MHz.
US08052479B1
An electrical connector plug includes a plug housing and a plurality of first contacts received in the plug housing. The plug housing defines a plug base and a pair of L-shaped tongues perpendicularly extending from the plug base. Each L-shaped tongue includes a main board and a side board perpendicular with the main board. Each first contact includes a first contacting portion exposing to a first face of the main board, a first terminal portion and a first retaining portion connecting the first contacting portion and the first terminal portion. The electrical connector plug further includes at least a pair of second plug contacts respectively secured to an outside face of the side board away from the main board and perpendicular with the first face of the main board.
US08052478B2
An electrical connector includes an insulative housing and a plurality of contacts assembled in the insulative housing. The insulative housing defines a mating face and a mounting face opposite to the mating face. A plurality of receiving passageways are extending through the mating face and the mounting face to form a first opening and a second opening. The contacts are assembled in the receiving passageways from the second opening. Each contact defines a base portion of a plate shaped retained in the second opening by a pair of barbs at two opposite first and second sides of the base portion and a pair of elastic arms extending from two opposite third and fourth sides of the base portion to the receiving passageway. The base portion protrudes a soldering portion of a half-ball shaped from an inside face facing the first opening to an outside face opposite to the inside face.
US08052475B2
A memory card socket is disclosed. The memory card socket has a body for receiving a memory card, many pins to electrically connect to the memory card, two elastic members for holding the memory card, and a blocking member for restraining one of the two elastic members. In accordance with the format of the memory card, the blocking member can restrain or release the elastic member for holding the memory card.
US08052464B2
A connector is provided which includes a plug having a plurality of cables disposed on one side of the plug, and a socket mounted on a base substrate that is used to connect the plug. The plug includes a plate-like member and a flexible substrate fixed to the surroundings of the plate-like member. The plate-like member includes a planar portion approximately parallel to a substrate face of the base substrate, and a bent portion provided on the other side of the plug and extending in a direction approximately perpendicular to the base substrate. The socket includes a mating space which receives the bent portion from a direction approximately perpendicular to the base substrate when the plug and socket are connector-connected.
US08052456B2
An electrical connector (100) comprises a first connector (1) and a second connector (2) electrically connected together by a printed circuit board assembly (3); a tubular shaped first shielding member (4) enclosing the printed circuit board assembly (3), partial of the first and second connector; a second shielding member (5) assembled to first shielding member and retaining the first connector and the second connector.
US08052455B1
A mounting apparatus is used to fix a flash drive mounted on a circuit board with a connector. The mounting apparatus is mounted on the circuit board and receives the flash drive and connector therein. The mounting apparatus includes a first sidewall and a second sidewall opposite to each other. An elastic piece and a resilient portion extend toward each other respectively from the first and second sidewall, to resist against opposite sides of the flash drive in response to the flash drive engaging with the connector.
US08052452B2
An electrical socket comprises an insulative housing, a stiffener defined around the insulative housing, a load plate and a load lever. The housing defines two supporting portions at two opposite sides, each of said supporting portions defining a mounting portion in a middle portion thereof. The stiffener comprises a first side, a second side opposite to the first side, a third side and a fourth side opposite to the third side, the third, fourth sides defined corresponding to the two supporting portions of the housing respectively and with an engaging portion engageable with the mounting portion, each of said third, fourth sides formed with an upwardly curved configuration at a middle portion thereof for supporting the supporting portion. The two supporting portions seat on the third, fourth sides respectively, thus making a gap formed between the supporting portions and opposite end of corresponding sides respectively.
US08052442B1
A lamp system used in a light string system comprises a light assembly and a socket assembly. The light assembly comprises a light source, a base in communication with the light source, and a bypass activating system. The socket assembly comprises a socket adapted to receive the light assembly and a bypass mechanism having a first position and a second position. The bypass mechanism is in the first position when the light assembly is not seated in the socket assembly. When the bypass mechanism in the first position, current flows across the bypass mechanism. When the light assembly is inserted into the socket assembly, the bypass activating system of the light assembly moves the bypass mechanism into the second position, and current flows through the light source instead of the bypass mechanism.
US08052438B1
A connector module including a case, a first connector, a second connector, and a switching unit is provided. The first connector disposed in the case has a first connecting portion. The second connector slidably disposed in the case has a second connecting portion. The switching unit is connected between the second connector and the case, and drives the second connector to move along an axis between a first position and a second position. When the second connector is located at the first position, only the first connecting portion is exposed from the case. When the second connector is located at the second position, the first and the second connecting portions are close to each other and exposed from the case.
US08052428B2
An elastic sheet structure includes a fixed section, a resisting section, an elastic section, a guiding section and an engaging section. The elastic section is located between the fixed section and the resisting section and connects the fixed section to the resisting section respectively. The guiding section connects to the fixed section and has a guiding arm. The engaging section connects to the resisting section and includes an engaging wall, the engaging wall defines a notch and forms an extending wall. The guiding arm engages with the notch, and the extending wall is parallel with and abuts against the guiding arm.
US08052427B2
A connector assembly is provided for coupling an electric motor to a power source, wherein the power source comprises a first conductive member. The connector assembly comprises a non-conductive member having an inner channel configured to receive at least a portion of the first conductive member, a second conductive member slidably disposed within the inner channel, coupled to the electric motor, and configured to be coupled to, and to receive a force having a first direction from, the first conductive member, and a spring member, retained between the non-conductive member and the second conductive member and configured to resist movement of the second conductive member in the first direction.
US08052411B2
A plate-like shape die 1 for forming a honeycomb structure provided with an introduction portion 3 having plural back holes on one side face (an introduction side) thereof and a formation portion provided with silts 6 communicating with plural back holes 7 on other side face thereof; using for forming a honeycomb shape with passing raw materials being introduced from back holes 7 of an introduction portion 3 through silts 6 being provided on the forming portion 2, wherein the introduction portion 3 is composed of two layers of a plate-like abrasion portion 5 constituting an introduction face 8, and an introduction portion main body 4 located between the abrasion portion 5 and the forming portion 2, and the abrasion portion 5 is detachably disposed on the introduction portion main body 4.
US08052410B2
A plastic injection mold for molding a plastic article includes an upper insert and a lower insert. The upper insert and the lower insert match with each other to define an annular mold cavity in between. An annular gate communicates with the mold cavity to allow molten plastic material to flow into the mold cavity to mold the article. An annular runner is connected with the annular gate for injecting molten plastic material to the annular gate. Molten plastic material will evenly flow into the mold cavity of the plastic injection mold through the annular gate to mold the plastic article, which prevents the plastic article from being disfigured, decreasing the number of defective products and improving the product quality.
US08052403B1
A peristaltic pump includes a support section and a rotor mounted for rotation on the support section. There are a pair of spaced apart cam elements attached to and extending from the rotor. A drive mechanism rotatably operates the rotor such that the cam elements are turned together with the rotor. There are first and second mounting sheaves connected to the support section. Each mounting sheave has a groove formed peripherally therein. An elongate, resilient tube conducts liquid therethrough. The tube includes leading and trailing tube segments and an intermediate tube segment formed longitudinally therebetween. The leading segment is retainably inserted in the groove of the first sheave and the trailing segment is retainably inserted in the groove of the second sheave to hold the intermediate segment of the tube for being operatively engaged by the cam elements as the rotor is operated. This causes liquid to be pumped peristaltically through the intermediate segment of the tube from the trailing segment to the leading segment.
US08052398B2
A method for reducing pulsation in a gas compressor system. The compressor driver (engine or motor) is operated at a modulated engine speed. The average of the modulated speed is selected to achieve a desired pipeline flow. The modulation characteristics are determined to optimally reduce the pulsation response of the compressor system.
US08052397B2
A rotor and shaft assembly for turbomachinery has a polygon shaped drive collar interposed between corresponding polygonal mating surfaces of a drive shaft and a rotor hub. The mating surfaces of the polygon collar, the drive shaft and the rotor hub may be sized both axially and radially for required torque transmission without the need for hub inserts or oversized shafts. The polygon drive collar is manufacturable using standard machine tools such as lathes and end mills that remove metal in a tool path following not more than two axes of simultaneous movement. A shaft end assembly secures the rotor and drive collar to the shaft.
US08052389B2
A shroudless, air cooled gas turbine blade has an internal structure including load-carrying members that support the blade outer wall and divide the blade interior into cooling passages. The dimensions of the structure in particular the load-carrying members are chosen with respect to inward heat flow during operation to tend to reduce heat transfer from the outer wall to the load-carrying members and with respect to mass distribution in the structure to reduce centrifugal forces during operation.
US08052383B2
A wind turbine includes a first temperature control system including fluid transporting heat to or from one or more components of the wind turbine. The wind turbine further includes a mechanism for exchanging heat between the first temperature control system and at least one further temperature control system of the wind turbine, wherein a temperature controlled mechanism enables the heat exchange between the first temperature control system and the at least one further temperature control system. A method for controlling or regulating the temperature of fluid flowing in a first temperature control system of a wind turbine and a use hereof is also contemplated.
US08052376B2
A turbo-molecular pump that enables reliable suppression of attachment of depositions onto component parts thereof. The turbo-molecular pump discharges a deposition-causing gas from a processing chamber. A rotor has a rotor shaft aligned with an exhaust stream. A cylindrical casing houses the rotor therein. A plurality of blade-form rotor blades projects from the rotor orthogonally with respect to the rotor shaft and are divided into a plurality of rotor blade groups. A plurality of blade-form stator blades projects orthogonally with respect to the rotor shaft from a rotor-facing surface and are divided into a plurality of stator blade groups. Gas supply ports are located on an upstream side of the rotor blade group that is located furthest downstream in the exhaust stream, and supply a deposition-suppressing gas which includes gas molecules having a large molecular weight.
US08052372B1
A wind driven turbine device is disclosed that includes a housing having an air inlet and an air outlet, a turbine rotor having a plurality of radially distributed turbine rotor blades mounted in the housing for rotation in direct response to atmospheric wind to thereby generate rotary power, a baffle arrangement is also provided for directing wind through the housing from the air inlet to contact the turbine rotor blades from behind as internal driving wind. The rotor is mounted in a manner such that the rotor blades are driven both by a combination of direct external wind and internally directed wind.
US08052371B2
A bag supply apparatus for supplying bags onto a conveyer for transporting a bag bundle stacked such that an upper level bag is shifted forward, including a bag lifting device, which is provided with a pair of bag support members disposed facing one another on the left and right sides near the rear edge of a belt conveyor, and a rotation mechanism, which imparts translational motion of rotation in symmetric in a vertical plane with respect to the conveyance direction of the belt conveyor. The bag supporting portions of the bag support members contact the bag bundle from below to lift up the rear edge portion of the bag bundle and then separated from the bag bundle outwardly. While the bag supporting portions thus lifting the bag bundle, a new bag is fed into the space between the conveyance surface of the belt conveyor and the bag bundle.
US08052366B2
A connector of frangible material for mounting on the piercing end of a nail-like fastener, connects the fastener to a bracket or clamp. The bracket has a conical frustrum-shaped aperture. The connector has a conical frustrum-shaped leading end that fits into the conical frustrum-shaped aperture in the bracket. The trailing end of the connector grips the fastener. The connector locks to the bracket by passing its trailing end through the leading opening of the conical frustrum-shaped aperture and snugging the conical frustrum leading end of the connector into the conical frustrum-shaped aperture in the bracket.
US08052362B2
A machine tool including a bed; a work table horizontally movable on the bed; a column extending from the bed; a spindle head movable on the column; an outer cylinder attached inside the spindle head; a stator of a built-in motor; and a spindle sub-cartridge. The spindle sub-cartridge includes a vertical rotating shaft; a front side bearing having an inner ring fitted to a front end of the rotating shaft and an outer ring fitted to a front housing; a rotor of the built-in motor; a rear side bearing having an inner ring fitted to a rear end of the rotating shaft and an outer ring fitted to a bearing sleeve. The movable range of the spindle head in the vertical direction is longer than a length necessary for inserting the spindle sub-cartridge into the spindle head. The spindle sub-cartridge is can be disassembled and assembled integrally with respect to the spindle head.
US08052349B2
A modular roof like enclosed structure has attachments suitable for handling by lifting machinery to be placed on a landfill site and a perimeter strip extension which abuts or overlaps an adjoining module on the site. The modular structure is vented to allow ventilation of the landfill and the vent contains a filter to extract harmful gasses and odors. The structure also contains a liquid spray system to spray insecticide and deodorant onto the landfill and a fire retardant system which is activated automatically when smoke is detected.
US08052337B2
An optical module (1) including a light receiving/emitting element (3) for transmitting or receiving an optical signal, an optical waveguide (2) having a core part made of a material with translucency and a clad part made of a material having an index of refraction different from an index of refraction of the core part for optically coupling with the light receiving/emitting element (3) and transmitting the optical signal, and a package (5) for accommodating at least one end including an entrance/exit port (2c) of the optical signal in the optical waveguide (2) and the light receiving/emitting element (3); wherein a surface on a side facing a bottom plate mounted with the light receiving/emitting element (3) in the package (5) at the end of the optical waveguide (2) accommodated in the package (5) is configured by a first region including a portion projected into a space inside the package (5), and a second region different from the first region; and the package (5) includes a supporting part (5a) for supporting one part of at least one side of the surface forming the first region in the first region, and supporting one part of at least two sides of the surface forming the second region in the second region.
US08052332B2
In a wheel bearing assembly, an outer surface of a head portion of a link bolt contacts an inner surface of an end wall portion of a constant-velocity joint outer ring. A shaft portion of a link bolt is press-fit into a penetration hole of the constant-velocity joint outer ring. An external threaded portion of the link bolt is inserted into the central hole of a hub spindle so that the external threaded portion protrudes from an outer end surface of a hub wheel. A lock nut is fastened to the external threaded portion, so that the wheel hub and the constant-velocity joint outer ring are linked, and the first spline and the second spline are meshed so as to be capable of torque transmission.
US08052330B2
In order to omit jostling caused between the adjacent rolling elements, a clearance is formed therebetween in a load region. A transfer path has a region that allows the rolling elements to contact only one of the transfer grooves of the transfer path, or a region that has a friction force acting between one of the transfer grooves of the transfer path and the rolling elements being greater than the friction force acting between another one of the transfer grooves of the transfer path and the rolling elements. The one of the transfer grooves in the region has a cross sectional shape taken in a direction perpendicular to the direction, in which the rolling elements are transferred, which cross sectional shape allowing two point contact with the rolling elements; and the rolling apparatus further has a contact-angle changing path that has a contact angle with the rolling elements that is greater than the contact angle of the other portion of the transfer path. Thus, the orbital motion speed of the rolling elements is changed.
US08052319B2
Disclosed are a diffusion plate and a display apparatus having the same. The diffusion plate includes a base and a plurality of convex portions. The base includes a front surface and a rear surface. Each convex portion has a crescent of an ellipse formed on a front surface of the base while extending in one direction. The display apparatus includes a display panel, a light source, and the diffusion plate.
US08052315B2
It is an object to provide a planar illumination device that is thin and light weight, and can emit uniform illumination light with little brightness unevenness and can be enlarged in size. It is to provide a planar illumination device comprising: a first light source and a second light source which are arranged at predetermined intervals; and a light guide plate which is arranged between the first light source and the second light source and has: a light exit surface; a first light incident surface which is opposed to the first light source and includes a side of the light exit surface; a second light incident surface which is opposed to the second light source and includes an opposite side to the side; and a rear surface which is formed to be opposed to the light exit surface, wherein a cross section on a plane perpendicular to the side, of the rear surface of the light guide plate has a curved line in which a distance from the light exit surface increases with a shift from the first light incident surface and the second light incident surface to a center, an inclined angle relative to the light exit surface reduces with a shift from the first light incident surface or the second light incident surface to the center, and the inclined angle relative to the light exit surface is zero degrees at the center.
US08052307B2
Provided are a lens and a light emitting apparatus comprising the lens. The light emitting apparatus comprises a substrate, a light emitting device package on the substrate, and a lens supported by the substrate, the lens being disposed on the light emitting device package. The lens comprises a lens body comprising a first recessed part at a central portion of a top surface thereof and a second recessed part at a central portion of a bottom surface thereof and a lens support disposed on the bottom surface of the lens body to support the lens body such that the bottom surface of the lens body is spaced from the substrate.
US08052305B2
An exemplary sound-activated light source system includes a light source device and a sound-activated controlling device. The sound-activated controlling device includes an acoustoelectric transforming member and a controlling circuit. The acoustoelectric transforming member includes electroactive polymer artificial muscle for converting an acoustic signal into an electrical signal. The controlling circuit is electrically coupled to the acoustoelectric transforming member and the light source device, and is configured for controlling at least one of brightness and color of light emitting from the light source device based on the electrical signal received from the acoustoelectric transforming member.
US08052304B2
An LED lamp assembly includes a fixing holder adapted for positioning the LED lamp assembly at a desired position and a plurality of LED lamp modules superposed one by one on the fixing holder and spaced from each other. The LED lamp modules gradually increase in dimension along a superposing direction of the LED lamp modules. Each of the LED lamp modules includes a heat sink and an LED module attached to the heat sink. The heat sinks of the LED lamp modules gradually increase in dimension along the superposing direction of the LED lamp modules. The LED lamp modules are connected by a rod between the heat sinks of adjacent ones of the LED lamp modules.
US08052297B2
A flashlight with light emitting diode (LED) sources that produce at least two different colors and at least two other activatable components. The colored LEDs and activatable components cycle on and off using two separate switches. One switch cycles preferably white LEDs on and off. Another switch preferably cycles between a non-white LEDs and two other activatable components and combinations thereof. The activatable components include strobes, sirens, GPS tracking, emergency calling, radio, weather notification, laser light, and light not visible to humans.
US08052295B2
A backlight assembly and a liquid crystal display device having the same backlight assembly are provided. The backlight assembly includes a bottom case, a plurality of printed circuit boards (PCBs) disposed on the bottom case, wherein substantially all of the PCBs have predetermined inclinations with respect to a front surface of the bottom case, and a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs) mounted on the PCBs.
US08052294B2
A back light unit for a liquid crystal display device for improving uniformity of the light and dispensing with optical sheets. The back light unit includes a light source having a holographic pattern formed on a surface thereof opposite the display device which is to display a picture, and a reflective plate under the light source.
US08052288B2
A projector includes: a light source device; an optical modulation device; a projection optical device; and an exterior casing, wherein a luminous flux passage opening for allowing the image light projected magnified from the projection optical device to pass through is formed in a first surface of the exterior casing, the projection optical device includes an aspheric mirror which reflects the image light to the first surface side, and magnifies and projects the image light via the luminous flux passage opening, and the exterior casing is provided with a transmissive member which closes the luminous flux passage opening; and a cover which, being movably attached to the first surface, moves between a closed position in which the transmissive member is covered and an open position in which the transmissive member is exposed.
US08052286B2
A method includes generating a plurality of beams that each illuminate a separate portion of a spatial light modulator. The spatial light modulator has a first dimension of a first length and a second dimension of a second length. Each of the beams spans a portion of the first length of the first dimension and a portion of the second length of the second dimension. The method also includes scrolling the plurality of beams along the second dimension of the spatial light modulator while maintaining at least a first gap between each of the plurality of beams.
US08052281B2
A projection apparatus arranged such that the first light source, the second light source and the third light source provide the first colored light, the second colored light and the third colored light, respectively. The first digital micromirror device (DMD) modulates and reflects the first colored light, while the second DMD modulates and reflects the second and third colored lights guided by the first light guiding device. Subsequently, the second light guiding device guides the colored lights reflected from the first DMD and the second DMD to the projection lens.
US08052275B2
A printer includes a body defining an internal cartridge docking space. A static pagewidth printhead extends across an end of the body and is configured to print upon print media. A removable printer cartridge stores a stack of print media and defines an ink supply reservoir. The printer cartridge is configured to be removed from and inserted into the docking space at the end of the body so that the printhead can be engaged in fluid communication with the ink supply reservoir. A feed mechanism is configured to feed print media from the stack and in line with the printhead during printing.
US08052267B2
In one embodiment, a fluid ejector assembly includes: an inlet structure having an opening therein through which fluid may enter the assembly, the inlet structure having a rim generally defining an outer perimeter of the inlet structure around the opening; a conduit through which fluid may pass from the opening in the inlet structure to an ejector structure; and a filter supported on the inlet structure and spanning the opening such that fluid passing through the opening in the inlet structure to the conduit passes through the filter, a peripheral edge of the filter surrounded by the rim of the inlet structure and the peripheral edge of the filter encapsulated by the inlet structure.
US08052258B2
A method for sealing a bore formed in a cover film is disclosed. An ink inlet hole formed in an ink cartridge is covered at a hole covering area of the cover film. The method includes formation of a recess outside the hole covering area by removing a portion of the cover film, mounting a seal film on the cover film in such a manner that the seal film covers the bore, and sealing the bore with the seal film by heating the seal film with the seal film mounted on the cover film and thereby melting a side of the seal film opposed to the cover film.
US08052249B2
An approach applying a semiconductor manufacturing process in the manufacturing of an electrostatic actuator, such as for a droplet discharging head, liquid supply cartridge, inkjet recording apparatus and/or liquid jet apparatus, is provided. Such electrostatic actuator has high-reliability and less variation in characteristics.
US08052241B2
A recording apparatus includes a feeding device for feeding a recording medium, recording heads arranged along a feeding direction and extending in a direction orthogonal to the feeding direction, and a control unit for controlling the recording heads, and including storage for storing printing cycle data for printing cycles. For each printing cycle the printing cycle data includes head drive data and head identifying data identifying each head in a corresponding positional relationship with the recording medium in the feeding direction. As the recording medium advances in the feeding direction, the number of heads identified by the head identifying data in a printing cycle changes over time. Also, the apparatus includes a drive unit for reading the printing cycle data associated with a corresponding printing cycle and drives each head identified by the head identifying data based on the head drive data corresponding to the printing cycle data.
US08052239B2
An inkjet head driving apparatus, wherein serial data indicating emission or non emission of nozzles respectively for a plurality of heads, is latched and memorized, and the nozzles are driven respectively based on the data memorized, the inkjet head driving apparatus having: an emission timing signal outputting device disposed in common for a plurality of heads so as to output a plurality of emission timing signals in one emission cycle; a setting device disposed respectively for the plurality of the heads so as to select the sequential emission timing signals at which emission starts synchronously, among the emission timing signals outputted from the emission timing signal outputting device in one emission cycle.
US08052230B2
A lifting system for lifting a floor mounted cabinet from a stored position located on a floor to a raised position where a centerline of the cabinet would be between 38-40 inches above the floor and approximately eye level to a person seated in a wheelchair. A pneumatic power source and a low voltage electric power system coupled with inner and outer frames enables movement of the cabinet between the stored and raised positions.
US08052221B2
A tractor for hauling concrete and similar materials at a construction site. The tractor includes an engine powering two pumps connected in series. The two pumps providing hydraulic pressure to: independently power each of a plurality of wheels; to rotate at least one of the wheels to provide steering to the tractor; to raise and lower a bucket; and to release and close a latch for a gate connected to the bucket.
US08052216B2
An actuator configured to actuate a member. The actuator optionally including capabilities for storing and releasing kinetic energy. The actuator being suitable for use in any number of environments, including but not limited to facilitating seat folding operations.
US08052208B2
An apparatus for locking a table of a seat back to selectively secure the table in multiple stages, may include a base, a shaft coupled to the base and the table, an actuating arm fastened to the shaft and rotatable with the shaft, the actuating arm having actuating gear teeth, a locking arm rotatably provided on the base, wherein the locking arm includes locking gear teeth and the locking gear teeth is selectively engaged with the actuating gear teeth by the actuating arm such that when the actuating arm is rotated in a forward direction, the actuating gear teeth is engaged with the locking gear teeth or pass over the locking gear teeth according to rotational degree of the actuating arm, and a locking arm holding unit co-axially coupled with the actuating arm to the base and selectively activated by the actuating arm.
US08052188B2
A self-presenting device includes, a member in physical communication with a vehicle surface, wherein the member is configured to have a first form and a second form, wherein the first form is configured to store the member and the second form is configured to present the member, and an active material in operable communication with the member, wherein the active material is configured to undergo a change in at least one property upon receipt of an activation signal, wherein the change in at least one property is effective to transition the member from the first form to the second form.
US08052186B2
A high rise hose pack system for efficiently transporting a length of fire hose. The high rise hose pack system generally includes a main member having an elongated structure, a plurality of first support members attached to a first side of the main member, a plurality of second support members attached to a second side of the main member opposite of the first support members, a first strap attached to the first side of the main member and a second strap attached to the second side of the main member, wherein the first strap and the second strap are connectable to one another to secure a fire hose folded upon the main member. The first support members and the second support members are preferably comprised of a rigid structure to adequately support the sides of the folded fire hose. A roller is rotatably attached to at least one of the second straps to allow the folded fire hose to bend freely without the second strap frictionally engaging the upper surface of the folded fire hose.
US08052185B2
A robotic hand with finger assemblies to better simulate human hand form factors and gestures. For each finger assembly, the robotic hand includes a finger drive assembly that is operable to selectively apply tension to four elongated and flexible tension elements (e.g., steel cable). Each of the finger assemblies includes a set of links or link members that are actuated or moved by the selective tensioning/movement of the tension elements by the drive assembly. The links are interconnected with pivotal joints such that they have three degrees-of-freedom, and the finger assembly includes a set of pulleys that are supported on the links and that are arranged to provide support and to guide the tension elements through the finger assembly. The tension elements preferably extend only partially about any one of the pulleys, whereby the finger assembly utilizes “n+1” actuation with non-helical wrapping of the tension elements.
US08052165B2
The invention relates to an end piece (2, 2′) for the front or rear end of a ski (1) or snowboard, which end piece (2, 2′) has at least a first and a second portion (6, 7). A distance (10, 10′) between mutually adjacent zones (8, 9) of the first and second portion (6, 7) or a width or length measurement of at least one of the zones (8, 9) can be varied. Alternatively, the first and second portion (6, 7) are connected to one another in the mutually adjacent zones (8, 9) by means of an articulated joint and/or an elastically stretchable and rebounding bridging element and/or an elastically deformable middle portion (12) and the zones of the first and second portion (6, 7) remote from the mutually adjacent zones (8, 9) can be respectively connected to oppositely lying side edges of a ski (1) or snowboard by articulated joints and/or with an interconnected elastic deformation zone. This positively influences the performance of a ski (1) or snowboard with a variable geometry or size.
US08052164B2
A connector bracket for a trailer vehicle of a tractor trailer, having a support frame which can swivel on a bearing about a coupling means and a connector arranged stationary on the support frame. A connector bracket on the trailer was needed that lessens the risk of damage to the connector from components of the tractor. A connector bracket is provided in which the connector is at least partly covered by the coupling in the lengthwise axis of the vehicle and a guide ramp is formed in front of the connector and tilting toward the connector at least during the coupling process.
US08052163B2
The invention relates, inter alia, to a connector bracket for a semitrailer of a semitrailer truck. Said connector bracket comprises a support element which can be swiveled about a bearing and a connector arranged inside the support element, the support element having a casing frame with a section that is complementary to an insertion opening of a fifth wheel. The aim of the invention is to provide a connector bracket or a plug-in coupling which is highly reliable even under adverse external conditions. This aim is achieved, inter alia, by the connector bracket according to the invention, wherein the casing frame can be displaced in relation to the connector by contact with the insertion opening, thereby displacing the connector from a closed standby position to an open coupling position.
US08052154B2
A metal laminate gasket for an engine fitting a cylinder liner into a cylinder block is formed by laminating multiple metal plates, and includes a first laminate portion clamped between the cylinder block and the head block; a second laminate portion clamped between the cylinder liner and the head block; a connecting portion formed between the first and second laminate portions and made thinner than the first and second laminate portions; and a damper bead formed in the connecting portion for allowing the second laminate portion to follow the movements of the cylinder liner. Thus, the metal laminate gasket for the engine with the cylinder liner can follow the intricate movements of the cylinder liner accompanied by a high-powered engine.
US08052153B2
[PROBLEMS] A seal device where a seal lip reliably maintains shaft sealing relative to high-pressure fluid that is to be sealed and where the equivalent Mises stress occurring in the seal lip is reduced to extend the durable term of the seal lip longer.[MEANS FOR SOLVING PROBLEMS] A backup ring (2) has a tapered section (23) continuously extending from a fixation section (21) of the backup ring (2) and also has a forward end section (24). A rounded surface (E) with a curvature radius (R-1) is formed at least at a boundary (26) where a surface (D) of the tapered section (23) changes to a surface (F) of the forward end section (24). A portion of the surface (D) of the tapered surface (23), which portion is in contact with the rounded surface (E) at the boundary (26), is a projected curvature surface having a curvature radius greater than the curvature radius (R-1) of the boundary (26).
US08052151B2
In a sealing arrangement sealing at least one axial end section of a hollow shaft that is arranged in a cavity of a component, with the hollow shaft being adapted to route a fluid, a gasket is adapted to be located between the component and the shaft. The gasket is made with a sealing lip to adjoin the outer peripheral surface of the end section. The gasket also includes an axially projecting portion that projects axially beyond the end of the shaft. The axially projecting portion of the gasket surrounds a device for filtering the fluid and/or a device for determining the flow cross-section of the fluid.
US08052140B2
A feeder/delivery board (81) includes a generally planar platform (83) made of a flexible material, and a plurality of legs (84) attached to the platform and extending downwardly for supporting the board on a printing press table (80a). A jack mechanism (88) is mounted in at least one of the legs (84) for selectively raising an area of the platform (83) relative to a remainder of the platform. The jack mechanism (88) includes a rack (89), a pinion (90) engaging the rack and a key (91) or thumbwheel (71) for rotating said pinion. The board (81) can include one of the jack mechanisms (88) mounted in each of the legs (84).
US08052137B2
A sheet stopping mechanism includes a guiding element, a sheet stopping element and a guiding slot. The guiding element includes a sheathing part and an extension arm. The sheathing part is sheathed around an axle of the sheet pick-up roller. The sheet stopping element includes a stopping part, a protrusion part and a contact part. The extension arm of the guiding element is upwardly sustained against at the contact part of the sheet stopping element. The protrusion part of the sheet stopping element is accommodated within the guiding slot. When the sheet pick-up roller is moved toward a sheet input tray, the guiding element is uplifted. As a result, the protrusion part of the sheet stopping element is shifted and rotated in the guiding slot, and a front edge of the paper sheet is no longer hindered by the stopping part of the sheet stopping element.
US08052131B2
A bookmaking apparatus includes a first path to convey a sheet bundle, a second path to convey a cover sheet, a joining stage disposed at an intersection of the first path and the second path, a gripping conveyance device arranged for gripping and a conveyance device arranged at a downstream side of the joining stage for conveying out the cover sheet and sheet bundle. The gripping conveyance device includes clamping members to grip the sheet bundle and clamping control device for opening and closing the clamping members. The clamping control device operates the clamping members to grip a lower edge of the sheet bundle when joining the sheet bundle to the cover sheet, and the clamping members to retract to an upstream side of the first path and to grip the sheet bundle again when conveying the joined sheet bundle to the conveyance device.
US08052127B2
A respiratory humidification system having a capillary passage in communication with a ventilator, the ventilator adapted to deliver an air stream, a heater operable to at least partially vaporize water in the capillary passage, a pumping unit adapted to supply water to the capillary passage, wherein the water upon heating is at least partially vaporized to form an aerosol stream. The aerosol stream is combined with the air stream to form a humidified air stream.
US08052123B2
A power operated winch mechanism for handling the running rigging lines of a sailing yacht. The winch includes a winding drum, which winds and stores the line during line retrieving operations and controllably releases the line when desired. A pair of the new winches can be controllably operated using a portable or fixed control device, with one winch controlled to retrieve one line while another winch controllably releases line in a coordinated procedure. Among other things, such coordinated operations can be useful in carrying out tacking and gybing maneuvers without crew involvement in line handling operations. Novel level wind features enable the lines to be appropriately tensioned during retrieval, and positively drawn from the drum when the line is not under load. Significant improvement in the safety and convenience of the crew is enabled.
US08052114B2
A ramp system may include a pallet configured to support a product, a ramp configured to secure the product to the pallet when the ramp is in a first position and to connect to the pallet when the ramp is in a second position and a bracket configured to be removeably connected to a top surface of the pallet.
US08052108B2
A probe holder includes a base and a holding part foldably provided to the base. The probe holder allows easy movement and maintenance of an ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus including the probe holder and to prevent the probe holder from being damaged by a wall or other objects and vice versa during movement of the ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus.
US08052103B2
A product assembly includes a substantially planar product and a support wedge. The support wedge is formed separately from the substantially planar product and includes a base, two sidewalls, and two internal walls. The two sidewalls each extend from opposite sides of the base and converge toward one another as they extend away from the base. The two internal walls each extend from a side of one of the two sidewalls opposite the base. The two internal walls are substantially parallel to and spaced from one another to define a slot between the two internal walls. The substantially planar product is positioned within the slot and is held in place due to compression applied to the substantially planar product by the two internal walls. Other products, assemblies, and associated methods are also disclosed.
