US08180208B2
A method of identifying a photographer includes determining a steadiness signal related to movement of a camera held by a first photographer while capturing an image or video, wherein the steadiness signal identifies the motion of the camera in at least two dimensions as a function of time and storing a set of steadiness signals where each steadiness signal has an associated known photographer. The method further includes using a processor to compare the steadiness signal to the set of steadiness signals to produce a set of similarity scores between the first photographer and each of the known photographers; and using the set of similarity scores to identify the photographer that has captured the image or video.
US08180197B2
A disk-like recording medium recording/reproducing method or apparatus for performing a data recording operation and a data reproducing operation to the disk-like recording medium alternately. The recording operation is performed at a constant linear velocity, and whether a recording area at an ending point of an n-th recording operation on the medium is continuous to a recording area at a starting point of an (n+1) the recording operation is identified. When a discontinuation of the recording area is identified, the rotational speed at the starting point of the (n+1)th recording operation is changed, during a reproducing operation between the n-th recording operation and the (n+1)th recording operation. When a continuation of the recording area is identified, the rotational speed of the disk-like recording medium at the ending point of the n-th recording operation is held, during a reproducing operation between the n-th recording operation and the (n+1)th recording operation.
US08180194B2
A storage medium is encoded with a video program created using authoring systems and methods. The processor-based authoring system removes an author from consideration of low-level configuration functions during authoring. The authoring system includes an authoring engine having an interactive graphical authoring interface, a data management engine, an emulator, a compiler, a multiplexer and a simulator. The authoring methods include the use of summary authoring data, a compiler that builds a skeleton-form layout structure comprising abstracted components that include movie chapters, menu buttons and command segements. The compiler resolves abstracted connections between combinations of the abstracted components to produce a video program. Instructions associated with the command segments and a configuration of the command segments within a video program video space and domain structure are abstracted the functional during authoring.
US08180187B2
Optical communication systems and methods are operable to communicate optical signals across a gimbal system. An exemplary embodiment has a first optical rotary joint with a rotor and a stator, a second optical rotary joint with a rotor and a stator, and an optical connector coupled to the stators of the first and the second optical rotary joints. The stator of the first optical rotary joint is affixed to a first rotational member of the gimbal system. The stator of the second optical rotary joint is affixed to a second rotational member of the gimbal system. A first optical connection coupled to the rotor of the first optical rotary joint and a second optical connection coupled to the rotor of the second optical rotary joint remain substantially stationary as the gimbal system orients an optical communication device in a desired position.
US08180176B2
When an image is captured by an imaging apparatus that is not on the premise that the image is captured, it is not possible to estimate objects included in the image in order to correct a tilt of the captured image. Therefore, a tilt angle of the captured image can be estimated based on areas not suitable for estimating the tilt angle of the captured image, and the captured image is corrected based on an incorrectly estimated tilt angle, which deteriorates the quality of the captured image. An image processing device is provided to divides the captured image into a plurality of areas, determine a directional characteristic shown by a texture of each of the divided areas, and estimate the tilt angle of the captured image based on one or more areas whose textures have the unidirectional characteristic to correct the captured image using the estimated tilt angle.
US08180165B2
An accelerated screen codec technique is described that provides a general screen compression framework, which, in one embodiment, is Graphics Processor Unit (GPU) friendly. In one embodiment, in order to compress screen data, blocks in a compound screen image containing both images and text are segmented into text blocks and pictorial blocks using a simple gradient-based procedure. The text and pictorial blocks are then compressed respectively via different compression techniques. Additionally, a GPU acceleration architecture of one embodiment of the accelerated screen codec technique provides a screen codec that maximally exploits a GPU's high parallelism and reduces the download bandwidth from GPU to Computer Processing Unit (CPU).
US08180162B2
A similar image retrieving device (1) comprises: an image database (21) for storage of sets of image data, and sets of keywords each associated with a corresponding image data; a cluster classification section (11) to read the sets of image data, provide a respective one of the sets of image data with a compatibility value as an index representative of a set of compatibilities of a corresponding one of the sets of keywords, and classify the sets of image data into clusters thereof in accordance with the compatibility value; an optimum cluster extracting section (12) to provide the set of query image data with a compatibility value, and select one of clusters to which the query image data is to belong to minimize an error caused in a Projection onto Convex Sets using the clusters; and a similar image extracting section (13) to output, as a similar image, a set of image data provided a close compatibility value, among the sets of image data belonging to the cluster selected by the optimum cluster extractor.
US08180159B2
There are provided: a pattern detection process section for extracting a partial image made of pixels including a target pixel from input image data; a displaced image generation section for generating a self-displaced image by displacing at least a part of the partial image through a predetermined method; and a matching test determination section for determining whether an image pattern included in the partial image matches an image pattern included in the self-displaced image or not. When the matching test determination section determines that the matching exists, a target pixel in the partial image or a block made of pixels including the target pixel is regarded as a feature point. Consequently, even when image data is subjected to a process such as enlarging and reducing, it is possible to extract a feature point that properly specifies the image data regardless of the enlarging/reducing process.
US08180156B2
In a known method for machine-cutting a plate-shaped workpiece, position and/or geometry and/or dimensions of the workpiece are detected without contact by means of a camera and the corresponding data are subjected to an evaluation by means of image processing. Starting from this, to permit a precise and reproducible detection of the position and/or geometry and/or dimensions of the workpiece to be treated without spending a lot of time, it is suggested according to the invention that the recording of the data should comprise a method step for the coarse localization of a workpiece edge, in which the camera is operated in a first operative mode with lower optical resolution, and a second method step for determining the exact positional data of the found workpiece edge, in which the camera is operated in a second operative mode with higher optical resolution.
US08180147B2
A computer-implemented pattern recognition method, system and program product, the method comprising in one embodiment: creating electronically a linkage between a plurality of models within a classifier module within a pattern recognition system such that any one of said plurality of models may be selected as an active model in a recognition process; creating electronically a null hypothesis between at least one model of said plurality of linked models and at least a second model among said plurality of linked models; accumulating electronically evidence to accept or reject said null hypothesis until sufficient evidence is accumulated to reject said null hypothesis in favor of one of said plurality of linked models or until a stopping criterion is met; and transmitting at least a portion of the electronically accumulated evidence or a summary thereof to accept or reject said null hypothesis to a pattern classifier module.
US08180138B2
A method and system for reconstructing and segmenting an image of the contents of a container. The method includes receiving actual scan data from a scan of the container, reconstructing the actual scan data to obtain a reconstructed image, and segmenting the reconstructed image to obtain a segmented image. The method also includes deriving simulated scan data corresponding to the segmented image, calculating an error term based on a difference between the simulated scan data and the actual scan data, and determining whether a criterion is satisfied. The method further includes using the error term to produce a modified reconstructed image and repeating the preceding steps with the modified reconstructed image substituted for the reconstructed image if the criterion is not satisfied, and outputting information from the segmented image if the criterion is satisfied.
US08180137B2
A system for determining a plurality of PCS values for a document image representing a document having at least one area of interest on a surface of the physical item for containing critical data and a background image positioned on the surface, the document suitable for positioning in a digital image recorder, the system determines from the memory a plurality of PCS threshold values having specified surface locations matching the assigned locations of the calculated PCS values and compares the PCS threshold values with the calculated PCS values to determine whether the target portions satisfy their respective PCS threshold values; wherein the degree of target portions that satisfy their PCS threshold value is indicative of the acceptability of the design of the background image when processed by the digital image recorder.
US08180133B2
An image processing method includes identifying a body region in a tomographic image based on pixel values within the tomographic image, extracting a bone muscle region corresponding to essential parts of bones and muscles based on bone muscle pixels having pixel values corresponding to the bones or muscles in the body region, searching boundary points of the bone muscle region from outside a region surrounding the extracted bone muscle region to inside the region, creating a bone-muscle region outer peripheral profile line by joining only boundary points at which each index related to at least one of a length and a slope of a line segment connecting between the adjoining boundary points of the searched boundary points satisfies a predetermined condition, and extracting a visceral fat region comprised of fat pixels having pixel values corresponding to fat in a region lying inside the bone-muscle region outer peripheral profile line.
US08180132B2
A system and method for correcting the registration of a 3D image and a 2D image acquired with medical imaging systems is disclosed. The system and method determines acquisition geometry of the imaging system by calculating an initial projection matrix associated with the 2D image. The system performs a projection of the 3D image using the initial projection matrix resulting in a 2D projection of the 3D image. The system registers the 2D projection of the 3D image and the 2D image. A new projection matrix is determined based on the registration of the 2D image and the 2D projection of the 3D image. The 3D image is then registered with the 2D image using the new projection matrix. An associated medical imaging system is disclosed. Method embodiments use previously acquired 3D images or images acquired using imaging modalities different than the one used to acquire the 2D image.
US08180129B2
In general, the disclosure is related to electrode-to-lead association using post-implant imaging. An image analysis unit may calculate distances between representations of electrodes in an electronic image and identify groups based on the calculated distances. Each identified group may include a plurality of electrode representations. The distance between a first electrode representation and a second electrode representation may be substantially a same distance between the second electrode representation and a third electrode representation. A characterization unit may determine one or more lead types based on the identified groups.
US08180123B2
More accurate search for similar cases can be carried out in the case where images by different imaging methods exist. An imaging information analysis unit obtains imaging information of search target images obtained by different imaging methods in the same examination from accompanying information of the images, and a similar case database storing similar case information sets each including examination ID, imaging information, a characteristic quantity, and image interpretation/diagnosis support information is searched in processing by a first similar case information search unit, a second similar case information search unit, and a judgment unit. A corresponding portion of the similar case information sets satisfying three conditions comprising agreement of the imaging information with the search target images, agreement of examination between the portion of the similar case information sets, and similarity of a content-based characteristic to the search target images is obtained.
US08180122B2
A finger guide device for a biometric fingerprint scanner, the device including a raised portion, a channel formed into the raised portion and extending from about a front side of the raised portion to about a rear side thereof, an aperture formed through the device at the channel, finger selection contours configured to visually indicate to a user to place an index finger in the channel, and finger direction contours configured to direct a finger placed in the channel toward the aperture.
US08180096B2
A loudspeaker includes a first bar magnet having a longitudinal direction, a second bar magnet having a longitudinal direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the first bar magnet, a third bar magnet forming a second magnetic gap between the first bar magnet and the third bar magnet, a diaphragm arranged to vibrate in a vibrating direction, a case accommodating the first bar magnet, the second bar magnet, the third bar magnet, and the diaphragm , and the voice coil fixed to the diaphragm and located in the first and second magnetic gaps. The second bar magnet has a longitudinal direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the first bar magnet, and has both ends in the longitudinal direction. The third bar magnet has a longitudinal direction parallel to the longitudinal direction of the first bar magnet, and has both ends in the longitudinal direction. The diaphragm is located between the first and second bar magnets and between the first and third bar magnents. The case is made of non-magnetic material and holds an outer periphery of the diaphragm. The case forms a first space surrounded by the case, one of the both ends of the second bar magnet, and one of the both ends of the third bar magnet. The case forms a second space surrounded by the case, another one of both ends of the second bar magnet, and another one of both ends of the third bar magnet. First and second sound holes are provided in the case and communicate with the first and second spaces, respectively. The loudspeaker is thin but outputs large sounds.
US08180095B2
A portable speaker device that includes a frame configured to receive a portable audio device and at least two speakers that are slidably-connected to the frame. The speakers have a first position for providing a substantially extended configuration and a second position for providing a substantially retracted configuration. The portable speaker device also includes a flush hinged sub-assembly that includes a contoured element and arcuate arms extending from a support and rotatably coupled to the frame at the distal ends of the arcuate arms.
US08180092B2
There is provided a transducer system for an active noise compensation apparatus, which has a first end at the ear side and an electroacoustic transducer. The electroacoustic transducer has a diaphragm system and a magnet system, wherein the central region of the diaphragm system is curved towards the magnet system and is in the form of an inverted calotte. A sensor microphone is arranged in a volume between the first end and the region of the curvature of the diaphragm system.
US08180089B2
An earphone including a case, a case extension unit, a plate, a cover, a first speaker and a second speaker is provided. The first speaker is disposed on a supporting portion of the plate and is disposed on a first plane different from a second plane where the second speaker is located. A distance exits in the position of the first speaker and the position of the second speaker corresponding to a direction of the sound from the earphone to the user who wears the earphone. The distance variation can make the sound field have more special effects and have better frequency response in some frequency domain. The distance variation can also avoid the interference of different sound fields generated by the speakers inside the earphone, and thus improves the performance of the whole sound field.
US08180084B2
The present subject matter includes a switch and an operator to interface with the switch, the operator in a battery door of a hearing assistance device. One embodiment includes a housing, hearing assistance electronics disposed in the housing, a hinge electrically connected to the hearing assistance electronics, and a battery door coupled to the hinge, the battery door includes a switch comprising an operator and at least one contact connected to the hinge.
US08180079B2
A method and apparatus for setting a characteristic of a source hearing device on target hearing device are provided. A transformation database is created. A source hearing device including the setting of the source hearing device are identified, the characteristic of setting is to be set on the target hearing device. The setting which, according to the transformation database on the target hearing device, results in the characteristic corresponding to the characteristic of the identified source hearing device is recalled. The target hearing device is set using the recalled setting. Settings are stored in the transformation database during their creation, which have to be set to hearing devices of different types to be set in order to grant these hearing devices the characteristic of other identified hearing with identified settings.
US08180077B1
A medical grade stereo system is disclosed. The stereo system may include a housing with faceplates where a user interface and connectors mounted to the faceplates form fully sealed interfaces sealing the housing interior from the environment. A shielding enclosure and shielded components provide a system that may limit radio frequency emissions. A power supply supplying power to the system may limit current leakage to less than 300 microamperes. A hospital grade A/C power cord and electrical plug connect the system to a room's electrical line. Additionally, the system may include an internally formed interface for a satellite tuner adaptor cable connection connecting a satellite tuner to a stereo receiver hub entirely within the housing and enclosure.
US08180072B2
Amplifiers amplify input first audio signals according to volume values set beforehand. Via output terminals, the amplifiers output second audio signals to externally connected power amplifiers. A comparison unit compares the second audio signals with a reference signal. Via the detection terminals, detection signals are output externally according to the comparison results obtained by the comparison unit.
US08180058B2
Systems and methodologies are described that facilitate employing a random access procedure that leverages encrypted and/or unencrypted data in a scheduled uplink message. A random access preamble can be sent from an access terminal to a base station, and a random access response can be sent from the base station to the access terminal. A scheduled transmission message can be sent from the access terminal to the base station based upon a grant included in the random access response. When contention based random access is employed, the scheduled transmission message or a portion thereof can be unencrypted. Further, non-security-critical information can be sent in an unencrypted manner in the scheduled transmission message, while security-critical information can be encrypted for transmission (e.g., included in an encrypted portion of the scheduled transmission message and/or transmitted in a subsequent encrypted normal scheduled transmission message).
US08180057B1
A circuit for generating chaotic signals implemented using heterojunction bipolar transistors (HBTs) and utilized in low probability intercept communications. The HBT chaotic circuit generates truly random analog signals in the GHz range that are non-repeating and deterministic and may not be replicated by preloading a predetermined sequence. A fully differential autonomous chaotic circuit outputs two pairs of chaotic signals to be used in a communication system. As it is impossible to generate identical chaotic signals at the transmitter and receiver sites, the receiver itself sends the chaotic signal to be used for encoding to the transmitter. The receiver includes a chaotic signal generator and digitizes, upconverts, and transmits the generated chaotic signal to the transmitter. The transmitter uses the received chaotic signal to code data to be transmitted. The receiver decodes the transmitted data that is encoded by the chaotic signal to retrieve the transmitted data.
US08180051B1
A system provides secure communications between a user operated device and a computerized device. The user operated device transfers an enable security message to the computerized device, and in response, the computerized device sends a first communications enablement message to the user operated device and displays a second communications enablement message on a display of the computerized device for viewing by a user operating the user operated device. The user operated device receives the first communications enablement message from the computerized device and receives the second communications enablement message from the user and establishes a secure communications session between the user operated device and the computerized device using the first communications enablement message and the second communications enablement message. The communications enablement messages can contain key material that enable encryption between the user operated device and the computerized device.
US08180047B2
Systems and methods are described for trapdoor pairing. In one implementation, a trapdoor pairing is a cryptographic primitive generated by determining a bilinear pairing between an elliptic curve group and another group and selecting a parameter of the bilinear pairing, such as a group order or an isogeny between curves, to be a key for generating and evaluating the bilinear pairing. Trapdoor pairing allows construction of a group in which the Decisional Diffie-Hellman (DDH) problem is computationally infeasible given only the description of the group, but is easy given the secret key. Exemplary trapdoor pairing constructions have general applicability to cryptography and also lend themselves more specifically to certain special practical implementations, such as public key cryptography and certificate authority infrastructures.
US08180044B1
A semantic contact center management method and system is provided in which the resources of a contact center (including agents and contacts) are represented as resources connected by properties such as skills and shared prior interactions. Contacts are allocated to agents based on the degree of connectedness and the availability of agents, and this provides visual tools to represent the state of the contact center and to enable automated and supervisor intervention.
US08180040B2
The present invention discloses a corporation switchboard platform and a call processing method. The corporation switchboard platform comprises a corporation switchboard service control point, a corporation switchboard service switching point and an intelligent peripheral, wherein the corporation switchboard service control point comprises: a basic call processing module for determining whether the capability of an existing network switching device can support a call triggered by a service switching point of a switching network and sending the call to an enhanced service capability module when determining that the capability of the existing network switching device cannot support the call; and an enhanced service capability module for controlling the intelligent peripheral and the corporation switchboard service switching point to complete a service related to the call. Compared with a corporation switchboard system based on an intelligent platform technology, the technical solution of the present invention provides a higher system capacity and an improved system capability and reduces the rerouting overhead of network.
US08180036B2
The invention comprises a method and apparatus for enabling missed call information to be accessed from a remote device via a packet network. Specifically, the method comprises receiving missed call information associated with a called party, storing the missed call information and transmitting the missed call information towards a remote device associated with the called party via a packet network.
US08180035B2
A request to delete a dialing plan is received. A list is generated of switching modules that are connected to a central processor of a telephone switch. Each switching module is queried to determine if the switching module includes a copy of the dialing plan. It is determined whether the dialing plan is in use by querying switching modules that include a copy of the dialing plan. If the dialing plan is not in use, then the dialing plan is deleted from at least one switching module identified as including a copy of the dialing plan.
US08180033B2
A telephone line monitoring device is connected to a telephone line and adjacent to a telephone device using the telephone line. The telephone line monitoring device includes a rectifying circuit for generating a corresponding direct current voltage according to an effective voltage of the telephone line; a first controller for generating a first control signal when the direct current voltage is lower than a predetermined voltage; a second controller for detecting an operating state of the telephone device and generating a second control signal when the telephone device is operated; a load booster for pulling down the effective voltage of the telephone line when enabled; and a first switch circuit for disabling the load booster whenever receiving the second control signal, and enabling the load booster when receiving the first control signal while not receiving the second control signal. A monitoring method and a telephone device are also provided.
US08180032B2
A client of a telephone number mapping (ENUM) server is used to protect the ENUM server from a Denial of Service (DoS) attack. The DoS attack may comprise a plurality of attempts to place exception calls from one or more end user devices that are unregistered. The one or more end user devices may originate from a service provider network.
US08180031B2
When data communication is performed by using a call control protocol, a data communication apparatus receives a call connection request message from an external apparatus and transmits a response message in reply to the call connection request message. At that time, when the call connection request message is received, it is determined whether a call connection process for communication with another external apparatus differing from the external apparatus is under execution. Transmission of the response message is controlled based on a result of the determination.
US08180025B2
An interactive voice response (IVR) system which allows a caller to barge-in on all prompts, yet still allows the caller to receive important information contained in the prompts. When a caller barges-in on a prompt that contains important information, the IVR system interrupts the prompt to play a short announcement with the goal of re-enforcing the importance of listening to the entire prompt. The IVR system then resumes playback of the prompt, from the beginning or of a modified version.
US08180023B2
Method, corresponding apparatus and system are provided for transparently testing replacement functionality and optionally migrating subscribers on analog phone lines, served, for example, by PSTN Class 5 elements, to Next Generation Network (NGN) elements when copper co-termination is leveraged. According to an exemplary method, a telephone line for a telephone number is accessed through a metallic test access circuit of an analog network element and it is determined if the telephone line is available to test. If the telephone line is available to test, a port of a Next Generation Network element corresponding to the telephone number is activated, and it is determined whether a copper connection to the port of the Next Generation Network element is operating properly based on a voltage level received through the analog network element.
US08180014B2
Example embodiments are directed to tiered tie plates and fuel bundles that use tiered tie plates. Example embodiment tie plates may include upper and lower tiered tie plates. Example embodiment tiered tie plates may have a plurality of bosses divided into groups, or tiers, having differing vertical (axial) displacement. Example embodiment fuel bundles may use tiered tie plates such that fuel rods in example bundles may originate and terminate at different vertical displacements, based upon the vertical displacement of the bosses receiving the fuel rods into the tiered tie plates. Optionally, shanks may be used to further vary fuel rod axial displacement and diameter.
US08180004B2
A received signal delivered through a transmission line can be compensated for carrier frequency offset and direct-current offset to improve the signal-to-noise ratio of the received signal, eventually resulting in an effective improvement in the error rate. The received signal has convoluted influences through the transmission line, so that observation of continual symbols of periodic pilot signals on the frequency axis shows just a phase shift by the carrier frequency offset. Therefore, the carrier frequency offset can be analytically found from the continual symbols of periodic pilot signals, thereby allowing the direct-current offset to be estimated and both the carrier frequency offset and the direct-current offset to be compensated for.
US08180002B2
The present invention provides a digital signal processing device that considerably reduces a return noise generated in a processing result signal in specific signal processing without wastefully increasing the processing load. There is provided a digital signal processing device that executes specific signal processing under which a return noise is generated in a processing result signal which includes an up-sampling processing unit that performs the up-sampling processing for a digital signal with a predetermined up-sampling rate to generate an up-sampling signal, a specific signal processing unit that performs the specific signal processing for the up-sampling signal generated by the up-sampling processing unit to generate the processing result signal, and a down-sampling processing unit that performs the down-sampling processing for the processing result signal generated by the specific signal processing unit with a predetermined down-sampling rate to generate a down-sampling signal.
US08179994B2
A system including a phase comparator to compare a first signal and a second signal to generate a phase error signal, and a controller to generate an adjusted phase error signal from the phase error signal in response to an amplitude of at least one of the first signal and the second signal.
US08179992B2
A communication apparatus calculates a residual component by noting one of a given plurality of transmitted signals and by canceling a component corresponding to a candidate/candidates for the other/others of the plurality of transmitted signals from a signal corresponding to one of a plurality of received signals. The communication apparatus determines a candidate for the given transmitted signal by selecting a value closest to the residual component from among the values that the given transmitted signal can take, and obtains a plurality of candidate groups by changing that given transmitted signal, each candidate group being constructed as a collection of candidate sets each comprising a candidate for that given transmitted signal and a candidate/candidates for that other transmitted signal/signals. Then, the communication apparatus selects transmitted signal candidate sets that are common to the plurality of candidate groups and estimates the plurality of transmitted signals using the selected candidate sets.
US08179991B2
An improved multi-antenna receiver is realized for detecting signals transmitted by a multi-antenna transmitter by summing signals received at the plurality of receiver antennas after multiplying each by a respective constant. The summed signal is applied to a maximum likelihood detector. The respective constants, λj, where j is an index designating a particular receiver antenna, are determined by evaluating the largest eigenvector of the matrix A, where Λ is a vector containing values λj, and A is a matrix containing elements αij, which is the transfer function between the ith transmitter antenna to the jth receiver antenna. The αij terms are determined in the receiver in conventional ways.
US08179990B2
A method transmits a sequence of symbols in a multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) network including a transmitter having a set of transmit antennas and a receiver having a set of receive antennas. The sequence of symbols is represented by a vector S=[S1 S2 S3 S4]T of individual symbols, where T is a transpose operator. The individual symbols are transmitted as a transmit matrix S = [ S 1 - S 2 * S 1 - S 2 * S 2 S 1 * S 2 S 1 * S 3 - S 4 * - S 3 S 4 * S 4 S 3 * - S 4 - S 3 * ] , where * is a complex conjugate, and wherein each column of the matrix S represents the symbols transmitted at each transmission interval, and subscripts index the set of transmit antennas.
US08179989B2
An transmission apparatus includes a pseudo data addition section configured to add pseudo data into transmission data for a free subcarrier of a radio frequency, an OFDM modulator subjecting the transmission data added with the pseudo data to OFDM modulation, a power amplifier amplifying power of a transmission signal of the radio frequency, the transmission signal based on an OFDM signal subjected to the OFDM modulation, an antenna radiating the amplified transmission signal by using the radio frequency; and a distortion compensation circuit compensating for a distortion characteristic of the power amplifier by correcting the OFDM signal with a distortion compensation coefficient accumulated corresponding to the power value of the OFDM signal, outputting the corrected signal for the power amplifier, and monitoring the output of the power amplifier to update the distortion compensation coefficient.
US08179987B2
The invention relates to a transmitter-receiver pair for improved data transmission in a multi-carrier system and to a corresponding method, according to which a chain coding is used. To this end, a transmitter has a first coding stage, a transmission-demultiplexer stage, a second coding stage, a modulator stage, a transmission multiplexer stage and a multi-carrier modulator, whereby said transmission-demultiplexer stage and the transmission multiplexer stage are controlled by a bit loading device. Similarly, the receiver has a multi-carrier demodulator, a receiver demultiplexer stage, a first decoding stage, a receiver multiplexer stage and a second decoding stage, whereby the receiver multiplexer stage and demultiplexer stage are in turn controlled by the bit loading device.
US08179981B2
Optimised bit allocation is important in video compression to increase the coding efficiency, i.e. to make optimum use of the available data rate. In view of the human visual system, a human usually pays more attention to some part of a picture rather than to other parts of that picture. Therefore the bit allocation should be optimised for different-attention picture areas (GOBi). The inventive distortion-driven bit allocation scheme allocates the coding/decoding error distortion to picture areas consistently with the human visual system, and satisfies the constraint of bit rate as well. The invention uses a distortion/bitrate/rhoquantization parameter histogram analysis. Based on corresponding tables (DGOBi[QPn], RGOBi[QPn] and ρGOBi[QPn]), the relationships between quantization parameter, rate, distortion and percentage of non-zero coefficients for the different-attention areas are determined (PREALUTI, DISALL, RALL). Thereafter a rho-domain bit rate control is used (RDBALL) for calculating the bit allocation inside each group of macroblocks.
US08179978B2
A system and method that support display of video fields using related data encoded in data structures. Each data structure is associated with one video field and contains all the information associated with the display of the video field. The data structure is encoded with the video field that is displayed exactly one field prior to the field associated with the data structure. In an embodiment of the present invention, the data structure contains all the information associated with the display of a video field, regardless of whether certain data changes from one field to the next.
US08179974B2
Techniques and tools for encoding and decoding a block of frequency coefficients are presented. An encoder selects a scan order from multiple available scan orders and then applies the selected scan order to a two-dimensional matrix of transform coefficients, grouping non-zero values of the frequency coefficients together in a one-dimensional string. The encoder entropy encodes the one-dimensional string of coefficient values according to a multi-level nested set representation. In decoding, a decoder entropy decodes the one-dimensional string of coefficient values from the multi-level nested set representation. The decoder selects the scan order from among multiple available scan orders and then reorders the coefficients back into a two-dimensional matrix using the selected scan order.
US08179971B1
A method for diagonal processing of video data includes separating diagonally arranged data from rectilinearly arranged data in a video stream, rotating the diagonally arranged data to a rectilinear position; and compressing the rotated diagonally arranged data by a rectilinear compression algorithm. Alternatively stated, the method includes recognizing diagonally arranged data in a video stream, processing the diagonally arranged data into rectilinear data, and compressing the rectilinear data by a rectilinear compression algorithm. An apparatus for diagonal processing of video data includes a demultiplexer receptive to a video stream and developing a plurality of separated color planes, at least one of which is a rectilinear color plane and at least one of which is a rotated color plane, a number of address generators associated with the plurality of color planes, wherein an address generator associated with the rotated color plane is operative to rotate the rotated color plane to a rectilinear position; and a data compressor receptive to the address generators and operative to compress the plurality of color planes with a rectilinear compression algorithm.
US08179970B2
A data reading method for motion estimation in a video processing chipset is provided. The video processing chipset is coupled to an external memory device, wherein a first frame is stored in the external memory device. In the data reading method, a second frame is first divided into M×N sub frame sets, wherein each of the sub frame sets includes O×P sub frames. Then, each of the sub frame sets is selected in a calculation sequence, wherein the selected sub frame set is stored into an internal memory. Next, a predicted search path of each sub frame in the selected sub frame set is calculated. Thereafter, a predicted reading range is determined, wherein the predicted reading range includes the predicted search paths of the sub frames. Finally, a comparison data is read from the first frame according to the predicted reading range.
US08179960B2
A video codec is provided in which virtual reference data (e.g., virtual reference blocks) are advantageously employed by a video coder and decoder to significantly improve coding efficiency as compared to prior art codecs. Specifically, a “virtual reference,” as used herein, is defined as a group of pixels (e.g., a block) that is used as reference material for encoding portions of the video signal (e.g., a motion-compensated inter-predicted block), but that does not comprise or represent any portion of the actual video sequence to be displayed. For example, it may advantageously be determined that portions of the video sequence may be efficiently represented as a motion-compensated block of pixel values which are generated by the video coder based on the blocks being predicted but not based on any actual blocks in any of the actual video frames or slices.
US08179956B2
An adaptive equalizer includes an adaptive filter and a control unit. The adaptive filter performs an adaptive equalization processing for an input signal so as to make an amplitude of an equalized output signal constant, the input signal being modulated by a modulation system that produces a modulation signal with constant amplitude characteristics. The control unit gradually changes equalization ability of the adaptive equalization processing of the adaptive filter in accordance with characteristics of the input signal.
US08179954B2
A data processing apparatus is arranged to map input data symbols to be communicated onto a predetermined number of sub-carrier signals of Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexed OFDM symbols. The predetermined number of sub-carrier signals is determined in accordance with one of a plurality of operating modes and the input data symbols are divided into first sets of input data symbols and second sets of input data symbols. The data processing apparatus comprises an interleaver operable to perform an odd interleaving process which interleaves the first sets of input data symbols on to the sub-carrier signals of first OFDM symbols and an even interleaving process which interleaves the second sets of input data symbols on to the sub-carrier signals of second OFDM symbols.
US08179948B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide a radio signal demodulating device in which fluctuation follow ability of transmission channel environment is improved. The radio signal demodulating device according to the present invention receives the amplitude of an information signal in which known pilot signals are multiplexed, as a radio signal modulated in proportion to the time change of frequency of a carrier wave The radio signal demodulating device according to the present invention includes a frequency converting unit, a signal combining unit, a first pilot signal extracting unit, a second pilot signal extracting unit, a first pilot orthogonal signal generating unit, a second pilot orthogonal signal generating unit, a first error signal generating unit, a first weight factor updating unit for calculating a weight factor to be used in the signal combining unit, by using a first pilot orthogonal signal and a first error signal obtained by the first error signal generating unit.
US08179947B2
A wireless communication apparatus capable of minimizing the degradation in separation characteristic of a code multiplexed response signal. In this apparatus, a control part (209) controls both a AC sequence to be used in a primary spreading in a spreading part (214) and a Walsh sequence to be used in a secondary spreading in a spreading part (217) so as to allow a very small circular shift interval of the ZC sequence to absorb the interference components remaining in the response signal; the spreading part (214) uses the ZC sequence set by the control part (209) to primary spread the response signal; and the spreading part (217) uses the Walsh sequence set by the control part (209) to secondary spread the response signal to which CP has been added.
US08179942B2
A semiconductor optical element has an active layer including quantum dots. The density of quantum dots in the resonator direction in a portion of the active layer in which the density of photons is relatively high is increased relative to the density of quantum dots in a portion of the active layer in which the density of photons is relatively low.
US08179938B2
A light-emitting element capable of increasing the amount of light emitted, a light-emitting device including the same, and a method of manufacturing the light-emitting element and the light-emitting device include a buffer layer having an uneven pattern formed thereon; a light-emitting structure including a first conductive pattern of a first conductivity type that is conformally formed along the buffer layer having the uneven pattern formed thereon, a light-emitting pattern that is conformally formed along the first conductive pattern, and a second conductive pattern of a second conductivity type that is formed on the light-emitting pattern; a first electrode electrically connected to the first conductive pattern; and a second electrode electrically connected to the second conductive pattern.
US08179928B2
In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a first laser cavity including a set of high-reflector gratings coupled in series and a second laser cavity including a set of high-reflector gratings coupled in series. Each high-reflector grating has an associated spectral bandwidth. The first laser cavity is configured to receive at a first end optical energy having a first spectral bandwidth and the second laser cavity is configured to receive at a first end optical energy having a second spectral bandwidth. A fiber coupler is coupled to a second end of the first laser cavity and to a second end of the second laser cavity. The fiber coupler is configured to receive optical energy from the first laser cavity having a third spectral bandwidth greater than the first spectral bandwidth, and receive optical energy from the second laser cavity having a fourth spectral bandwidth greater than the second spectral bandwidth.
US08179925B2
The invention discloses a sink device and a signal receiving method thereof, applicable to wireless local area network. The sink device receives a plurality of beacon signals, synchronizes the beacon output signal generated by itself with the operating clock of the source device according to the above-mentioned timing synchronization data. And the sink device receives the plurality of beacon signals according to this calibrated synchronization clock.
US08179917B2
System and method for repeater in a power line network. According to an embodiment, the present invention provides a method for power line communication network. The method includes providing a virtual local area network (VLAN), which VLAN includes at least a repeater, a client, and a gateway. The VLAN is associated with a network encryption key. The repeater is associated with a first identification. The client is associated with a second identification. The gateway is associated with a third identification. The first identification and the third identification are a service identification type. The second identification is a client identification type. The method also includes providing a power line network that is configured to transmit data through OFDM signaling. The method includes sending a first data packet in first format from the client through the power line network. The method additionally includes receiving the first data packet by the repeater through the power line network at through a first network interface.
US08179916B2
In one embodiment, interworking procedures between H.323 and SIP ensure that in-band tones and announcements, along with local and remote ringback, are properly played or generated.
US08179912B2
The session-based server deployment is comprised of an engine tier that is designed for high throughput processing of communications and a state tier that maintains state information for access by the engine tier. The engine tier includes a plurality of engine nodes that process incoming messages. The state nodes contain call state, including various timers. When processing a call, an engine sets various timers in the state tier. The engine then periodically polls the state tier for any timers that have expired. Upon expiration of a timer, the timer is assigned to the corresponding engine node which handled previous communications for the call. This affinity between the timer and its respective engine provides numerous benefits, including reduced latency and more localized data access.
US08179908B2
The present invention provides a method for session changing. The method for session changing is designed for session changing during interworking between a first UE and a second UE in a packet network, and includes: reserving, during setup of an initial session between the first UE and the second UE, an interworking control function for logically controlling the interworking on a path of the initial session; and performing, when the interworking control function receives a subsequent session change request, the corresponding session changing operation according to contents of the subsequent session change request. The invention further provides a device for session changing and a packet network system with session changing function.
US08179904B2
A first issue is to provide a packet transfer device for identifying a connection such as a TCP connection linked to a bandwidth control means, and provide a proxy acknowledgment for each identified connection such as TCP. A second issue is to provide a packet transfer device for providing a proxy acknowledgment for a connection such as TCP, and capable of improving throughput such as for TCP just by being installed at a network edge section connected to the communication terminal. As a means to resolve the first issue, a packet transfer device is provided that contains a means for identifying flows such as TCP flows for deciding if the proxy acknowledgment means requires proxy acknowledgment or not, based on the bandwidth conformance flow reported from the bandwidth control means. As a means to resolve the second issue, a packet transfer device is provided that contains a means for converting stored packets to a protocol that does make a proxy acknowledgment, and a means for transmitting the converted packets to a packet transfer device installed on the network edge oriented towards the oncoming packets.
US08179898B2
Packets are processed (e.g., routed or classified) in accordance with a braided trie, which represents the combination of two or more different original tries (e.g., representing different forwarding/classification tables). The different tries are combined by twisting the mappings for specific trie nodes to make the shapes of the different tries more similar. Each node in the braided trie contains a braiding bit for at least one original trie indicating the mapping for that trie's node. Trie braiding can significantly reduce the number of nodes used to represent the different original tries, thereby reducing memory usage and improving scalability. Braided tries can be used for such applications as virtual routers and packet classification in which different forwarding/classification tables are represented by a single braided trie stored in shared memory.
US08179895B2
Methods, systems, and computer program products for monitoring tunneled Internet protocol (IP) traffic on a high bandwidth IP network are disclosed. According to one method, a copy of a tunneled IP packet traversing an IP communications network is generated. The packet may include a payload having tunneled protocol address information. The tunneled protocol address information and the payload portion of the copied IP packet is read. The packet is distributed, using the tunneled protocol address information, to a function for providing at least one of packet classification and network monitoring service for the packet.
US08179894B2
An apparatus for reducing session setup latency includes a processing element. The processing element is configured to determine a status with respect to a response message made in response to an invite message associated with a communication session, determine a status with respect to media packets being communicated between nodes of a network, make a determination with respect to an acknowledgment message based at least in part on the status determination with respect to the response message and the status determination with respect to media packets, and control setup of a communication session based on the determination with respect to the acknowledgement message.
US08179892B2
A system and method for managing a communication link between a consumer electronic device adapted for two-way, wireless communications with at least one peripheral. The communication link is managed using a controller that is associated with the consumer electronic device that functions to assign communication slots to the peripheral to facilitate communications between the peripheral and the consumer electronic device.
US08179891B2
An apparatus bridges a plurality of domains and routes multicast datastreams between them. The apparatus includes a receiver which receives a client request signal via a multicast access protocol from a user connected within a first domain. A transmitter requests multicast content using a multicast transmission protocol from a provider within a second domain. A processor processes the multicast content received from the provider. The transmitter relays the multicast content from the second domain to the first domain for access by the user.
US08179889B2
Methods, devices, and systems are provided for allowing a single machine, such as a server, to co-host multi-SIP Archive (SAR) applications offering SIP servlet based products. The concept of a Root Application Router is introduced that is adapted to coordinate other Sub-Application Routers rather than individual SARs. These other Sub-Application Routers are fully fledged Application Routers in their own right, but are unaware of the controlling Root Application Router.
US08179880B2
A time synchronizing signal for synchronizing the times of wireless nodes capable of wireless communication is transmitted to the wireless nodes by multihop. Optional information is transferred by multihop from a predetermined wireless node to an optional node along the same path as the transfer path of the time synchronizing signal by the wireless nodes. Information to respond the optional information is transferred by multihop from the optional wireless node to the predetermined wireless node along the reverse path to the transfer path of the time synchronizing signal.
US08179879B2
In a communication system in which data is transferred by packets, a ranging method in which a receiver, in a given ranging window, periodically compares received data with expected data to find a match. The periodic comparison includes searching for known preamble and/or delimiter sequences of ranging packets and involves timeouts for each search period. In case a match between the known sequences and received sequences is not found and the respective timeout is exceeded, the search and comparison process is restarted and continues until a global timeout is exceeded.
US08179878B2
The present invention relates to a method for performing data synchronization in a wireless access communication network. The method includes data to be synchronized coming from an access network gateway and being sent to at least two base stations, and the data being further sent from the base stations to user terminals over an air interface in downlink frames. The method also includes sending a signaling message to the at least two base stations with the signaling message having a set of parameters defining unambiguously the position and size of the data in the downlink frame and the structure of the data.
US08179873B2
A method and apparatus for quieting multiple channels is provided herein. During operation, transmission activity on each channel is analyzed and a best band is identified. Once the band is chosen, a wideband transmitter is utilized to transmit simultaneous reservation messages on consecutive channels simultaneously. Because a wideband transmitter is used to transmit simultaneous reservation messages on multiple consecutive channels, the above procedure quickly quiets multiple channels while minimizing the reservation duration of all channels as a result of quieting the channels.
US08179868B2
In a site diversity operating method in which a channel is divided into a plurality of slots by time division multiple access, and voice and data are transmitted between controlling stations and controlled stations via a plurality of sites through the slots whereby controlled stations are controlled based on instructions from controlling stations, a site change message indicating that the controlled station has changed the site is transmitted from the controlled station to the controlling station, and based on the transmitted information, a step of searching for the current site is performed on the controlling station side.
US08179866B2
A cell plan operation, a Routine and a base station are disclosed wherein user entities are allocated to at least two carriers (C1; C2) in at least one cell (A; B) of a system (node B), the first carrier (C1) having at least a first channel (DPCH), the second carrier (C2) having at least a second channel (DPCH), the at least two carriers not causing interference to one another, wherein user entities (UE) may be selectively assigned to either first channel and/or the second channel. Information is gathered on respective measures relating to the noise enduring capability (MAX ROT(UEn)) of respective prevalent users within the at least one cell. Prevalent user entities are ordered according to their respective noise enduring capabilities (MAX_ROT(UEn)_UE). User entities with low noise enduring capabilities are allocated to a channel on the first carrier (C1), while user entities with high noise enduring capabilities (MAX_ROT(UEn)) are allocated to a channel on the second carrier (C2).
US08179855B2
A method, and associated apparatus, facilitates the communication of data of a radio block by a sending station to a receiving station, within a single time frame. Communication resources are allocated within a single time frame across a plurality of radio carriers. And, the data corresponding to a radio block is scheduled for communication, and is communicated, within the single time frame. Reduced levels of latency relative to conventional operations is provided.
US08179853B2
In a method and apparatus for scheduling users in radio network system, the scheduling priority for each user of a group of users is made dependent on the unusable time for each user. Scheduling of the users is performed in accordance with the determined scheduling priority.
US08179850B2
A mobile communication system is configured as a mobile station in a first communication state shifts to a second communication state when at least one high speed uplink packet communication compliant radio link is established by the mobile station.
US08179847B2
System(s) and method(s) provide access management to femtocell service through access control list(s) (e.g., white list(s)). A white list(s) includes a set of subscriber station(s) identifier numbers, codes or tokens, and also can include additional fields for femtocell access management based on desired complexity. Various example aspects such as white list(s) management, maintenance and dissemination; pre-configuration; and inclusion of wireless device(s) or subscriber(s) are also provided. An access management component can facilitate interactive and automatic prompting of detected communication devices to facilitate granting access to content and/or services associated with the femtocell to a desired communication device(s) and adding a desired communication device(s) to the white list(s) associated with a femtocell, and to facilitate modifying or terminating access of the femtocell by a communication device(s) based in part on monitored activity of the communication device(s) with regard to femtocell access.
US08179844B2
A base station is capable of unifying a single-user MIMO scheme with a multi-user MIMO scheme by receiving a Rank-1 CQI values from one or more subscriber stations. The base station also receives preceding vectors from the subscriber stations, and then determines which of the subscriber stations has a best Rank-1 CQI value. The base station then determines a beam forming matrix to use based at least in part on the vectors received from the subscriber station having the best Rank-1 CQI value. The base station then broadcasts data to the subscriber station using the beam forming matrix corresponding to the subscriber station having the best Rank-1 channel quality indicator to implement single-user MIMO in one or multiple streams to that subscriber station, or to the subscriber stations having the best Rank-2 channel quality indicators to implement multi-user MIMO in multiple streams.
US08179832B2
A system or method is disclosed which employs filters on a satellite whose bandwidth is varied by ground command to restrict interference experienced by a satellite as an auxiliary terrestrial component (ATC) system is increased to a multiplicity of cities and markets. Thus there is provided a novel method and system which optimizes overall MSS and ATC traffic.
US08179827B2
A data processing apparatus and method for transmitting data in a data processing apparatus are provided. A data processing apparatus provided has a data input for receiving data, a processor for processing the data with an input, a data supply suppression unit which is connected between the data input and the input and suppresses or permits supply of the data from the data input to the input, and a control unit coupled to the data supply suppression unit for producing a control signal. The control signal represents at least one operating condition or a quiescent condition for the processor. The data supply suppression unit is suitable for suppressing or permitting supply of the data from the data input to the input. It is set up such that it suppresses supply of the data from the data input to the input when the control signal represents a quiescent condition for the processor.
US08179825B2
A method and system for detecting RADAR signals in a radio communications system is provided. A detection system includes a pulse examination. Based on the result from the examination/analysis, a RADAR pulse is detected. The examination/analysis may include a correlator for correlating received pulses with themselves or samples previously obtained.
US08179824B2
A method of performing channel sounding in a frequency division duplex (FDD) system in which an uplink frame and a downlink frame use different frequency bands includes dividing a transmission bandwidth with respect to the uplink frame into a plurality of sounding zones, allocating at least one of the plurality of sounding zones to a user equipment and receiving a sounding signal from the user equipment through the allocated sounding zone. Inter-cell interference can be mitigated and overhead due to transmission of the sounding signal can be reduced.
US08179805B2
Wireless communication between a first transmitter and a first receiver for a new transmission is established on the same wireless data channel used for ongoing transmission between a second transmitter and a second receiver. This is achieved by determining if the second receiver can receive signals from the first transmitter, and determining if the first receiver can receive signals from the second transmitter. If the second receiver cannot receive signals from the first transmitter, and the first receiver cannot receive signals from the second transmitter, then a new transmission is performed from the first transmitter to the first receiver by spatial reuse of the wireless data channel at least partially concurrently with the ongoing transmission on the data channel.
US08179799B2
To organize flows records into buckets and optimize their indexed access to/from storage medium, a bucket identifier is associated with each flow record. The bucket identifier is derived from some other characteristic of the network flow, such as a timestamp or source identification associated with the network flow. In this way, contention is decreased as analysis can occur on the aggregated flow records, while new flow records are stored.
US08179792B1
From a packet stream, a first packet, one or more intervening packets, and a second packet are received in the preceding order. The first packet is inserted into a buffer. The one or more intervening packets are inserted into the buffer after the first packet. At least a portion of the first packet is compared to at least a portion of the second packet to produce a comparison result. The second packet is inserted into the buffer after the one or more intervening packets if the comparison result indicates that the second packet is not a duplicate of the first packet.
US08179785B1
An apparatus and method for improving network efficiency during an automatic switchover are disclosed. Upon receipt of a switching request from a first network peer (“NP”) transmitted via a connection containing multiple links, a process capable of providing automatic switchover protection (“ASP”), in one embodiment, bring down all or multiple links simultaneously at the second NP in response to the switching request. When the links are ready to be brought up in accordance with APS pending state, the process temporarily suppresses network alarms to avoid higher level entities from entering link reset renegotiations.
US08179769B2
An optical head device compatible to different types of optical discs and capable of guaranteeing a sufficiently wide dynamic range for a low density optical disc, and the like are provided.The optical head device includes a plurality of light sources switchably usable; an objective lens for converging light emitted from one of the plurality of light sources to an information recording layer of an optical disc; and a light detector for receiving the light reflected by the information recording layer and outputting an electric signal based on the amount of the received light. The plurality of light sources include a first light source for emitting light having a first wavelength and a second light source for emitting light having a second wavelength shorter than the first wavelength. In the optical head device, a defocus detection range of a focusing error signal obtained based on the light having the first wavelength is set to be wider than a defocus detection range of a focusing error signal obtained based on the light having the second wavelength.
US08179760B2
A reproduction signal evaluation method according to the present invention relates to adjustment of an edge portion between a shortest mark and a shortest space in a data sequence including marks and spaces in combination that is recordable on an information recording medium. In a pattern including a shortest mark and a shortest space adjacent before or after the shortest mark, a shift amount of an edge of the shortest mark is obtained from a differential metric calculated regarding one of a first pattern in which a space adjacent to the shortest mark and not adjacent to the shortest space is longer than the shortest space; and a second pattern in which a mark adjacent to the shortest space and not adjacent to the shortest mark is longer than the shortest mark.
US08179752B2
There is a need to accurately lock focus of a laser beam onto a target data layer of a multilayer optical disc. The above need can be addressed by, for example, performing a focus lock operation after a spherical aberration correction amount is set in such a way as to make smaller the ratio of the focus error signal waveform amplitude at the data layer adjacent to a target data layer through which a laser beam passes earlier than through the target data layer to the focus error signal waveform amplitude at the target data layer than that when the spherical aberration correction amount is set so as to be optimal for the target data layer.
US08179748B2
A limit switch controlling method and apparatus used in an optical drive are disclosed. When the optical drive is executing a tray-in/tray-out action or a move-sled home action, a detect-tray-in-switch pin, a detect-tray-out-switch pin, or a detect-sled-limit-switch pin of a controlling chip is used to receive a signal from a limit switch. When the optical drive is not executing the tray-in/tray-out action or the move-sled-home action, the detect-tray-in-switch pin, the-detect tray-out-switch pin, or the detect-sled-limit-switch pin of the controlling chip is used as an I/O port.
US08179747B1
A thermally assisted magnetic head includes a slider and a light source unit. The light source unit includes a semiconductor laser diode. The semiconductor laser diode includes an n-type (Alx1Ga(1-x1))0.51In0.49P cladding layer, a p-type (Alx1Ga(1-x1))0.51In0.49P cladding layer, an n-side Alx2Ga(1-x2)As guide layer placed between these cladding layers, a p-side Alx2Ga(1-x2)As guide layer placed between these cladding layers, and an active layer placed between these guide layers.
US08179741B2
System and methods are disclosed for compensating a depth signal for a depth finder of a boat. In one embodiment, a compensation system is implemented between the depth finder and a transducer mounted on the boat. The compensation system receives a depth signal (i.e., a plurality of electrical impulses) from the transducer that directs sound waves toward the bottom of a body of water. The compensation system also monitors a change in elevation of the transducer, such as due to waves rocking the boat. The compensation system then compensates the depth signal based on the change in elevation, and provides the compensated depth signal to the depth finder.
US08179740B2
A method and system for processing synchronous array seismic data includes acquiring synchronous passive seismic data from a plurality of sensors to obtain synchronized array measurements. A reverse-time data process is applied to the synchronized array measurements to obtain a plurality of dynamic particle parameters associated with subsurface locations. These dynamic particle parameters are stored in a form for display. Maximum values of the dynamic particle parameters may be interpreted as reservoir locations. The dynamic particle parameters may be particle displacement values, particle velocity values, particle acceleration values or particle pressure values. The sensors may be three-component sensors. Zero-phase frequency filtering of different ranges of interest may be applied. The data may be resampled to facilitate efficient data processing.
US08179728B2
Systems and methods, including computer software for performing operations enable interleaving of charging operations in a charging pump. A first charge pump is charged to a predetermined level, and a first operation is performed using a charge stored in the first charge pump after it reaches the predetermined level. A second charge pump is charged during a time that overlaps with performing the first operation. A second operation is performed using a charge stored in the second charge pump as a result of charging the second charge pump.
US08179723B2
A non-volatile memory having boost structures. Boost structures are provided for individual NAND strings and can be individually controlled to assist in programming, verifying and reading processes. The boost structures can be commonly boosted and individually discharged, in part, based on a target programming state or verify level. The boost structures assists in programming so that the programming and pass voltage on a word line can be reduced, thereby reducing side effects such as program disturb. During verifying, all storage elements on a word line can be verified concurrently. The boost structure can also assist during reading. In one approach, the NAND string has dual source-side select gates between which the boost structure contacts the substrate at a source/drain region, and a boost voltage is provided to the boost structure via a source-side of the NAND string.
US08179712B2
A resistive memory cell that includes a metal-polymer bi-layer proximate a CMOS gate. The memory cell has a substrate having a source contact connected to a source line and a drain contact connected to a drain line, a CMOS gate proximate the substrate electrically connecting the source contact and the drain contact, the bi-layer adjacent the CMOS gate, the bi-layer comprising a thin metal layer and a polymer layer, and a word line connected to the bi-layer.
US08179702B2
Voltage synthesis using virtual quadrature sources may be provided. First, a quadrature wave form may be created. The quadrature wave form may have the same frequency as an input voltage and may be ninety degrees out of phase with the input voltage. Next, a harmonic wave form may be created. The harmonic wave form may be based upon an even harmonic of the input voltage and may comprise a triplen wave form. Then, the quadrature wave form and the harmonic wave form may be added to create a resultant wave form. The resultant wave form may be contained within an envelope defined by the input voltage. Next, duty cycle control may be applied to the resultant wave form to create an output voltage. The duty cycle control may be applied without using an energy storage device.
US08179697B2
The control panel assembly includes a control panel provided with at least one hook, a guide member disposed at the inside of the control panel and provided with at least one hook reception part corresponding to the at least one hook, and an electronic component fixed to the inside of the guide member.
US08179693B2
Apparatus for electrically connecting two substrates using a land grid array (LGA) connector provided with a frame structure having power distribution elements. In an embodiment, the frame structure includes a frame having one or more conductive layers sandwiched between non-conductive layers. The frame may, for example, be a printed wire board (PWB) having power planes that distribute power from a first substrate (e.g., a system PWB) and/or a power cable to a second substrate (e.g., an electronic module). The frame includes one or more apertures configured to receive an LGA interposer for electrically connecting the two substrates. Preferably, the frame includes four apertures arranged in quadrants that each receive an interposer, and at least one power plane extends between two quadrants and/or adjacent to a peripheral edge of one or more quadrants in the form of stacked and/or parallel bus bars each defining a power domain.
US08179686B2
Including a wiring board having an electronic component mounted at least on a first surface, a resin applied at least between the electronic component and the wiring board, and a through-hole provided in a region corresponding to the mounting position of the electronic component in the wiring board, a protrusion is formed on the wiring board so as to overlap at least with the electronic component, around a region corresponding to the mounting position of the electronic component.
US08179684B2
An adapter panel including a chassis and a plurality of sliding adapter packs that define a front adapter field of the adapter panel. The sliding adapter packs includes a frame assembly having a living hinge and a lever arm. The living hinge locks the sliding adapter packs into both a forward and a rearward position. The living hinge is activated by either pulling or pushing the lever arm.
US08179683B2
A display device includes a display panel, a flexible printed circuit and a back light module. The flexible printed circuit is suitable for supporting the driving element and is electrically connected to the display panel. The back light module includes at least one light source, a first frame and a second frame. The second frame surrounds the light source, the first frame surrounds the second frame, and the display panel and the flexible printed circuit are disposed at one side of the first frame, wherein the first frame has at least an opening, the second frame has a element contacting surface, the driving element is disposed on the flexible printed circuit, and the element contacting surface protrudes from the opening for being connected to the driving element.
US08179678B2
Provided is an electronic component module which has high reliability and is capable of suppressing reduction in handling performance of a mounting machine. An electronic component module includes a plurality of electronic components mounted on a top surface of a module substrate, a planar top plate covering the electronic components, and a top plate holding member for holding the top plate. The plurality of electronic components include a quartz resonator, and a RF-IC which has a height smaller than that of the quartz resonator and is disposed on the top surface of the module substrate so as to be side by side with the quartz resonator. In addition, the top plate is fixed to the quartz resonator, and the top plate holding member for holding the top plate is disposed between the RF-IC and the top plate.
US08179672B2
A molded external expanding apparatus or “docking station” operable with a portable computer device of a type having a display unit having a display screen on an inner surface thereof and a hard shell backing surface opposite thereof and pivotally mounted on a substantially rigid casing having a pair of locating holes adjacent to opposite corners of a substantially planar bottom surface thereof, and an input/output (I/O) connector positioned on a back plane thereof with a pair of positioning apertures provided on opposite sides thereof.
US08179669B2
A retractable USB memory stick includes a metal casing formed of a seamless flat tube having opposing front opening and rear opening, a sliding slot located on one peripheral wall thereof, and first and second locating holes located on the sliding slot, a PC board having a front USB interface circuit and a rear memory IC package, and an insulation PC board holder holding the PC board and slidably mounted in the metal casing. The insulation PC board holder has a spring strip bridged on the outside wall thereof, a sliding block located on the spring strip and forced by the spring power of the spring strip into the sliding slot of the metal casing, and a retaining block protruded from the sliding block for selectively engaging the first locating hole or second locating hole of the metal casing to lock the insulation PC board holder to the metal casing in the extended position and received position.
US08179643B2
An electrostatic discharge circuit includes a first transistor and a second transistor connected between a first node and a second node in a first circulation loop, and a third transistor and a fourth transistor connected between the second node and a third node in a second circulation loop.
US08179641B2
Embodiments in accordance with the present invention allow a resin member accommodating therein a trace, to have a small thickness. An HDD according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a resin accommodation member fixed to a side surface of arms. Part of a trace is accommodated in a slit formed in the accommodation member. Accommodating part of the trace in the slit helps suppress fluttering of the trace and improve head positioning accuracy. A corrugated surface structure is formed on each of surfaces of the arms and the accommodation member in abutment with each other. The corrugated surface structure is used to position the accommodation member in a pivot direction. The accommodation member, having the corrugated surface structure for positioning on the surface being fixed, can be made to have a thin wall.
US08179638B2
According to one embodiment, a slider of a magnetic head is provided with a negative-pressure cavity formed in a facing surface, a leading step portion situated on the upstream side of the negative-pressure cavity, a pair of side portions opposed to each other, a trailing step portion situated on the outlet end side of the negative-pressure cavity, and a pair of embossed portions formed on the facing surface so as to project from the negative-pressure cavity and provided on the outlet side of the negative-pressure cavity with respect to an airflow. The embossed portions individually extend along a second direction so as to be situated individually on the opposite sides of the trailing step portion and are formed so as to be lower than the trailing step portion with respect to the negative-pressure cavity and flush with an outlet-side end surface of the slider.
US08179634B2
Methods and structures for the fabrication of a thin film, perpendicular recording write head are disclosed. The structure provides a pole tip separated from a rear pole by a non-magnetic separation layer located adjacent the flare point. The rear pole contains an imbedded non-magnetic layer. The separated pole tip and imbedded layer aid in the high data rate recording as well as the erasure performance of the write pole structure. The fabrication involves the deposition of two different oxide layers which have mutually high etch selectivities. This characteristic allows a write pole structure to be built wherein the track width is independent of the location of the flare point. The process also produces a structure wherein the placement of the throat height of the shield is self aligned to the flare point of the write pole.
US08179631B2
Embodiments of the present invention help to achieve a solder joining structure having high reliability, in which even if a componential material of a flange of a feed-through of a sealed magnetic disk drive is an iron-based material such as Kovar™, and a componential material of a base of the drive is an aluminum-based alloy, leakage of low-density gas is dramatically reduced. According to one embodiment, a base has a stepped portion in the inside of a periphery of an opening, and an inclined surface extending to the outside of the base is formed at an edge of a surface of the stepped portion, on which a flange of a feed-through is placed, thereby when the stepped portion of the base is joined by soldering with the flange of the feed-through, a solder fillet is formed not only in the inside of the base, but also in the outside thereof.
US08179621B2
The invention relates to an apparatus for manipulation of an optical element (7) in up to six degrees of freedom with respect to a structure (8) via at least three actuator devices (9). The actuator devices (9) each have at least two force-controlled actuators, which each produce an effective force along one degree of freedom, with linking points (11) of the actuator devices (9) acting directly on the optical element (7).
US08179619B2
A resin lens includes an optical functional section that has an optical function, and a flange section that is formed around the optical functional section. A reference face is used as reference during positioning and fixing, and is formed on one face of the flange section. The face on which the reference face is formed is molded by an insert that mainly forms the optical functional section and a holder that mainly forms the flange section, during molding. The reference face of the flange section and an optical functional face that is the face of the optical functional section facing the reference face are molded by the insert, and a face of the flange section that is closer to the outer periphery than the reference face of the flange section is molded by the holder.
US08179613B2
The image pickup lens includes a first positive lens (focal distance: f1) having the convex surface facing the object side, a second negative lens having the concave surface facing the image side, a third positive lens (focal distance: f3) having the convex surface facing the image side, a fourth positive meniscus lens having the convex surface facing the image side, and a fifth negative lens having the concave surface facing the image side, arranged in that order as viewed from the object side. The surface of the fifth lens on the image side is aspherical, and an inflection point is located at a position other than the intersection point with the optical axis. The aperture stop is located closer to the image than the first lens, and the conditional expression (1) is met: 0.8
US08179606B2
A zoom lens for projection includes negative first group G1, positive second group G2, positive third group G3, negative fourth group G4, positive fifth group G5, and positive sixth group G6, arranged from the magnification side of the zoom lens. The reduction side of the zoom lens is telecentric. When the magnification is changed, the first group G1 and the sixth group G6 are fixed, and the second through fifth groups G2 through G5 move. The fourth group G4 is a negative lens having a concave surface facing the magnification side, and the fifth group G5 includes at least two positive lenses and at least two negative lenses. Further, the following formula (1) is satisfied: −5.0≦f4/fw≦−1.2 (1), where f4: the focal length of the fourth group; and fw: the focal length of the entire system of the zoom lens at a wide angle end.
US08179603B2
An optical element that has a fine textured structure formed on an exit surface thereof. The fine textured structure satisfies the following conditions: λmin/1.71nsub
US08179602B2
An optical apparatus 101 includes shake detecting means 102a, 102b, 103a, 103b, and 105 that detect a shake, an image stabilizing means 108a that operates so as to suppress an image shake, a drive means 115 that drives the image stabilizing means based on an output from the shake detecting means, a control means 104 that stops power supply to the drive means while continuing power supply to the shake detecting means in accordance with elapse of a predetermined time after the image stabilizing means starts the operation, and a power detecting means 116 that detects a remaining amount of a power source. The controller changes the predetermined time in accordance with the remaining amount of the power source detected by the power detecting means.
US08179599B2
An optical system includes an optical unit with an optical axis extending through a light transmissive sample embedded in a transparent substrate, to focus on the sample embedded in the substrate and to scan the sample according to the main plane of the transparent substrate. The optical axis extends under an angle unequal to zero relative to the normal of the main plane of the transparent substrate, in order to perform a volumetric observation of a sample by obtaining information items focused in all thickness directions within the sample, at a high speed, without requiring any movement along the thickness direction of the sample.
US08179593B2
An optical-switch drive circuit including a driver unit that generates, in response to a control signal, an on/off signal for driving a semiconductor optical amplifier gate switch, and a buffer unit having a high input impedance and connected between an output terminal outputting the on/off signal and the semiconductor optical amplifier gate switch. In the optical-switch drive circuit the buffer unit may include a high-resistance voltage divider that is connected with the output terminal, and an operational amplifier that buffers, and provides to the semiconductor optical amplifier gate switch, a divided voltage of the voltage divider.
US08179585B2
In the production of optical devices or the like utilizing an intersubband transition of a coupled quantum well, a quantum well structure having strong coupling is provided. In addition, a coupled well structure of excellent productivity capable of avoiding thinning of coupling barrier layer for strengthening the coupling is provided. In the semiconductor coupled well structure of the present invention, a coupled quantum well structure disposed on the semiconductor single crystal substrate includes a coupling barrier layer 1a disposed between two or more quantum well layers 2a and 2b, wherein the coupling barrier layer 1a has an energy barrier that is smaller than an excitation level (E4 and E3) and is larger than a ground level (E2 and E1).
US08179580B2
An optical scanning device includes a light source; a scanning unit to deflect/scan a laser beam from the light source; an imaging optical system to focus the deflected and scanned laser beam to a scan-target surface; an electro-optic element to electrically change a refractive index thereof; a controller to control the refractive index of the electro-optic element to adjust deflection amount of the laser beam; and a positional shift detecting unit, disposed away from the light path, to detect a positional shift of the incident laser beam from an ideal position in a sub-scanning direction. The device further includes a beam splitting element, and the controller adjusts a deflection amount of the laser beam from the electro-optic element based on a detection result by the positional shift detecting unit and corrects a positional shift in the sub-scanning direction of the laser beam on the scan-target surface.
US08179576B2
A color correction unit corrects a color of an image signal. A reference data storing unit stores reference data corresponding to patches in a reference chart. A correction parameter generating unit generates image processing parameters based on the reference data and values of the reference chart. An intermediate result storing unit stores intermediate calculation results calculated in a stepwise manner to obtain the image processing parameters. A determination information storing unit stores recalculation determination information for determining whether to recalculate the intermediate calculation results.
US08179574B2
There is provided an image reading device including a tag information reading unit for reading information recorded in an IC tag by performing radio communication with the IC tag attached or embedded at a predetermined position of a medium that becomes a target of image reading and an image reading unit for creating image data of an image recorded on the medium by scanning the medium. The image reading unit determines an area for the scanning based on area information related to the medium among information read by the tag information reading unit and, and scans the determined area.
US08179571B2
An image processing apparatus includes a comparison unit, a change unit, and a printing unit to perform variable printing in a form of a composite of a master page and a variable page. The comparison unit compares a color of the master page and a color of the variable page near a boundary line between the master page and the boundary page. In a case where the master page and the variable page are similar in color near the boundary line, the change unit changes the master page to another master page with a color that is not similar to the color of the variable page. The printing unit prints the another master page and the variable page in a composite form.
US08179567B2
An object of the present invention is to display a color by sufficiently utilizing a color space capable of being displayed by a display. In order to attain the above described object, a color conversion apparatus according to the present invention includes unit that reads an original in which a whole reproducible color gamut is discretely expressed, and acquires color coordinates of a first color space, and color conversion unit that converts the acquired color coordinates of the first color space into a second color space, wherein the color conversion unit converts the color coordinates in the first color space to be substantially the same as color coordinates in the second color space.
US08179563B2
A handheld optical scanner for capturing images of text from a rendered document is described. The scanner includes a package suitable to be held in a user's hand. The package contains an optical sensor that captures images of text from a rendered document. The package also contains a proximity sensor that determines when the optical sensor is within a predetermined distance and orientation of a rendered document. The package further contains a triggering mechanism that causes the optical sensor to capture an image of text from a rendered document when the proximity sensor determines that the optical sensor is within a predetermined distance and orientation of a rendered document.
US08179559B2
Methods and apparatuses for forming images on recording media of different sizes are provided. The image forming procedure may include reading setting information which includes the size of a substitute recording medium for each user from a memory and, when the size of the recording medium specified by the print instruction is not available, executing a print instruction by automatically changing the size of a recording medium to be used to the size of the substitute recording medium based on the setting information. Additional computer-readable storage media storing image forming procedures are also provided.
US08179553B2
When facsimile data is transmitted by performing facsimile communication, a public line is seized. Then, when the public line is seized, it is a determined which of a dial tone signal or a voice signal for phone call a signal received from the public line is, it is controlled to perform the facsimile communication in a case where the received signal is determined as the dial tone signal, and it is controlled not to perform the facsimile communication in a case where the received signal is determined as the voice signal.
US08179550B2
A management apparatus includes a management unit configured to manage information associating each of a plurality of image processing apparatuses constituting a virtual device with a function executed by the each of the plurality of image processing apparatuses, a control unit configured to provide a display for setting a virtual device as a transmission destination of transmission data, an identification unit configured, if a virtual device is set as the transmission destination of the transmission data, to identify an image processing apparatus that executes a function corresponding to a type of the transmission data from among the plurality of image processing apparatuses constituting the set virtual device based on the information managed by the management unit, and a transmission unit configured to transmit the transmission data to the image processing apparatus identified by the identification unit.
US08179547B2
This invention facilitates an operation required to restore a desired file from code information. To accomplish this, a printing apparatus prints code information generated by encoding a file on a first sheet set, and prints identification information required to identify the sheet on which the code information corresponding to the file is printed. A restoration apparatus scans the first and second sheet sets. The restoration apparatus specifies, based on the identification information on the second sheet set, a sheet on which code information corresponding to a desired file is printed. Furthermore, the restoration apparatus restores the desired file by decoding the code information printed on the specified sheet.
US08179545B2
A method and apparatus for configuring an imaging device is provided. A first imaging device may monitor communications exchanged between clients and imaging devices over a network to identify requests to process electronic documents. In response to the first imaging device either detecting a particular request, to process an electronic document, issued to a different imaging device than the first imaging device or receiving at the first imaging device the particular request to process the electronic document, the first imaging device may update its own current configuration for processing electronic documents. For example, an imaging device may update its own current configuration to reflect the most popular way in which electronic documents have been processed by imaging devices on the network.
US08179529B1
Method and systems for aligning a first component with a second component are disclosed. For example, a first component may be aligned with a second component during an assembly process, with a first camera used to facilitate the viewing of one or more alignment features of the first component and/or the second component with infrared energy that is transmitted through the first component. A second camera may be used to view at least a portion of the first component and/or at least a portion of the second component using visible light.
US08179517B2
An exposure apparatus (EX) includes a setting apparatus (45) that sets an irradiation region (AR) of exposure light (EL) in a first state in which the irradiation light (EL) is irradiated onto a substrate (P) and irradiates, in a second state in which the exposure light (EL) is not irradiated onto the substrate (P), the exposure light (EL) onto a second region, which is different from a first region through which the exposure light (EL) passes in the first state, of a first surface of an optical member (FL) that is contacted with a liquid (LQ), to clean the second region by photochemical action.
US08179516B2
Disclosed is an objective lens adapted for use in liquid immersion photolithography and a method for making such a lens. In one example, the objective lens has multiple lens elements, one of which includes a transparent substrate and a layer of protective coating (PC). The PC is formed proximate to the transparent substrate and is positioned between a liquid used during the liquid immersion photolithography and the transparent substrate to protect the transparent substrate from the liquid.
US08179513B2
A transflective liquid crystal display panel includes an array substrate and a color filter substrate. The array substrate includes a plurality of scanning lines and signal lines arranged in a matrix, a lower electrode and an upper electrode in each of pixel regions surrounded by the scanning lines and the signal lines, and a reflecting plate disposed partly below each lower electrode, the lower electrode and the upper electrode in each pixel region being disposed facing each other with an insulating film therebetween, the lower electrodes being composed of a transparent conductive material, the upper electrodes each having a plurality of slits. The color filter substrate includes color filter layer segments arranged in correspondence to the pixel regions. The plurality of slits in each upper electrode have first open ends and second closed ends. Each color filter layer segment for the corresponding pixel region has a window where the color filter layer segment does not exist, the window being located at a position above the corresponding reflecting plate and facing the second closed ends of the slits.
US08179512B2
A liquid crystal display device includes first and second substrates and a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween. The first substrate includes first and second electrodes separated by an insulation interlayer provided for each pixel. The second electrode has a plurality of slits. An alignment of liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer is controlled by operation of first and second transistors to control an electric field between the first and second electrodes. The first transistor includes a drain electrode coupled to the first electrode, and the second transistor includes a drain electrode coupled to the second electrode. The second transistor is switched in synchronization with the first transistor.
US08179510B2
A liquid crystal display device having first and second substrates; a gate line on the first substrate; a data line crossing the gate line to define a pixel area, the gate line and the data line having a gate insulating film there between; a thin film transistor including a gate electrode, a source electrode, a drain electrode and a semiconductor layer for defining a channel between the source electrode and the drain electrode; a common line in parallel to the gate line on the first substrate; a common electrode extended from the common line in the pixel area; and a pixel electrode spaced apart from the common line and the common electrode in the pixel area to be defined in a pixel hole passing through the gate insulating film, wherein the semiconductor layer overlaps with a source and drain metal pattern including the data line, the source electrode and the drain electrode, and wherein the drain electrode protrudes from the semiconductor layer toward an upper portion of the pixel electrode to be connected to the pixel electrode.
US08179509B2
A liquid crystal display device using a low duty ratio driving method with a duty ratio not smaller than 1/16 is manufactured in the following manner. A first substrate is prepared having a first electrode of a predetermined shape. A second substrate is prepared having a second electrode of a shape different from said predetermined shape, the second electrode having signal line electrodes smaller in number than those of the first electrode. An insulating film having necessary insulation is formed on each of the first and second electrodes. First and second vertical alignment films are formed above the first and second substrates, respectively, the first and second vertical alignment films covering the first and second electrodes, respectively. A rubbing process is executed only for the second vertical alignment film. The first and second substrates are disposed facing each other, and liquid crystal having a negative dielectric constant anisotropy is disposed between the first and second substrates. It is possible to prevent alignment defects to be caused by static electricity generated by rubbing of a liquid crystal display device.
US08179506B2
A transparent conductive layer and a first conductive layer are formed. A first photoresist layer having a first part and a second part with different thicknesses is as a mask to remove a portion of the first conductive layers to form a composite gate, and expose the transparent conductive layer of the pixel transmissive area and a portion of the transparent conductive layer in the pixel reflective area. The first photoresist layer is removed. A gate insulating layer and a semiconductor layer are formed. A second photoresist layer having a third part and a fourth part with different thicknesses is taken as a mask to remove a portion of the semiconductor layer and the gate insulating layer to form a contact opening and a channel layer. The second photoresist layer is removed. A patterned second conductive layer comprising a drain, a source and a reflective pattern is formed.
US08179505B2
A liquid crystal display device according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a black matrix on a first substrate to divide a pixel area having a reflection area and a transmission area; a color layer in the transmission area of the pixel area provided by the black matrix; and a non-color layer in the reflection area of the pixel area.
US08179496B2
A display casing includes a front casing, a rear casing and adjusting portions, wherein the front casing is engaged with the rear casing, the rear casing has first positioning portions disposed on its internal side, and each adjusting portion has a support stand coupled to the corresponding first positioning portion and an elastic plate fixed onto a lateral side of the support stand. When the adjusting portions are connected to the corresponding first positioning portions, the elastic plates form an enclosed accommodating area for accommodating and positioning a LCD panel module, and a hole disposed at the center of the front casing is provided for aligning a display surface of the LCD panel module, such that manufacturers can adjust positions of the adjusting portions to change the size of the accommodating area for accommodating LCD panel modules of different sizes.
US08179487B2
A thin film transistor (TFT) array substrate including a substrate, a plurality of scan lines disposed on the substrate, a plurality of data lines disposed on the substrate, and a plurality of pixels arranged in array on the substrate is provided. Each scan line is connected to a row of pixels. Each pixel includes a TFT and a pixel electrode, wherein the pixel electrode is connected to one of the scan lines and one of the data lines through the TFT. In the same column of pixels, the TFTs are connected to two adjacent data lines alternatively and aligned in the column direction. At least one of the pixels further includes a capacitance compensating line. In the pixel having the capacitance compensating line, the TFT is connected to one of the adjacent two data lines, and the capacitance compensating line is connected to the other one.
US08179483B2
A liquid crystal display device of the present invention includes a liquid crystal display panel (10) in which a liquid crystal layer (13) is arranged between an active matrix substrate (11) and a counter substrate (12). A plurality of optical sensors (16) are provided in respective image display regions of the liquid crystal display panel (10), each of the optical sensors (16) having a light receiving section (16d) for detecting transmitted light through a panel surface of the liquid crystal display panel (10). The liquid crystal display panel (10) is a transflective type panel and the optical sensors (16) are provided in respective reflective display regions (R) of the transflective type panel. Further, a reflective electrodes (34) provided above the respective optical sensors (16) serve as light shielding layers so as to shut out light which enters the light receiving section (16d) in an oblique direction. Moreover, an aperture (34a) is provided in a part of each of the reflective electrodes (34) so that the light receiving section (16d) can detect light from directly above.
US08179480B2
A method for automated channel updating is provided. In step (a), a frequency carrying channel data is detected. In step (b), it is determined whether a channel list comprises the frequency by retrieving a frequency table, where the frequency table stores information indicating whether the frequency is comprised in the channel list, and the channel list records a mapping relationship between a channel number and the frequency. In step (c), an unused channel number in the channel list is assigned to the detected frequency not in the channel list, where the unused channel number does not map to the frequency.
US08179468B2
A method and apparatus providing a CMOS imager with an integrated controller on a common integrated circuit substrate. Also integrated on the common substrate are, a serializer circuit including a dynamic arbiter under the control of the microcontroller core and a set of extended special function registers through which data is passed to allow the microcontroller to control the CMOS imager and the serializer circuit.
US08179466B2
A method of capturing a video of a scene depending on the speed of motion in the scene, includes capturing a video of the scene; determining the relative speed of motion within a first region of the video of the scene with respect to the speed of motion within a second region of the video of the scene; and causing a capture rate of the first region of the video of the scene to be greater than a capture rate of the second region of the video of the scene, or causing an exposure time of the first region to be less than exposure time of the second region.
US08179465B2
A solid-state imaging device and a camera system are provided. The solid-state imaging device capable of performing an intermittent operation includes a pixel unit and a pixel signal readout unit for reading out a pixel signal from the pixel unit in units of a plurality of pixels for each column. The pixel signal readout circuit includes a plurality of comparators and a plurality of counters whose operations are controlled by outputs of the comparators. Each of the comparators includes an initializing switch for determining an operating point for each column at a start of row operation, and is configured so that an initialization signal to be applied to the initializing switch is controlled independently in parallel only a basic unit of the initialization signal used for a horizontal intermittent operation, and the initializing switch is held in an off-state at a start of non-operating row.
US08179462B2
The present invention relates to an imaging unit including an imaging device for performing photoelectric conversion. There is provided an imaging unit with which the mechanical strength of an imaging device can be ensured while allowing light to pass through the imaging device so as to improve the usability in various operations using the imaging device. An imaging unit (1) includes a substrate (11a), a light-receiving portion (11b) provided on the substrate (11a), an imaging device (10) configured to photoelectrically convert light received by the light-receiving portion (11b) into an electric signal while light is allowed to pass through the imaging device (10), and a glass substrate (19) bonded to the imaging device (10) and allowing light to pass therethrough.
US08179456B2
A color filter array may include two or more yellow filter pixels, one or more green filter pixels, and one or more cyan filter pixels. The two or more yellow filter pixels may be disposed in a first row or rows in a first direction. The one or more green filter pixels and the one or more cyan filter pixels may be disposed in a second row or rows in the first direction. The first row or rows and the second row or rows may alternate in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. In the second direction, either the one or more green filter pixels and at least one of the two or more yellow filter pixels alternate or the one or more cyan filter pixels and at least one of the two or more yellow filter pixels alternate.
US08179454B2
An image compensation method adapted to reduce noise of a first image captured by an image acquisition device at a high ISO mode. The image compensation method includes the following steps. A Bayer pattern is obtained from the first image. A green pixel signal, a low-resolution binned original luminance signal, and an original chrominance signal are respectively generated according to the Bayer pattern. A high-resolution analog luminance signal is generated by using the green pixel signal. The high-resolution analog luminance signal and the low-resolution binned original luminance signal are combined, and a compensated high-resolution luminance signal is output. A second image is generated by combining the compensated high-resolution luminance signal and the original low-noise chrominance signal.
US08179440B2
Method and system for objects surveillance and real-time activity recognition is based on analysis of spatio-temporal images of individuals under surveillance where a spatio-temporal volume occupied by each individual is decomposed by crossing the same at specific heights to form 2-dimensional slices, each containing representation of trajectory of the motion of corresponding portions of the individual body. The symmetry of the trajectories (Gait DNA) is analyzed and classified to generate data indicative of a type of activity of the individual based on the symmetry or asymmetry of the Gait DNA in each 2-dimensional slice. An effective occlusion handling ability is implemented which permits to restore the occluded silhouette of an individual.
US08179439B2
A security system includes at least first and second monitoring units, each having a motion sensor for detecting motion, a camera for obtaining visual data, a transmitter, a receiver, and a processor in data communication with the motion sensor, camera, transmitter, and receiver. The security system includes means for outputting visual data from the first unit camera when the first unit motion sensor detects motion more recently than the second unit motion sensor detects motion. The security system includes programming for outputting the visual data from the second unit camera when the second unit motion sensor detects motion more recently than the first unit motion sensor detects motion. The system includes a telephone interface for transmitting visual data captured by a respective camera. A unit's camera is only activated when its associated motion detector detects motion and is deactivated when another unit's motion detector detects motion more recently.
US08179437B2
An accessory system for a vehicle includes an accessory module, at least one accessory and an attachment member at an interior surface of a vehicle windshield. The at least one accessory comprises a camera having a lens, with the camera being disposed in the accessory module, and the accessory module comprising structure to angle the camera with respect to a windshield facing portion of the accessory module. The camera has a forward field of view through the vehicle windshield when the accessory module is mounted to the attachment member. The accessory system may include a resilient element disposed between the windshield facing portion and the interior surface of the vehicle windshield to cushion and/or seal the accessory module relative to the interior surface when the accessory module is mounted to the attachment member at the interior surface of the vehicle windshield.
US08179430B2
Disclosed herein is a biometric authentication device. The biometric authentication device according to the present invention is configured such that it blocks visible light using an authentication button, the inside of which is opened or closed by a finger so as to realize the small size and slim shape of a biometric authentication device, and blocks infrared light or allows infrared light to pass while a driving unit moves vertically or horizontally by the operation of the authentication button. Accordingly, in the biometric authentication device, a camera module captures a normal image in normal mode, and captures an infrared pattern reflected from a finger in a vein authentication mode to perform biometric authentication.
US08179424B2
A method and apparatus directed to the field of autostereoscopic displays. The method provided is for creating images or image data suitable for use with an autostereoscopic display. The method comprises a projection step and a transformation step for processing item coordinates representing at least one item in a 3D scene to provide images or image data. The transformation step comprises calculating a transformation dependent on the geometry of an autostereoscopic display. The projection step comprises calculating a projection dependent upon a projection plane constructed in the 3D scene. The apparatus comprises an array of apertures and an imaging portion, the imaging portion comprising a plurality of Digital Micromirror Devices.
US08179421B2
There is provided with an image synthesizing device, including: a connection unit configured to connect to another image synthesizing device; a layout storage configured to store the image layout information of one or more synthesized image where a plurality of input images input into the image synthesizing device and the another image synthesizing device are laid out in desired positions; and one or more synthesized image generating units configured to generate one or more synthesized images using the image information read by a reading control unit of the image synthesizing device and the image information received by an image information receiving unit from the another image synthesizing device.
US08179420B2
Multiple video picture frames are combined into a spatial multiplex video picture frame that may be fully decoded and displayed. The video display of the spatial multiplex video picture frame is a composite combination of all of the video picture frames that have been combined, and may have an appearance such as a mosaic. Multiplexing the video picture frames involves removing picture headers, creating a picture header for the spatial multiplex video picture frame, and altering the headers of individual components of each video picture frame. The new header for the spatial multiplex video picture frame indicates a slice format frame, and headers of the individual components are altered to provide a slice format based picture position for each video picture frame. The headers of the individual components are altered to become slice based, such as in accordance with the ITU-T H.263 video standard, prior to establishing the slice based picture position if the frames are not already of the slice format.
US08179418B2
A robotic system that can be used to treat a patient. The robotic system includes a mobile robot that has a camera. The mobile robot is controlled by a remote station that has a monitor. A physician can use the remote station to move the mobile robot into view of a patient. An image of the patient is transmitted from the robot camera to the remote station monitor. A medical personnel at the robot site can enter patient information into the system through a user interface. The patient information can be stored in a server. The physician can access the information from the remote station. The remote station may provide graphical user interfaces that display the patient information and provide both a medical tool and a patient management plan.
US08179414B2
A surface-emitting laser array includes a plurality of light emitting parts arranged in a two-dimensional formation having two orthogonal directions. When the plurality of light emitting parts are orthogonally projected on a virtual line parallel to one of the two orthogonal directions, a spacing between two of the plurality of light emitting parts along the virtual line is equal to an integral multiple of a predetermined value. The plurality of light emitting parts include a first light emitting part, a second light emitting part adjacent to the first light emitting part, and a third light emitting part adjacent to the second light emitting part, and a spacing between the first and second light emitting parts differs from a spacing between the second and third light emitting parts.
US08179413B2
An image forming device includes: an exposure head having a plurality of light emitting elements arranged in a first direction, a first imaging optical system adapted to image light emitted from the light emitting elements, and a second imaging optical system disposed in a second direction with respect to the first imaging optical system; a latent image carrier movable in the second direction; a detection section adapted to detect a moving time the latent image carrier takes to move from a first position to a second position in the second direction; and a control section adapted to control the time from emission of a first part of the light emitting elements adapted to emit light to be imaged by the first imaging optical system to emission of a second part of the light emitting elements adapted to emit light to be imaged by the second imaging optical system based on the detection result of the detection section, thereby aligning a latent image formed on the latent image carrier by the first imaging optical system and a latent image formed on the latent image carrier by the second imaging optical system in the first direction.
US08179412B2
A method for reducing visible artifacts among image pixels formed on recording media by a plurality of individually addressable recording channels includes operating the recording channels to form a plurality of image pixel arrangements, wherein each image pixel arrangement comprises a plurality of image pixel columns extending along a first direction. The image pixels columns in each image pixel arrangement are arranged along a second direction that intersects the first direction. The recording channels form a first image pixel arrangement on the recording media and overlap a first image pixel column with a second image pixel column by an amount along the second direction that is determined based at least on a misalignment along the first direction between two of the image pixel arrangements.
US08179409B2
A print-dot counting section counts a number of print dots of print data. An adjusting section adjusts to reduce, according to the number of print dots counted by the print-dot counting section, one of conveying speed of a print medium by a conveying unit and energization time of energization to heat generating elements for forming one dot on the print medium and adjusts to reduce the other when the one reaches a lower limit value in an adjustable range. The conveying unit and a thermal head are driven by using the conveying speed and the energization time adjusted in this way to perform printing on the print medium.
US08179406B2
A detection unit which includes an image display panel, brightness averaging unit, scene changeover detection unit, and brightness suppression unit in order to provide an image display apparatus having an ABL that does not give the observer any visual sense of incompatibility without increasing the circuit scale determines the presence/absence of a scene changeover on the basis of the frame differential or second order differential of the average brightness. If a scene changeover takes place, the display brightness is changed quickly, and if no scene changeover occurs, changed slowly.
US08179400B2
A method for controlling an ambient lighting element including receiving a content signal, analyzing the content signal to determine a motion vector of an object (120A) depicted in the content signal, presenting the content signal on a display device, and adjusting an ambient lighting effect provided by the ambient lighting element as determined by the motion vector The presented content signal may be portioned into macro-blocks (110A) and sub-blocks (230). A motion vector of each sub-block (230) may be resolved into components that are parallel and perpendicular to an outside edge of the display device. An average color of each sub-block (230) depicted within a macro-block (110A) in proximity to an outside edge of the display device may be weighted by the motion vector of the corresponding sub-block (230) for determining an average color of the macro-block (110A). The average color of the macro-block (110A) may be used to adjust the ambient lighting element.
US08179398B2
A screen display control device includes: a compression unit which compresses input image data in a line unit; a rewritable image memory to which the compressed data compressed in the line unit by the compression unit is written in non-synchronization with a reading process; a decompression unit which decompresses the compressed data periodically read from the image memory in synchronization with screen display to restore original image data; a display unit which displays an image of the image data decompressed and restored by the decompression unit; a buffer memory which temporarily maintains compressed one-line data compressed by the compression unit; and a writing/reading control unit which controls the processes of writing and reading the compressed data to and from the image memory and processes of writing and reading the image data to and from the buffer memory. When the processes of reading and writing the compressed data of the same line to and from the image memory compete with each other, the writing/reading control unit controls the image data of the line to be written so as to be maintained in the buffer memory. The writing/reading control unit controls the process of reading the compressed data of the line maintained in the buffer memory upon reading the compressed data of the line.
US08179380B2
A capacitive touch slider array comprises a first conductive trace associated with a first sensing node. The first conductive trace includes a first conductive line and a plurality of first conductive fingers extending from the first conductive line. The plurality of first conductive fingers have lengths that increase from a first end of the capacitive touch slider array to a second end of the capacitive touch slider array. A second conductive trace associated with a second sensing node includes a second conductive line and a plurality of second conductive fingers extending from the second conductive line. The plurality of second conductive fingers have lengths that increase from the second end of the capacitive touch slider array to the first end of the capacitive touch slider array.
US08179376B2
A method includes detecting a touch via a capacitive touch-sensor of a touch-sensitive display, detecting the touch via a resistive touch-sensor of the touch-sensitive display, determining characteristics of the touch from the capacitive touch sensor and the resistive touch sensor, and performing a function based on the characteristics.
US08179367B2
An electronic appliance includes detectors that are assigned to detection zones defined on a display. The detection zones correspond to push buttons that are arranged in an operation menu displayed on the display. Each of the detectors includes a temporal difference filter. The temporal difference filter includes a detection zone image memory, a peripheral zone image memory, a subtracter, and a motion quantity calculator. The detection zone image memory stores an image of the corresponding detection zone. The peripheral zone image memory stores an image of a peripheral detection zone defined around the corresponding detection zone. The subtracter finds a difference between the image stored in the peripheral zone image memory and a present image of the peripheral detection zone. According to the difference, the motion quantity calculator calculates first data representative of the size of an object that is present in the peripheral detection zone. The electronic appliance also includes a temporal difference filter controller that generates a first detection flag according to the first data, and according to the first detection flag, generates a write stop flag to stop writing to the detection zone image memory.
US08179359B2
A buffer circuit includes a driving circuit, a biasing circuit, a first switch, a second switch, a third switch, a fourth switch, a fifth switch, a sixth switch, a first capacitor, and a second capacitor. Both the first and second switches are turned on in response to a high voltage level of a first switching signal. Both the third and fourth switches are turned on in response to a high voltage level of a second switching signal. Both the fifth and sixth switches are turned on in response to a high voltage level of a third switching signal. The first capacitor stores a voltage drop of the driving circuit when the first switching signal is at high voltage level, and the second capacitor stores the voltage drop of the driving circuit when the second switching signal is at high voltage level. Output of the buffer circuit is almost identical to input due to an offset of the voltage stored in the second capacitor when the third switching signal is at high voltage level.
US08179355B2
In a gate driving unit and a display apparatus, a first gate driving circuit is connected to a first end of a plurality of gate lines, a second gate driving circuit is connected to a second end of the gate lines, and they are substantially simultaneously turned on. The first and second gate driving circuits apply a first gate signal having a first pre-charging period and a first active period, which is adjacent to the first pre-charging period, to odd-numbered gate lines and apply a second gate signal having a second pre-charging period and a second active period, which is adjacent to the second pre-charging period, to even-numbered gate lines.
US08179353B2
A liquid crystal display includes pixels each having an switching element, drain drivers and gate drivers for operating the switching elements and the pixels, and drain lines and gate lines supplying signals from the drain drivers and the gate drivers to the switching elements being formed on one of a pair of substrates sandwiching a liquid crystal layer. Wiring lines are formed on the one of a pair of substrates for transferring display data signals and a clock signal to the gate drivers.
US08179346B2
A driving circuit for driving a display panel comprising: (i) a printed circuit board, (ii) an input interface to receive input video signal, (iii) a timing controller to control timing signal for the display panel, (iv) a plurality of first source drivers, and (v) at least one second source driver, and wherein the display cells connected to the i-th data line and the (2j+1)-th or (2j+2)-th gate line, where j=0, 2, 4, . . . , <[Y/2], and i=1, 2, . . . , M, where Y and M are positive integers, receive data signals from corresponding data lines 1 through M, respectively, and the display cells connected to the (i+1)-th data line and the (2j+1)-th or (2j+2)-th gate line, where j=1, 3, . . . , <[Y/2]+1, and i=1, 2, . . . , M, receive shifted data signals from the data lines 2 through M+1, respectively.
US08179344B2
In one embodiment of the invention, a pixel unit has two sub-pixel regions each including a liquid crystal capacitor (LCC) and storage capacitor (SC). The capacitance ratio of the SC to LCC of the first sub-pixel differs from the capacitance ratio of the SC to LCC of the second sub-pixel.
US08179325B2
A tripolar antenna is described having at least two electromagnetic signal transmitting/receiving elements arranged such that their axes of signal transmission/reception sensitivity are not parallel, wherein said elements are provided on or at least partially in a substrate of dielectric material so portions of said at least two elements are coplanar and dielectrically isolated from one another. In a preferred arrangement, two dipoles are provided on the substrate in perpendicular orientation and in the plane containing of the surface of said dielectric material. Most preferably a further third element is provided so as to render the antenna tripolar, said third element comprising a first circular disk element secured to an upper surface of the dielectric material, and a second slightly larger circular disk element, concentrically positioned on the corresponding opposite and lower surface of the dielectric.
US08179321B2
A method and apparatus for generating context sensitive mobile device utilization data. The method comprises retrieving mobile device utilization data from a mobile device utilization and tracking device, retrieving location data from the tracking device, retrieving context sensitive data relevant to the device, and analyzing the retrieved data to determine context sensitive mobile device utilization.
US08179315B1
Systems and methods are provided for directing radiated energy from a transmitting device towards a receiving device using multiple antennas. Channel weights, representing signal attenuation and a phase rotation induced by a transmission medium, are determined at a transmitting device. A set of steering weights are determined based on applying an iterative linear transform to an initial value of the steering weights, where the linear transform depends on the determined channel weights. A final value of the steering weights is applied to an input signal to produce a transmit signal, and the transmit signal is transmitted using multiple antennas.
US08179309B2
In a method for optimization of status messages in a satellite navigation system, which comprises a space segment having a plurality of satellites that emit navigation signals to be received and evaluated by utilization systems for position determination, and a ground segment having a plurality of observation stations that monitor the satellites, a threshold value is determined, as a function of location, for a message indicating that the error of a satellite is no longer acceptable.
US08179307B2
A signal processing method performs operations of coherent processing making it possible notably to purge the useful signal of the spurious signals (in particular the reference signal and its multiple reflections), to regenerate the transmission signal and to perform a coherent integration of the signal received by computing the cross-ambiguity between the signal received and the regenerated transmission signal. It also performs operations of non-coherent processing making it possible in particular to carry out extraction and Doppler distance purification operations making it possible to form blips and to eliminate the spurious blips present among the blips formed. The method applies notably to passive radars operating on non-cooperating opportunity transmissions, such as FM transmissions intended for the public.
US08179305B2
An enhanced impulse response measurement for a pulsed frequency modulation (FM) radar signal provides a more accurate measurement of the amplitude of a secondary response relative to the amplitude of a main response. The pulsed FM radar signal is sampled to produce a time-domain sample record. The sample record is windowed to produce a windowed sample record. The windowed sample record is transformed into a frequency-domain spectrum. The spectrum is multiplied with the complex conjugate of a frequency-domain estimate of a transmitted pulsed FM radar signal to produce a de-spreaded pulse. The de-spreaded pulse is transformed into the time domain to produce a measurement of the impulse response having a main response and a secondary response. The amplitude of the secondary response is corrected to eliminate errors caused by the windowing.
US08179303B2
A signal processing apparatus for a radar transceiver, which receives a reflected signal generated by a target object in response to a frequency modulated transmission signal, and generates a beat signal having a frequency difference between the transmission signal and a reception signal, includes: an azimuth angle detection unit that detects an azimuth angle of the target object on the basis of a peak signal in a frequency spectrum of the beat signal; a peak signal extraction unit that prioritizes extraction of a peak signal corresponding to a predetermined azimuth angle range and a predetermined relative distance range of the target object; and a target object detection unit that detects the target object from the extracted peak signal.
US08179301B2
An image processor and an image processing method for a synthetic aperture radar searching for a target are provided. A high resolution processing unit performs high resolution processing up to an area equivalent to a small target or smaller to thereby acquire information held by the small target. Next, a maximum value filter processing unit develops the information of the small target acquired through the high resolution processing in one pixel of low resolution processing with a maximum value. Then, a display unit displays the minimum area of the low resolution processing as one pixel on a screen. Since the information originally held by the small target can be displayed without damaging it as described above, it is easily distinguishable from the background information, enabling to improve the detection capability as a radar.
US08179297B2
A remote control device which can remotely control drive quantities of apparatuses arranged two-dimensionally and better matches a sense of adjustment of a user with being excellent in usability. The remote control device comprises an acceleration sensor unit including an acceleration sensor to detect three-dimensional acceleration; a specified area determining unit that determines one of the plurality of areas to be a specified area based on detected acceleration of the acceleration sensor unit in a first direction and a second direction different from the first direction in the plane; and a drive quantity determining unit that determines a drive quantity of one of the subject apparatuses placed in the specified area according to a detected acceleration of the acceleration sensor unit in a third direction perpendicular to the plane.
US08179296B2
Autonomously operating analog to digital converters are formed into a two dimensional array. The array may incorporate digital signal processing functionality. Such an array is particularly well-suited for operation as a readout integrated circuit and, in combination with a sensor array, forms a digital focal plane array.
US08179295B2
A background self-calibrated DAC is presented. A virtual-short theory, applicable to input/output terminals of an operational amplifier, is periodically employed so as to self-calibrate a current source serially connected with an equivalent resistor, and the DAC using the same. The DAC does not require an additional self-calibration period, and digital-to-analog conversion thereof can be realized in merely a small amount of die area. Correspondingly, a compact and high-speed current steering DAC can be realized.
US08179289B2
A handheld electronic device includes a reduced QWERTY keyboard and is enabled with disambiguation software. The device provides output in the form of a default output and a number of variants. The output is based largely upon the frequency, i.e., the likelihood that a user intended a particular output, but various features of the device provide additional variants that are not based solely on frequency and rather are provided by various logic structures resident on the device. The device enables editing during text entry and also provides a learning function that allows the disambiguation function to adapt to provide a customized experience for the user. The disambiguation function can be selectively disabled and an alternate keystroke interpretation system provided. Additionally, the device can facilitate the selection of variants by displaying a graphic of a special
US08179286B2
The specification and drawing figures describe and illustrate a system for sensing cargo loads and trailer movement that includes a mobile wireless communications system. A mobile computing platform is mounted on a remote vehicle and operatively connectable across the mobile wireless communications system. Sensor data are collected and stored in the mobile wireless communications system and the mobile computing platform, and may be transmitted across the mobile wireless communications system. At least one program is stored either in the mobile wireless communications system or the mobile computing platform, or both, for using the sensor data to determine equipment use, placement, and positioning in relation to a vehicle and sending one or more sensitivity reports to the asset manager.
US08179283B2
An aspect of the present invention provides a method for providing information to an air traffic controller. The method comprises the steps of: displaying, on a video display, a symbol representative of a position of an aircraft and a first stage of a multi-stage label comprising information relating to the aircraft (210); and displaying, on the video display, a second stage of the multi-stage label comprising additional information relating to the aircraft when a user-controlled cursor is brought into a vicinity of the multi-stage label (220). The first stage of the multi-stage label occupies a smaller footprint on the video display than the second stage. Additional stages of the multi stage label may also be displayed in response to user action (e.g. rotation of a scroll wheel of a computer mouse or other pointing device). Each stage of the multi-stage label may be locked in place, or pinned, through selection of part of the label, via a mouse click or similar action.
US08179280B2
In order to realize road-road communications, a roadside device is provided with an MS function unit and a BS function unit that have a termination function of a signal. In a case of performing road-road communications, any of plural roadside devices can function as a BS, and others as an MS. In a wireless communication system that only enables wireless communications between MS and BS, road-road communication can be performed. In order to realize vehicle-vehicle communication, an in-vehicle device has the BS function unit and the MS function unit having a termination function of the signal and performs the same operations as the road-road communication. In road-vehicle communication, any of the roadside devices can function as the BS, and other roadside devices and in-vehicle devices are operated as the MS.
US08179275B2
A movable barrier that is at least partially counterbalanced by a spring is moved from a first position to a second position while substantially simultaneously monitoring at least one characteristic associated with moving the movable barrier to provide at least one monitored characteristic. The at least one monitored characteristic is compared to a predetermined criterion. When the at least one monitored characteristic does not meet the predetermined criterion, an alarm condition is set to indicate a failure of the spring.
US08179267B2
A security device is removably affixable to an article. The security device includes a housing having a securing pad, a locking element and a strap. The locking element is disposed within the housing. The strap includes a first end having a latching region that is insertable into the housing and a second end having a securing region. The strap is slidingly movable between an open position and a locked position. The locking element engages with the latching region of the strap. When in the locked position, the strap secures the article between the securing pad and the securing region of the strap.
US08179266B2
In order to provide a sensor that is employable in an advantageous manner and which comprises at least one sensitive element and a housing within which the at least one sensitive element is arranged, it is proposed that at least one RFID data carrier be arranged below a surface of the housing, said data carrier storing sensor properties in a non-volatile manner and being adapted to be read out in a non-contact making manner.
US08179263B2
The present invention aims to overcome the drawback with conventional RFID tag devices having a short communication range, and expand the communication range to several times or more that in the conventional scheme. The conventional scheme is based on equilibrium feeding/equilibrium modulation (a two-terminal circuit for antenna operation), whereas the present invention is based on disequilibrium feeding/equilibrium modulation (a three-terminal circuit for antenna operation). The conventional scheme is based on simple rectification of received RF signals, whereas the present invention employs a circuit based on a combination of a stub resonance-based, impedance transformation boosting scheme and a ladder boosting scheme. The conventional scheme is based on ASK or BPSK modulation, whereas the present invention is based on passive modulation, but can employ a QPSK modulation circuit.
US08179260B2
Processing a transponder signal received from a transponder may include providing a first signal that is in-phase with the transponder signal and a second that is off-phase with the first signal. A first transformed signal is generated using the first signal, where the first transformed signal has a first characteristic equal to the first characteristic of the first signal and a second characteristic different from the second characteristic of the first signal. A second transformed signal is generated using the second signal, where the second transformed signal has a first characteristic equal to the first characteristic of the second signal and a second characteristic different from the second characteristic of the second signal. Information incorporated in the transponder signal is obtained using a combination of the first transformed signal and the second transformed signal.
US08179252B2
A severe weather alarm configured for actuation by the occurrence of a single type of weather phenomena is disclosed. In one embodiment an alarm includes a portable housing; an audio siren configured to actuate upon an occurrence of a predetermined event; a receiver to receive signals and Specific Area Message Encoding (SAME) messages at one or more National Weather Service (NWS) weather radio frequencies; a digital decoder coupled to the receiver and configured to filter out all SAME messages except for a single weather warning message event code and a Required Weekly Test (RWT) code; a processor coupled to the receiver and the digital decoder to control the receiver and decoder and to actuate the audio siren upon the occurrence of the predetermined event; a power source; and a memory for storing signal values, frequencies, message values, and geographical codes.
US08179249B2
In an air compressor which can cope with an item to be replaced which is not a manufacturer's recommended item so as to enhance the safety, there is provided, as an example, an air compressor comprising a compressor body for compressing air, an item to be replaced (in detail, for example, a suction belt, a suction filter, a separator element and an oil filter) used during the operation of the compressor body, comprising a control device for computing a service time of the item to be replaced, from an operation time of the compressor body, discriminating whether the item to be replaced is a manufacturer's recommended item or not, determining whether or not the service time of the item to be replaced, which is discriminated as a manufacturer's recommended item, exceeds a preset first reference time, but determining whether the service time of the item to be replaced, which is discriminated as the one which is not the manufacturer's recommended item, exceeds a second reference time which has been preset so as to be shorter than the first reference time, and issuing an alarm if the reference time is exceeded.
US08179246B2
An indication clothing being adapted to be worn by an object is provided. The indication clothing comprises an indication sign, a storage module, a G-sensor and a process module. The storage module is configured to store threshold information. The G-sensor is configured to sense an instantaneous moving action of the object and generate a sensed value related to the instantaneous moving action when the object is moving. The process module is electrically connected to the indication sign, the G-sensor and the storage module, and is configured to control the indication sign by comparing the sensed value with the threshold information so that the indication sign indicates the instantaneous moving action of the object.
US08179244B2
A remote control system and method having reduced vulnerability to noise. In an environment having noise at a frequency of infrared signals transmitted by a remote controller, errors and malfunctions in a remote control receiving device such as a set top box are controlled by selectively transmitting an entire code including header pulses and data pulses, or a repeat code including header pulses, data pulses and repeater pulses from the remote controller, and receiving and using the entire code or repeat code at the remote receiving device.
US08179234B1
A sound generation apparatus for an electric vehicle that is being operated by a driver comprising: a sound generation circuit attached to a wheel of the electric vehicle; Faraday generators for supplying pulses of electrical current within the circuit while the wheels of the vehicle are rotating; a battery for supplying battery power within the circuit; a pulse activated power controller that is activated upon the receipt of an initial pulse form one of the Faraday generators and controls the supply of battery power within the circuit; and a programmed microcontroller that uses the battery power to simulate a motor sound for the electric vehicle and uses additional pulses from the Faraday generators to determine whether the vehicle is accelerating, decelerating or moving in reverse and, based upon its state of motion, modifies the simulated motor sound.
US08179229B2
An operator system provides a mobile transmitter configured to communicate with a base operator to automatically open and close an access barrier based on the position of a carrying device that maintains the mobile transmitter. The mobile transmitter periodically transmits a mobile open signal as it moves away from the reception range of the base operator until that signal is lost. When the base operator again receives the open signal, the access barrier is automatically opened. In addition, the mobile transmitter is configured to monitor the change in position of the carrying device as it moves away from the enclosure. When the angular and/or linear position of the carrying device changes by an amount greater than a predetermined threshold, the mobile transmitter automatically transmits a mobile close signal to the base operator to close the access barrier.
US08179228B2
A device for selectively controlling access to a plurality of secure areas includes a driver circuit including a plurality of drivers, and a plurality of access modules each assigned to a corresponding secure area of the plurality of secure areas. Each access module is operatively coupled to at least one actuator operative to grant or deny access to the corresponding secure area. Unused drivers provided to a first access module of the plurality of access modules are cascaded to a second access module of the plurality of access modules.
US08179227B2
The present invention advantageously provides a flexible system and method for a security system having a control panel with control information for performing security operations, and a token having its own control information, such that the panel reads control information from the token and determines if the token is authentic, and, if it is, the panel updates its control information in accordance with the token's control information and performs the security operations based on its updated control information, and the updated control information is copied from the panel to the token.
US08179226B2
The present invention provides an array type chip resistor including: a substrate formed in a rectangular parallelepiped shape; lower electrodes disposed on both sides of a bottom surface of the substrate at equal spaces; side electrodes extended from some of lower electrodes, formed on outermost edges of both sides of the substrate, in all lower electrodes, to a side surface of the substrate; a resistive element interposed between lower electrodes of the bottom surface of the substrate; a protection layer covered on the resistive element, the protection layer having both sides which cover a part of the lower electrodes and the resistive element; leveling electrodes being in contact with the lower electrodes exposed to outside of the protection layer; and a plating layer formed on the leveling electrodes. The array type chip resistor can prevent the resistive element from being damaged due to external impact when mounted since the resistive element is printed inside of the lower electrodes of the bottom surface of the substrate.
US08179225B2
A ceramic electronic component has a chip element body having a conductor arranged inside, external electrodes, and a discrimination layer. The chip element body has first and second end faces facing each other, first and second side faces being perpendicular to the first and second end faces and facing each other, and third and fourth side faces being perpendicular to the first and second end faces and to the first and second side faces and facing each other. The external electrodes are formed on the first and second end faces, respectively, of the chip element body. The discrimination layer is provided on at least one side face out of the first side face and the second side face in the chip element body. The chip element body is comprised of a first ceramic. The discrimination layer is comprised of a second ceramic different from the first ceramic and has a color different from that of the third and fourth side faces.
US08179219B2
An improved field emission system and method is provided that involves field emission structures having electric or magnetic field sources. The magnitudes, polarities, and positions of the magnetic or electric field sources are configured to have desirable correlation properties, which may be in accordance with a code. The correlation properties correspond to a desired spatial force function where spatial forces between field emission structures correspond to relative alignment, separation distance, and the spatial force function.
US08179215B2
A MEMS device and method of making same is disclosed. In one embodiment, a micro-switch includes a base assembly comprising a movable structure bearing a contact pad. The base assembly is wafer-scale bonded to a lid assembly comprising an activator and a signal path. The movable structure moves within a sealed cavity formed during the bonding process. The signal path includes an input line and an output line separated by a gap, which prevents signals from propagating through the micro-switch when the switch is deactivated. In operation, a signal is launched into the signal path. When the micro-switch is activated, a force is established by the actuator, which pulls a portion of the movable structure upwards towards the gap in the signal path, until the contact pad bridges the gap between the input line and output line, allowing the signal to propagate through the micro-switch. Prior to bonding, the MEMS structures are annealed on a first wafer and the conductive traces and other metals are annealed on a second wafer to allow each wafer to be processed separately using different processes, e.g., different annealing temperatures.
US08179214B2
A rectangular conductor pattern is formed around a first waveguide on a multilayer dielectric substrate facing a metal substrate, with an end at about λ/4 away from a long side edge of the first waveguide, where μ is a free-space wavelength of a signal wave. A conductor opening is formed between the end of the conduction pattern and the long side edge of the first waveguide, with a length longer than a long side of the first waveguide and shorter than about λ. A closed-ended dielectric transmission path is formed in the multilayer dielectric substrate in the layer direction, with a length of about λg/4, where λg is an in-substrate effective wavelength of the signal wave.
US08179205B2
Systems and methods for provided for linearization systems and methods for variable attenuators. The variable attenuators can include series transistors along a main signal path from the input to output, as well as shunt transistors. A bootstrapping body bias circuit can be used with one or of the series transistors to allow the body of a connected transistor to swing responsive to a received RF input signal. As the RF signal increases and affects the gate-to-source voltage difference of a transistor, a bootstrapping body bias circuit can adaptively adjust the threshold voltage of the connected transistor and compensate the channel resistance variation resulting from gate-to-source voltage swing. The bootstrapping body bias circuit can be implemented using passive elements, active elements, or a combination thereof.
US08179204B2
A bandgap surface for use in a waveguide transition module. The surface may be constructed with a ground plane; a capacitive layer including a plurality of capacitive elements arranged in a polar configuration within a common plane, and spaced apart from said ground plane; and a plurality of electrically conductive vias formed within a dielectric layer of material that conductively couple said ground plane to each of said capacitive elements.
US08179199B2
A transistor resistor and an associated method are provided to improve the resistance linearity of the transistor resistor. The transistor resistor includes a transistor operating in the resistive region, where the drain and source of the transistor receive an input signal and an output signal respectively. The transistor resistor also includes a compensating circuit for generating a compensating signal according to the input signal. The compensating signal is provided to the gate of the transistor such that the voltage difference between the gate and source of the transistor approximates to a constant.
US08179194B2
In one embodiment, a circuit for generating a reference voltage between a first output and a second output, has a first follower transistor that includes a first control node, a first follower node coupled to a first output, and a first supply node, and a second follower transistor that includes a second control node, a second follower node coupled to a second output and a second supply node. A first voltage drop circuit is coupled between a circuit supply node and the second supply node. The circuit is biased such that the voltage between the circuit supply node and the second supply node is greater than the voltage between the circuit supply node and the first supply node, and such that the voltage between the circuit supply node and the second control node is greater than the voltage between the circuit supply node and the first control node.
US08179187B2
A method for passive cancellation of substrate noise for a buck converter uses an on-chip capacitor to reduce the substrate noise. The capacitor achieves a close-magnitude noise with opposite phase for better noise cancellation effect in the substrate. The capacitor can be realized as a MOS capacitor, NMOS isolation ring n-well capacitor, n-well junction capacitor, isolated p-well junction capacitor, etc. The capacitor is easy to implement. Further, bond wire parasitic inductance in the buck converter is used to reduce substrate noise.
US08179186B2
Techniques are disclosed for reducing off-state leakage current in a differential switching device. The techniques can be embodied, for example, in a method that includes receiving a differential input signal at a differential input of each of a primary switch and a dummy switch. In an enabled-state of the device, the method further includes passing the differential input signal to a differential output of the primary switch. In a disabled-state of the device, the method further includes canceling off-state leakage current at the differential output of the primary switch, by virtue of the dummy switch having its differential output reverse-coupled to the differential output of the primary switch. The method may further include preventing the dummy switch from passing signals other than off-state leakage signals. The techniques can be embodied, for instance, in a switching device.
US08179183B2
A switched-capacitor circuit including at least one first capacitor and a circuit for switching at least one armature of the first capacitor alternately to one and the other of two terminals at a switching frequency. The circuit further includes a second capacitor connected to the first capacitor at a node; and a filtering circuit connecting the node to a virtual ground only for frequencies belonging to a frequency range.
US08179182B2
Methods and apparatuses provide a clocked digital device having dynamically adjustable operating characteristics. The digital device comprises a digital clock management (“DCM”) circuit in which the amount of delay between receipt of an active edge of a clock signal at the input of the DCM circuit and appearance of an active edge of another clock signal at the output of the DCM circuit depends on a phase adjustment signal applied to the DCM circuit's phase adjust input. A phase adjustment circuit provides the phase adjustment signal to the DCM circuit's phase adjust input for controlling the amount of the delay between the clock signal at the input of the DCM circuit and the clock signal at the output of the DCM circuit.
US08179181B2
A power-mode-aware (PMA) clock tree and a synthesis method thereof are provided. The clock tree includes a sub clock tree and a PMA buffer. The sub clock tree transmits a delayed clock signal to a function module, wherein a power mode of the function module is determined according to a power information. The PMA buffer is coupled to the sub clock tree. The PMA buffer determines the delay time of a system clock signal according to the power information delays the system clock signal, and outputs the delayed system clock signal to the sub clock tree as the delayed clock signal.
US08179178B2
A register circuit including a level shift circuit, a latch isolation circuit, and a keeper circuit for registering data with a lower voltage clock signal. The level shift circuit switches a level shift node between a reference voltage level and an upper voltage level in response to a clock node and an input node. The clock node toggles between the reference voltage level and a lower voltage level. The latch isolation circuit isolates an output node from the input node when the clock node is at the reference voltage level, and asserts the output node to one of the reference voltage level and an upper voltage level based on a state of the input node when the clock node is at the lower voltage level. The keeper circuit maintains a state of the output node when the clock node is at the reference voltage level.
US08179176B2
A method and apparatus for detecting jitter of a Phase Locked Loop (PLL), which is capable of detecting a jitter level of the PLL without using a separate jitter measurement device, is disclosed. The apparatus for detecting the jitter of the PLL includes the PLL configured to detect a phase difference signal between a reference clock and a feedback clock and to generate an oscillation signal having a predetermined frequency according to the phase difference signal, a variable phase delay unit configured to switch a plurality of capacitors according to an input delay control signal and to delay the phase difference signal from the PLL according to the delay control signal, a comparator configured to compare the phase difference signal from the PLL with the phase difference signal delayed by the variable phase delay unit and to detect a delay period of the phase difference signal, and a lock detection unit configured to detect whether the oscillation signal is within a lock range after the delay period detected by the comparator.
US08179172B2
Disclosed is an auto-restart circuit and auto-restart method.A main integrated circuit (IC) of a main stage controls a switching operation of at least one power switch. The auto-restart circuit for restarting the main IC detects a switching state of the at least one power switch and detects the state of the main IC. The auto-restart circuit cuts off an external power source voltage supply to the main IC or supplies the external power source voltage to the main IC according to switching state and the state of the main IC.
US08179163B2
Efficient techniques improve the linearity of a charge pump in fractional-N PLLs. A feedback clock pulse several VCO clock periods wide is formed and supplied to a phase frequency detector (PFD). The down pulse generated by the PFD is fixed to eliminate the nonlinearity associated with up and down current source mismatch. The up pulse is made to fall when the down pulse falls, that is, when the feedback clock pulse falls.
US08179161B1
A programmable input/output circuit includes a programmable output circuit configured to drive an output signal to an input/output pad at a plurality of voltages. The programmable input/output circuit further includes a programmable input configured to detect an input signal from the input/output pad at a plurality of voltages. The voltage levels of the input and output circuits may be independently and dynamically controllable.
US08179158B2
Printed circuit board having a termination of a T-shaped signal line having at least two line ends, one line end being terminated using a terminating resistor against a supply voltage, and the other line end being terminated against the reference potential of the supply voltage.
US08179157B2
A test setup for a permanent magnet motor provides a method for identifying symmetry or asymmetry in the magnetic fields of the motor's permanent magnets. The setup comprises a test circuit that includes a fixed reference node that provides a stable reference to which the motor's common node can be compared. Observing the waveform of the voltage between the two nodes while the motor is running helps identify an imbalance in the magnetic fields of the motor's permanent magnets.
US08179155B2
A layout structure of electronic elements includes M*N electronic elements in a form of a matrix, a first test pad group disposed on a first side of the matrix and all electronic elements in the same linear section in the matrix electrically connect to a corresponding test pad in the first test pad group, and a second test pad group disposed on a second side of the matrix and all electronic elements in the same linear section in the matrix electrically connect to a corresponding test pad in the second test pad group.
US08179152B2
An arrangement for detecting plasma instability within a processing chamber of a plasma processing system during substrate processing is provided. The arrangement includes a probe arrangement, wherein the probe arrangement is disposed on a surface of the processing chamber and is configured to measure at least one plasma processing parameter. The probe arrangement includes a plasma-facing sensor and a measuring capacitor, wherein the plasma-facing sensor is coupled to a first plate of the measuring capacitor. The arrangement also includes a detection arrangement, which is coupled to a second plate of the measuring capacitor. The detection arrangement is configured to convert an induced current flowing through the measuring capacitor into a set of digital signals, the set of digital signals being processed to detect the plasma instability.
US08179144B1
A network device including a physical layer (PHY) device and an autonegotiation module. The PHY device is configured to interface with N cable pairs, where N is greater than 1. The PHY device includes a cable test module configured to diagnose a short circuit in one of the N cable pairs. The autonegotiation module is configured to i) selectively perform autonegotiation to establish a link with a link partner at one of a first link speed and a second link speed that is lower than the first link speed, and ii) select between the first link speed and the second link speed in response to the cable test module diagnosing the short circuit.
US08179142B2
A signal converter and method of converting a signal are provided. The converter includes a power supply, microcontroller and current sensor. The microcontroller is connected to a power supply and is configured to receive inputs from a vehicle and output signals to loads of a second vehicle. The sensor is connected to the microcontroller to monitor current flow at the loads. The output channels are configured to stagger activity on the output signals. The microcontroller reduces the duty cycle of the output signals if the current flow rises above a first threshold and resumes the output signal to full strength once the current flow falls below a second threshold. The method includes receiving an input signal, sending an output signal, measuring current flow, measuring temperature, reducing the power of the output signal, and restoring the output signal.
US08179140B2
The present teachings are directed toward a machine implemented method for estimating the solid phase potentials of either positive or negative electrode of a battery. The machine implemented method includes providing battery voltage information and an estimated solid phase potential to a model coefficient updater to update a model coefficient. Battery current information is provided to a battery internal variable estimator along with the updated model coefficient so that the solid phase potentials can be determined. A multi-layer model can be utilized to determine the ion density of the electrodes. The method can be implemented on a processing device, and is particularly applicable to Li-ion batteries.
US08179137B2
Systems and devices for transmitting radio frequency signals to and from radio frequency coils in magnetic resonance imaging systems are provided. In one embodiment, a balun for blocking induced radio frequency current on ground conductors of a multi-layer signal carrier includes first and second insulative elements disposed on first and second sides of the signal carrier, respectively, a conductive layer partially surrounding ends of each insulative element with a central region of each insulative element not surrounded by the respective conductive layer, first and second capacitive circuits coupled to the conductive layers of each respective insulative element in the central region thereof, vias extending through the signal carrier, and conductive material disposed in the vias electrically coupling a conductive layer on respective ends of the first and second elements with one another and with the ground conductors.
US08179134B2
An upward warp of a terminal pad of a flexible cable which is kept horizontal by a suction head is prevented by a pressing arm which contacts with an upper surface of a rear portion of the flexible cable.
US08179122B2
A printed board, includes: a first shield portion, configured to reduce an influence of an electric field in combination with a casing accommodating the printed board, at least a part of the first shield portion being formed with a plurality of through holes; and a second shield portion, configured to reduce the influence of the electric field in combination with the casing, at least a part of the second shield portion being formed with a plurality of through holes, wherein the second shield portion is arranged alongside of the first shield portion.
US08179121B2
A transducer, including: a housing; a bridge sensor circuit disposed within the housing and including at least one micro electro-mechanical systems (MEMS) sensing elements and first and second output ports; circuitry disposed within the housing; and an input/output (I/O) line electrically connected to the circuitry, accessible at an exterior of the housing, and adapted for receipt of input voltage or current. The circuitry is for generating a single data signal that combines respective outputs of the first and second output ports, and transmitting the DC-coupled single data signal on the I/O line. The circuitry is for generating and transmitting to the bridge sensor circuit an excitation current or voltage using the input voltage or current.
US08179111B2
Methods, systems, and devices are described for a power-on sequence for a circuit. A sequence generator for an electronic system may control various power domains to enter known states and prevent unwanted states as other domains of the system power-up. Regulator modules may be controlled to remain in an inoperable state until a reference voltage stabilizes at a predetermined reference level. The regulator modules regulate a received voltage supply to output a regulated voltage at the reference level, the regulated voltage set via a comparison to the reference voltage. Various analog and digital modules may be controlled to remain in an known state until the regulated voltage stabilizes at substantially the reference level. Additional sequencing is described for other dependencies, as well.
US08179107B2
A power supply circuit comprising: a voltage generating circuit configured to generate an output voltage of a target level from an input voltage; an overcurrent protection circuit configured to control the voltage generating circuit so as to stop an output current, when a level of the output current generated at a time of generating the output voltage is greater than a reference level; and a reference-level change circuit configured to change the reference level in the overcurrent protection circuit to be at a second level higher than a first level from the first level for a predetermined period, when the overcurrent protection circuit detects that the level of the output current is greater than the reference level.
US08179099B2
Provided is a battery state monitoring circuit including a control circuit that applies, to a gate of a signal output transistor provided at a terminal for transmitting an overcharge detection signal, a potential at which the signal output transistor is turned off at a voltage lower than a minimum circuit operating voltage. Accordingly, in a battery device that uses the cascade-connected battery state monitoring circuits, charge is inhibited securely even at a power supply voltage lower than the minimum circuit operating voltage.
US08179092B2
A rechargeable aircraft battery assembly includes at least one lithium-ion cell having a positive cell terminal and a negative cell terminal and a battery management circuit operable to control charging and/or discharging of the lithium-ion cell. The battery management circuit is constantly off when the aircraft circuit is not engaged with the battery connector and is constantly on when the aircraft circuit is engaged with the battery connector.
US08179087B2
In an embodiment, a medical device can be used with a power adapter system. In addition, it can receive a data set from the power adapter system, and examine the data set to determine whether the data set confirms or not an authentication of the power adapter for use with the medical device. If the authentication is not confirmed, the external medical device can operate differently than otherwise. For example, power can be drawn more slowly from the power adapter system.
US08179079B2
The rotation angle detection device detects the rotation angle of a rotary member by employing, at the least, either a sine wave signal or a cosine wave signal that is generated as the rotary member is rotated, and employs a change per unit time in the sine wave signal or cosine wave signal to determine whether an output abnormality has occurred in the rotation angle detection device. Further, this rotation angle device is employed to detect the motor angle of an electric power steering apparatus.
US08179078B2
A hand-held or vehicle-mounted stabilization system including a platform supported by two or more rotatably-coupled gimbal frames each having a pivot assembly disposed at its rotation axis to couple an actuator to a rotation sensor having a rotation-sensitive sensor axis that is preferably fixedly disposed with respect to the rotation axis, and a controller for accepting the sensor signals and for producing each motor signal needed to dispose the platform in a predetermined angular position with respect to each rotation axis independent of changes in mount orientation. An alternative embodiment includes a controller for accepting an external slew signal sequence and for producing the motor signals needed to move the platform along a predetermined sequence of positions represented by the slew signal sequence.
US08179073B2
Various robotic devices and related medical procedures are disclosed herein. Each of the various robotic devices have an agent delivery component. The devices include mobile robotic devices and fixed base robotic devices as disclosed herein. The agent delivery component can have at least one agent reservoir and a discharge component in fluidic communication with the at least one reservoir.
US08179070B2
A method of preparing a reversible electric machine with a phase for starting a heat engine of a vehicle that is equipped with an automatic start/stop system, whereby said machine comprises a rotor which is connected to the heat engine. The method comprises the following steps consisting in detecting an action prior to a heat engine start command and applying a magnetizing electric current to the rotor of the machine upon detection of the action.
US08179058B1
A system for controlling power delivered to a lighting system for controlling illumination. The system includes a TRIAC with an input capacitor connected in parallel to a phase delay circuit including a series combination of a potentiometer and a capacitor. A ramp voltage output from the timing circuit is connected through a DIAC to a gate input of the TRIAC. The TRIAC is connected between a DC voltage source and an electrical load. In response to the DC source, the input power storage capacitor, the phase delay timing circuit and the input terminal of the TRIAC have a direct current output voltage higher than a DIAC breakover voltage, used to drive a gate input of the TRIAC. The TRIAC operates in relaxation oscillation mode such that a frequency of oscillation of the TRIAC circuit, as controlled by the timing resistor, can be used to control power to the electrical load.
US08179057B2
An electronic ballast for a discharge lamp includes a predictive circuit and a correction circuit in addition to a power conversion circuit including an inverter circuit and a resonant circuit, a drive circuit and a frequency control circuit. The inverter circuit applies load voltage across a load circuit including the lamp via the resonant circuit. The predictive circuit predicts a resonance frequency of the combination of the resonant circuit and the load circuit after ignition of the lamp. The resonance frequency is predicted based on an input signal representing the load voltage in the period of time from the start of sweep of the inverter circuit's operating frequency through a time point immediately after ignition of the lamp. The correction circuit changes the end frequency of the sweep to the resonance frequency.
US08179047B2
A plasma electrodeless lamp comprises a substantially hollow metallic body, closely receiving two coupling elements, the first coupling element connected to the output of an RF amplifier, and the second coupling element connected to the input of an RF amplifier. The first coupling element is conductively connected (grounded) to metallic lamp body at its top surface, while the second coupling element is not. The lamp further comprises a vertical metallic post, the post being grounded to the metallic lamp body at the post's bottom surface. The lamp further comprises a dielectric sleeve which closely receives the metallic post, and which is in turn closely supported by the lamp body or alternatively or in combination a tuning stub. The lamp further comprises a bulb that is closely received by the metallic post, and that encloses a gas-fill which forms a radiant plasma when excited.
US08179036B2
A light emitting device includes a stack of layers having a basic layer, a first electrode layer and a second electrode layer. An organic light-emitting layer is sandwiched between the first and second electrode layers. At least one shunt element has a connection-end and a free-end. The connection-end is connected with one of the electrode layers, and the free-end is jutting out of the stack of layers.
US08179034B2
A multifunctional optical film for enhancing light extraction includes a flexible substrate, a structured layer, and a backfill layer. The structured layer effectively uses microreplicated diffractive or scattering nanostructures located near enough to the light generation region to enable extraction of an evanescent wave from an organic light emitting diode (OLED) device. The backfill layer has a material having an index of refraction different from the index of refraction of the structured layer. The backfill layer also provides a planarizing layer over the structured layer in order to conform the light extraction film to a layer of an OLED lighting device such as solid state lighting devices or backlight units. The film may have additional layers added to or incorporated within it to an emissive surface in order to effect additional functionalities beyond improvement of light extraction efficiency.
US08179030B2
Disclosed herein are optical interference multilayer coatings employing a high refractive index material comprising a NbTaZr oxide. Such coatings provide enhanced retention of favorable optical and physical properties at high temperatures. Also disclosed herein are lamps comprising a light-transmissive envelope, at least a portion of the surface of the light-transmissive envelope being provided with the optical interference multilayer coating noted above. Such coatings, when used on lamps, may advantageously offer improved energy efficiencies for such lamps.
US08179025B1
The present invention relates to lead-free piezoelectric ceramic materials comprising crystalline (and preferably perovskite crystalline) structures of the formula Bi1-x(RE)xFeO3, where RE is one or more of La, Pr, Nd, Pm, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb and Lu, and 0≦x≦0.3. The materials are at or near the morphotropic phase boundary and display enhanced piezoelectric and dielectric properties.
US08179011B2
A brushless motor including a stator having teeth and a rotor having magnetic pole portions is disclosed. The magnetic pole portions are arranged to have the same polarities as each other. The rotor includes gaps that function as magnetic resistance at circumferential ends of each of the magnetic pole portions so that an iron core portion is formed between the circumferentially adjacent magnetic pole portions. Magnetic flux of the magnetic pole portions passes through the iron core portion along the radial direction. The gaps include a first gap located on the leading end of the magnetic pole portion in the rotation direction of the rotor and a second gap located on the trailing end of the magnetic pole portion in the rotation direction of the rotor. The circumferential width of the first gap is set to be greater than the circumferential width of the second gap.
US08178999B2
Controllable change-over apparatus for a solar module comprises an output terminal, a DC/DC converter, a controllable switching device and a control. The controllable switching device is implemented with a first switch position and a second switch position, wherein, in the first switch position, a power output of the solar module is connected to the output terminal via the DC/DC converter, and, in the second switch position, the power output of the solar module is connected to the output terminal by bypassing the DC/DC converter. The control switches the controllable switching device by using a performance characteristic for switching the same to the first or second switch position. In particular, the control is implemented to connect the solar module directly to its output terminal in the case of high power dissipation of the same, i.e. at strong solar radiation, and to connect the solar module to the output terminal via the DC/DC converter in the case of weak power dissipation of the same, i.e. during shading, which significantly increases the efficiency compared to a fixed connection of the solar module.
US08178996B2
As a result of a path being connected to an input terminal to allow a first intermediate voltage from a power-side regulator or another external source that does not pass through the power-side regulator to be selectively inputted into any supply-side regulator, a supply voltage can be generated based on the inputted voltage. Therefore, as a result of the relevant supply-side regulator being connected to a path by which the other external source is inputted, a supply voltage having a voltage value differing from that when the first intermediate voltage is inputted can be generated. As a result of the voltage inputted into the supply-side regulator being changed, only the voltage value of the supply voltage generated by the supply-side regulator is changed. Therefore, the variation of the voltage value of the supply voltage that can be provided by a power supply unit can be changed.
US08178992B1
Axial flux alternator for a wind turbine arrangement includes at least one magnetic disk including magnets and at least one coil disk including electromagnetic assemblies. One or both disks are mounted to wind turbines such that adjacent disks rotate in opposite directions, or such that the magnets of a magnetic disk move relative to the electromagnetic assemblies of an adjacent coil disk which may move or be stationary, or vice versa. Between adjacent disks, rolling elements on one disk roll, slide or move on or against the surface of the opposite disk in order to fix and maintain air gaps between the magnets on a magnetic disk and magnetic cores of the electromagnetic assemblies on the coil disk, and thus enable continued motion and use of the alternator.
US08178984B2
A device is disclosed which includes a die comprising an integrated circuit and an interposer that is coupled to the die, the interposer having a smaller footprint than that of the die. A method is disclosed which includes operatively coupling an interposer to a die comprising an integrated circuit, the interposer having a smaller footprint than that of the die, and filling a space between the interposer and the die with an underfill material.
US08178978B2
Stacked die assemblies are electrically connected to connection sites on any support, without electrical connection to any interposed substrate or leadframe, and without solder.
US08178969B2
A flip chip package may include a substrate, a semiconductor chip, main bump structures and auxiliary bump structures. The substrate has a circuit pattern. The semiconductor chip is arranged over the substrate. The semiconductor chip includes a body having semiconductor structures, main pads electrically connected to the semiconductor structures to mainly control the semiconductor structures, and auxiliary pads electrically connected to the semiconductor structures to provide auxiliary control of the semiconductor structures. The main bump structures are interposed between the semiconductor chip and the substrate to electrically connect the circuit pattern with the main pads. The auxiliary bump structures can be interposed between the semiconductor chip and the substrate to electrically connect the circuit pattern with the auxiliary pads.
US08178968B2
An electronic component includes: an active surface; a plurality of external connection terminals included in the active surface; a bump electrode disposed to the active surface, the bump electrode including: an internal resin formed on the active surface as a core; and a conductive film on a surface of the internal resin, the internal resin being formed in a nearly half-cylindrical shape having a transverse section of one of a nearly semicircular shape, a nearly semielliptical shape, and a nearly trapezoidal shape and extending orthogonal to the transverse section, the transverse section being orthogonal to the active surface; and a global wiring line disposed on the active surface and connecting between the plurality of external connection terminals, and at least one of the external connection terminals being electrically connected to the conductive film.
US08178965B2
A module includes a semiconductor chip and a conductive layer arranged over the semiconductor chip. The module also includes a spacer structure arranged to deflect the conductive layer away from the semiconductor chip.
US08178964B2
A structure of a semiconductor device package having a substrate with a die receiving through hole, a connecting through hole structure and a contact pad. A die is disposed within the die receiving through hole. A surrounding material is formed under the die and filled in the gap between the die and the sidewall of the die receiving though hole. Dielectric layers are formed on the both side surface of the die and the substrate. Re-distribution layers (RDL) are formed on the dielectric layers and coupled to the contact pads. Protection layers are formed over the RDLs.
US08178961B2
A semiconductor package structure and a package process are provided, wherein a lower surface of a die pad of a leadframe is exposed by an encapsulant so as to improve the heat dissipation efficiency of the semiconductor package structure. In addition, two chips are disposed at the same sides of the leadframe and the end portion of each of leads bonding to the upper chip is encapsulated by the encapsulant such that the scratch on the lead tips in wire bonding and die attach steps can be prevented and thus the wire bondability can be enhanced.
US08178960B2
Provided is a stacked semiconductor package and a method of manufacturing the same. The stacked semiconductor package may include a first semiconductor package, a second semiconductor package, and at least one electrical connection device electrically connecting the first and second semiconductor packages. The first semiconductor package may include a first re-distribution pattern on a first semiconductor chip and a first sealing member on the first substrate, the first sealing member may include at least one first via to expose the first re-distribution pattern. The second semiconductor package may include a second re-distribution pattern on a second semiconductor chip and a second sealing member on a lower side of the second substrate, the second sealing member may include at least one second via to expose the second re-distribution pattern. An electrical connection device may be between the first and second vias to connect the first and the second re-distribution patterns.
US08178953B2
A system on chip comprising a RF shield is disclosed. In one embodiment, the system on chip includes a RF component disposed on a chip, first redistribution lines disposed above the system on chip, the first redistribution lines coupled to I/O connection nodes. The system on chip further includes second redistribution lines disposed above the RF component, the second redistribution lines coupled to ground potential nodes. The second redistribution lines include a first set of parallel metal lines coupled together by a second set of parallel metal lines.
US08178945B2
Structure and method for providing a programmable anti-fuse in a FET structure. A method of forming the programmable anti-fuse includes: providing a p− substrate with an n+ gate stack; implanting an n+ source region and an n+ drain region in the p− substrate; forming a resist mask over the n+ drain region, while leaving the n+ source region exposed; etching the n+ source region to form a recess in the n+ source region; and growing a p+ epitaxial silicon germanium layer in the recess in the n+ source region to form a pn junction that acts as a programmable diode or anti-fuse.
US08178931B2
A method and apparatus for forming connections within a semiconductor device is disclosed. The semiconductor device incorporates a contact bridge between transistor contacts in close proximity. The contact bridge comprises a plurality of metal pillars each having a lower end in electrical contact with first and second transistor elements, respectively; one or more intermediate metal pillars disposed between and in electrical contact with an upper end of the metal pillars; and one or more separation regions of dielectric disposed below the intermediate metal pillar and between the lower ends of the first and second metal pillars.
US08178929B2
A semiconductor device includes an n-type MIS transistor and a p-type MIS transistor. The n-type MIS transistor includes a first gate electrode formed on a first active region and a first sidewall formed on the side face of the first gate electrode. The p-type MIS transistor includes a second gate electrode formed on a second active region, a second sidewall formed on the side face of the second gate electrode and strain layers formed in the second active region. The second sidewall has a smaller thickness than the first sidewall.
US08178920B2
A semiconductor device and a method of forming thereof has a base body has a field stopping layer, a drift layer, a current spreading layer, a body region, and a source contact region layered in the order on a substrate. A trench that reaches the field stopping layer or the substrate is provided. A gate electrode is provided in the upper half section in the trench. In a section deeper than the position of the gate electrode in the trench, an insulator is buried that has a normal value of insulation breakdown electric field strength equal to or greater than the value of the insulation breakdown electric field strength of the semiconductor material of the base body. This inhibits short circuit between a gate and a drain due to insulation breakdown of an insulator film at the bottom of the trench to realize a high breakdown voltage in a semiconductor device using a semiconductor material such as SiC. The sidewall surfaces of the trench located below the gate electrode is inclined to form a trapezoidal profile.
US08178914B2
A method for fabricating a back-illuminated semiconductor imaging device on a semiconductor-on-insulator substrate is disclosed. The substrate includes an insulator layer and an epitaxial layer overlying the insulator layer. A bond pad region is formed extending into the epitaxial layer to a surface of the insulator layer. A bond pad is fabricated partially overlying the bond pad region. At least one imaging component is fabricated partially overlying and extending into the epitaxial layer. A passivation layer is fabricated overlying the epitaxial layer, the bond pad, and the at least one imaging component. A handle wafer is bonded to the passivation layer. A portion of the insulator layer and a portion of the bond pad region is etched to expose a portion of the bond pad.
US08178913B2
A hard mask material film is formed on a semiconductor substrate and a recess is formed immediately below an opening in an upper surface of the semiconductor substrate. Next, a p-type region is formed immediately below the recess by implanting impurities into an imaging region using the hard mask material film as a mask. Moreover, a trench is formed by further processing the recess in a processing region. A half-buried dielectric film and a STI are formed by burying a dielectric material in the recess and the trench to remove the hard mask material film. Next, two electrodes are formed so as to overlap the half-buried dielectric film and the STI, respectively, and impurities are implanted into the imaging region using one electrode and the half-buried dielectric film as a mask, and hence a n-type region constituting a photodiode is formed in a region being in contact with the p-type region in the semiconductor substrate.
US08178911B2
A semiconductor device fabricated in the semiconductor substrate includes a FinFET transistor having opposed source and drain pillars, and a fin interposed between the source and drain pillars. A cavity is formed in the semiconductor substrate extending at least partially between the fin and the semiconductor substrate. The cavity may be formed within a shallow trench isolation structure, and it may also extend at least partially between the semiconductor substrate and one or both of the pillars. The cavities increase the impedance between the semiconductor substrate and the fin and/or pillars to decrease the sub-threshold leakage of the FinFET transistor.
US08178909B2
An improved integrated circuit cell architecture is provided for configurability between a memory cell or logic elements. The cell architecture is configured on variable layers above a first layer of metal, with the first layer of metal and layers therebelow reserved as fixed layers. By coupling a maximum of two layout cells together, a single-port or dual-port memory cell is realized. Likewise, by interconnecting transistors within a single cell or transistors among two or more cells, a logic device is realized. Within each cell, the bit lines are arranged on a layer separate from the wordlines, and extend orthogonal to each other.
US08178905B2
In a layout structure capable of independent supply of a substrate or well potential from a power supply potential, further reduction in layout area is achieved. A reinforcing power supply cell is inserted in a cell line in which a plurality of cells are arranged in series. Each of the cells includes an impurity doped region for supplying a substrate or well potential NWVDD which is different from a positive power supply potential VDD to a p-type transistor arranging region. The reinforcing power supply cell includes a power supply impurity doped region to which an impurity doped region of an adjacent cell is electrically connected and a power supply wire provided in a wiring layer formed above the power supply impurity doped region and electrically connected to the power supply impurity doped region.
US08178904B2
A gate array of a semiconductor substrate on which plural unit cells are arranged in parallel, the unit cells having the same pattern that includes a source potential region VDD, a PMOS, an NMOS and a ground potential region GND. Metal wiring lines being formed, with an insulating layer between, on the unit cells, with contacts that make electrical connection between the metal wiring lines and the unit cell transistors. The gate wiring of a transistor in a non-used unit cell is used in place of a metal wiring line. By doing so, the area of metal wiring lines in a gate array is reduced and the array wiring efficiency is increased.
US08178902B2
A CMOS device with transistors having different gate dielectric materials and a method of manufacture thereof. A CMOS device is formed on a workpiece having a first region and a second region. A first gate dielectric material is deposited over the second region. A first gate material is deposited over the first gate dielectric material. A second gate dielectric material comprising a different material than the first gate dielectric material is deposited over the first region of the workpiece. A second gate material is deposited over the second gate dielectric material. The first gate material, the first gate dielectric material, the second gate material, and the second gate dielectric material are then patterned to form a CMOS device having a symmetric Vt for the PMOS and NMOS FETs.
US08178890B2
A light-emitting diode (LED) package structure including a carrier substrate, at least one LED chip, an optical element and a highly thermal-conductive transparent liquid is provided. The LED chip is disposed on the carrier substrate and has an active layer. The optical element is disposed on the substrate and forms a sealed space with the carrier substrate, and the LED chip is disposed in the sealed space. The highly thermal-conductive transparent liquid fills up the sealed space.
US08178889B2
A semiconductor light emitting element includes a substrate 11 having a defect concentrated region 11a which has a crystal defect density higher than in the other region. On the substrate 11, a semiconductor layer 12 is formed. On the defect concentrated region 11a, a first electrode 13 is formed. On the semiconductor layer 12, a second electrode 14 is formed.
US08178879B2
An array substrate for a display device includes a gate electrode on a substrate; a gate insulating layer on the gate electrode and having the same plane area and the same plane shape as the gate electrode; an active layer on the gate insulating layer and exposing an edge of the gate insulating layer; an interlayer insulating layer on the active layer and including first and second active contact holes, the first and second active contact holes respectively exposing both sides of the active layers; first and second ohmic contact layers contacting the active layer through the first and second active contact holes, respectively; a source electrode on the first ohmic contact layer; a drain electrode on the second ohmic contact layer; a data line on the interlayer insulating layer and connected to the source electrode; a first passivation layer on the source electrode, the drain electrode and the data line, the first passivation layer, the interlayer insulating layer and the gate insulating layer have a first gate contact hole exposing a portion of the gate electrode; a gate line on the first passivation layer and contacting the gate electrode through the first gate contact hole, the gate line crossing the data line; a second passivation layer on the gate line and having a drain contact hole exposing the drain electrode; and a pixel electrode on the second passivation layer and contacting the drain electrode through the contact hole.
US08178877B2
Disclosed are a thin film transistor having high reliability and providing a simplified fabricating process, and a method of fabricating the thin film transistor. In the method, a dielectric substrate is prepared, a semiconductor layer is formed on the dielectric substrate, a gate dielectric film is formed on the semiconductor layer, a first gate electrode is formed on the gate dielectric film, a second gate electrode contacting a side wall of the first gate electrode is formed, and impurities are implanted into the semiconductor layer using the first gate electrode as a mask.
US08178875B2
A nonvolatile memory device includes a plurality of component memory layers stacked on one another. Each of the plurality of component memory layers includes a first wiring, a second wiring provided non-parallel to the first wiring, and a stacked structure unit provided between the first wiring and the second wiring. The stacked structure unit has a memory layer and a rectifying element. The rectifying element has a Schottky junction formed on an interface between an electrode and an oxide semiconductor. The electrode includes a metal and the oxide semiconductor includes a metal.
US08178873B2
Semiconductor devices, methods of making semiconductor devices, and coating compositions that can be used to provide a semiconductor layer within a semiconductor device are described. The coating compositions include a small molecule semiconductor, an insulating polymer, and an organic solvent that can dissolve both the small molecule semiconductor material and the insulating polymer. The small molecule semiconductor is an anthracene-based compound (i.e., anthracene derivative) substituted with two thiophene groups as well as with two silylethynyl groups.
US08178871B2
An organic transistor comprising: at least a gate electrode and a gate insulating layer formed on the gate electrode, the gate insulating layer including, on a surface of the gate electrode, a stacked molecular film composed of a first organic molecular layer binding in a direction substantially perpendicular to the surface of the gate electrode through a first covalent bond and a second organic molecular layer binding to an unreacted end of the first organic molecular layer through a second covalent bond, wherein the second covalent bond and another second covalent bond adjacent to each other form a hydrogen bond in a direction of a surface perpendicular to a major axis direction of the stacked molecule.
US08178869B2
A light-emitting element is disclosed that can drive at a low driving voltage and that has a longer lifetime than the conventional light-emitting element, and a method is disclosed for manufacturing the light-emitting element. The disclosed light-emitting element includes a plurality of layers between a pair of electrodes; and at least one layer among the plurality of layers contains one compound selected from the group consisting of oxide semiconductor and a metal oxide, and a compound having high hole transportation properties. Such the light-emitting element can suppress the crystallization of a layer containing one compound selected from the group consisting of oxide semiconductor and a metal oxide, and a compound having high hole transportation properties. As a result, a lifetime of the light-emitting element can be extended.
US08178868B2
An organic transistor includes a semiconductor section that includes a thin-film laminate in which a first organic thin film and a second organic thin film are alternately stacked. The thin-film laminate includes at least two layers of the first organic thin film. The first organic thin film is a pentacene thin film, and the second organic thin film is an amorphous organic thin film. The pentacene thin film may be a pentacene bilayer thin film, and the amorphous organic thin film may be a tetraaryldiamine thin film. The tetraaryldiamine thin film may be an α-NPD thin film. The organic transistor has improved transistor characteristics (e.g., mobility, ON/OFF ratio, or threshold value control).
US08178867B2
An organic light emitting display includes an insulating substrate having a first area, a second area, and a third area, an organic layer located in the second area, a pixel electrode located on the organic layer in the first area and the second area, and a partition wall including an opening exposing a portion of the pixel electrode. The organic light emitting display further includes an organic light emitting member located in the opening and a common electrode located on the organic light emitting member. The opening is disposed in the first area, and the third area includes a trench separating the second area from an adjacent second area.
US08178866B2
The present invention provides an optoelectronic memory device, the method for manufacturing and evaluating the same. The optoelectronic memory device according to the present invention includes a substrate, an insulation layer, an active layer, source electrode and drain electrode. The substrate includes a gate, and the insulation layer is formed on the substrate. The active layer is formed on the insulation layer, and more particularly, the active layer is formed of a composite material comprising conjugated conductive polymers and quantum dots. Moreover, both of the source and the drain are formed on the insulation layer, and electrically connected to the active layer.
US08178863B2
Lateral collection architecture for a photodetector is achieved by depositing electrically conducting SLS layers onto a planar substrate and diffusing dopants of a carrier type opposite that of the layers through the layers at selected regions to disorder the superlattice and create diode junctions oriented transversely to the naturally enhanced lateral mobility of photogenerated charge carriers within the superlattice. The diode junctions are terminated at a top surface of the photodetector within an SLS layer of wide bandgap material to minimize unwanted currents. A related architecture disorders the superlattice of topmost SLS layers by diffusing therethrough a dopant configured as a grid and penetrating to a lower SLS layer having the same carrier type as the dopant and opposite that of the topmost layers to isolate pixels within the topmost layers. Ohmic contacts may be deposited on doped regions, pixels, and substrate to provide desired external connections.
US08178861B2
A semiconductor device is comprised of a semiconductor substrate, conductive layers stacked above the semiconductor substrate, which is comprised of a conductive polysilicon, and a metal layer provided above the conductive layers. Both ends of the conductive layers have stairsteps respectively. The conductive layers are connected in series by a metal layer which is provided on the stairsteps. The conductive layers connected in series comprise a resistance element.
US08178855B2
For use with an irradiation system including a radiation source operable to produce a radiation beam towards a target, a beam modulator including a flexible, deformable container at least partially filled with a radiation attenuating fluid, a non-deformable first contacting surface in contact with a first portion of the container, the first contacting surface pivotable about a first axis, and a positioner operable to rotate the first contacting surface about the first axis, wherein as the first contacting surface rotates about the first axis, the first contacting surface deforms the container.
US08178850B2
An aberration corrector has two stages of multipole elements each of which has a thickness along the optical axis. Each multipole element produces a static electric or magnetic field of 3-fold symmetry and a static electromagnetic field of 2- or 3-fold symmetry superimposed on the static electric or magnetic field. In each of the multipole elements, the static electromagnetic field is so set that magnetic and electric deflecting forces on an electron beam accelerated by a given accelerating voltage substantially cancel out each other. Thus, chromatic aberration is corrected. Also, spherical aberration is corrected by the static electric or magnetic fields of 3-fold symmetry produced by the multipole elements.
US08178847B2
Raw data (e.g., image data) can be captured and fed into a data processing unit (e.g., a frame grabber), which can process the raw data using data that is retrieved from, for example, the main memory of a computer system instead of from memory onboard the data processing unit. The processed data can then be stored in the main memory or in another memory location.
US08178841B2
Infrared imaging at wavelengths longer than the silicon bandgap energy (>1100 nm) typically require expensive focal plane arrays fabricated from compound semiconductors (InSb or HgCdTe) or use of slower silicon microbolometer technology. Furthermore, these technologies are available in relatively small array sizes, whereas silicon focal plane arrays are easily available with 10 megapixels or more array size. A new technique is disclosed to up convert infrared light to wavelengths detectable by silicon focal plane arrays, or other detector technologies, thereby enabling a low-cost, high pixel count infrared imaging system.
US08178835B2
A technique is disclosed for conducting collision induced dissociation (CID) in a quadrupole ion trap (QIT) having higher order field components. In order to compensate for the shift in the frequency of motion with amplitude of the excited ions arising from the influence of higher-order field components, the amplitude of the RF voltages applied to the QIT is monotonically varied during the excitation period to prolong the condition of resonance, resulting in higher average kinetic energies of the excited ions. Thus, higher fragmentation efficiencies may be obtained, or a targeted level of fragmentation may be achieved in less time relative to conventional CID.
US08178834B2
Methods and apparatus for LC/IMS/MS analysis involve obtaining noisy raw data from a sample, convolving the data with an artifact-reducing filter, and locating, in retention-time, ion mobility, and mass-to-charge-ratio dimensions, one or more ion peaks of the convolved data.
US08178832B1
A re-calibration method for a dual-beam NDIR gas sensor uses a calibration curve based upon a combination of physics and sensor measurement components of the sensor to calculate sample gas concentration, then determines a second gas concentration measurement by a secondary gas standard which is used with a reversed calibration curve algorithm to adjust the sensor measurement component. The calibration curve is based upon a gamma ratio (“G”) that has been normalized by G when no sample gas is present in the sample chamber (“G0”), G being a ratio of a signal channel output (“VS”) of the sensor divided by a reference channel output (“VR”) of the sensor. The concentration (“P”) of sample gas in the sensor is calculated through use of the calibration curve by a gas detection equation of P=F(x)=F(y/G0), where x is a normalized ratio of VS/VR and y is G. The reversed calibration curve algorithm is P=F(x)=F(y/G0N), where G0N=y1/x2, y1=G for the sensor, x2=F−1 (P2) and P2 is the second gas concentration of the sample gas.
US08178822B2
A package for heating a microwave food item is provided.
US08178818B2
A laser processing system includes a beam positioning system to align beam delivery coordinates relative to a workpiece. The beam positioning system generates position data corresponding to the alignment. The system also includes a pulsed laser source and a beamlet generation module to receive a laser pulse from the pulsed laser source. The beamlet generation module generates a beamlet array from the laser pulse. The beamlet array includes a plurality of beamlet pulses. The system further includes a beamlet modulator to selectively modulate the amplitude of each beamlet pulse in the beamlet array, and beamlet delivery optics to focus the modulated beamlet array onto one or more targets at locations on the workpiece corresponding to the position data.
US08178815B2
In a molding die machining electrode, slit grooves of a molding die are machined with a slit groove forming part having a substantially circular outer circumference by arranging hexagonal erected wall parts in a row; while the inner circumference of a slit groove forming part overlaps with the erected wall parts in the outer circumference of the slit groove forming part, the outside slit grooves are machined with the slit groove forming part having a substantially circular outer circumference. The further outside slit grooves are machined with the slit groove forming part of the third electrode. A plurality of the slit groove forming parts are radially divided and overlapping portions between the plurality of the slit groove forming parts are formed substantially coaxially with a molded body. The areas of the slit groove forming parts are designed to nearly similar values, suppressing the difference in wear of the electrodes.
US08178812B2
A vacuum cartridge (1) is manufactured with a dielectric coating (22) made from elastomer directly on the enclosure of the chamber (2) of the cartridge (1). To prevent the elastomer from infiltrating into the chamber (2) of the cartridge and/or its enclosure from breaking, cover-plates (26) performing mechanical protection and dielectric deflection cover the covers (61, 62) of the chamber (2) and their braze (8) with the ceramic tube (4).
US08178793B2
A chassis includes: a flat plate portion including a first major surface and a second major surface facing the first major surface; a protruding portion provided on an outer edge of the flat plate portion and protruding in a direction crossing the first and second major surfaces; and a seal portion provided on the outer edge of the flat plate portion.
US08178786B2
A radiation-proof sheath material includes a polymer material containing molecular chains of ethylene units as a main component in which side chain groups are randomly distributed and cross-linked, an antioxidant, a processing aid, and a flame retardant. The polymer material includes chlorinated polyethylene containing chloro groups in the side chain groups.
US08178784B1
Pins comprising nanorods and attached members are provided. Two exemplary embodiments of pins are such that: the nanorod is partially embedded in the attached member; and one end of the nanorod is attached to the surface of the attached member. In some embodiments, the attached member is an optical handle. The use of the pin in a microscope to probe objects of interest is further provided, and enables a means of acquiring optical and topographical information about an object of interest.
US08178779B2
This disclosure relates to a photovoltaic cell containing first and second electrodes, a photoactive layer between the first and second electrodes, and a hole transport layer between the first electrode and the photoactive layer. The hole transport layer consists of an ionic copolymer.
US08178774B2
An electronic instrument comprising at least one receptacle which is configured to insertably receive interchangeable pickup assemblies and which is positioned relative to at least one suspended and taut vibrating element, and whereby the interchangeable pickup assembly is electrically connected and removably secured to the instrument's body via an electric contact.
US08178759B2
Barley with reduced SSII activity has a starch structure with reduced amylopectin content and a consequent high relative amylose content. Additionally the grain can have a relatively high β glucan content. The structure of the starch may also be altered in a number of ways which can be characterized by having a low gelatinzation temperature but with reduced swelling. The viscosity of gelatinized starch of the starch is also reduced. There is a chain length distribution of the amylopectin content and a low crystallinity of the starch. The starch is also characterized by having high levels of lipid associated starch exhibiting very high levels of V form starch crystallinity. The dietary fiber content of the starch is high. This has desirable dietary and food processing characteristics.
US08178745B2
The invention relates to a medical plaster which is able to supply damaged skin and open wounds with an active compound which helps to accelerate wound healing and allows it to proceed better. The plaster has novel design features which enable, in particular, protein- or peptide-containing medicaments, such as, for example, erythropoietin (EPO), to exert their wound-healing or wound-healing-promoting action by release of the active compound from the plaster without being significantly deactivated or metabolized in the process by substances occurring in the wound secretion.
US08178742B2
Method for in situ reclamation of an area contaminated by organic compounds, comprising: introducing at least one chelating agent into said area; allowing said chelating agent to diffuse through said area; introducing at least one stabilizing agent; introducing an aqueous solution comprising at least one peroxide.
US08178738B2
Methods and systems for extending the life of a dehydrogenation catalyst are described herein. For example, one embodiment includes providing an alkyl aromatic hydrocarbon feed stream to a reaction chamber, contacting the feed stream with a dehydrogenation catalyst to form a vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon, the dehydrogenation catalyst including iron oxide and an alkali metal catalysis promoter and supplying a catalyst life extender to at least one reaction chamber, the reaction chamber loaded with the dehydrogenation catalyst, wherein the catalyst life extender includes a potassium salt of a carboxylic acid.
US08178734B2
Provided are processes for producing ethylene glycol from oxalate(s), wherein two or more reaction zones in series are used, and oxalate feedstock is fed stagewise, or hydrogen feedstock and optionally a solvent are fed stagewise. The present processes achieve higher selectivity for the product and improved stability of catalysts.
US08178715B2
This invention provides an integrated multistep economical process for the production of vinyl acetate monomer (VAM) from acetic acid in the vapor phase. First, acetic acid is selectively hydrogenated over a hydrogenating catalyst composition to form acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde so formed can be converted to ethylidene diacetate via reaction with acetic anhydride. In a subsequent step so formed ethylidene diacetate is thermally decomposed to form VAM and acetic acid. Alternatively, acetaldehyde formed in the first step can selectively be reacted with ketene to form VAM. In an embodiment of this invention reaction of acetic acid and hydrogen over platinum and iron supported on silica selectively produces acetaldehyde in a vapor phase at a temperature of about 300° C., which is selectively hydrogenated over platinum supported catalyst to form ethanol and dehydrated over NAFION catalyst to form ethylene at a temperature of about 185° C., which is mixed with molecular oxygen, acetic acid and reacted over a palladium/gold/potassium catalyst supported on titania to form VAM at a temperature of about 150° C. to 170° C.
US08178712B2
The present invention relates to an improved process for the synthesis of Ibandronate sodium of formula (I). The present invention also provides novel processes for the synthesis of 3-[N-(methylpentyl)amino]propionic acid (III).
US08178704B2
The present invention relates to inositol phosphate derivatives, in which the inositol phosphate is substituted with one or two reactive groups G or one or two conjugated substances or molecules M, said reactive group(s) G or said substance(s) or molecule(s) M being linked to IP1 via a linkage group L, M being chosen from the following group: a tracer, an immunogen, a member of a binding partner pair, a solid support.Application: tools allowing the study of the inositol phosphate cycle and therefore, indirectly, the study of seven transmembrane domain receptors coupled to phospholipase C, receptors having a tyrosine kinase activity, and in general enzymes involved in the variations of the intracellular concentration of IP1.
US08178700B2
A method of preparing a cyclic monomer, comprising: forming a first mixture comprising a precursor compound, bis(pentafluorophenyl) carbonate, and a catalyst; wherein the precursor compound has a structure comprising a) two or more carbons, and b) two functional groups selected from the group consisting of primary amine, secondary amine, thiol group, hydroxyl group, and combinations thereof; and agitating the first mixture at a temperature effective to form a second mixture comprising the cyclic monomer, the cyclic monomer selected from the group consisting of a cyclic carbonate, a cyclic carbamate, a cyclic urea, a cyclic thiocarbonate, a cyclic thiocarbamate, and a cyclic dithiocarbonate.
US08178680B2
An improved process for the preparation of Montelukast and its pharmaceutically acceptable salts comprises of reacting (S) Benzenepropanol α-[3-[2-(7-chloro2-quinolinyl)ethenyl]phenyl]-2-(1-hydroxy-1-methyl ethyl)-α-methane sulfonate compound of formula (II) with 1-(mercapto methyl)cyclo propane acetic acid or its ester or nitrile in presence of alkali or alkaline carbonates and/or alkali or alkaline earth metal alkoxide in a suitable polar aprotic solvent with or without combination of C1-C4 alcoholic solvents and then treating with organic amine in a suitable ester and/or acetone and/or aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon solvents, and converting the corresponding amine salt compound of montelukast into its sodium salt compound of formula (I) using sodium ion source in methanol, without converting into montelukast free acid.
US08178673B2
The present invention is directed to phosphonic acid compounds useful as serine protease inhibitors, compositions thereof and methods for treating inflammatory and serine protease mediated disorders.
US08178672B2
An efficient route for the synthesis is of formula (I) of imidazooxazole and imidazothiazole inhibitors of the p38 MAP kinase pathway, useful as therapeutics for disease conditions including inflammation and auto-immune responses is described.
US08178664B2
A method of preparing metal mesoporphyrin halide compounds is described. The metal mesoporphyrin halide compound may be formed by forming a novel mesoporphyrin IX intermediate compound and then converting the mesoporphyrin IX intermediate to the metal mesoporphyrin halide through metal insertion. The novel intermediate compound may be formed by a catalytic hydrogenation of hemin in acid and subsequent recovery.
US08178660B2
Nucleic acid molecules that encode IL-15 or fragments thereof, which express protein at a higher level than nucleic acid molecules with native coding sequences for IL-15 are disclosed. Nucleic acid molecules with additional modifications such as the absence of coding sequences for IL-15 signal sequences and/or the absence of IL-15 untranslated sequences and/or inclusion of non-IL-15 signal sequences are also disclosed. Vectors, including plasmids and viral vectors, comprising such nucleic acid molecules; and to host cells comprising such nucleic acid molecules are disclosed as well as methods of using such nucleic acid molecules alone or in combination with nucleic acid sequences encoding immunogens which are part of the nucleic acid molecules and/or part of a different nucleic acid molecule. Recombinant vaccines and live attenuated pathogens encoding fusion proteins, and methods of using the same, are disclosed.
US08178654B2
Briefly described, embodiments of this disclosure include estrogen receptor (ER) intramolecular folding systems, methods of detecting ER ligands and distinguishing between ER agonists and antagonists, cells including ER intramolecular folding systems, transgenic animals including ER intramolecular folding systems, fusion proteins, and the like.
US08178650B2
The present application relates to cyclic depsipeptides, or derivatives thereof, having the structure of formula (I), and uses thereof, e.g. as inhibitors of kallikrein 7 and human neutrophil elastase.
US08178647B2
Copolyester ether elastomer compositions and methods for preparing copolyester ether elastomer compositions. Such compositions can comprise a copolyester ether, a thermoplastic elastomer, and a compatibilizer resin. Improved properties of such compositions can be useful in making various articles of manufacture, such as, for example, laboratory and medical application tubing.
US08178640B2
An extrudable polyvinyl chloride composition comprising from 80 to 99.9 percent by weight polyvinyl chloride for use in extruding a first part and a second part, wherein a fusion joint between the first extruded part and the second extruded part is formed by: A) composition at least a portion of a first terminal edge of the first extruded part and a first terminal edge of the second extruded part; B) engaging the melted terminal edges; and C) maintaining pressure between the engaged terminal edges to create a fused joint having a strength that is at least 50% of the tensile strength of the extruded part as measured by ASTM D638-2a. The extruded parts can be pipe sections.
US08178631B2
Disclosed is a resin composition comprising a benzoxazole resin precursor having a first repeating unit obtained by reacting a bisaminophenol compound and a dicarboxylic acid compound, and a cross-linking agent wherein at least one of the bisaminophenol compound and the dicarboxylic acid compound has a diamondoid structure. The benzoxazole resin precursor further comprises a second repeating unit obtained by reacting a bisaminophenol compound not having a diamondoid structure and a dicarboxylic acid compound not having a diamondoid structure. Also disclosed is a resin film comprising the resin composition.
US08178626B2
The method for producing a modified conjugated diene based (co)polymer, according to the present invention comprises a step of reacting a conjugated diene based (co)polymer with a metal halide compound to obtain a modified conjugated diene based (co)polymer, the conjugated diene based (co)polymer having a weight-average molecular weight of 150,000 to 2,000,000 and being obtained by bonding, to a polymer having at least a conjugated diene unit, an alkoxysilyl group and an optionally protected primary amino group. The method can satisfactorily produce a conjugated diene based (co)polymer which has a high Mooney viscosity, excellent shape stability and good processability.
US08178619B2
The present invention provides a (meth)acrylic polymer containing 15 to 65 parts by weight of a polymer (A) having a specific viscosity of 0.90 to 2.00 and containing 70 to 100 weight percent of methyl methacrylate, 0 to 30 weight percent of a (meth)acrylic ester other than methyl methacrylate, and 0 to 10 weight percent of another monomer copolymerizable with these; 20 to 75 parts by weight of a polymer (B) having a specific viscosity of 0.40 or more and less than 0.90 and containing 70 to 100 weight percent of methyl methacrylate, 0 to 30 weight percent of a (meth)acrylic ester other than methyl methacrylate, and 0 to 10 weight percent of another monomer copolymerizable with these; and 1 to 30 parts by weight of a polymer (C) having a specific viscosity of 0.80 to 2.00 and containing 0 to 60 weight percent of methyl methacrylate, 40 to 100 weight percent of a (meth)acrylic ester other than methyl methacrylate, and 0 to 20 weight percent of another monomer copolymerizable with these (the total of the polymer (A), the polymer (B), and the polymer (C) is 100 parts by weight).
US08178616B2
An emulsion coating agent composition containing: (A) one hundred parts by weight of an organosilicone resin obtained by hydrolysis and/or condensation of a mixture of a silicone oil having both reactive terminals represented by X—[R2Si—O—]m—R2Si—X (R is selected from monovalent hydrocarbon groups containing one to twenty carbon atoms and/or aryl groups, and each R is same or different groups, X is a hydrolyzable group and/or an OH group, and m is a natural number from three to one hundred), a silane and/or a silicone in which the organosilicone resin containing a continuous linear chain structure indicated by —[R2Si—O—]m+1— (R and m are both identical to the R and m in the formula showing the silicone oil with both reactive terminals), and 5 mole % to 60 mole % of the total Si atoms in the organosilicone resin form the chain-like continuous structure; (B) one part by weight to fifty parts by weight of an emulsifier; and (C) twenty-five parts by weight to two thousand parts by weight of water.
US08178615B2
The present invention is directed toward a method for making a polymer that has nanostructures incorporated into the matrix of the polymer. The method of the invention involves the following steps: mixing a precursor solution for the polymer with a precursor for the nanostructures to form a mixture; forming nanostructures in the mixture from the precursor of the nanostructures; and forming a polymer from the precursor solution of the polymer so that the nanostructures are incorporated into the polymer matrix.
US08178609B2
A method of treatment of mucopolysaccharidosis, the method including administering to a patient in the need of such treatment-a therapeutically effective amount of a natural isoflavone of formula (I), a derivative thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. A pharmaceutical composition including a pharmaceutically acceptable excipient; and a natural isoflavone of formula (I), a derivative thereof, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, the natural isoflavone, the derivative thereof, or the pharmaceutically acceptable salt threof being in a therapeutically effective amount for the treatment of mucopolysaccharidosis.
US08178605B2
Tire tread comprising a rubber composition, the said composition comprising at least one diene elastomer, one reinforcing filler and one plasticizing system, characterized in that the said plasticizing system comprises, in combination: a plasticizing hydrocarbon resin, the glass transition temperature of which is greater than 0° C.; and a carboxylic acid diester corresponding to the formula (I): R—OOC—(CH2)n—COO—R in which n is included within a range from 1 to 15 and the R radicals, which are identical or different, represent a hydrocarbon radical. The invention also relates to the use of such a tread in the manufacture or the retreading of tires exhibiting a substantially improved compromise in properties with regard to the wear resistance and the wet grip.
US08178604B2
The invention describes solid materials, especially for dental purposes like, e.g., composite milling blocks (CMBs), which can be obtained by ring-opening metathesis polymerization (ROMP). Also described is a method for obtaining such milling blocks, their use and applications of the compositions.
US08178601B2
A polymer film includes: a wavelength dispersion regulator represented by formula (I): wherein R1 and R2 each independently represents a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group or an aryl group, provided that both R1 and R2 are not hydrogen atoms at the same time; and R3 and R4 each independently represents an electron-withdrawing substituent, and R1 and R2, or R3 and R4 may be bonded together to form a ring, and wherein the polymer film has a retardation value that satisfies the following formulae (1) and (2): 70 nm≦Rth(548)≦300 nm Formula (1) Rth(628)
US08178599B2
The object of the present invention is to provide an epoxy resin composition which is excellent in flash characteristics and thermal conductivity, and gives an area mounting type semiconductor apparatus having little warpage and excellent temperature cycle properties. According to the present invention, there is provided an epoxy resin composition for semiconductor encapsulation which comprises, as essential components, (A) a spherical alumina, (B) an ultrafine silica having a specific surface area of 120-280 m2/g, (C) a silicone compound, (D) an epoxy resin, (E) a phenolic resin as a curing agent, and (F) a curing accelerator, in which said ultrafine silica is contained in an amount of 0.2-0.8% by weight based on the total weight of the resin composition, and said silicone compound is a polyorganosiloxane and is contained in an amount of 0.3-2.0% by weight based on the total weight of the resin composition.
US08178596B2
The PAM delivery product is a solid form of polyacrylamide polymer (PAM). Among other things, the PAM delivery product can be used to prevent ruts formed during center-pivot irrigation, prevent erosion of irrigation ditches, clarify wastewater, and assist seed germination and seedling establishment. The PAM delivery product includes pure PAM and water to create a solid “loaf.” Water-soluble calcium (Ca) can also be added to the PAM delivery product depending on the specific application for the PAM delivery product. When Ca is used in the PAM delivery product, it is present in a 9:1 ratio to the PAM There are no fixing agents needed in the PAM delivery product; it is pure active ingredient.
US08178591B2
Microcellular polyurethane flexible foams having densities no greater than 0.3 g/cc which are suitable for use as lightweight shoe sole components are produced with carbon dioxide in an amount such that the polyurethane-forming mixture has a free rise density of from about 0.03 to about 0.3 g/cc. At least a portion of that carbon dioxide is dissolved as a gas into one or both of the reaction components. The amount of dissolved carbon dioxide must be such that the froth density of the isocyanate and/or isocyanate-reactive component(s) in which the carbon dioxide is dissolved will be from about 0.1 to about 0.8 g/cc. Additional carbon dioxide may be formed by the reaction of water and isocyanate during the polyurethane-forming reaction but the total amount of CO2 present should be controlled to ensure that the polyurethane-forming mixture has a free rise density of from about 0.03 to 0.3 g/cc. Use of a preferred isocyanate-reactive component in which a specified ratio of diol to triol is satisfied makes it possible to use more water than had been expected. Use of a preferred prepolymer makes it possible to produce microcellular polyurethanes having good physical properties solely with a diol. The product microcellular foams possess a uniform cell structure and enhanced physical properties as compared to all water-blown foams of the same basic formulation and density. The hardness of the foams is more suitable for shoe sole, particularly midsole applications, than that of the water-blown foams, despite the lower urea hard segment content of the CO2 blown foams.
US08178585B2
Methods for preparing high quality and high yields of nanocrystals, i.e., metal-oxide-based nanocrystals, using a novel solvent-free method. The nanocrystals advantageously comprise organic alkyl chain capping groups and are stable in air and in nonpolar solvents.
US08178582B2
The present invention is directed to the provision of pharmaceutical compositions. The compositions include a therapeutic agent and a relatively low amount of surfactant for providing higher bioavailability of the therapeutic agent. The compositions are particularly desirable as ophthalmic compositions in which the therapeutic agent is a prostaglandin such as travoprost and the surfactant is a vegetable oil such as castor oil.
US08178581B2
A process is provided for producing peroxycarboxylic acids from carboxylic acid esters. More specifically, carboxylic acid esters are reacted with an inorganic peroxide, such as hydrogen peroxide, in the presence of an enzyme catalyst having perhydrolysis activity. The present perhydrolase catalysts are classified as members of the carbohydrate esterase family 7 (CE-7) based on the conserved structural features. Further, disinfectant formulations comprising the peracids produced by the processes described herein are provided.
US08178577B2
The present invention relates to certain tricyclic derivatives which are capable of inhibiting histone deacetylases. The compounds of this invention are therefore useful in treating diseases associated with abnormal histone deacetylase activities. Pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds, methods of treating diseases utilizing pharmaceutical compositions comprising these compounds, and methods of preparing these compounds are also disclosed.
US08178576B2
Solid or semi-solid intraocular implant compositions are disclosed. The compositions contain a lipophilic compound but lack a polymeric ingredient.
US08178575B2
Derivatives of azabicyclo octane presented by formula (I), the method of making them, and the compositions containing the same and the uses thereof as inhibitors of dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV), wherein the substitutes in formula (I) have the same meanings as what is mentioned in the descriptions.
US08178569B2
The invention provides the crystalline imidazole-5-carboxylic acid derivative (I, the chemical name: 2-butyl-4-chloro-1-[2′-(1H-tetrazol-5-yl) 1,1′-biphenyl-methyl]-imidazole-5-carboxylic acid, 1-[(isopropoxy)-carbonyloxy]methyl ester), its preparation method and uses thereof.
US08178560B2
A compound of formula: where Ar1, Ar2, X, R3, and m are as disclosed herein or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof (a “Cycloheteroalkenyl Compound”); compositions comprising an effective amount of a Cycloheteroalkenyl Compound; and methods for treating or preventing pain, UI, an ulcer, IBD, IBS, an addictive disorder, Parkinson's disease, parkinsonism, anxiety, epilepsy, stroke, a seizure, a pruritic condition, psychosis, a cognitive disorder, a memory deficit, restricted brain function, Huntington's chorea, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, dementia, retinopathy, a muscle spasm, a migraine, vomiting, dyskinesia, or depression in an animal comprising administering to an animal in need thereof an effective amount of a Cycloheteroalkenyl Compound are disclosed herein.
US08178558B2
This invention relates to novel substituted pyridylmethyl bicyclocarboxamide compounds and to their use in therapy. These compounds are particularly useful as modulators of the VR1 (Type I Vanilloid) receptor, and are thus useful for the treatment of pain, neuralgia, neuropathies, nerve injury, burns, migraine, carpal tunnel syndrome, fibromyalgia, neuritis, sciatica, pelvic hypersensitivity, bladder disease, inflammation, or the like in mammals, especially humans.
US08178554B2
The invention relates to new heterocyclic compounds of general formula (I), and their salts with a base or an acid: The invention also relates to a process for the preparation of these compounds as well as their use as medicaments, in particular as anti-bacterial agents.
US08178547B2
Compounds having the formula I wherein A, R1, R2, R3, R4a, R4b, R4c, R5, R6, R7a, R7b, Ar1, Rc, Rd, Re, Rf, X, n and p are as defined herein are Hepatitis C virus NS5b polymerase inhibitors. Also disclosed are compositions and methods for treating an HCV infection and inhibiting HCV replication.
US08178539B2
Substituted 3,4,6,7-tetrahydro-5H-1,2a,4a,8-tetraazacyclopenta[cd]phenalene-9-amines, pharmaceutical compositions containing the compounds or salts thereof, intermediates, methods of making the compounds or salts thereof, and methods of use of these compounds or salts thereof or pharmaceutical compositions as immunomodulators, for inducing cytokine biosynthesis in animals and in the treatment of diseases including viral and neoplastic diseases, are disclosed.
US08178534B2
Compounds of the following formula are provided for use with cMET: wherein the variables are as defined herein. Also provided are pharmaceutical compositions, kits and articles of manufacture comprising such compounds; methods and intermediates useful for making the compounds; and methods of using the compounds.
US08178527B2
Disclosed are nordihydroguaiaretic acid derivative compounds including various end groups bonded by a carbon atom or heteroatom though a side chain bonded to the respective hydroxy residue O groups by an ether bond or a carbamate bond, pharmaceutical compositions, methods of making them, and methods of using them and kits including them for the treatment of diseases and disorders, in particular, diseases resulting from or associated with a virus infection, such as HIV infection, HPV infection, or HSV infection, an inflammatory disease, such as various types of arthritis and inflammatory bowel diseases, a metabolic disease, such as diabetes, a vascular disease, such as hypertension and macular degeneration, or a proliferative disease, such as diverse types of cancers.
US08178520B2
The present invention relates to macrocyclic compounds of formula (I): wherein W, n, R1, Ra, Rb, R3, R4, M, Z, ring A and ring B are defined herein, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, pharmaceutical compositions comprising them, and their use for the treatment or prevention of infection by hepatitis C virus.
US08178513B2
Disclosed are compounds of the formula I or a stereoisomer, tautomer, or pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate thereof, wherein W, U, X, R1, R2, R3, and R4 are as defined herein, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising the compounds of formula I. Also disclosed are methods of using such compounds to inhibit aspartyl protease and to treat a variety of disease or disorders, including cardiovascular diseases, cognitive and neurodegenerative diseases. Also disclosed are methods of treating cognitive or neurodegenerative diseases using the compounds of formula I in combination with a cholinesterase inhibitor or a muscarinic antagonist
US08178486B2
A method is provided of promoting hair growth in a subject includes applying to the skin of the subject a composition including lactoferrin in an amount effective for at least one of proliferating and activating hair follicles in the hypodermis of skin of the subject.
US08178481B2
A clear cleansing composition that also provides excellent moisturization is described. The composition comprises about 0.05 to about 30 weight percent anionic surfactant, an additional surfactant selected from about 0.5 to about 20 weight percent amphoteric surfactant, about 0.1 to about 20 weight percent nonionic surfactant, or both, and about 0.1 to about 50 weight percent humectant. Advantageously, the composition is also mild.
US08178480B2
A lubricant for magnetic disks which can form a lubricating layer having a reduced thickness while attaining a high coverage and is excellent in heat resistance and adhesion to a protective layer. The lubricant for magnetic disks comprises a perfluoropolyether compound in which the relationship between the number-average molecular weight and the standardized value of the number of hydroxy groups contained in the molecule satisfies the following: the number-average molecular weight is in the range of 1,000-6,000; the standardized value of the number of hydroxy groups contained in the molecule is 180 or higher; and the compound is in a region located below the line connecting the point where the number-average molecular weight is 1,000 and the standardized value of the number of hydroxy groups in the molecule is 400 to the point where the number-average molecular weight is 6,000 and the standardized value of the number of hydroxy groups in the molecule is 1,600. The compound has at least one hydroxy group around the center of the molecular chain.
US08178475B2
A wellbore fluid that includes an oleaginous continuous phase; a non-oleaginous phase; and a polymeric additive formed by mixing at least one lipophilic monomer and at least one crosslinking agent, wherein the at least one lipophilic monomer is at least one of an epoxide-functionalized derivative of at least one selected from soybean oil, linseed oil, rapeseed oil, cashew nut shell oil; perilla oil, tung oil, oiticia oil, safflower oil, poppy oil, hemp oil, cottonseed oil, sunflower oil, high-oleic triglycerides, triglycerides of euphorbia plants, peanut oil, olive oil, olive kernel oil, almond oil, kapok oil, hazelnut oil, apricot kernel oil, beechnut oil, lupine oil, maize oil, sesame oil, grapeseed oil, lallemantia oil, castor oil, herring oil, sardine oil, menhaden oil, whale oil, tall oil, and synthetic aliphatic or aromatic ethers, and the at least one crosslinking agent includes at least one selected from amines, alcohols, phenols, thiols, carbanions, carboxylates, and mixtures thereof is disclosed.
US08178474B1
The invention relates to a functionalised solid support for the synthesis of compounds comprising at least one α-oxoaldehyde function, to a process for preparing it and to its applications, in particular for the preparation of a library of organic compounds, of a diagnostic reagent, of a microtitration plate and of a biochip, such as a DNA chip. The present invention also relates to a process for the synthesis of organic compounds comprising at least one α-oxoaldehyde function and to the α-oxoaldehyde peptides obtained using this process.
US08178472B2
The present invention provides a superconducting device including a substrate, a first superconducting pattern formed on the substrate, an insulating pattern formed on the first superconducting pattern, and a second superconducting pattern formed at the uppermost level in the multilayered superconducting pattern. A barrier layer of a Josephson junction is formed on the lower side of, or within the second superconducting pattern. The second superconducting pattern constitutes a circuit element on the insulating pattern.
US08178470B2
Herein are disclosed adducts of amines and polycarboxylic acids, and methods of making such adducts. Such adducts can be used to remove cyanogen chloride. Also disclosed are methods of providing such adducts on supports to form filter media. Also disclosed are methods of combining such filter media with catalysts and/or with porous polymeric webs to form filter systems.
US08178465B2
The disclosure provides for a process and polymerization system to produce isoolefin polymers (72) utilizing polymorphogenates (16, 26) in the catalyst system to control polydispersity (MWD). The disclosure also provides a catalyst system (20) comprising a plurality of active catalyst complex species (34) formed by combination of a Lewis acid (24), an initiator (22) and a polymorphogenate (26), as well as polymers made using the catalyst system or process. The polymorphogenate (16, 26) can promote or mimic the formation of different active catalyst complex species (34) having different polymerization rates, i.e. different rates of propagation, chain transfer, or termination, as observed by different polydispersities resulting from the presence of relatively different proportions of the polymorphogenate.
US08178454B2
An optical glass includes a substance A generating light of a wavelength λ2 when irradiated with light of a wavelength λ1 and a substance B generating light of a wavelength λ3 when irradiated with light of the wavelength λ1 in the case where the optical glass includes 5-50 ppm Fe with respect to a 100% basic glass composition containing at least, 2-10% SiO2, 5-45% B2O3, and 30-60% La2O3, by weight, or the relation of the wavelength λ1, the wavelength λ2, and the wavelength λ3 is assumed to be λ1<λ2<λ3 with respect to a 100% basic glass composition containing; at least, 2-10% SiO2, 5-45% B2O3, 30-60% La2O3, 0-15% RO (R=Zn, Sr, Ba), 0-40% Ln2O3 (Ln=Y, Gd), and 0-30% total of ZrO2+Nb2O5+Ta2O5, by weight.
US08178452B2
An optical glass having a refractive index (nd) within a range from 1.825 to 1.870, an Abbe number (νd) within a range from 22 to less than 27, a transformation temperature (Tg) within a range from 530° C. to 585° C. and an mean coefficient of linear thermal expansion (α) within a range from 80×10−7° C.−1 to 103×10−7° C.−1, comprising SiO2, TiO2, Nb2O5 and Li2O and being substantially free of a Pb compound.
US08178438B2
Silicide films with high quality are formed with treatment of laser light irradiation, so that miniaturization and higher performance is achieved in a field-effect transistor that is formed over an insulating substrate and has little variation in electric characteristics. An island-shaped semiconductor film including a pair of impurity regions and a channel formation region is formed over an insulating substrate, a first metal film is formed on the pair of impurity regions, and a second metal film that functions as a reflective film is formed over a gate electrode located over the channel formation region with a gate insulating film interposed therebetween. The first metal film is irradiated with laser light and a region where the second metal film is formed reflects the laser light, so that the island-shaped semiconductor film and the first metal film selectively react with each other in the pair of impurity regions.
US08178429B1
Fabrication of a semiconductor structure is achieved by using a Dip Pen Nanolithography (DPN) tip to apply a metal catalyst to a prepared substrate. The catalyst is applied in a predetermined pattern, and crystal growth is established at the catalyst site.
US08178422B2
Provided is a method of fabricating a semiconductor device. The method includes providing a device substrate having a front side and a back side, the device substrate having a first refractive index, forming an embedded target over the front side of the device substrate, forming a reflective layer over the embedded target, forming a media layer over the back side of the device substrate, the media layer having a second refractive index less than the first refractive index, and projecting radiation through the media layer and the device substrate from the back side so that the embedded target is detected for a semiconductor process.
US08178417B2
A method of forming shallow trench isolation (STI) structures using a multi-step etch process is disclosed. The first etch step is performed by selectively etching the substrate at a substantially higher etching rate than the mask layer to form preliminary openings having steep taper angles. The second etch step is performed by non-selectively etching the substrate to deepen the preliminary openings to form STI gaps with substantially flat bottoms.
US08178412B2
A plurality of memory cells each constituted of a memory cell transistor having a gate electrode in a laminated structure composed of a charge storage layer and a control gate layer and a select transistor having source/drain diffusion layers while one of the source/drain diffusion layers is shared by the memory cell transistor are arranged in and on a semiconductor substrate. The impurity concentration of the source/drain diffusion layer shared by the memory cell transistor and the select transistor in each of the plurality of memory cells is set lower than the impurity concentration of the other source/drain diffusion layers in each of the memory cells.
US08178409B2
The invention is related to a semiconductor device with alternately arranged P-type and N-type thin semiconductor layers and method for manufacturing the same. For P-type device, the method includes trench formation, thermal oxide formation on trench sidewalls, N-type silicon formation in trenches, N-type impurity diffusion through thermal oxide into P-type epitaxial layer, oxidation of N-type silicon in trenches and oxide removal. In the semiconductor device, N-type thin semiconductor layers are formed by N-type impurity diffusion through oxide to P-type epitaxial layers, and trenches are filled with oxide. With this method, relatively low concentration impurity in high voltage device can be realized by current mass production process, and the device development cost and manufacturing cost are decreased.
US08178407B2
A memory array comprising vertical memory cells does not require any isolation layers between cells. Thus, a very compact, high density memory array can be achieved. Each memory cell in the memory array is configured to store 4 bits of data per cell. Multi-level charge techniques can be used to increase the number of bit per cell and achieve further increased density for the memory array.
US08178393B2
A semiconductor chip, semiconductor package including the same, and a method of manufacturing the semiconductor chip and semiconductor package to block up electrical contacts between bonding wires and the semiconductor chip by providing insulation over the edge of the semiconductor chip.
US08178391B2
A method for packaging a plurality of semiconductor devices formed in a surface portion of a semiconductor wafer. The method includes: lithographically forming, in a first lithographically processable material disposed on the surface portion of the semiconductor wafer, device exposing openings to expose the devices and electrical contact pad openings to expose electrical contact pads for devices; and mounting a support having a rigid dielectric layer formed on a selected portion of the support, such rigid dielectric layer comprising a second lithographically processable material, such rigid material being suspended over the device exposing openings and removed from portions of the support disposed over the electrical contacts pads openings in the first lithographically processable material. The support is released and removed from the second lithographically processable material, leaving the second photolithographically processable material bonded to the first photolithographically processable material.
US08178387B2
A method for reducing recrystallization time for a phase change material of a memory cell element in conjunction with the manufacture of a memory cell device can be carried out as follows. A phase change material, a buffer layer material and a cladding layer material are selected. The buffer layer material is deposited on the substrate, the phase change material is deposited on the buffer layer, and the cladding layer material is deposited on the phase change material to form a memory cell element. The thickness of the phase change material is preferably less than 30 nm and more preferably less than 10 nm. The recrystallization time of the phase change material of the memory cell element is determined. If the recrystallization time is not less than a length of time X, these steps are repeated while changing at least one of the selected materials and material thicknesses.
US08178386B2
An array of phase change memory cells is manufactured by forming a separation layer over an array of contacts, forming a patterning layer on the separation layer and forming an array of mask openings in the patterning layer using lithographic process. Etch masks are formed within the mask openings by a process that compensates for variation in the size of the mask openings that result from the lithographic process. The etch masks are used to etch through the separation layer to define an array of electrode openings exposing the underlying contacts. Electrode material is deposited within the electrode openings; and memory elements are formed over the bottom electrodes. Finally, bit lines are formed over the memory elements to complete the memory cells. In the resulting memory array, the critical dimension of the top surface of bottom electrode varies less than the width of the memory elements in the mask openings.
US08178382B2
A vertical stack of a first silicon germanium alloy layer, a second epitaxial silicon layer, a second silicon germanium layer, and a germanium layer are formed epitaxially on a top surface of a first epitaxial silicon layer. The second epitaxial silicon layer, the second silicon germanium layer, and the germanium layer are patterned and encapsulated by a dielectric cap portion, a dielectric spacer, and the first silicon germanium layer. The silicon germanium layer is removed between the first and second silicon layers to form a silicon germanium mesa structure that structurally support an overhanging structure comprising a stack of a silicon portion, a silicon germanium alloy portion, a germanium photodetector, and a dielectric cap portion. The germanium photodetector is suspended by the silicon germanium mesa structure and does not abut a silicon waveguide. Germanium diffusion into the silicon waveguide and defect density in the germanium detector are minimized.
US08178371B2
A method for assembling an optically pumped solid-state laser having an extended cavity. The method includes the steps of providing a casing, mounting a TEC and a base plate in the casing, and mounting a plurality of laser components on the base plate using a UV and heat curing adhesive. Once the laser components are correctly positioned and aligned on the base plate, the adhesive is pre-cured using UV radiation. Final curing of the adhesive is obtained by subjecting the entire laser package to an ambient temperature of at least 100° C. The base plate is preferably selected to have a CTE similar to that of the laser components in order to facilitate the high temperature curing. A preferred material for the base plate is AlSiC.
US08178364B2
A method of performing a wafer level burn-in test for a plurality of surface-emitting laser devices formed on a wafer includes causing a plurality of contact electrodes arranged in a same plane with a pitch same as that of the surface-emitting laser devices being electrically connected to each other to have contact with pad electrodes of the surface-emitting laser devices, respectively, and applying a current to second electrodes of the surface-emitting laser devices and the contact electrodes. The wafer level burn-in test is performed while heating the wafer at a predetermined temperature. Laser lights emitted from the surface-emitting laser devices are monitored during the wafer level burn-in test.
US08178360B2
Novel rhodamine dye compounds, labelled conjugates comprising the dyes are described, together with methods for their use. The dyes and labelled conjugates are useful as molecular probes in a variety of applications, such as in assays involving staining of cells, protein binding, and analysis of nucleic acids, such as hybridization assays and nucleic acid sequencing.
US08178356B2
Naturally present chloride concentration in natural water is utilized for the development of the technique to gauge the performance of percolation tanks in space and time. The chloride mass balance technique is simple, sensitive, reliable and yet powerful enough to resolve the temporal variation due to the effect of silting or climate factors. The percolation efficiency data of percolation tanks can aid in the formulation of guidelines for selection of suitable sites for future tanks with greater efficiency. Otherwise unscientific construction of percolation tanks in sites that yield poor percolation efficiency is uneconomical, and the very purpose of their construction will be forfeited. Thus the technique developed using chloride mass balance in tank water for evaluation of tank performance is highly economy oriented.
US08178355B2
The present invention relates to the field of detection of components in gas phase, and in particular to detection of nitric oxide exhaled as a component of breath, using a liquid crystal assay format and a device utilizing liquid crystals as part of a reporting system.
US08178351B2
A container with a rotatable lid for reading and handling diagnostic reagents in tape form comprising a body portion, a lid portion, a continuous tape, a reagent-sensing device, and a storage device. The body portion includes an inner and outer surface. The lid portion is attached to the body portion and is adapted to rotate from a closed position to an open position. The continuous tape includes a diagnostic reagent. The reagent-sensing device is attached to either the body portion or the lid portion and adapted to read the diagnostic reagent. The storage device is attached to the body portion that is adapted to hold and dispense an unused portion of the continuous tape. During the rotation of the lid portion, the continuous tape is advanced from the first storage device and is extended over the reagent-sensing device.
US08178349B2
This invention provides pure populations of neural precursor cells, capable of differentiation into neurons, glial cells, and astrocytes. The populations are obtained by culturing stem cell populations (such as embryonic stem cells) in a cocktail of growth conditions that initiates differentiation, and establishes the neural precursor population. The precursors can be further differentiated in culture into a variety of different neural phenotypes. The neural precursors can be generated in pure form (at least 99%) and in large quantities for use in drug screening and the treatment of neurological disorders.
US08178345B2
A multilayered cell culture apparatus for the culturing of cells is disclosed. The cell culture apparatus includes a unitary flask body including a rigid upper and lower surface, connected by side walls. The cell growth apparatus comprises multiple cell growth chambers stacked in vertical alignment and orientation within the unitary flask body. The stacked chambers are held in position by unitary connecting columns that run through each cell growth chamber and terminate at the rigid upper and lower surfaces of the apparatus. The cell growth chambers are separated by tracheal spaces that allow air from the external environment to contact the cell growth surface of each individual cell growth chamber.
US08178331B2
The present invention provides isolated Elo1 and Mig3 nucleic acid sequences capable of conferring increased ethanol tolerance on recombinant yeast and methods of using same in biofuel production, particularly ethanol production. Methods of bioengineering yeast using the Elo1 and, or, Mig3 nucleic acid sequences are also provided.
US08178320B2
An artificial antibody library with a super-repertory (1011 or more) is constructed by: using a cDNA library as a template, amplifying a fragment containing the CDR1 and CDR2s regions of the VH or VL region of immunoglobulin gene and a fragment containing the CDR3 region each by the PCR method; integrating the VH library and the VL library, which are little contaminated with unexpressionable repertory and have high safety, into an non-expression vector; transferring it into a host; and then shuffling the VH region in the VH library with the VL region in the VL library.
US08178317B2
Provided herein are nucleic acids, proteins, vectors, cells, kits, devices and methods useful for identifying regulatable proteins that are able to complement components of cellular signaling pathways. Also provided are compositions and methods using these complementing genes directly as markers for cancer diagnosis or prognosis and as targets for anti-neoplastic therapeutics. Further provided are methods for using changes caused by expression of the complementing genes to indirectly identify associated genes to be used as markers for cancer diagnosis or prognosis and as targets for anti-neoplastic therapeutics.
US08178310B2
Disclosed are the cloning and expression of novel antigens in Babesia microti. The recombinant polypeptides are highly immunogenic. The polypeptides of the present invention provide the basis of a diagnostic assay that is sensitive, rapid and accurate using patient's sera. Also disclosed is an IgG and IgM ELISA using two novel recombinant antigens in the diagnosis of Babesia infection.
US08178304B2
The invention provides methods of diagnosing Graves' disease (GD), Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and other autoimmune diseases in an individual by detecting a disproportionately large fraction of peripheral blood T cells express IGF-1R (CD3+ IGF-R+) compared to normal control samples. In a further embodiment, the invention provides methods of diagnosing, prognosing, staging, and/or monitoring GD, RA and other autoimmune diseases. Or a predisposition thereto in an individual by detecting a disproportionately large fraction of CD3+ IGF-1R+ T cells that express CD45RO+ compared to normal control samples. In a further embodiment, the invention provides a method of diagnosing, prognosing, staging, and/or monitoring GD, RA and other autoimmune diseases or a predisposition thereto in an individual by detecting an increased CD45RO+/RA+ ratio in peripheral blood T cells compared to normal control samples. In addition to peripheral blood T cells, the methods of the invention also can be practiced with test samples comprising T cells harvested from affected orbital tissues. Embodiments directed to the prognosis, staging, and/or monitoring of GD, RA and other autoimmune diseases or a predisposition thereto also are provided, along with diagnostic kits for practicing the various embodiments of the invention.
US08178295B2
This analyte evaluation apparatus has an analyte space for holding a liquid containing an analyte, a working electrode, a counter electrode and a reference electrode, and the potential of the working electrode is altered with respect to the potential of the reference electrode as the standard potential, and the behavior of the analyte is observed to thereby evaluate the analyte, and the working electrode is provided in the analyte space and the counter electrode and reference electrode are provided in an electrode medium container for holding an electrically conductive electrode medium while being connected via an electrically conductive communicating part for substantially blocking the passage of liquid from the analyte space.
US08178293B2
The present invention concerns the use of a polypeptide comprising a sequence having at least 90% identity with all or part of BNIPXLβ, for cosmetic or therapeutic applications, in the treatment or prevention of premature canities in humans, said portion comprising at least 30 amino acids, as well as the use, for the same purpose, of a molecule comprising a RNAi sequence having at least 90% identity with all or part of the cDNA sequence of BNIPXLβ, said part comprising at least 18 nucleotides.The invention also concerns methods for screening molecules modulating the expression of a gene coding for BNIPXL-beta and molecules modulating the activity of the BNIPXL-beta polypeptide, in order to identify an agent for use for cosmetic or therapeutic purposes in the field of pigmentation. The invention also encompasses various uses of molecules which may be identified by these methods.
US08178288B2
A method for fabricating a display substrate is provided. A substrate is provided first. After that, an alignment film coating and an alignment treatment are performed to the substrate, and a layer of photoreactive monomer material is coated on the surface of the substrate after the alignment treatment. Thereafter, the layer of photoreactive monomer material is selectively irradiated by UV light in an exposed region, and the layer of photoreactive monomer material in an unexposed region is removed for liquid crystal molecules to have different pretilt angles in the exposed region and the unexposed region.
US08178285B2
A manufacturing method for a piezoelectric/electrostrictive film type element and a film constituting a laminated vibrator made of laminations of an electrode film and a piezoelectric/electrostrictive film in a plane position. The piezoelectric/electrostrictive film type element includes a substrate, a lower electrode film provided on the substrate, and a laminated vibrator made of laminations of a piezoelectric/electrostrictive film and an upper electrode film. The lower electrode film is formed by a photolithography method with the substrate, where a cavity is filled with a light shielding agent, as a mask. Thereafter, the piezoelectric/electrostrictive film is formed by electrophoresis of powder of a piezoelectric/electrostrictive material toward the lower electrode film, and the upper electrode film is formed by the photolithography method with the piezoelectric/electrostrictive film as a mask. The piezoelectric/electrostrictive film may be formed by the photolithography method with the lower electrode film as a mask.
US08178283B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a simple method for treatment of a washing waste liquid, which enhances the flocculation effect and also enhances filtration characteristics of a flocculated washing waste liquid in a flocculation treatment of a washing waste liquid generated in processing a photosensitive lithographic printing plate.Disclosed is a method for treatment of a washing waste liquid generated in a processing apparatus of a photosensitive lithographic printing plate, which comprises (1) adding a cationic polymer flocculant to the washing waste liquid, then (2) adding an anionic polymer flocculent, followed by (3) filtration.
US08178277B2
The present invention provides coating compositions comprising (i) a) a compound containing a free carbonyl group and b) a nucleophile or (ii) a compound containing a free carbonyl group, which compound is substituted with one or more nucleophilic groups. The present invention also provides a process for the preparation of these compositions, substrates coated with these compositions and a process for their preparation, a process for preparing marked substrates using these compositions, and marked substrates obtainable by the latter process.
US08178271B2
Polymer having a sulfonic group or a sulfonate group and an amide group and method of producing same
A polymer is provided in which a sulfonic group or a derivative thereof is introduced. The polymer includes a unit represented by the following chemical formula (1): wherein R represents -A1-SO2R1; A1 is selected from an alkylene group, a heterocyclic ring, an aromatic ring; and —SO2R1 is a sulfonic group or of a derivative of a sulfonic acid.
US08178264B2
To provide a coating fluid for forming an undercoat layer having high stability, a high quality and long-life electrophotographic photoreceptor capable of forming a high quality image in various environments, with which image defects such as black spots or color spots hardly occur, an image forming apparatus using such a photoreceptor, and an electrophotographic cartridge using such a photoreceptor.A coating fluid for forming un undercoat layer of an electrophotographic photoreceptor containing titanium oxide particles and a binder resin, characterized in that titanium oxide agglomerated secondary particles in the coating fluid have a volume average particle size of at most 0.1 μm and a cumulative 90% particle size of at most 0.3 μm.
US08178258B2
An electrochemical device including an anode, a cathode and an electrolyte membrane disposed between the anode and the cathode, wherein the electrolyte membrane has a material of formula La1−xSrxGa1−yMGyO3−0.5(x+y), wherein x and y are independently a value of 0.1 to 0.3, said material having a relative density of at least 90% and including LaSrGaO4 in a percentage of 0.05 vol % to 10 vol %. A method for producing energy and a method for separating oxygen from a gas mixture are also disclosed.
US08178257B2
A membrane/electrode assembly for a polymer electrolyte fuel cell capable of exhibiting high power generation performance constantly for a long period of time in a high temperature and low humidity environment, and a polymer electrolyte membrane whereby such a membrane/electrode assembly is obtainable.A polymer electrode membrane 15, comprising a proton conductive polymer which has an electrical conductivity of at least 0.07 S/cm at a temperature of 80° C. at a relative humidity of 40% and which has a water content of less than 15 mass; and a membrane/electrode assembly 10 comprising an anode 13 and a cathode 14 each having a catalyst layer 11, and a polymer electrolyte membrane 15 disposed between the anode 13 and the cathode 14.
US08178254B2
There is provided an SOFC cell and manufacturing method thereof whereby the occurrence of Cr poisoning of the air electrode can be satisfactorily suppressed in an SOFC cell formed by joining together an air electrode with a Cr-containing alloy or the like. A Cr(VI) oxide suppressing state is induced for suppressing the formation of Cr(VI) oxides in an alloy or oxide during a firing process in which an alloy or oxide and an air electrode are fired in a state of being joined together.
US08178252B2
A method of operating a fuel cell system is disclosed, the method including the steps of providing a fuel cell stack including a plurality of fuel cell assemblies, each fuel cell assembly having a proton exchange membrane disposed between a plurality of fuel cell plates, wherein water is purged from the fuel cell system during a shutdown operation, and a current is produced in the fuel cell system following the shutdown purge to produce product water to hydrate the proton exchange membrane.
US08178249B2
A control system for controlling the amount of water in at least one fluid stream that is passed through a fuel cell stack comprises a humidifier arrangement, a sensor and a controller. The humidifier arrangement is operable to humidify the fluid stream. The sensor is disposed downstream of the humidifier arrangement and configured to measure at least one characteristic of the fluid stream. The at least one characteristic of fluid stream is indicative of the amount of water in the fluid stream. The controller is configured to receive a signal from the sensor and to use the signal to determine a difference between an amount of water in the fluid stream and a target amount of water. The controller is operable to control the humidifier arrangement to control the amount of water in the fluid stream based on the difference.
US08178244B2
A non-aqueous electrolyte battery comprises a negative electrode comprising a current collector, and a negative electrode layer formed on one or both surfaces of the current collector, a positive electrode, and a separator interposed between the negative electrode and the positive electrode. The negative electrode layer comprises a plurality of layers laminated each other and containing a different active material each other, the layers comprising a first layer which is contacted with the current collector and contains spinel-type lithium titanate as an active material, and a second layer which is disposed to face the separator and contains Ramsdellite-type lithium titanate or anatase-type titanium oxide as an active material.
US08178233B2
A case for fuel cells including an upper plate formed of a stack of a first insulating board, portions of a first conductive layer, a second insulating board, and a second conductive layer, this stack including windows, fuel cells being placed under the first insulating board at the level of the windows to obstruct them, the stack further comprising first openings filled with a heat-transmitting material forming a contact between the periphery of the fuel cells and the second conductive layer.
US08178232B2
A battery pack includes a multi cell assembly having a plurality of bare cells, the multi cell assembly defining opposing planar surfaces. The battery pack also includes a protection circuit at one side of the multi cell assembly, a case surrounding a periphery of the multi cell assembly and the protection circuit and exposing the opposing planar surfaces of the multi cell assembly to an exterior of the multi cell assembly and reinforcing tape attached to the opposing planar surfaces.
US08178227B1
A method for detecting cell failure within a battery pack based on variations in the measured electrical isolation resistance of the battery pack is provided. The method includes the steps of monitoring the isolation resistance; determining when the isolation resistance falls below a first preset value; determining how long it takes for the electrical isolation resistance to recover to greater than a second preset value; determining when the isolation resistance falls below a third preset value; and performing a predetermined response after the electrical isolation resistance falls below the first preset resistance value and recovers to greater than the second resistance value and then falls below the third preset resistance value and if the time period is within a preset time range.
US08178224B2
New proton conducting membranes are made of sulfonated poly(arylene sulfide) polymers (SPAS) and a perfluorosulfonic acid polymer. A preferred poly(arylene sulfide) polymer is poly(p-phenylene sulfide). The membranes are used as a proton exchange membrane in PEM fuel cells operating at temperatures above 60° C., or at low relative humidity. According to methods of the invention, sulfonated poly(phenylene sulfide) (SPPS) films may be provided with a wide range of physical properties, which depend in part on the ion exchange capacity of the films. In particular, the degree or level of sulfonation can be tailored by adjusting reaction conditions such as temperature and time. In a preferred embodiment, an ionomer comprising perfluorosulfonic acid polymer is imbibed into the insoluble SPAS films by immersing the films in a solution or dispersion of the ionomers.
US08178220B2
A surface-covered CBN sintered body tool includes a base material formed with a cubic boron nitride (CBN) sintered body and a surface covering film covering a surface of the base material, and has a nega-land exposing the CBN sintered body in at least a portion thereof and a flank having the surface covering film formed thereon. With this, the surface-covered CBN sintered body tool having high defect resistance and wear resistance can be provided. The surface covering film preferably includes a nitride or a carbonitride of a compound including at least one element selected from the group consisting of Ti, Cr, Zr, and V and at least one element selected from the group consisting of Al, Si and B, or a nitride or a carbonitride of Ti.
US08178214B2
A material for an organic electroluminescence element, characterized in that it comprises a platinum complex formed from a platinum ion and a ligand having at least one aryl group being not capable of free rotation or at least one aromatic heterocyclic group being not capable of free rotation; a display device, characterized in that it comprises said material for an organic electroluminescence element and exhibits high luminous efficiency and long luminous life; and an illumination device, characterized in that it comprises said material for an organic electroluminescence element and exhibits high luminous efficiency and long luminous life.
US08178212B2
Method for chemical bonding of fiberglass fibers to steel surfaces to prepare the steel for bonding with carbon composite material. This fiber-bonding step greatly increases the strength of the subsequent metal-composite bond. The fiberglass fibers which are chemically bonded to the steel provide a high surface area interface to entangle with carbon fibers in the composite component, and thereby inhibit crack formation on the boundary surface between the steel and composite components when they are bonded together.
US08178211B2
The invention is directed to the use of a specific class of compounds in the treatment of wood, to a method of treating wood, and to the wood obtained by said method.The black insoluble polymer which forms after oxidative polymerisation of this class of compounds is able to color the wood through and through in a homogeneous fashion and cannot be rinsed off or leached with water or solvent and is stable upon UV radiation.In addition it was found that the treated wood of the present invention has a strong resistance against wood degrading fungi.
US08178207B2
A silicone-based pressure-sensitive adhesive composition comprising (A) a condensation-reaction product obtained by subjecting a diorganopolysiloxane having silanol groups on both molecular terminals and 2 or more silicon-bonded alkenyl groups located in side molecular chains in one molecule (a) and organopolysiloxane resin having one or more hydrolyzable groups in one molecule (b) to a condensation reaction in the presence of catalyst (c), (B) an organohydrogenpolysiloxane, (C) a diorganopolysiloxane having silicon-bonded alkenyl groups on both molecular terminals, (D) an organopolysiloxane resin and (E) a platinum catalyst.
US08178201B2
An electroconductive particle that includes (a) a polymer microparticle, and (b) a graphene coating layer grafted on the polymer microparticle, which has improved long-term stability of the conductivity, surface conductivity, durability, and thermal resistance, and is applicable for producing an anisotropic conductive film used for packaging electronic devices.
US08178198B2
An adhesive sheet includes a substrate and an energy-ray curable adhesive layer formed on the substrate. The energy-ray curable adhesive layer includes an energy-ray curable acrylic copolymer and a urethane acrylate. The energy-ray curable acrylic copolymer is formed by copolymerizing at least one of either a dialkyl(meth)acrylamide that has an alkyl group with carbon number of not more than 4, a phenol EO modified (meth)acrylate that has an ethylene glycol chain with a phenyl group bonded to the ethylene glycol chain, a (meth)acryloyl morpholine, or a (meth)acrylate that has an aceto-acetoxyl group, in total of 1 to 30 weight percent of all monomers to form the energy-ray curable acrylic copolymer. The energy-ray curable acrylic copolymer further includes a side chain with an unsaturated group.
US08178197B2
An application for an arced sealing tape has a bottom, an inner wall and an outer wall. The surfaces of the inner wall and the outer wall that are closest to a center point of the arc have an adhesive. Likewise, a bottom surface of the bottom also has an adhesive.
US08178193B2
Provided are a constraining green sheet and a method of manufacturing a multi-layer ceramic substrate. The constraining green sheet includes a first constraining layer and a second constraining layer. The first constraining layer has a side to be disposed on a multi-layer ceramic laminated structure and is formed of a first inorganic powder having a first particle diameter. The second constraining layer is disposed on top of the first constraining layer and is formed of a second inorganic powder having a second particle diameter larger than the first particle diameter. The second constraining layer is equal to or lower than the first constraining layer in terms of powder packing density. A shrinkage suppression rate can be increased and a de-binder passage can be secured in a firing process of the ceramic laminated structure by using the constraining green sheet formed of inorganic powders having different density and particle diameter.
US08178188B2
A base layer is formed on the surface of metal plate, metal pipe, unbaked ceramic sheet, laminated ceramic green sheet, etc., the base layer causing a gelling reaction with inkjet-ink. The base layer improves ink acceptability for low viscosity inks such as inkjet-ink, and prevents oozing, draining, uneven thickness of an ink pattern and a resist pattern. Thus, the present invention enables to use an ink jet process for providing resist patterns for etching, etc., which has to fulfill stringent high precision requirements.
US08178186B2
The present invention provides a slipsheet and/or divider sheet and a method for making the same, the sheet having an imprint or an embossing that provides a raised planar surface. The raised planar surface preferably comprises a plurality of ridges, crowns or crests, which are preferably arranged in a pattern throughout an upper surface of the sheet. To make the sheet, a die can be etched to have protuberances or bumps, and the die is preferably pressed into a sheet of pliable thermoplastic material. The sheet thus made has a plurality of indentation formed by the protuberances or bumps on the die, and the sheet has a planar outer surface comprising a plurality of ridges, crowns and crests between the indentations.
US08178185B2
A honeycomb structured body in which a plurality of porous ceramic members are combined with one another by interposing an adhesive layer, each of the porous ceramic members having a plurality of cells placed in parallel with one another in a longitudinal direction with a cell wall therebetween and having an outer edge wall on the outer edge surface thereof, wherein each of the porous ceramic members has a filling body which is provided so as to fill in at least one corner portion of at least one outermost cell of the porous ceramic members, a cross-sectional shape of the outermost cell at the face orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the cells is an almost tetragon, and a cross-sectional shape of the filling body at the face orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the cells is an almost right triangle.
US08178182B2
A multilayered friction lining, including friction member (4, 4a) that forms a friction surface; and reinforcement member (3, 3a). Reinforcement member (3, 3a) is wound of reinforcement yarn and friction member (4, 4a) is wound of friction yarn. The friction yarn features friction and/or anti-wear properties better than of the reinforcement yarn, the friction member (4, 4a) is wound with a friction coil-winding ratio and the reinforcement member (3, 3a) is wound with a reinforcement coil-winding ratio, and the friction coil-winding ratio is greater than or equal to said reinforcement coil-winding ratio.
US08178174B2
The present invention relates to an Ag alloy film. Particularly, it is preferably used as a reflective film or semi-transmissive reflective film for an optical information recording medium having high thermal conductivity/high reflectance/high durability in the field of optical information recording media, an electromagnetic-shielding film excellent in Ag aggregation resistance, and an optical reflective film on the back of a reflection type liquid crystal display device, or the like. The Ag alloy film of the present invention comprises an Ag base alloy containing Bi and/or Sb in a total amount of 0.005 to 10% (in terms of at %). Further, the present invention relates to a sputtering target used for the deposition of such an Ag alloy film.
US08178170B2
The present invention describes a method for applying a hybrid coating to a substrate. A coating according to the invention is formed by an inorganic component and an organic component. As a result, this coating has the hybrid character whereby the advantages of inter alia hardness are combined with flexibility. The invention also describes a device for the manufacture of a hybrid coating.
US08178168B2
A method for forming a polymeric coating on a substrate surface, by plasma treating a mixture comprising a free-radical initiated polymerisable monomer having one or more free-radical polymerisable groups in the presence of a free radical initiator, wherein said plasma treatment is a soft ionisation plasma process (a process wherein precursor molecules are not fragmented during the plasma process and as a consequence, the resulting polymeric coating has the physical properties of the precursor or bulk polymer) aid depositing the resulting polymeric coating material onto a substrate surface.
US08178167B2
The invention relates to humidity hardening compounds containing at least one polyurethane polymer, P, exhibiting an isocyanate group, at least one polyimine ALD of Formula (I) of at least 22% by weight, in relation to the sum of the components of the compound which contain the isocyanate group, as well as, if necessary, a polyisocyanate oligomer OP. The humidity hardening compound is particularly suitable for providing coatings and linings. The use of the imines makes possible VOC-free or VOC-poor compounds, which is a substantial advantage for indoor applications.
US08178165B2
A long range, periodically ordered array of discrete nano-features (10), such as nano-islands, nano-particles, nano-wires, non-tubes, nano-pores, nano-composition-variations, and nano-device-components, are fabricated by propagation of a self-assembling array or nucleation and growth of periodically aligned nano-features. The propagation may be induced by a laterally or circularly moving heat source, a stationary heat source arranged at an edge of the material to be patterned (12), or a series of sequentially activated heaters or electrodes. Advantageously, the long-range periodic array of nano-features (10) may be utilized as a nano-mask or nano-implant master pattern for nano-fabrication of other nano-structures. In addition, the inventive long-range, periodically ordered arrays of nano-features are useful in a variety of nanoscale applications such as addressable memories or logic devices, ultra-high-density magnetic recording media, magnetic sensors, photonic devices, quantum computing devices, quantum luminescent devices, and efficient catalytic devices.
US08178159B2
Silane compositions having an aromatic functionality and a ethylenically functionality and comprising a latent acid catalyst are deposited in two or more layers on a substrate. Each layer differs in light absorption properties from an adjacent layer. Some layers may have different curing mechanisms. Such a method is useful in forming antireflective coatings.
US08178149B2
A method and an apparatus (100, 100′) serve to continuously produce fruit leather from a fruit mass. The fruit leather does not include added sugar or fat. The fruit mass includes a share of dry substance of at least 50% and a share of water. The fruit mass exposed to vacuum is cooked for less than one minute in a way to reduce the share of water in the fruit mass to increase the share of dry substance in the fruit mass to approximately between 80% to 90%. The fruit mass is then formed to attain the fruit leather.
US08178141B2
Articles of manufacture and methods for absorbing gasses released by roaster coffee packed in hermetically sealed containers.
US08178123B2
A vaginal or buccal delivery of therapeutic agents having a substrate affinity for metabolic cytochrome P-450 enzymes and membrane efflux transporter systems. A method for augmentation of systemic exposure to the therapeutic agents having a substrate affinity for cytochrome P-450 enzymes and membrane efflux transporter systems, by delivering said agents to the systemic circulation through vaginal or buccal mucosa.
US08178119B2
The use is described of zinc pyrithione for finishing woven and non-woven textiles to render them resistant against colonization by house dust mites. Zinc pyrithione is used alone or in combination with other actives with or without other textile chemicals. The formulations comprising zinc pyrithione are applied to the textiles using the standard processes of textile finishing, such that there is a concentration of preferably 1000 to 6000 ppm of zinc pyrithione on the textile. This gives on uncoated sheetlike textiles a very distinct reduction in the mite population in testing; ideal finishes even eliminate the mite population completely.
US08178116B2
Compositions and methods for killing ectoparasites on a subject. Compositions containing a fatty acid ester, e.g., isopropyl myristate, effective for killing ectoparasites is described. Also described are compositions containing a fatty acid ester and a siloxane (e.g. decacyclomethicone). The compositions can also contain a mectin and/or a mycin, and S-methoprene. The compositions are useful against a variety of ectoparasites that afflict humans, animals, and plants, e.g., head lice, fleas, body lice, crab lice, scabies mites, ticks, and plant parasites.
US08178114B2
A patch device that includes a backing layer which is a barrier to at least a fragrance, a reservoir layer, which is attached to the backing layer and serves for holding a volume of one or more fragrances, and a cover layer for covering the reservoir layer when filled with fragrance. The cover layer is permeable to vapor from at least one fragrance, which cover layer in a first position of the patch device, in which the reservoir layer is free of fragrance, is situated at least partly offset or dislocated from the reservoir layer, and which cover layer in a second position of use, in which the volume of one or more fragrances has been delivered to the reservoir layer, covers the reservoir layer. Support sheets, which support the backing layer, and a flap part of the cover layer, serve as a tool for applying the flap part into covering relationship to cover or encapsulate the reservoir layer.
US08178101B2
The present invention is directed to antibodies and fragments thereof and humanized versions thereof having binding specificity for IL-6. Another embodiment of this invention relates to the antibodies described herein, and binding fragments thereof, comprising the sequences of the VH, VL and CDR polypeptides described herein, and the polynucleotides encoding them. The invention also contemplates conjugates of anti-IL-6 antibodies and binding fragments thereof conjugated to one or more functional or detectable moieties. The invention also contemplates methods of making said anti-IL-6 antibodies and binding fragments thereof. Embodiments of the invention also pertain to the use of anti-IL-6 antibodies, and binding fragments thereof, for the diagnosis, assessment and treatment of diseases and disorders associated with IL-6. These antibodies may bind at least one of soluble IL-6, cell surface expressed IL-6, IL-6/IL-6R and/or prevent the association of IL-6 and IL-6R, the association of IL-6/IL-6R and gp130 and or the formation of IL-6/IL-6R/gp130 multimers and thereby inhibit a biological effect associated with any of the foregoing.
US08178091B2
Methods and compositions are provided for the treatment of acute lung injury and pulmonary fibrosis by administering inhibitors of IGF-1R signaling activity.
US08178087B2
A method for producing bacteriophage stock compositions including (a) incubating a culture medium including at least one bacterial strain, at least one bacteriophage strain that can infect the bacterial strain, and at least one antibiotic, wherein the concentration of the antibiotic in the medium is in a range which causes about 0.1% to about 99.9% inhibition of the growth of the bacterial strain in the absence of the bacteriophage strain; (b) continuing incubation of the culture medium until bacterial lysis occurs, thereby obtaining a bacteriophage lysate; and preparing a crude bacteriophage extract from the culture medium.
US08178085B2
The invention relates to methods of proliferating stem cells. More particularly, the invention relates to the use of glycosaminoglycans or proteoglycans to promote the growth of stem cells in ex vivo culture, while preserving their multipotentiality.
US08178079B2
The invention relates to novel ethylene copolymers comprising 10-60% polyethylenglycol (meth)acrylate monomers and 40-90% substantially cationic monomer. Compositions, in particular cosmetic or pharmaceutical compositions, containing the inventive copolymers and a cosmetic treatment method using said copolymers are also disclosed.
US08178078B2
A composition for solvating one or more active agents in an aqueous solution which is suitable for dispensing as a compressed gas aerosol composition is disclosed. The composition includes at least one surfactant, at least one active agent (such as a fragrance or an insecticide), and a compressed gas propellant. The at least one surfactant is preferably present in an amount from about 0.1 wt. % to about 3 wt. %. The at least one active agent is preferably present in an amount from about 0.1 wt. % to about 2 wt. %. The compressed gas propellant is preferably present in an amount from about 0.1 wt. % to about 1 wt. %. The total surfactant weight to active agent weight ratio for the composition is preferably about 1:3 to 5:1. The composition uses a reduced amount of surfactant and active agent thereby allowing for a more efficient active agent loading and a reduced stickiness or tackiness on surfaces contacted during use.
US08178077B2
The present invention provides novel target proteins and target genes for drug discovery, and the means that enable the development of novel drugs using the same. More particularly, the present invention provides NCS proteins and genes thereof; screening methods for drug (for example, anti-central nervous disease drug); agents for regulating disease (for example, central nervous disease); production methods of a drug derivative; a complex comprising a drug and NCS protein, and a method of producing the complex; a kits comprising a drug or a salt thereof; determination methods for the onset or risk of onset of a specified disease, determination methods for susceptibility to a drug, and determination kits used for the determination methods; and the like.
US08178068B2
A catalyst charge for ammonia oxidation, including the Andrussow process, comprises a first stage ammonia oxidation catalyst capable of oxidizing 20 to 99% of designed ammonia throughput, to produce a first stage product gas comprising unreacted ammonia, oxygen and nitrogen oxides, and a second stage ammonia oxidation catalyst capable of completing the oxidation of unreacted ammonia. Low levels of nitrous oxide are produced an extended campaign lengths may be seen.
US08178066B2
The present invention provides a method for stabilizing fine particles of calcium phosphates without lowering their solid phase forming activity.It is possible to stabilize the fine particles of calcium phosphates by stopping the growth of the fine particles formed in an aqueous solution supersaturated with respect to calcium phosphates. More specifically, the fine particles of calcium phosphates were stabilized by lowering the inorganic ion concentration of a fine-particle-forming solution containing fine particles of calcium phosphates by dialysis, ion exchange, dilution, or the like, or by separating the fine particles of calcium phosphates from the fine-particle-forming solution by filtration, centrifuging, or the like.
US08178065B2
A photocatalyst is provided that comprises activated carbon produced from date pits, impregnated with TiO2. The activated carbon can have a porous surface that can attract and trap pollutants flowing in air or water. The photocatalyst can be made by a method that includes preparing activated carbon by calcining date pits to form a precursor material, and then impregnating the precursor material with titanium dioxide.
US08178063B2
The present invention relates to conversion of exhaust gas containing nitrogen oxide (NOx) such as NO, NO2 and N2O into N2 and H2O through catalytic reaction with injection of a reducing agent such as ammonia and urea. A fabrication method of zeolite honeycomb type catalyst for reducing nitrogen oxide of the present invention includes: (a) obtaining an inorganic binder by mixing and uniformly peptizing pseudo-boehmite, distilled water and a pH adjuster; (b) obtaining a paste by mixing and kneading zeolite, the inorganic binder, an organic binder and distilled water; (c) extruding the paste into an extrudate having a through pore of a regular structure; and (d) drying and heat treating the extrudate.
US08178054B2
Disclosed is an optimized process and apparatus for more efficiently and economically carrying out the liquid-phase oxidation of an oxidizable compound. Such liquid-phase oxidation is carried out in a bubble column reactor that provides for a highly efficient reaction at relatively low temperatures. When the oxidized compound is para-xylene and the product from the oxidation reaction is crude terephthalic acid (CTA), such CTA product can be purified and separated by more economical techniques than could be employed if the CTA were formed by a conventional high-temperature oxidation process.
US08178049B2
A discharge gas containing carbon nanotubes and discharged from a reactor unit (12) is led to a filter (26) through a discharge pipe (24). A blower (28) is disposed downstream from the filter (26). The blower (28) is used to such the discharged gas in the discharge pipe (24). Thus, even when the filter has begun to clog, the pressure inside the discharge pipe on the side upstream from the filter is prevented from increasing.
US08178046B2
A microfluidic system including a chip sensor and an SPR optical detector. The chip sensor may be made a non-transparent material, such as polyimide or silicon, allowing non-visible radiation produced by the SPR optical detector to pass through and interact with a surface plasmon generating layer on the chip sensor.
US08178044B2
A liquid property detecting device includes a switch portion switching an electrode to charge with a standard voltage generated by a generator, or discharge through a grounding. An operation signal output portion outputs an operation signal to the switch portion so as to switch in a predetermined switch period. A voltage of the electrode is output as a detection signal, when the standard voltage is applied to the electrode. A signal process portion calculates liquid property based on the detection signals. A gain of the signal process portion relative to the detection signal is increased, as the detection signal is decreased.
US08178035B2
An apparatus for forming air-laid absorbent cores, having a first and second mat-forming wheel, means for transferring a core element on the first mat-forming wheel onto a core element on the second mat-forming wheel while the latter core element still is maintained in its mold. The apparatus has means for applying a protective layer to the bottom of each mold of the second mat-forming wheel, means for applying a web of casing material on the peripheral surface of the first mat-forming wheel, means for guiding said web of casing material onto the periphery of the second mat-forming wheel, and means for changing the synchronization of the mat-forming wheels in order to control the time at which the leading edge of a mold on one of the mat-forming wheels passes the nip. A method of producing cores with different sizes without change of molds.
US08178033B2
A method and apparatus may be present for manufacturing. A shell may be formed having a support structure located in a cavity in which the shell and the support structure may be formed using an additive manufacturing system from a design of a tool. The cavity of the shell may be filled with a filler material through an opening in the shell. The shell may be cured with the filler material to form the tool.
US08178032B2
The present invention generally relates to a mold assembly (32, 34) and a method of using the mold for the manufacture of composite parts which, more particularly, are generated from a strengthener in a generally solid phase and a matrix in a generally liquid phase. Various types of molds and processes may be used in order to impregnate a strengthener with a matrix such that a composite part may be manufactured, but the efficiency rate and the duration of the manufacturing process significantly varies depending on the chosen type of mold and process. The present invention relates to a mold assembly and to the manufacture of composites by using the mold assembly which includes the injection of the matrix in the mold assembly containing the strengthener and a deformable member (36) which favors the impregnation of the matrix toward the strengthener.
US08178026B2
A nanoimprinting method includes: forming at a region for performing a first nanoimprinting process on a substrate, a first patterning region with a first affinity to resin; forming at a region for performing a second nanoimprinting process on the substrate, a second patterning region with a second affinity to resin, the second affinity being lower than the first affinity; applying the resin to the first patterning region and transferring a pattern of a mold to the resin by the first nanoimprinting process; and modifying the second patterning region to a region with affinity to resin that is higher than the second affinity, then applying the resin to the modified region, and performing the second nanoimprinting process to process the second patterning region thereby connecting patterns formed at the first patterning region and the second patterning region to each other.
US08178022B2
An article of footwear may have a sole structure with a chamber, a plate, and an outsole. The chamber encloses a fluid and has an upper surface and an opposite lower surface. The plate is positioned adjacent to the upper surface and has a plurality of projections that extend into indentations in the chamber. The outsole may be positioned adjacent to the lower surface and may have a plurality of projections that extend into indentations in the chamber. In some manufacturing processes for the sole structure, the plate and outsole may be located within a mold, and the chamber may then be shaped by surfaces of the plate, outsole, and mold.
US08178018B2
Methods and apparatuses for producing fiber-cement soffit building products. In one embodiment of the invention, an apparatus for producing fiber-cement soffits includes a punch assembly, a support assembly facing at least a portion of the punch assembly, and an actuator operatively coupled to at least one of the punch assembly or the support assembly. The punch assembly can include a punch plate and a plurality of punches coupled to the punch plate. Each punch can have a length and a first cross-sectional dimension generally normal to the length. The support assembly can have a support plate, and at least a portion of the support plate is juxtaposed to at least a portion of the punch plate. The support plate can include a plurality of holes arranged in a pattern so that each hole in the portion of the support plate juxtaposed to the punch plate is aligned with a corresponding punch on the punch plate. Each hole can have a second cross-sectional dimension greater than the first cross-sectional dimension of the punches to define a radial punch/hole clearance between each punch and each hole. The radial punch/hole clearance, for example, is generally greater than that of metal punch presses to allow the punches to be removed from a fiber-cement panel without delaminating portions of the panel.
US08178015B2
A process and a device involves melt-spinning and cooling synthetic filaments. Therein, a plurality of filaments is extruded from a polymer melt and, after the extrusion, is guided into a cooling shaft for cooling. Within the cooling shaft cool air is blown, via a blower wall, into the cooling shaft, where, for cooling, the filaments are guided along the blower wall and at a distance from it. In order to obtain cooling adapted to the particular filament titer, the blowing onto the filaments can be set by selecting one of several operating positions, where to change the operating position of the blower wall it is moved in the direction towards the filaments or in the direction away from the filaments.
US08178009B2
There is provided a slurry for a secondary battery electrode and an electrode for a secondary battery that produce satisfactory charge-discharge characteristics for secondary batteries, as well as a secondary battery that exhibits satisfactory charge-discharge characteristics. The invention provides a slurry for a secondary battery electrode comprising an electrode active material and an ambient temperature molten salt composed of a cation component and an anion component, an electrode for a secondary battery wherein an electrode active material layer is formed by coating the slurry for a secondary battery electrode onto a current collector, a process for production of an electrode for a secondary battery whereby the slurry for a secondary battery electrode is coated onto a current collector metal foil to form a coated film, and a secondary battery comprising a positive electrode and/or negative electrode fabricated using the electrode for a secondary battery, and an electrolyte.
US08177999B2
The present invention provides a red phosphor, a method for manufacturing the red phosphor and a light emitting device using the red phosphor, in which the red phosphor is expressed as a chemical formula of (Ca,Sr)1-x-yEuxPbyS, wherein 0.0005≦x≦0.01 and 0.001≦y≦0.05.According to the present invention, the red phosphor has improved reliability and luminous efficiency and thus be used to obtain a light emitting device with more excellent color reproducibility and optical characteristic.
US08177994B2
The present invention provides an electrolytic solution for aluminum electrolytic capacitors which has a high sparking voltage while maintaining its specific conductivity at 30° C. of 4 to 25 mS/cm and which has no possibility of corroding capacitor elements, and an aluminum electrolytic capacitor using the same. The electrolytic solution of the present invention is characterized as being an electrolytic solution containing an electrolyte (C) composed of an alkyl phosphate anion (A) represented by formula (1) or (2) given below and a cation (B), and an organic solvent (D), wherein the content of phosphoric acid in the electrolytic solution is 1% by weight or less: wherein R1 is an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms and R2 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms.
US08177991B2
The present application relates to a method of applying a pattern of metal, metal oxide and/or semiconductor material on a substrate, to a pattern created by such method and to uses of such pattern. Furthermore, the present invention relates to an assembly of layers that can be used for printing.
US08177983B2
A mercury absorbent comprising a metal sulphide, a support material, a first binder and a second binder, wherein the first binder is a cement binder and the second binder is a high aspect ratio binder having an aspect ratio >2. A mercury removal process comprises contacting a mercury containing feed stream with the absorbent.
US08177979B2
This invention relates to heterogenous pore polymer nanotube membranes useful in filtration, such as reverse osmosis desalination, nanofiltration, ultrafiltration and gas separation.
US08177978B2
An interfacial polymerization process (IFP) for preparing a highly permeable TFC RO membrane by contacting on a porous support membrane for IFP, a polyfunctional acyl halide monomer and a polyamine monomer and recovering a highly permeable thin film (TFC) reverse osmosis (RO) membrane. At least one of solutions may contain nanoparticle additives which may release ions into solution and at least one of the solutions may contain additional ions from a second additive. The presence of the nanoparticle additives during IFP may increase the hydrophilicity and/or permeability of the recovered membrane compared to a control membrane. The presence of the additional ions from the second additive may also increase the permeability of the recovered membrane.
US08177974B2
Tangential flow filtration device is provided wherein liners are provided between the filtration element and the top and bottom holders or manifolds. The liners incorporate the flow channels and inlet and outlet ports that were previously present in the manifolds. The liners are made of an inexpensive material and therefore are disposable after a single use, making it more cost effective to dispose of them than to clean the conventional manifolds. In addition, the liners can be pre-sterilized.
US08177966B2
A liquid storage and dispensing device with a filter for removing minerals and a UV light source for killing pathogens existing in a liquid. A liquid is introduced into the device via the inlet. The liquid passes through the filter into a collector. The filtered liquid flows from the collector through a thru passage into a UV chamber. The UV light source emits UV rays through a UV transmissive wall into the interior portion of the UV chamber. Exposure to the UV light kills pathogens present in the filtered liquid. Substantially purified liquid can then be dispensed from an outlet.
US08177963B2
This invention relates to the partial hydrogenation of sulfur containing petroleum feedstreams by electrochemical means. The partially hydrogenated feedstream is then conducted to processes for either conversion and removal of at least some of the sulfur-containing species from the electrochemical desulfurization process or adsorption and removal of at least some of the sulfur-containing species from the electrochemical desulfurization process.
US08177962B2
The quaternary ammonium compound described by general formula 1 below (wherein R1, R2 and R3 are the same or different hydrocarbon radicals with 1 to 4 carbon atoms, and n is an integer between 1 and 10) is used as a metal corrosion inhibitor. With this metal corrosion inhibitor, it is possible even with the addition of small quantities to adequately prevent corrosion of metal in a steam generating unit or petroleum refining or petrochemical process unit. Moreover, (β-hydroxyethyl)trimethylammonium hydroxide is used as a hydrogen chloride formation inhibitor for a crude oil atmospheric distillation unit. With this hydrogen chloride formation inhibitor, it is possible to prevent the formation of hydrogen chloride itself in a crude oil atmospheric distillation unit without having any adverse effect on the catalyst.
US08177961B2
The present invention relates to new crystalline molecular sieve SSZ-75 prepared using a tetramethylene-1,4-bis-(N-methylpyrrolidinium) dication as a structure-directing agent, and its use in catalysts for hydrocarbon conversion reactions.
US08177954B2
A plating processing method, which comprises continuously electroplating the surface of a film having a surface resistivity of from 1Ω/square to 1000Ω/square, wherein the transportation speed of the foregoing film is from 1 m/minute to 30 m/minute.
US08177941B1
A hydrogen storage and recovery system includes a substrate having embedded hydrogen molecules and a grid of cells. Each cell includes an electron source for directing electrons onto the substrate, two orthogonal magnetic or electric fields that are oriented so that the electrons pass through both magnetic fields prior to striking the substrate, and an ion guide. A voltage source establishes a potential for the electrons that is equal to the ionization potential of the hydrogen molecules, so that hydrogen molecules are ionized when the electrons impinge on the substrate. The magnetic fields can be manipulated to deflect, or change, the direction of said electrons passing through the fields, so that electrons strike the substrate at different locations, which allows for more recovery of the embedded hydrogen molecules from the substrate. The ion guide uses an applied electric field to draw hydrogen ions that have been ionized for subsequent storage.
US08177936B2
Evaporation of calciferous water is performed by an evaporator using electrical heating. An injection nozzle is connected to a spray hose arranged in an upper third of the evaporator, immediately above a thermostat that is disposed on the bottom side of the evaporator. A distance between the injection nozzle and the thermostat is less than 15 mm. A steam hose is connected to the evaporator via a steam connector. The steam connector has an inside diameter of at least 5 mm. The steam hose leads to a collector situated at an angle of inclination of 5° to 10°.
US08177934B2
A rotocast composite hybrid method for efficiently making strong but lightweight parts. The method includes filling a mold with a volume of resin through an access port and then sealing the access port by positioning a lid over the access port. The method includes mounting the mold in a rotocasting machine and then operating the rotocasting machine to rotate the mold about two orthogonal axes until a layer of the resin is applied uniformly over an inner surface of the mold to form an outer wall of a part. The method includes removing the lid and then applying a reinforcement material (e.g., sheets of woven fiberglass) to an inner surface of the outer wall of the part through the access port. The applying of the reinforcement material also involves wet layup such as by binding the reinforcement material to the inner surface by applying additional resin to the reinforcement material.
US08177932B2
A method including disposing a first end plate adjacent to a second end plate, wherein the first end plate and second end plate each define a pattern of apertures. The first end plate is aligned with the second end plate such that the pattern of apertures in the first end plate is substantially aligned with the pattern of apertures in the second end plate. The method includes placing an end portion of each of a plurality of micro tubes in contact with the first end plate, the micro tubes being substantially vertically disposed and substantially perpendicular to a top surface of the first end plate, so as to place the micro tubes on the first end plate, and vibrating at least one of the micro tubes while the micro tubes are on the first end plate, thereby causing the micro tubes to insert into and through respective aligned apertures of the patterns of apertures in the first end plate and the second end plate. The method further includes separating the first end plate from the second end plate while the micro tubes extend therethrough, until the first end plate and the second end plate are disposed proximate to respective end portions of the micro tubes extending therethrough, and affixing each end portion of the micro tubes to a respective end plate, thereby forming a pathway in a micro tube heat exchanger component for the flow of an internal fluid to be heated or cooled by external flow of an external fluid.
US08177929B2
A metal gasket formed from a suitable iron-nickel chromium alloy includes at least one embossment that exhibits essentially full functional recovery at temperatures exceeding 1000° F. and including in the range of 1100° F. to 1600° F. or more and which is made from sheet material that is work hardened and strengthened by cold rolling, or a combination of cold rolling and precipitation hardening, without any post embossment heat treating that would act to further harden the material. Suitable iron-nickel-chromium alloys include those comprising, by weight, greater than 18% nickel; greater than 14% chrome and 0.1-10% of at least one element selected from the group consisting of Mo, Ti, V, Al, Co, Nb, Ta and Cu, with the balance being substantially Fe, wherein the gasket sheet alloy has a deformed microstructure.
US08177927B2
A method of making articles made of shape memory alloys having improved fatigue performance and to methods of treating articles formed from shape memory alloy materials by pre-straining the articles (or desired portions of the articles) in a controlled manner so that the resultant articles exhibit improved fatigue performance. The shape memory articles are preferably medical devices, more preferably implantable medical devices. They are most preferably devices of nitinol shape memory alloy, most particularly that is superelastic at normal body temperature. The pre-straining method of the present invention as performed on such articles includes the controlled introduction of non-recoverable tensile strains greater than about 0.20% at the surface of a desired portion of a shape memory alloy article. Controlled pre-straining operations are performed on the shape-set nitinol metal to achieve non-recoverable tensile strain greater than about 0.20% at or near the surface of selected regions in the nitinol metal article. The pre-straining operations result in a significant increase in fatigue life of the selectively treated regions and an overall improvement in the fatigue performance of the device.
US08177921B2
An R—Fe—B based rare-earth sintered magnet according to the present invention includes, as a main phase, crystal grains of an R2Fe14B type compound that includes Nd, which is a light rare-earth element, as a major rare-earth element R. The magnet includes a heavy rare-earth element RH (which is at least one of Dy and Tb) that has been introduced through the surface of the sintered magnet by diffusion. The magnet has a region in which the concentration of the heavy rare-earth element RH in a grain boundary R-rich phase is lower than at the surface of the crystal grains of the R2Fe14B type compound but higher than at the core of the crystal grains of the R2Fe14B type compound.
US08177912B2
An evaporation source having a nozzle structure that makes the distribution of film thickness uniform in the width direction of a substrate and a vacuum evaporator using the same are provided. A vapor produced by evaporation or sublimation by heating to evaporation material is discharged from a long nozzle opening like a band. A deposited substrate is transferred in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the nozzle opening while facing the nozzle opening. A discharge flow rate of vapor per unit area in the longitudinal direction of the nozzle opening is made to be maximum in a portion at a nozzle width direction position corresponding to a substrate edge position rather than a central part of the nozzle opening and a plurality of partition plates providing directivity to the flow of vapor are arranged inside the nozzle opening.
US08177908B2
A binder for mine tailings, alluvial sand and other aggregate used as a backfill for an underground void comprises ferrous slag, cement kiln dust and/or lime kiln dust, and Portland cement and/or lime; the binder displays strength characteristics better than or comparable to those achieved with conventional binders based on Portland cement or Portland cement and slag.
US08177904B2
The use of polymeric microparticles having a cavity in hydraulically setting building material mixtures is described, from 1 to 100% by volume of the cavity of these microparticles being filled with water. In this way, remarkable concrete resistance to the freezing and thawing cycle is achieved, these microparticles providing improved protection for the concrete from the effects of the freezing and thawing cycle, even at a diameter of from 0.1 to 1 μm and in doses which are 1 to 2 orders of magnitude lower than those described in the prior art. Moreover, the compressive strength of the correspondingly hardened concrete is substantially improved, which was likewise not foreseeable.
US08177891B2
The present invention relates to a membrane wherein said membrane comprises a polymerized composition that comprised prior to polymerization at least one type of compound comprising at least 70 oxyethylene groups and at least two polymerizable groups. The invention further relates to the use of this membrane for separating polar gases and vapors.
US08177883B2
A container having a plurality of walls, and at least one inlet and/or outlet, said container including an apparatus for controlling the composition of gases within the container, the apparatus including at least one sensor, at least one controller and at least one gas permeable membrane, through which membrane different gases can pass at different rates, said membrane dividing the container into a first region being for holding cargo and a second region defining a gas buffer region, and said membrane being permeable permitting for nitrogen, oxygen and carbon dioxide at different flow rates, wherein the buffer region is in communication with the ambient atmosphere through one or more vacuum pump(s).
US08177879B2
This arc start material for electroslag remelting comprises an aggregate of curled turning chips of superalloy. This arc starting method for electroslag remelting comprises starting electroslag remelting by generating an arc between a primary ingot electrode including a primary ingot and an arc start material for electroslag remelting, wherein the primary ingot electrode is energized while contacting with the arc start material for electroslag remelting including an aggregate of curled turning chips of superalloy, and then an arc is generated between the primary ingot electrode and the arc start material for electroslag remelting of superalloy by separating the primary ingot electrode from the arc start material for electroslag remelting of superalloy.
US08177878B2
A bonding material including a meltable joining material and a plurality of heterostructures distributed throughout the meltable joining material, the heterostructures comprising at least a first material and a second material capable of conducting a self-sustaining exothermic reaction upon initiation by an external energy to generate heat sufficient to melt the meltable joining material.
US08177877B2
A filter element includes a filter media pack, a frame, an annular seal, and a sealing means independent of the annular seal, attaching the filter media pack and the frame. The means of sealing an interface between the filter media pack and the frame include molding a filter media pack seal, plastic welding outer wraps of filter media pack to the frame, and securing the filter media pack and the frame using a bead of adhesive.
US08177869B2
Disclosed is a reaction device that includes a reaction device main body that includes a first reaction unit and a second reaction unit, a container to house the reaction device main body and a first region that corresponds to at least the first reaction unit and a second region that corresponds to the second reaction unit, the first and second regions being provided to the container or internal side of the container. The first reaction unit is set to a temperature higher than that of the second reaction unit, and the first region has a higher reflectivity than that of the second region, with respect to a heat ray that is radiated from the reaction device main body.
US08177863B2
A method for production of a membrane/electrode unit for a fuel cell is disclosed. The conducting polymer membrane is compressed with two electrodes until a given compression is achieved. The method permits an increase in resting voltage of the membrane/electrode unit in use, the amount of damage during production is reduced, and a constant thickness within a production run is achieved.
US08177862B2
A method includes allowing a work piece having a solder bump to contact a bond head; heating the bond head until the solder bump is melted; and conducting a cooling media into the bond head to cool the solder bump and to solidify the solder bump.
US08177856B2
A mechanical finger which visually and functionally resembles a human finger. The finger consists of three phalanges pivoted in their clevises. The first phalange is driven by a rod located in an arm and being connected to an actuator. The second and third phalanges are driven by tendons. The tension of the second phalange tendon is initiated by the movement of the first phalange and the tension of the third phalange tendon is initiated by the movement of the second phalange.
US08177854B2
“Implants, such as interbody spacers, fusion devices and bone grafts, are provided having improved mechanical properties and/or degradation profiles. Such implants include a three-dimensional scaffold formed from particles, such as microspheres, which may in some embodiments be resorbable or biodegradable and which may have at least two different degradation rates. In some embodiments, the scaffold may be elastomeric. The three-dimensional scaffold may be for example, porous or semi-porous. Also provided are kits including such implants, and methods of producing and using the same.”
US08177851B2
A prosthetic liner includes a convex exterior surface, a concave interior surface and a rim portion connecting the interior surface and the exterior surface. The liner includes a plurality of recesses and a plurality of fingers. Each of the plurality of recesses is formed in the exterior surface of the liner without extending to the interior surface of the liner. The plurality of fingers is positioned in the plurality of recesses and each of the plurality of fingers is connected to the exterior surface and extends toward the rim portion. The plurality of fingers may be resiliently moveable in the plurality of recesses. The plurality of fingers may be integral with the exterior surface of the liner. The rim portion may define a plane into which at least one of the plurality of fingers extends.
US08177842B2
Implant devices, and method of using the same, are provided. The implant devices have circular, or oblong, articular ends. The articular ends have a convex upper face and a concave lower face, the convex upper face blending to the concave lower face, and the concave lower face having a curvature less than the curvature of the convex upper face. The implant devices further have a stem extending from the concave lower face away from the upper face, the stem having a maximum radius at the convex lower face and tapering to lesser radius along the length of the stem.
US08177827B2
A cooling device for locally and superficially anesthetizing an area on the surface of the body comprising a coolant fluid contacting a cooler. The cooler is moistened by a disinfection fluid. The cooling device is held in a refrigerator till use, then allowed to warm up to operation temperature. Then, the cooler is applied to the area on the surface of the body.
US08177817B2
Anatomic points within the body are projected outside the body through the use of extenders. Bridges may be used to keep the extenders parallel to each other to provide a spatial transformation of the anatomic points to projected points outside the body. The projected points may then be used for measurement, or to facilitate the selection or configuration of an implant that is to be positioned proximate the anatomic points. Such an implant may be a rod for a posterior spinal fusion system. Pedicle screws may be implanted into pedicles of the spine, and may then serve as anchors for the extenders. The extenders may have rod interfaces that receive the rod in a manner that mimics the geometry of the pedicle screws so that the contoured rod will properly fit into engagement with the pedicle screws.
US08177815B2
A dynamic stabilization, motion preservation spinal implant system includes an anchor system, a horizontal rod system and a vertical rod system. The systems are modular so that various constructs and configurations can be created and customized to a patient.
US08177812B2
A bone fusion device, system, kit, and/or method can include an elongated structure including at least two anchor portions and at least one deformable segment connected on each end to one of the at least two anchor portions. Each deformable segment can include a plurality of spaced apart deformable members deformable from an unexpanded configuration to an expanded configuration. The bone fusion device may be implanted between two bone structures in the unexpanded configuration utilizing a minimally invasive surgical procedure. The deformable members can be compressed along a longitudinal axis of the device to deform the deformable members to the expanded configuration into contact with the two bone structures. A bone growth promoting material can be placed in the anchor portion lumen and in the interior of each deformable segment to promote bone in-growth between the bone structures.
US08177810B2
Methods for providing a flexible spinal stabilization system operative to prevent lateral bending, extension, and rotation across two or more adjacent vertebrae are described. Broadly, the invention utilizes a pair of connectors on each vertebrae, and flexible elongated elements, such as sutures or cables, in an axial and crisscrossed pattern to provide an arrangement that resists extension, lateral bending, and torsional/rotational motion. In some embodiments, the flexible stabilization system includes a pair of locking anchors and a pair of hook-like anchors. The locking anchors are pre-threaded with a suture in a loose looped configuration before insertion into the vertebra. Once the locking anchors have been inserted, the suture loops can be looped over hook-like anchors inserted into an adjacent vertebrae to join the vertebrae and apply tension across the disc space. In some embodiments, the hook-like anchors can have multiple hooks for use in joining multiple vertebral levels.
US08177800B2
A method for removing a vein includes making an incision through a skin layer of a patient, inserting a surgical instrument through the incision, visualizing the vein through the skin layer using a light source positioned subcutaneously and in proximity of the vein, and cutting the vein using the surgical instrument. The vein can be visualized by directing light from the light source at the vein from underneath the vein or from a side of the vein. A device for illuminating a body structure has a housing with a distal end configured for subcutaneous insertion into a patient's tissue and positioning in proximity of the body structure, a light path supported by the housing and configured for directing light at the body structure, and a fluid line supported by the housing.
US08177796B2
An endoscopic surgical instrument for passing a suture through tissue includes a first jaw member, a needle, and a capture feature actuable to grip and retain the suture after the suture has been passed through a tissue body. An actuation mechanism can both move the needle between retracted and extended positions, and move the capture feature between open and closed configurations, via a single actuation. The capture feature may be a trap door which is axially translatable relative to the first jaw member to overlap a portion of the first jaw member and trap a portion of the suture between the trap door and the overlapped portion. The first jaw member may be movable relative to a second jaw member to grasp a tissue body. The instrument can grasp a tissue body, pass the suture through the tissue, capture and retain the suture without being repositioned relative to the tissue.
US08177794B2
An endoscopic stitching device including a tool assembly having a pair of juxtaposed jaws; a rotatably supported camming hub defining a groove formed in an inner surface of a central lumen thereof; and a center rod slidably and rotatably disposed within the lumen of the camming hub. The center rod is operatively engaged with the groove formed in the camming hub and engaged with the pair of jaws. The inner groove of the camming hub is configured such that, in at least one position, axial translation of the center rod relative to the camming hub results in rotation of the camming hub and at least one of opening and closing of the pair of jaws. The inner groove of the camming hub is configured such that, in at least one other position, rotation of the canter rod results in rotation of the tool assembly.
US08177788B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide a milling system and method that provides a precise triangular cut in a patient's proximal femur. The system allows the surgeon to mill in a single direction, that is, the drill is in the same or similar longitudinal place as the handle of the milling system, preventing the surgeon from having to enter the patient's leg at two different angles. The present invention also provides a milling system that can be pre-assembled (e.g., on the back table by a nurse while the surgeon is preparing the site), which enables the milling to take place in one step.
US08177777B2
A surgical device having a body portion that is gripped by a user, the body portion having a distal end equipped with a soft tip and the proximal end optionally connected to an external vacuum or gas/air source. The surgical device is particularly suitable for use in ophthalmic surgical procedures to remove fluid from the eye or introduce gas/air into the eye. The soft tip is fabricated to protect the delicate tissues if the eye and is further modified so as to enhance a user's visibility of the device in the surgical field.
US08177776B2
A portable surgical tray unit can include a portable surgical tray for housing a processing unit, and that includes an opening extending entirely therethrough. The portable surgical tray unit can also include a plurality of instruments connected to the portable surgical tray and operably coupled to the processing unit, and a user input device positioned on at least one of the instruments. The user input device can be operably coupled to the processing unit and can be configured to receive a user input for controlling an operating parameter of one or more of the instruments. The processing unit can be configured to receive user input through the user input device and transmit an operating command to the one or more instruments. The portable surgical tray and the plurality of instruments can be sterilized and prepackaged in a single package.
US08177775B2
The present invention is directed to a device for a portable convection enhanced delivery system that allows administering liquids to specific locations within the body, especially tissues and tumors also allowing outsubject treatment. The application system comprises a portable extracorporal pump with a fluid reservoir that is connected via an infusion system to an infusion catheter placeable to any tissue or tumor the fluid should be administered to by high flow microperfusion. The system enables administration of fluids of any kind by convection enhanced delivery also in out-patient treatment. The system can be used for delivering various drugs, proteins, protein toxins, antibodies for treatment or imaging, proteins in enzyme replacement therapy, growth factors and viruses or oligonucleotides in gene therapy etc. The application methods as well as the surgical method to implant this device are enclosed to this invention.
US08177761B2
Illustrative pairs of caps are disclosed, each of the caps being sized and shaped to provide a protective union about a separated medical connector. The pair of caps comprises an assembly that includes a male cap and a female cap. The assembly is sealed until the caps are separated for use, thereby maintaining sterility of the internal surfaces of the caps. One or more absorbent pads may be impregnated with an antiseptic agent and positioned within the pair of caps.
US08177760B2
A valved connector for controlling the flow of fluid having a valve assembly positioned within a connector housing having a first position wherein the valve assembly prevents fluid flow through the connector housing, and a second position wherein the valve assembly permits fluid flow through the connector housing. The valve assembly may be movable from the first position to the second position by a male luer fitting. The valve assembly is configured for multiple and repeated access and also for minimizing fluid flow restrictions. The valved connector may be designed for use with a catheter to provide for “over the guidewire” placement or replacement techniques with little or no bleed-back or air embolism.
