US08223672B2
A method, system, and computer usable program product for assigning and provisioning VOIP services are provided. A data processing system receives an order for the VOIP service and information about virtual inventory. The data processing system may create a provisioning command including provisioning information for provisioning a telecommunication line according to the order and send the provisioning command to a provisioning system, create a porting command including porting information for porting the phone number in the order if porting a phone number and send the porting command to a porting system, create a registration command including user information for registering a user and send the registration command to a web portal, create a setup command including the user information for creating an account for the user and send the setup command to a customer management system. The data processing system may then complete the order for the VOIP service.
US08223667B2
Mechanisms for inferred discovery of a data communication device connected to a router, unreachable by a management module, and characterized by a device address are disclosed. The mechanisms include querying, by the management module, the router for connection data and identifying, by the management module in dependence upon the connection data, the device address.
US08223658B2
Embodiments of the invention relates to a method for operating a mesh-type network, particularly as defined in an IEEE 802.11s standard, formed by a plurality of network nodes, said network operating at least a first network node that functions as access point for stations which are dissociated from the network and a second network node that functions as connector point for stations that are dissociated from the network. When switching a dissociated station from a radio service area of the first network node to the radio service area of the second network node in said mesh network, an updating of allocation information of nodes based on a route error message which is defined according to a routing protocol valid for the mesh network is carried out.
US08223654B2
Application-specific integrated circuit for monitoring and optimizing interlayer network performance
An application-specific integrated circuit for use in optimizing a packet network including a processing unit that processes defined sequences of assembler language and executes defined sequences of assembler instructions; program and data memory that stores the defined sequences of assembler instructions; an internal data bus; and an input/output (I/O) interface arranged between the internal data bus and at least one external network device for communicating data packets containing network performance information between the internal data bus and the at least one external network device.
US08223653B2
A broadcast capable file system is disclosed. In a method, a server may receive a file request from a requesting client and prepare a broadcast response to the file request. The broadcast response may be directed to a group of clients of which the requesting client is a member. In another method, at least one of the clients of the group of clients may submit a file request to the server. Each of the clients of the group may receive a broadcast response to the file request. The broadcast capable file system may be implemented between a server computing device and multiple client computing devices. The server computing device and multiple client computing devices may be included in a network testing system.
US08223647B2
Systems and methods are provided to increase data throughput by aggregating block acknowledgements. Embodiments of these systems and methods provide a single block acknowledgement for multiple traffic identifiers in data communication with a communication station. One method includes providing a multiple start sequence number corresponding to each traffic identifier of a plurality of traffic identifiers and providing a bit map corresponding to each multiple start sequence number. The bit map indicates a block acknowledgement of packets corresponding to one traffic identifier of the plurality of traffic identifiers.
US08223644B2
A control unit generates packet signals while controlling an interface (IF) unit, a modulation unit and a baseband processing unit. While dividing each packet signal into a plurality of partial periods, the control unit assigns data to at least part of each of the plurality of partial periods and sets the rate of data, for a partial period placed anterior to each packet signal, higher than that for a partial period placed posterior to the each packet signal. The IF unit, the modulation unit and the baseband processing unit transmit the packet signals thus generated.
US08223641B2
A communications system provides a dynamic setting of optimal buffer sizes in IP networks. A method for dynamically adjusting buffer capacities of a router may include steps of monitoring a number of incoming packets to the router, determining a packet arrival rate, and determining the buffer capacities based at least partially on the packet arrival rate. Router buffers are controlled to exhibit the determined buffer capacities, e.g. during writing packets into and reading packets from each of the buffers as part of a packet routing performed by the router. In the disclosed examples, buffer size may be based on the mean arrival rate and one or more of mean packet size and mean waiting time.
US08223639B2
A method and device for communicating in a contention-based communication network. The method includes upon an early termination of a previously obtained transmission opportunity (TXOP) for communications with one of a mobile device and a base station, transmitting a contention free end (CF-End) frame to the base station for further broadcasting to the network by the base station. Also, a method and device for communicating in a contention-based communication system. The method includes receiving in a base station a first contention free end (CF-End) frame from a first mobile device indicating an early termination of a transmission opportunity (TXOP) previously obtained by the first mobile terminal for communications between the first mobile device and one of the base station and a second mobile device; and omnidirectionally broadcasting a second CF-End frame with a duration field having a value equal to zero.
US08223635B2
A metropolitan area network (MAN) resource control system, method and Access-Resource and Admission Control Function (A-RACF) device are disclosed, wherein, the A-RACF device comprises a MAN resource and policy control function (RPCF) module. The MAN network device comprises a MAN resource control enforcement function (RCEF) module. The system is connected via the MAN RPC module with the MAN RCEF module which needs to be controlled to control the QoS of the MAN resource. The MAN RPC module is used to make a MAN resource control strategy and generate the QoS policy. The MAN RCEF module is used to execute the QoS control according to the QoS policy sent by the A-RACF device.
US08223630B2
A system for monitoring operations of a Telephone Number Mapping (ENUM) system is disclosed. A system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure may include, for example, an ENUM system having a controller element to monitor queries received from one or more network elements, detect one or more faults in the queries submitted by at least one among the one or more network elements, and prevent the at least one of the one or more network elements from submitting subsequent queries to the ENUM system. Additional embodiments are disclosed.
US08223627B2
A method for reducing the peak-to-average ratio in an OFDM communication signal is provided. The method includes defining a constellation having a plurality of symbols, defining a symbol duration for the OFDM communication signal, and defining a plurality of time instants in the symbol duration. A plurality of tones are allocated to a particular communication device, and a discrete signal is constructed in the time domain by mapping symbols from the constellation to the time instants. A continuous signal is generated by applying an interpolation function to the discrete signal such that the continuous signal only includes sinusoids having frequencies which are equal to the allocated tones.
US08223626B2
A joint set of linear precoder designs is provided for single cell uplink multiuser space-time block coded multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems with multi-packet reception by exploiting outdated channel state information. By deriving the pairwise error probability with respect to both minimum and average codeword distance design metrics, the technique solves an optimization problem subject to transmit power constraint for each user and dependent on the outdated channel state information. Due to the non-convex nature of the optimization problem, an iterative technique based on alternating minimization and projected gradient can be used to solve for a joint linear preceding structure for general space-time block coding. The linear precoding structure is then sent from the base station to various consumer premise equipment for use in later transmissions. For orthogonal space-time block code, a simplified distributed technique is provided to solve for a closed-form solution of the optimization problem.
US08223624B2
A transmitter comprises a block generator (109) which divides a data symbol stream into data symbol blocks. A divide processor (111) divides each block into a first set of data symbols stored in a first set buffer (113) and a second set of data symbols stored in a second set buffer (115). A space time block encoder (117) codes the first set in accordance with a space time block code to generate a coded set of data symbols. A parallel processor (119) then creates a plurality of parallel data streams from the coded set and the second set. Each of the parallel data streams is allocated to one of a plurality of antennas (129-135). A plurality of parallel stream transmitters (121-127) transmits the parallel data streams in parallel in a communication channel from the plurality of transmit antennas (129-135).
US08223620B2
A super-resolution optical recording medium (10) of the present invention includes: a medium information region (1) on which medium identification information is recorded; a content region (3) on which content information is recorded; and a blank region (2) provided between the medium information region (1) and the content region (3) and in which at least two tracks are provided so as to connect a train of prepits in the medium information region (1) and a train of prepits in the content region (3). No information is recorded on the blank region (2). With this arrangement, the present invention provides a super-resolution optical recording medium in which a region on which medium identification information is recorded and a region on which content information is recorded are different in track pitch and in which a reproduction error hardly occurs when reproduction shifts from the region on which the medium identification information is recorded to the region on which the content information is recorded.
US08223613B2
In an optical pickup device, an optical reflection beam from a multi-layer optical disc is divided into a plurality of areas, divided optical fluxes focus upon different positions on a photodetector, a focusing error signal is detected by using a plurality of divided optical fluxes by a knife edge method, and a tracking error signal is detected by using a plurality of divided optical fluxes. The optical flux divided areas and light receiving parts are disposed in such a manner that in an in-focus state of a target layer, stray light from another layer does not enter servo signal light receiving parts of the photodetector. It is therefore possible to obtain stable servo signals including both the focusing error signal and tracking error signal during recording/reproducing a multi-layer optical disc, without being influenced by stray light from another layer.
US08223602B2
With a high-density optical disc drive, although it is necessary to correct spherical aberrations which depend on a disc substrate thickness error, operation of an aberrations correction element takes time and therefore easy correction according to a disc radius degrades the operability of the apparatus. The present invention comprises an optical pickup unit including an objective lens and an aberrations correction lens, a focus actuator, a tracking actuator, a aberrations correction motor, a seek motor, an aberrations correction lens control module, a radius information detecting module, and a system control module.
US08223594B2
Disclosed is a chronograph timepiece in which it is possible to prevent the chronograph drive timing and the magnetic field detection timing from overlapping each other to unnecessarily effect driving with correction drive pulses. A processing unit controls drive circuits so as to drive a time indication motor and a chronograph indication motor with a predetermined timing based respectively on timekeeping information obtained and chronograph measurement information obtained, and effects control such that a magnetic field detecting unit detects a magnetic field with a predetermined timing; when the drive timing for the chronograph indication motor and the magnetic field detection timing for the magnetic field detecting unit overlap each other, the processing unit changes the magnetic field detection timing for the magnetic field detecting unit so that the drive timing for the chronograph indication motor and the magnetic field detection timing for the magnetic field detecting unit may not overlap each other.
US08223588B2
An AD2CP includes at least one transducer assembly emitting sets of slanted directional acoustic beams and receiving the echoes; and electronics that processes the echoes into depth cells and computes velocity in each depth cell. The AD2CP is configured so that each beam set has a profiling catenation, at least two of which are different, and the AD2CP is configured so that the emitting, receiving and processing operate contemporaneously.
US08223585B2
A method and system for controlling the shape and separation of an arrangement of streamers towed behind a survey vessel. Each streamer is steered laterally by lateral steering devices positioned along its length at specific nodes. Each streamer is driven by its lateral steering devices to achieve a specified separation from a neighboring streamer. One of these actual streamers, used as a reference by the other actual streamers, is steered to achieve a specified separation from an imaginary, or ghost, streamer virtually towed with the actual streamers.
US08223584B1
An apparatus includes a memory circuit and an interface circuit. The interface circuit is coupled to the memory circuit. The interface circuit selects a phase value of clock signal adapted to clock the memory circuit.
US08223581B2
A semiconductor storage device includes: a memory cell array including a plurality of first wirings, a plurality of second wirings intersecting with the first wirings, and a plurality of memory cells respectively arranged at intersections of the first and second wirings; a plurality of drivers that drive the first wirings; a dummy wiring continuously extending in a direction of the first wirings and in a direction of the second wirings, a part of the dummy wiring extending in the direction of the second wirings being connected to the plurality of drivers; a plurality of switch circuits connected to respective connection portions of the plurality of drivers and the dummy wiring; and a replica line extending in the direction of the second wirings and connected to the dummy wiring through the plurality of switch circuits.
US08223570B2
In one embodiment, a semiconductor storage device includes a memory cell, a sense amplifier, a bit line, a pre-charge circuit, and a power-supply-voltage switching circuit. The memory cell is configured to store data. The sense amplifier is configured to amplify a signal from the memory cell. The bit line is configured to transmit the signal from the memory cell to the sense amplifier. The pre-charge circuit is configured to pre-charge the bit line. The power-supply-voltage switching circuit is configured to switch a voltage of a power supply and to actuate the sense amplifier after the bit line is pre-charged by the pre-charge circuit, wherein the power-supply-voltage switching circuit is configured to switch the voltage of the power supply to be larger than a voltage during the pre-charge by the pre-charge circuit.
US08223569B2
According to one embodiment, a semiconductor memory device includes a memory array, an address counter, an address detecting circuit and a control circuit. The memory array has a plurality of memory cells arranged at crossing positions of word lines and bit lines. The address counter increments an address including a row address and a column address in synchronism with a clock to sequentially output the incremented addresses. The address detecting circuit detects an address previous to an address including a row address to which the row address is switched at the address output from the address counter to output a detection signal. The control circuit performs a precharging operation to the bit lines connected to the memory cells according to the detection signal output from the address detecting circuit.
US08223568B2
A semiconductor memory device capable of preventing or minimizing bit line disturbance and performing a low-voltage high-speed operation includes a read data path circuit including a bit line sense amplifier, a local input/output line sense amplifier, a column selecting unit to operationally connect bit lines connected to the bit line sense amplifier to local input/output lines connected to the local input/output line sense amplifier in response to a column selection signal, and a local input/output line precharging unit to precharge the pair of local input/output lines by a first precharging unit, equalizing the pair of local input/output lines by an equalizing unit, and to precharge the local input/output lines by a second precharging unit following an elapsed time after the bit line sense amplifier is activated, while the column selection is deactivated.
US08223559B2
A method of programming a memory, wherein the memory includes many memory regions having multiple multi-level cells. Each memory region includes a first bit line, a second bit line, a data buffer and a protecting unit. The protecting unit, coupled to the first and second bit lines, and the data buffer, prevents a programming error from occurring. In an embodiment of the programming method, corresponding data are inputted to the data buffers respectively. The data corresponding to an nth phase are programmed into the targeted multi-level cells. Data corresponding to an (n+1)th phase is modified to make the data corresponding to the (n+1)th phase be the same as the data corresponding to the nth phase if the targeted multi-level cells pass a programming verification process according to an nth programming verification voltage. The above steps are repeated until n is equal to a maximum, n being a positive integer.
US08223555B2
Methods for multiple level program verify, memory devices, and memory systems are provided. In one such method, a series of programming pulses are applied to a memory cell to be programmed. A program verify pulse, at an initial program verify voltage, is applied to the memory cell after each programming pulse. The initial program verify voltage is a verify voltage that has been increased by a quick charge loss voltage. The quick charge loss voltage is subtracted from the initial program verify voltage after either a programming pulse has reached a certain reference voltage or a quantity of programming pulses has reached a pulse count threshold.
US08223542B2
According to one embodiment, a method of reading data in a semiconductor memory device including a plurality of memory cells associated with rows and columns and a plurality of latch circuits associated with the columns includes reading flag data from the memory cells associated with one of the columns into associated one of the latch circuits, selecting one of the latch circuits sequentially, while shifting one of the latch circuits to be selected, and reading the flag data from one of the latch circuits selected in an Nth one of the shifts. N is an integer not less than 0).
US08223539B2
The present disclosure includes GCIB-treated resistive devices, devices utilizing GCIB-treated resistive devices (e.g., as switches, memory cells), and methods for forming the GCIB-treated resistive devices. One method of forming a GCIB-treated resistive device includes forming a lower electrode, and forming an oxide material on the lower electrode. The oxide material is exposed to a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) until a change in resistance of a first portion of the oxide material relative to the resistance of a second portion of the oxide material. An upper electrode is formed on the first portion.
US08223533B2
A magnetic memory includes a magnetoresistive effect device comprising: a first ferromagnetic layer that has magnetic anisotropy in a direction perpendicular to a film plane thereof; a first nonmagnetic layer that is provided on the first ferromagnetic layer; a first reference layer that is provided on the first nonmagnetic layer, has magnetic anisotropy in a direction perpendicular to a film plane thereof, has magnetization antiparallel to a magnetization direction of the first ferromagnetic layer, and has a film thickness that is 1/5.2 to 1/1.5 times as large as a film thickness of the first ferromagnetic layer in the direction perpendicular to the film plane; a second nonmagnetic layer that is provided on the first reference layer; and a storage layer that is provided on the second nonmagnetic layer, has magnetic anisotropy in a direction perpendicular to a film plane thereof, and has a magnetization direction varied by spin-polarized electrons caused by flowing the current to the magnetoresistive effect device.
US08223531B2
The present invention provides a semiconductor device including a memory that has a memory cell array including a plurality of memory cells, a control circuit that controls the memory, and an antenna, where the memory cell array has a plurality of bit lines extending in a first direction and a plurality of word lines extending in a second direction different from the first direction, and each of the plurality of memory cells has an organic compound layer provided between the bit line and the word line. Data is written by applying optical or electric action to the organic compound layer.
US08223528B2
A control method for at least one memory cell is disclosed. The memory cell includes a transistor and a resistor. The resistor is connected to the transistor between a first node and a second node. In a programming mode, the memory cell is programmed. The step of programming the memory cell includes providing a first controlling voltage to a gate of the transistor, providing a first setting voltage to the first node, and providing a second setting voltage to the second node. When it is determined that the memory cell has been successfully programmed, a specific action is executed.
US08223526B2
Generally, a method and circuit for improving the retention and reliability of unprogrammed anti-fuse memory cells. This is achieved by minimizing the tunneling current through the unprogrammed anti-fuse memory cells which can cause eventual gate oxide breakdown. The amount of time a read voltage is applied to the anti-fuse memory cells is reduced by pulsing a read voltage applied to a wordline connected to the unprogrammed anti-fuse memory cells, thereby reducing the tunneling current. Further tunneling current can be reduced by decoupling the unprogrammed anti-fuse memory cells from a sense amplifier that can drive the corresponding bitline to VSS.
US08223524B2
A multi-chip package memory includes an interface chip generating at least one reference signal defined in relation to a reference process variation, and a stacked plurality of memory chips electrically connected to the interface chip via a vertical connection path and receiving the reference clock signal via the vertical connection path, wherein each one of the stacked plurality of memory chips is characterized by a process variation and actively compensates for said process variation in relation to the reference signal.
US08223518B2
A multi-phase (N) power supply is presented having current shared power factor correction. This includes N input rectifier filters each receiving a respective different one of an N phase AC input signal and providing therefrom one of N rectified signals. N single phase power factor correction pre-regulators each receive a respective different one of the rectified signals and provide therefrom a regulated signal. A current sharing N way to single way multiplexing switch network receives the N regulated signals and provides therefrom a single output signal.
US08223517B2
A converter controllable in regenerative running mode, which is a power converting apparatus capable of suppressing harmonics without increasing the size of a reactor, and reducing power loss and electromagnetic noise. A power converter is configured by directly connecting AC sides of single-phase sub-converters having a DC voltage lower than a DC voltage of a 3-phase main converter to AC input lines of individual phases thereof in series. The main converter is driven by one gate pulse per half recurring cycle and a voltage produced by each sub-converter at AC terminals thereof is controlled to match a difference between an AC power supply voltage and a voltage produced by the main converter at AC terminals thereof, whereby phase voltages of the power converter are generated as the sums of phase voltages of the individual converters.
US08223506B2
A power semiconductor module is disclosed, comprising: a substrate mounted with a power semiconductor device and formed with a pattern; and an integrated terminal unit integrally assembled with a power terminal for applying power to the substrate and a body in which a signal terminal for inputting a signal to or outputting the signal from the substrate is made of an insulated resin material, wherein the integrated terminal unit can be mounted to the substrate to allow the power terminal and the signal terminal to be simultaneously connected to the substrate.
US08223500B2
A memory card includes a circuit board, semiconductor chips mounted on different areas on the circuit board, a semiconductor chip with a semiconductor electrode on its top face and being fixed such that at least a part of its bottom face faces at least a part of a top face of the semiconductor chip, a wire for connecting the semiconductor electrode and a board electrode on the circuit board to achieve a mounting state of the semiconductor chip, and a cover for covering a circuit formation area from an upper side of the circuit board. The circuit formation area includes three semiconductor chips and the wire. At least a part of each of three semiconductor chips, at least a part of the circuit board, and the wire are covered with secondary sealing resin and primary sealing resin.
US08223496B2
A power supply unit of an arc discharge device includes a semiconductor module 1 and a radiator fitted onto the semiconductor module 1. The semiconductor module 1 includes a module casing 2 and common units 3a to 3c retained by the module casing 2. Each of the common units 3a to 3c has: a ceramic substrate 50 having a circuit surface disposed with a semiconductor element 54 and a radiation surface on a side opposite to the circuit surface and a package 35 that exposes the radiation surface and seals the circuit surface with heat resistant resin. The radiator is fitted onto the module casing 2 to be thereby brought into abutting contact with all of the radiation surfaces of the common units 3a to 3c.
US08223492B2
A horizontal subrack includes a ventilation box, a fan box and a board area. The ventilation box is located on the top and/or at the bottom of the board area, and includes an air partition plate, an air inlet, and a first air outlet; the air partition plate is set inside the ventilation box, and divides the ventilation box into an air-in chamber and an air-out chamber; the fan box is installed in the air-in chamber, and a fan is installed on the fan box; the air inlet is set on the front wall of the ventilation box; and the first air outlet is set on the rear wall of the ventilation box. The board area includes board slots, an air-in duct and an air-out duct. The air-in duct is located on one side of the board slots, and the air-out duct is located on the other side of the board slots. The air-in duct is linked to the air-in chamber, and the air-out duct is linked to the air-out chamber. The horizontal subrack extends the trail between the fan box and the board area, improves the evenness of the air volume distributed to the slots of the horizontal subrack, and overcomes the bottleneck of enhancing the heat dissipation capability of the horizontal subrack.
US08223491B2
A fastener for securing computer storage devices is revealed. The fastener is arranged at a storage device of computers. The fastener for securing computer storage devices consists of a first fix member, a second fix member and a connection part. The first fix member and the second fix member respectively are disposed on two sides of the storage device. The first fix member as well as the second fix member respectively has at least one first groove and at least one second groove. A first mount member and a second mount member of a housing respectively are mounted into the first groove and the second groove. The storage device is fixed by the first fix member and the second fix member. The storage device is mounted in the housing of computers more stably by the assembling of the first mount member and the second mount member with the first groove and the second groove respectively.
US08223490B2
A latching mechanism for a portable electronic device includes an assembly seat, two latching members, two resilient members and a pressing member, the two latching members are pivotably positioned on the assembly seat, the two resilient members are secured on the assembly seat and resist the two latching members respectively, the pressing member is resisted by the two latching members and is slidable relative to the assembly seat.
US08223481B2
A computer system includes a chassis and a frame. The chassis includes a chassis bottom wall, a first chassis sidewall connected to the chassis bottom wall, and a second chassis sidewall connected to the chassis bottom wall. The frame includes a mounting bracket and a retaining bracket. The mounting bracket is secured to at least one of the chassis bottom wall and the first and second chassis sidewalls. The mounting bracket defines a through opening configured for to have a disk drive inserted through the opening. The retaining bracket defines a holding space configured for receiving the disk drive. The through opening is in communication with the holding space. The mounting bracket includes a mounting bracket top wall. The retaining bracket includes a retaining bracket top wall. The retaining bracket top wall extends from the mounting bracket top wall.
US08223478B2
A field device assembly includes a housing body, a first circuitry subassembly mounted to the housing body and positioned at least partially within the housing body, a first cover chassis having a shoulder, mating flame path restricting structures positioned on the first cover chassis and the housing body, a first threaded collar configured to fit about the first cover chassis and to permit rotation relative to the first cover chassis, and a second circuitry subassembly secured to the first cover chassis. The first threaded collar is threadably engaged with the housing body, and includes an engagement structure engaged with the shoulder of the first cover chassis to secure the first cover chassis to the housing body. The second circuitry subassembly includes an electrical connector configured for linear insertion engagement with a mating electrical connector within the housing body to electrically connect the first and second circuitry subassemblies.
US08223463B2
A magnetoresistive head which has a high head SNR by reducing generated mag-noise without deteriorating an output comprises, according to one embodiment, a magnetoresistive sensor having a laminated structure which includes an antiferromagnetic layer, a magnetization pinned layer, a non-magnetic intermediate layer, a magnetization free layer, and a magnetization stable layer arranged adjacent to the magnetization free layer. The magnetization stable layer comprises non-magnetic coupling layer, a first ferromagnetic stable layer, an antiparallel coupling layer, and a second ferromagnetic stable layer. A magnetization quantity of a first ferromagnetic stable layer and a second ferromagnetic stable layer are substantially equal, and the magnetization of the first ferromagnetic stable layer and the second ferromagnetic stable layer are magnetically coupled in the antiparallel direction from each other. The magnetizations of the first ferromagnetic stable layer and the free layer are coupled in an antiferromagnetic or a ferromagnetic alignment.
US08223461B2
A pure rotary microactuator comprising a spring assembly etched within a silicon substrate is disclosed. A first piezoelectric device is coupled with a first portion of the spring assembly and a second piezoelectric device coupled with a second portion of the spring assembly. The first piezoelectric device changes shape in response to an electrical input signal, and this change in shape provides a first push force to the first portion of the spring assembly in a first direction. The second piezoelectric device also changes shape in response to the electrical input signal, and this change in shape provides a second push force to the second portion in a second direction, which is different from the first direction. The combination of the first and the second push forces rotates the spring assembly with respect to the silicon substrate.
US08223460B2
A structure for a load beam used in hard disk drive devices includes an asymmetric structure. The load beam exhibits longitudinal asymmetry (i.e., is asymmetric along its long axis) in regard to the weight distribution, but has a center of mass that lies along its longitudinal axis due to the provisioning of counterbalancing features, such as the addition of material, the removal of material, or a combination of adding material and removing material, or the use of an asymmetrical damping layer.
US08223458B2
A magnetic head, according to one embodiment, includes a main magnetic pole having a protruding portion such that a distance from a first side of a trailing edge of the main magnetic pole to a leading edge of the main magnetic pole is different from a distance from a second side of the trailing edge of the main magnetic pole to the leading edge of the main magnetic pole, an auxiliary magnetic pole, and a coil wound around a magnetic circuit, the magnetic circuit including the main magnetic pole and the auxiliary magnetic pole. In another embodiment, a disk drive system includes a magnetic storage medium, at least one magnetic head as described previously for writing to the magnetic medium, a slider for supporting the magnetic head, and a control unit coupled to the magnetic head for controlling operation of the magnetic head. Additional systems and heads are also presented.
US08223449B2
A servo sector address and a track address of a recording medium of a disk drive are encoded into a combined address value. The combined address value is stored in a combined address field that has fewer bits than the total bits required to uniquely encode the servo sector address and the track address. The position of a transducer head, indicated by the servo sector address and the track address, is determined by reading encoded values from two consecutive servo sectors on the recording medium and then decoding the encoded values.
US08223444B2
An optical element using a medium exhibiting negative refraction, a carbon nano tube being used for the medium exhibiting negative refraction, is disclosed. There is also disclosed an optical system having a plurality of optical elements each formed of a medium exhibiting negative refraction, wherein the plurality of optical elements includes optical elements having different chromatic dispersions.
US08223441B2
A lens barrel of the present invention includes a fixing frame 100 provided with cam grooves 103-105 formed in an inner circumferential surface of the fixing frame, and a drive frame 200 provided with cam followers 201-203 formed on an outer circumferential surface of the drive frame and a plurality of engaging teeth 200a provided to the outer circumferential surface of the drive frame so as to be located on substantially the same circumference as the cam followers 201-203. The drive frame 200 is adapted such that, with the drive frame incorporated in the fixing frame 100, the cam followers 201-203 are fitted in the cam grooves 103-105, drive force is transmitted via the engaging teeth 200a, and the drive frame 200 can move relative to the fixing frame 100 in the optical axis direction of a lens as the cam followers 201-203 move along the cam grooves 103-105. According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a lens barrel in which cam followers are less likely to come out of the cam grooves even in the case where a retainer wall cannot be provided within an area where a cam follower about to fall out is received directly by the wall, or in the case where the retainer wall provided within the area where a cam follower is received directly is not sufficient.
US08223438B2
A zoom lens system of the present invention has a plurality of lens units each composed of at least one lens element and, in order from the object side to the image side, comprises: a first lens unit having negative optical power and composed of two lens elements; a second lens unit having positive optical power; and a third lens unit having positive optical power, wherein in zooming, the lens units are moved such that an interval between the first lens unit and the second lens unit should decrease and that an interval between the second lens unit and the third lens unit should increase, so that magnification change is achieved, and wherein the condition is satisfied: 0.10
US08223437B2
A wide-angle zoom lens system includes a negative fist lens group, a positive second lens group, and a positive third lens group, in this order from the object.Upon zooming from the short focal length extremity to the long focal length extremity, each of the negative fist lens group, the positive second lens group and the positive third lens group move along the optical axis thereof while a distance between the negative fist lens group and the positive second lens group decreases, and a distance between the positive second lens group and the positive third lens group also decreases.The wide-angle zoom lens system satisfies the following condition: 2.45
US08223434B2
An imaging lens system with two lenses is provided. The imaging lens system with two lenses, along an optical axis from an object side to an image side, comprises an aperture stop; a first lens having positive refractive power and being a biconvex lens; and a second lens having negative refractive power and being a meniscus lens with a concave surface on the object side and a convex surface on the image side.
US08223430B2
An accessory for use with a microscope arranged to carry out ATR measurements has a support (40) which can be mounted on the moveable stage of the microscope. A mounting (100) for an ATR crystal (106) is carried on the support. A sample supporting member (60) is disposed below the location of the ATR crystal. The sample supporting member (60) has a relatively thin upper wall (64). A pressure applying mechanism (80) is located below the wall (64) and is operable to apply pressure to a sample through the wall (64) to ensure good contact between a sample and the sample contacting surface of the crystal.
US08223429B2
An accessory for use with a microscope arranged to carry out ATR measurements has a support (40) which can be fixed to the moveable stage (20) of the microscope. A mounting member (100) is carried by the support (40). A sample supporting member (60) is disposed below the location of the ATR crystal (106). The sample supporting member (60) is carried on the support (40) such that it can be moved to restricted extent relative to the support and defines a sub-stage which can be moved relative to the main stage (20) of the microscope.
US08223423B2
An array of two or more tunable electro-optical reflecting elements where the phase response of one or more elements may be adjusted by a variety of approaches including, but not limited to: a liquid crystal superstrate, schottky contact(s), ultra-violet radiation pulses, and illumination of photoconductive substrates. Methods and apparatus for direct and/or adaptive control of phase response via the above approaches are also discussed.
US08223420B2
A cylindrical lens according to the present invention is a cylindrical lens of a bi-concave type in which both of a surface on which light is made incident and a surface from which the light is emitted are formed as concave surfaces, wherein, in at least one of the concave surfaces, both ends of the concave surface projecting to outer sides are formed to coincide with a plane, a normal of the plane being an optical axis of the cylindrical lens.
US08223419B2
A scanning optical system is provided with a light source device (1), a deflection optical system (5) that deflects the light flux from the light source device (1) to carry our a scan in a main-scanning direction (y), and a scanning and image-forming optical system (8) that forms the light flux deflected by the deflection optical system (5) into an image on a scanning surface (H). The scanning and image-forming optical system (8) includes at least a first lens (6). The scanning optical system satisfies a predetermined condition relating to a numerical aperture of a light flux entering the deflection optical system (8) in a sub-scanning direction (z), and a distance between the deflection optical system (5) and the first lens (6). The first lens (6) is a plastic lens made of a predetermined resin as a base material.
US08223416B2
In a scanning optical apparatus, light emitted from each of a plurality of light sources is converted by a first optical element into a beam of light, which in turn is converted by a second optical element into a linear image extending in a main scanning direction incident on a deflecting mirror at which the beams of light are deflected in the main scanning direction. A third optical element configured to convert the beams from the deflecting mirror into spot-like images is a single lens, and each of opposite lens surfaces thereof has a curvature in a sub-scanning direction varying continuously from a position corresponding to an optical axis thereof outward in the main scanning direction in such a manner that MTF values in a sub-scanning direction of an image formed on the scanned surface vary less with image height.
US08223414B2
A quantum bit computation method includes operating a two-quantum-bit gate on quantum bits of a first physical system and a second physical system, second energy states of second physical systems except for the first physical system and the second physical system do not change, three energy states being represented by |0>, |1> and |3>, the two energy states being represented by |2> and |4>, energies of |2> and |4> being higher than energies of |0>, |1> and |3>, a transition frequency between |3> and |2> being equal to the resonance frequency, |0> and |1> representing quantum bits, flipping quantum bits of first physical systems after operating the two-quantum-bit gate, executing no operations by a time equal to a time for operating the two-quantum-bit gate, after flipping the quantum bits, and again flipping the quantum bits of the first physical systems after executing no operations.
US08223412B2
A recording plane of a computer-generated hologram that is capable of reconstructing a full-color image and achieving a high resolution is divided by a multiplicity of parallel sections in the horizontal direction to define a multiplicity of areas. Amplitude information and phase information corresponding to different wavelengths which vary periodically in a direction traversing the multiplicity of areas, is recorded in the recording medium. Information about the same portion of the original image is recorded in individual points belonging to the same area, and information about another corresponding portion of the original image is recorded in individual points belonging to another area.
US08223410B2
The present invention relates to an imaging device and a method of processing an imaging result in an imaging device, and is applied to e.g. an electronic still camera to thereby allow the camera to correct image quality readily and flexibly with avoiding the deterioration of the image quality effectively. In the present invention, a three-dimensional look-up table is provided and an imaging result (Y2, Cb2, Cr2) is corrected by use of the three-dimensional look-up table.
US08223403B2
An inspection apparatus of a mask for exposure that has a light shielding region 3 and a half-tone region 2 on a transparent substrate 1, includes a storage unit stored with half-tone pattern area data specifying an existing area of the half-tone region 2, a pattern detection unit 22 acquiring a binary image of an area in which to scan over the surface of the transparent substrate by a relative movement with respect to the transparent substrate, and a control unit 20 making effective a detecting operation of the pattern detection unit in the area on the transparent substrate that is specified by the half-tone pattern area data, and making ineffective the detecting operation of the pattern detection unit outside the specified area.
US08223394B2
An image-forming apparatus includes: a supply section that supplies image data; an image-forming section that forms on a continuous sheet a toner image according to the image data; a conveyor section that conveys the continuous sheet; and a control section that controls operations of the conveyor section and the image-forming section. If a first toner image according to first image data and a second toner image according to second image data are formed on the continuous sheet, the control section controls conveyance of the continuous sheet so as not to be halted until the second toner image is formed if the second image data is supplied before a predetermined time period elapses from when the first toner image is formed, or so as to be stopped if the second image data is not supplied before the predetermined time period elapses from when the first toner image is formed.
US08223392B2
According to a fine line detection processing, when for a subject pixel to be subjected to the fine line detection processing, a 3×3 matrix area centered on this subject pixel is set as a subject area. Point values “0” to “8” are assigned to the matrix elements constituting this 3×3 matrix subject area. Then, three pixels with the first, second, and third lowest brightness values are extracted from the subject area. When the total point value of the three extracted pixels is equal to “12”, the extracted pixels are determined as being in a connected state. Then, an intermediate value is calculated from the minimum and maximum values of brightness (Y) of pixels in the subject area. When the number of pixels with a brightness (Y) value smaller than the intermediate value is less than 4, the subject pixel is determined as being a fine-line pixel. A fine-line code is added to the subject pixel that is determined as being a fine-line pixel. By the fine line detection processing, even a one-dot fine line, which is difficult to detect during the edge part detection, can be detected with certitude.
US08223391B2
System and method for producing print instruction information to be transmitted to a printing device
An image processor according to the present invention includes a reference information acquisition unit that acquires reference information for specifying a reference source and a reference target associated with the reference source from an electronic document having the reference information indicated therein, and a print instruction information production unit that produces print instruction information including an instruction for causing a printing device to print a reference source index for representing a reference source in a margin region located at a peripheral edge of a reference source page specified based on the reference information, and an instruction for causing the printing device to print a reference target index for representing a reference target in a region overlapping the region where the reference source index is printed in a margin region located at a peripheral edge of a reference target page specified based on the reference information.
US08223388B2
It is judged whether or not impositioning is applied to an image, based on layout information. If the image is the imposed one, layout information (storage layout information) for each page constituting one impositioning and output joint information for impositioning based on the storage layout information are generated. A page raster for each page constituting an imposed image is saved without duplication.
US08223385B2
A system for visualizing a print job includes a print job simulator which applies a print job model to print job image data to generate an image which simulates a rendered image of the print job if the print job were to be printed on a specific marking device. The system also includes a display in communication with the print job simulator for displaying the simulation image. The modified image data displayed on the display enables a customer to see a defect in the print job which would appear if the print job were to be rendered on the specific marking device. The print job model may be derived, at least in part, from information derived from the marking device, such as information derived from image data acquired by scanning a test image which has been rendered by the marking device.
US08223382B2
An object of this invention is to provide a printing apparatus capable of reducing slanting displacement for high-quality image. To achieve this object, slant information of a printing element array (141, 142, 143, 144) in a printhead scanning direction is obtained. Image data used to print by one scanning of the printhead (11) is stored in a printing buffer (204). Image data of three columns used by the printing element array are stored in a transfer buffer (213). Image data of two successive columns out of the image data of three columns are read out from the transfer buffer (213), and image data of a column is selected based on the slant information. Image data of one column is newly read out from the printing buffer (204), and the data area of the transfer buffer corresponding to one column is rewritten. The selected image data is transferred to the printhead (11) for printing.
US08223371B2
In a data processing method, import request data transmitted from a client is received. By comparing the application list against information indicating license settings of the application that are stored in advance, a determination is made as to whether or not the processing specified in a workflow is executable. A temporary workflow list is created, and a determination is made as to whether or not the upper limit for the registerable workflow number and data size is exceeded. When it is determined as registerable, execution data for executing respective workflows and display data for controlling display included in the temporary workflow list are acquired from the client, and the display is controlled so as to display the executable workflow and the inexecutable workflow in a fashion such that the executable workflow and the inexecutable workflow can be identified.
US08223370B2
When a transmission history such as a job is displayed, specific information is quickly retrieved from the transmission history by displaying an image included in the transmission history as a thumbnail. An information processing system includes an MFP that includes a function of transmitting image data and a client PC that instructs transmission of the image data to the MFP and the MFP and the client PC are connected to each other through a network. The client PC includes an HDD that stores therein, for each transmission job, a transmission history that includes image data that the client PC instructs the MFP to transmit, a history data creating portion that creates a thumbnail image by converting the image data of the stored transmission history into a thumbnail, and a display data control portion that causes the thumbnail image created by the history data creating portion to be displayed.
US08223366B2
A printing system includes an image file standard determining unit, an additional information determining unit, an printing data creating unit, and a printing unit. The image file standard determining unit is configured to determine whether image data subject to printing is created in conformity with a prescribed image file standard. The additional information determining unit is configured to refer to additional information attached to the image data and determine whether the image data is created in a prescribed image data format based on the additional information. The printing data creating unit creates printing data based on the image data that is in conformity with the prescribed image file standard and the prescribed image data format. The printing unit prints an image based on the printing data created by the printing data creating unit.
US08223364B2
Disclosed are methods of controlling operation of a printer, apparatus and computer-readable medium. The embodiments control operation of a printer by displaying to a user a print user interface including selectable document settings and a default/saved settings control, the default/saved settings control displaying a list of at least one saved default setting and command settings, the at least one saved default setting including selected ones of the document settings, the command settings allowing the user to create additional default settings and to delete the at least one saved default setting, and controlling printing of a document to print on the printer using the saved default setting and the selected ones of the document settings.
US08223358B2
A printer output coverage estimation system permits a user of print services to obtain an accurate estimate of the amount of toner required by a print job. Providers of print services, including coverage estimations, may be identified through the Internet and selected by the user from a web interface. The estimate request may then be transmitted directly to the provider that fulfills the request using excess computing capacity. Alternatively, providers may register excess computing capacity with a broker. The broker matches job requests with a grid of providers and directs the job request to the matched provider(s). Thus, users of print services have an alternative to purchasing in-house computing resources that may remain idle much of the time.
US08223356B2
An image reading device reads an original document image and generates original document data, and sends a job made up of the generated original document data and first information necessary for processing to be performed at a service providing device based on this original document data, to the service providing device, and further, notifies an information processing device or the user of the information processing device, of the job identification information of the job that has been sent. The information processing device acquires the job identification information notified thereto and sends, to the service providing device, second information necessary for the processing to be performed at the service providing device relating to the job corresponding to the job identification information. This improves the operational functionality in the case of sending read image data directly from an image reading device to a service providing device on the Internet.
US08223355B2
A cellular telephone protocol adaptive printing method is provided. An example method may include identifying a cellular telephone print item to print, identifying a print data transmission protocol for transmitting from a cellular telephone to an image forming device via a wireless communication link, identifying print job elements to process according to the print data transmission protocol, selectively processing the print job elements according to the print data transmission protocol, and processing the print job elements into a print job. In one example, the method includes transmitting the print job to an image forming device.It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the application. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be employed to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims 37 CFR 1.72(b).
US08223344B1
To position electronic devices in a rack, one of the electronic devices in the rack emits an optical signal. One of a plurality of optical receivers mounted to the rack receives the optical signal. An indication from the optical receiver is provided to specify that the optical receiver has received the first optical signal.
US08223343B2
The invention concerns a confocal microscope for imaging a sample comprising at least a light source, said microscope comprising at least an objective and a tube lens with an image focus, said microscope comprising interference means constructed to generate interference figures from said light source, characterized in that said interference means comprising first image generation means constructed to generate a first image of said light source, second image generation means constructed to generate a second image of said light source symmetrical to the first image relative to the image focus, image interference means constructed to make said first image and said second image interfere.
US08223340B2
A fiber-optic sensor, a method of configuring a fiber-optic sensor, and a method of using a fiber-optic sensor are provided. The fiber-optic sensor includes an optical fiber coil having a length and a laser source optically coupled to the coil. The laser source has a coherence length. Light from the source is transmitted to the coil as a first signal propagating along the coil in a first direction and a second signal propagating along the coil in a second direction opposite to the first direction. The optical paths of the first signal and the second signal are substantially reciprocal with one another and the first signal and the second signal are combined together after propagating through the coil to generate a third signal. The coherence length is greater than 1 meter or is in a range between 200 microns and 10 centimeters.
US08223339B1
A method for analyzing an optical signal comprising: directing the optical signal into a scanning spectrometer system comprising a variable-wavelength filter and a detector; continuously modulating the variable-wavelength filter at a given modulation frequency to produce a time-based waveform; measuring the time-based waveform with the detector; converting the time-based waveform into a frequency spectrum comprising harmonics of the modulation frequency; and comparing the harmonics of the modulation frequency to premeasured harmonic spectra in a reference database.
US08223336B2
A method for characterizing a color in terms of tristimulus values, the method includes providing a source of a color; measuring a set of spectral values for color stimulus associated with the color using a spectral measurement device controlled by a digital processing system; calculating a first set of tristimulus values from the set of spectral values; defining a set of human observer color matching functions, the set of human observer color matching functions being functions of the tristimulus values; and determining a second set of tristimulus values from the set of spectral values using set of human observer color matching functions.
US08223332B2
Mercury measuring apparatus for measuring mercury contained in sample composed mainly of hydrocarbon
To provide a mercury measuring apparatus of a closed system capable of performing automatically a process ranging from collection to injection of the sample composed mainly of hydrocarbon, which is effective to accomplish a highly reliable measurement. The mercury measuring apparatus 100 includes a column 1 filled with a first adsorbent 11 and a reducing agent 13, an injecting unit 3 for injecting a sample into the column 1, a first heating unit 12, a second heating unit, a mercury collecting tube 18 filled with a second adsorbent 17, a third heating unit 19, a mercury measuring unit 2, gas flow passages FP1, FP2 and FP4, flow switching valves V1 to V3, V5 and V6 for selecting one of the gas flow passages FP1, FP2 and FP4, and a control unit 4.
US08223307B2
A liquid crystal display device with a display region and a non-display region surrounding the display region, the liquid crystal display device comprising: a first substrate; a second substrate which faces the first substrate; and a liquid crystal layer which is interposed between the first substrate and the second substrate, the first substrate comprising: a first insulating substrate; gate and data lines which are formed on the first insulating substrate and intersecting each other; a pixel thin film transistor formed on the display region and electrically connected to the gate and data lines; a pixel electrode electrically connected to the pixel thin film transistor; a gate driver formed on the non-display region and connected to the gate line to drive the gate line; and a direct current (DC)/DC converter formed on the non-display region and comprises a converter thin film transistor and a capacitance part; the capacitance part includes: a first capacitance part which comprises a first electrode, a first dielectric layer formed on the first electrode, and a second electrode formed on the first dielectric layer; and a second capacitance part which comprises the second electrode, a second dielectric layer formed on the second electrode, and a third electrode formed on the second dielectric layer.
US08223306B2
A display device includes a plurality of pixel regions each of which is surrounded by a pair of gate signal lines and a pair of the drain signal lines. Each of the pixel regions includes a first electrode and a second electrode formed on one substrate and each of the pixel regions is constituted of a first region and a second region which are arranged in a direction in which the pair of the drain signal lines extend. In the pixel region, the first electrode is formed in a planar shape and below an insulation film, and the second electrode has a plurality of linear parts which extend linearly and are arranged with respect to each other and is formed above the insulation film.
US08223296B2
A backlight unit for an LCD device produces a more uniform brightness by reducing or preventing bright lines occurring at the location of each LED device. The backlight unit includes a plurality of light guide plates which are arranged to overlap with an incident portion of adjacent light guide plate to at least partially cover the LED array. Accordingly, the backlight unit can prevent the generation of bright lines and hot spots caused when the light guide plate does not cover the LED array. As a result, the LCD device may improve images of uniform brightness.
US08223289B2
Using thin film transistors (TFTs), an active matrix circuit, a driver circuit for driving the active matrix circuit or the like are formed on one substrate. Circuits such as a central processing unit (CPU) and a memory, necessary to drive an electric device, are formed using single crystalline semiconductor integrated circuit chips. After the semiconductor integrated circuit chips are adhered to the substrate, the chips are connected with wirings formed on the substrate by a chip on glass (COG) method, a wire bonding method or the like, to manufacture the electric device having a liquid crystal display (LCD) on one substrate.
US08223280B2
A phase difference element, in which imbalance hardly occurs between right and left pictures during displaying a three-dimensional image, and a display device having the phase difference element are provided. A base film 31 of the phase difference element 30 includes, for example, a thin resin film having optical anisotropy. A slow axis AX3 of the base film 31 points in a vertical or horizontal direction, and points in a direction intersecting with a slow axis AX1 of a right-eye region 32A of the phase difference element 30 and with a slow axis AX2 of a left-eye region 32B thereof. Thus, influence due to optical anisotropy of the base film 31 is exerted on each light being transmitted by the base film 31, so that the influence is not extremely greatly exerted on only one of light corresponding to a right eye and light corresponding to a left eye, the respective light being transmitted by the base film 31.
US08223276B2
A cabinet of electronic equipment includes a box-type first case with an open side made of a resin, and a box-type second case with an open side made of a resin to be fixed to the first case by engagement. An open part of the second case is engaged with an open part of the first case, and a plurality of hook formed on an inner wall of the open part of the first case are engaged with a plurality of engaging holes that are formed to pass through a wall of the open part of the second case and are elongated in the direction perpendicular to an engaging direction of the first and the second cases from an outer face side of the second case, so that the first and the second cases are coupled. A rib that crosses the engaging hole in its short side direction is formed integrally to the second case on its inner wall.
US08223271B2
A video processing apparatus includes: a reception module configured to selectively receive signals; a signal processing module configured to perform signal processing on a signal received by the reception module; a video processor configured to process the signal performed with the signal processing to output a video signal for displaying an image contained in the signal; and a control module configured to control the reception module, the signal processing module, and the video processor, wherein the control module includes: a storing module configured to store pieces of video size information being set for respective categories; and a video size switching module configured to switch the video size based on the pieces of video size information stored in the storing module.
US08223269B2
In a closed caption production device, video recognition processing of an input video signal is performed by a video recognizer. This causes a working object in video to be recognized. In addition, a sound recognizer performs sound recognition processing of an input sound signal. This causes a position of a sound source to be estimated. A controller performs linking processing by comparing information of the working object recognized by the video recognition processing with positional information of the sound source estimated by the sound recognition processing. This causes a position of a closed caption produced based on the sound signal to be set in the vicinity of the working object in the video.
US08223266B2
A display includes a mode switching portion capable of switching between mixed mode performing both processing of the analog broadcasting and processing of the digital broadcasting and digital mode preferentially performing the processing of the digital broadcasting and a control portion controlling the mode switching portion so as to switch the mixed mode to the digital mode when the analog broadcasting is terminated.
US08223259B2
Embodiments of invention disclose a system and a method for increasing a temporal resolution of a substantially periodic signal. The method acquires a signal as an input sequence of frames having a first temporal resolution, wherein the signal is a substantially periodic signal, wherein the frames in the input sequence of frames are encoded according to an encoded pattern; and transforms the input sequence of frames into an output sequence of frames having a second temporal resolution, such that the second temporal resolution is greater than the first temporal resolution, wherein the transforming is based on a sparsity of the signal in Fourier domain.
US08223257B2
A focal plane shutter, a photographing apparatus including the same, and a photographing method for the photographing apparatus are provided. More specifically, provided are a focal plane shutter, which is easily manufactured and controlled because of its simple mechanical structure and can offer a live view function, a photographing apparatus including the focal plane shutter, and a photographing method for the photographing apparatus. The focal plane shutter includes a front curtain and a rear curtain for moving relative to each other to expose and conceal the focal plane shutter, a cam for independently controlling movements of the front curtain and the rear curtain, a front curtain lever interposed between the front curtain and the cam to transmit movement of the cam to the front curtain, and a rear curtain lever interposed between the rear curtain and the cam to transmit movement of the cam to the rear curtain.
US08223255B2
An imaging apparatus including an imaging function having an imaging section configured such that a plurality of pixels are arrayed in a vertical direction and a horizontal direction, images a subject; a detecting function for detecting whether the imaging apparatus including the imaging section is held vertically or horizontally; a readout function for reading out the pixels information of the plurality of the pixels from the imaging section; a first readout controlling function for controlling a readout process of the pixel information executed by the readout function, in accordance with a detection result from the detecting section; a calculating function for calculating an auto-focus evaluation value in accordance with the pixel information read out by the first readout controlling function; and a focusing function for focusing in accordance with the auto-focus evaluation value calculated by the calculating function.
US08223253B2
If a subject change button of a device is pressed after a face image is detected from moving image data and the number of identified face images is counted, the value of the operation count becomes +1 so that a single face image can be selected. Then, a face image for selection is changed in sequence at the press of the subject change button. If the operation count number exceeds the identified face number of the time, it is determined that a round of the face selection is completed, so that the counted operation number is cleared, the face selection is cancelled, and the device is put on standby.
US08223235B2
A method of forming an image of a moving object is provided. The method includes capturing a first digital image of a moving object using a first rolling shutter scanning in a first direction. Likewise, a second digital image of the moving object is captured using a second rolling shutter scanning in a second direction different from the first direction. The first and second digital images are processed to form a composite digital image of the moving image.
US08223233B2
An imaging device includes a solid state imaging element that includes a plurality of pixels; and a driving unit; wherein each pixel includes: a photoelectric converting element includes a pair of electrodes stacked above a semiconductor substrate and a photoelectric converting layer arranged between the electrodes; a connecting portion that is arranged in the semiconductor substrate; a potential barrier portion; a first charge accumulating portion; and a signal output circuit, and wherein the driving unit drives the solid state imaging element so that the connecting portion and the potential barrier portion are set to a same potential by injecting charges into the connecting portion.
US08223226B2
An image processing apparatus that performs noise reduction processing to image signals comprises a separation and extraction unit that separates a present image signal into a luminance signal and a color signal and extracts regions having a predetermined size sequentially, a representative luminance calculation unit that calculates a representative luminance value, a representative hue calculation unit that calculates a representative hue value of the region, a color noise estimation unit that estimates a color noise amount based upon the representative luminance value and the representative hue value, a differential color signal calculation unit that calculates a differential color signal from the color signal of the region and a color signal of a past region after noise reduction processing and a color noise reduction unit that performs color noise reduction processing to the color signal of the region based upon the color noise amount and the differential color signal.
US08223225B2
An image processing method, apparatus and program for reducing noise in an image. The apparatus includes a low-frequency component extraction unit extracting a first low-frequency component from first image data, a noise reduction unit obtaining a second low-frequency component by applying a noise reduction filter to the first low-frequency component or data obtained by processing the first low-frequency component, a high-frequency component extraction unit extracting a first high-frequency component from the first images data and either one of the second low-frequency component and data obtained by processing the second low-frequency component, and the first image data, a high-frequency component tuning unit obtaining a second high-frequency component by tuning the first high-frequency component, and an image synthesis unit obtaining second image data by combining either one of the second low-frequency component and the data obtained by processing the second low-frequency component with the second high-frequency component.
US08223221B2
An imaging apparatus that removes horizontal bands of high-luminance noise caused by incoming flash light and outputs an image whose continuity as a moving picture is maintained. The imaging apparatus includes: an imaging unit that drives an image sensor at a frame rate n times a predetermined video format and outputs an n time-speed image signal; a flashing light detection unit; an average computation unit; and a speed conversion unit. When flashing light is detected, frames containing flashing light are removed from the image signal outputted by the imaging unit, and the average of the remaining frames is calculated, thereby obtaining an average image signal. When flashing light has not been detected, the average of n frames is calculated without removing frames, thereby obtaining an average image signal. The average image signal is converted to 1/n speed and outputted in the predetermined video format.
US08223218B2
A face detection apparatus of the present invention includes a face detection apparatus for detecting a face contained in an input image, including: a face detection section for detecting a face contained in the input image, based on a predetermined frame rate and face detection throughput per frame; and an accuracy changing section for changing, when no face is detected by the face detection section, the accuracy in detecting a face by the face detection section by reducing the frame rate.
US08223214B2
A camera system includes a camera, a shooting field shifting mechanism, a shift amount acquiring unit, and a masking processor that masks a masking target within a captured image flame. The masking processor includes first and second position computing units, and mask area establishing unit. The first and second position computing units compute, based on the shift settings of the shooting field shifting mechanism, first and second relative positions of the masking target relative to the shooting field. The mask area establishing unit establishes a mask area to mask the masking target on the captured image flame, based on the first and second relative positions.
US08223208B2
A device and technique are presented to calibrate an imaging device for generating three-dimensional surface models of moving objects and calculating three-dimensional coordinates of detected features relative to a coordinate system embedded in the device. The internal projector and camera parameters, i.e., zoom, focus, aperture, optical center, logical pixel size, aspect ratio, are determined for all projectors and cameras and all possible focal planes of the device in operation.
US08223205B2
Sensing apparatus includes a network camera, which is configured to capture images of a scene and to output a sequence of data packets containing digitized video data responsively to the images. A one-way link is coupled to the network camera so as to transmit the data packets from the network camera to a packet communication network.
US08223198B2
An endoscope processor including a receiver and a correction circuit block is provided. The receiver receives an image signal. The image signal corresponds to a captured subject. The image signal is generated by an imaging device. The image signal comprises a plurality of pixel signals corresponding to a plurality of pixels. A plurality of pixels forms an optical image of the subject. The correction circuit block carries out first signal processing on the pixel signals so that a representative value matches a standard value when the image signal received by the receiver is a fluorescence image signal. The representative value is calculated on the basis of a plurality of chrominance difference values corresponding to a plurality of pixel signals. The fluorescence image signal is generated when the subject is illuminated with excitation light. The excitation light makes an organ fluoresce.
US08223195B2
A three-dimensional image pickup apparatus, a three-dimensional display apparatus and a three-dimensional image pickup and display apparatus are disclosed by which high-definition three-dimensional display from a plurality of eye points of different directions can be achieved by a simple apparatus configuration. The incoming directions and the intensities of a plurality of lights incoming from different directions to a light reception section are coordinated with each other for individual pixels to form video signals. A light emission section emits lights based on a coordinated relationship between the outgoing directions and the intensities of lights to be emitted therefrom for the individual pixels. The light incoming directions and the light outgoing directions are time-divisionally selected by means of light path selection elements, and a plurality of pixels are formed to pick up and display images having a parallax.
US08223167B2
An RGB signal from an input terminal is supplied to a triple over-sampling/sub-pixel control processing unit and a brightness signal generating circuit in which a brightness signal is generated. A brightness edge detection/judgment unit detects an edge from this brightness signal, judges the kind of the edge, fetches a coefficient select signal corresponding to the judgment result from a memory and supplies the signal to the control processing unit. A tap coefficient corresponding to this coefficient select signal is set in the control processing unit and a triple over-sampling processing is executed for each of RGB. For edge parts, R and B sub-pixels the timings of which are displaced by ±⅓ pixel from the input R and B sub-pixels and the pixel gravitys of which are displaced by ±⅓ or ±⅛ pixel in accordance with the kind of the edge are generated.
US08223164B2
A boot logo processing method includes the following steps. Palette data and a boot graphic including plurality colors are provided, and the colors include corresponding color values respectively in color gamut of the boot graphic. A boot graphic is provided, and it may be composed of plurality colors. When the number of the colors composing the boot graphic is greater than a default value of the number of the colors provided by the palette data, color value of every color is operated with color values of other colors to obtain plurality operating values. Thereby, in the processing method of the invention, part of the colors in the color gamut of the boot graphic are merged into a single color according to the operating values to decrease the number of the colors composing the boot graphic, and produce the boot logo at least according to the latest boot graphic.
US08223162B2
An image processing apparatus, an image processing method, and a program thereof, and a display device are provided, in which reproduction of a secret image from one dispersed image is difficult. A secret image and a reverse image included in at least two types of images are in a relationship of forming image data of an image not correlated with the secret image when luminance values of image data respectively are added pixel by pixel. Included are: a memory 101 that stores the inputted image data; a dispersed image creating/data allocating circuit 102 that creates image data of a plurality of dispersed images in which the secret image is formed when luminance values are added pixel by pixel based on the image data of the secret image and grayscales different from grayscale values of the secret image are allocated to the pixels respectively; and a shutter spectacle control signal creating circuit 103 that outputs a shutter control signal for setting a light shutter to a light transmission state only in a time for outputting image signals in accordance with the image data of the dispersed images.
US08223159B1
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a system configured for transferring data between independent application programming interface (API) contexts on one or more graphics processing units (GPUs). Each API context may derive from an arbitrary API. Data is pushed from one API context to another API context using a peer-to-peer buffer “blit” operation executed between buffers allocated in the source and target API context memory spaces. The source and target API context memory spaces may be located within the frame buffers of the source and target GPUs, respectively, or located within the frame buffer of a single GPU. The data transfers between the API contexts are synchronized using semaphore operator pairs inserted in push buffer commands that are executed by the one or more GPUs.
US08223154B2
Systems and methods for integrating graphic animation technologies with fantasy sports contest applications are provided. This invention enables a fantasy sports contest application to depict plays in various sporting events using graphic animation. The fantasy sports contest application may combine graphical representation of real-life elements such as, for example, player facial features, with default elements such as, for example, a generic player body, to create realistic graphic video. The fantasy sports contest application may provide links to animated videos for depicting plays on contest screens in which information associated with the plays may be displayed. The fantasy sports contest application may play the animated video for a user in response to the user selecting such a link. In some embodiment of the present invention, the fantasy sports contest application may also customize animated video based on user-supplied setup information. For example, the fantasy sports contest application may provide play information and other related data to allow a user to generate animated videos using the user's own graphics processing equipment and graphics animation program.
US08223151B2
A method of analysis of long record length data using mark duration includes displaying together with a portion of the long record length data each mark that identifies a specified feature of interest together with the mark duration. Associated with the mark may be text identifying the feature of interest, measurement values associated with the duration of the mark, or a combination thereof. Multiple sets of marks may be generated for the long record length data, which sets may be combined to generate new marks with duration. The marks also may be filtered to further refine the marks to be displayed according to user specified criteria. In this way analysis of long record length data representing an acquired signal may be readily automated so a user may move from one interesting event to another without having to pan through the long record length data.
US08223139B2
A writing apparatus includes: a detecting unit; a reading unit; a writing unit; a display; a first controlling unit; a second controlling unit; and a third controlling unit.
US08223127B2
A virtual wheel interface structure of a mobile terminal having a wheel input unit and a character input. A virtual keypad in a wheel shape is displayed on a display unit adjacent to the wheel input unit having a wheel, a selection, and navigation keys. The virtual wheel keypad includes a plurality of virtual keys disposed in the wheel rotation direction. A screen highlight and a cursor are displayed on the display unit. The screen highlight is located at a specific position on the virtual wheel keypad to select a virtual key, and the cursor indicates a character input position. If the wheel key rotates, the virtual wheel keypad rotates correspondingly and the screen highlight is located at a specific virtual key. A character allocated to the virtual key in the screen highlight is input by pressing the selection key or a navigation key, or by rotating the wheel key.
US08223120B2
Computer readable recording medium recording image processing program and image processing apparatus
Displayed region size data indicating a size of a screen of a display device, or a size of a region in which an image of a virtual space is displayed on the screen, is obtained. Distance data indicating a distance between a user and the display device is obtained. A position and an angle of view of the virtual camera in the virtual space are set based on the displayed region size data and the distance data.
US08223119B1
A system for providing a manipulatable graphical display comprising a user input device responsive to a user input, a cursor control device operably coupled to the user input device, and a menu engine operably coupled to the cursor control device. The cursor control device is further configured to process an output received from the user input device and generate a cursor image positioned on a display in response to the user output suitable for locking onto and tracing a path on the display.
US08223117B2
An ambient light sensor produces a current signal that varies linearly with the level of ambient light. The current signal is multiplied by a user dimming preference to generate a brightness control signal that automatically compensates for ambient light variations in visual information display systems. The multiplying function provides noticeable user dimming control at relatively high ambient light levels.
US08223116B2
An LCD device adapted to apply an optimized luminance in correspondence with a brightness of each divisional region of image is disclosed. The LCD device uses dimming curves, which are provided differently from each other, for divisional regions which are divided from one frame and have different pixel numbers. Therefore, the LCD device can a luminance optimized to a brightness of each divisional region of image, thereby preventing a luminance mismatching phenomenon and a luminance nullity phenomenon.
US08223106B2
A driving circuit for a display device includes an input signal generator generating an input signal having one of a plurality of input frequencies corresponding to a respective one of a plurality of operating modes of the display device; a main operating clock generator responsive to the one of the plurality of frequencies to generating a main operating clock, a main frequency of the main operating clock varying in accordance with the one of the plurality of frequencies; and a control signal generator generating a control signal using the main operating clock, wherein the control signal changes in accordance with the main frequency.
US08223105B2
A liquid crystal display (LCD) controller includes a plurality of segment/key source control circuits connected with an LCD panel and a key matrix through a plurality of segment/key source terminals, to periodically output a signal for one frame which contains a display output period and a key source output period. The plurality of segment/key source control circuits output to the plurality of segment/key source terminals during the display output period, segment signals having display drive voltages indicating a maximum value, a minimum value, and intermediate values between the maximum value and the minimum value. The plurality of segment/key source control circuits output first key scan pulse signals varying between the maximum value and the minimum value to the plurality of segment/key source terminals during the key source output period in a key scan state when the key matrix has been operated, and then, second key scan pulse signals obtained by inverting the first key scan pulse signals to the corresponding segment/key source terminal.
US08223104B2
A display device includes a phase comparator which compares whether phases of two signals which are input are different from each other or not; a counter circuit which counts the number of the cases where a phase shift is detected in the phase comparator; and a phase shift circuit which can output a signal in which the phase shift is restored by shifting a phase of one of the two signals in accordance with a degree of the number of phase shifts which is counted in the counter circuit.
US08223103B2
A liquid crystal display device having improved visibility is disclosed. The liquid crystal display, in accordance with an embodiment, includes a liquid crystal panel including a plurality of display blocks, each display block including a plurality of gate lines, a plurality of data lines, and a plurality of pixels coupled to the corresponding gate lines and data lines; a timing controller providing an integration signal including data and a charge share control signal; and a plurality of data-driving chips corresponding to the plurality of display blocks, each of the data-driving chips being coupled to the timing controller in a point-to-point relation, receiving the integration signal, and short-circuiting the plurality of data lines in the corresponding display blocks with one another during charge-share periods, wherein at least two of the plurality of data-driving chips adjust the charge-share periods to be different from each other.
US08223084B2
It is made possible to realize both miniaturization and a wider band in an antenna element. An antenna element includes a first conductor wire part 11A; a second conductor wire part 11B crossing the first conductor wire part 11A and connected; a third conductor wire part 11C crossing the second conductor wire part 11B and connected, and parallel to the first conductor wire part 11A; a fourth conductor wire part 11D crossing the third conductor wire part 11C and connected; and a first conductor flat plate 12 connected to one or two of the first conductor wire part 11A, the second conductor wire part 11B, the third conductor wire part 11C, and the fourth wire part 11D and disposed in the area surrounded by any three of the first conductor wire part 11A, the second conductor wire part 11B, the third conductor wire part 11C, and the fourth wire part 11D. An end part of the first conductor flat plate 12 is parallel with the first conductor 11A not connected to the first conductor flat plate 12.
US08223081B2
A slot antenna located on a substrate with a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface includes a feeding portion, a grounding portion and a radiating portion. The feeding portion is located on the first surface of the substrate to feed electromagnetic signals. The grounding portion is rectangular and located on the second surface of the substrate, and defines a circular clearance in a substantial center portion thereof. The radiating portion is located on the second surface of the substrate and comprises at least one elongated microstrip with one end connected to the grounding portion and the other end extending towards the center of the circular clearance, wherein the feeding portion interacts with the radiating portion to transmit the electromagnetic signals.
US08223078B2
An antenna and a wireless mobile communication device incorporating the antenna are provided. The antenna includes a first conductor section electrically coupled to a first feeding point, a second conductor section electrically coupled to a second feeding point, and a near-field radiation control structure adapted to control characteristics of near-field radiation generated by the antenna. Near-field radiation control structures include a parasitic element positioned adjacent the first conductor section and configured to control characteristics of near-field radiation generated by the first conductor section, and a diffuser in the second conductor section configured to diffuse near-field radiation generated by the second conductor section into a plurality of directions.
US08223072B2
Multi-pattern transmission of wireless frames. A digital device contains a transmitter feeding an electronically steerable antenna system where the radiation pattern produced by the antenna system may be selected. Different antenna radiation patterns are used in transmitting a first portion of a wireless frame and a second portion of a wireless frame in a wireless digital network. In one embodiment, a first portion of a wireless frame is transmitted using a wide radiation pattern while the second portion of the frame is transmitted using a second radiation pattern. Switching among radiation patterns in the electronically steerable antenna system may be accomplished by switching between antenna types, such as an omnidirectional antenna for the wide pattern, and beam-steered or sectorized antennas for the second radiation pattern. Beam-forming and/or phasing approaches may also be used. The first and second portions of the frame may be transmitted at different power levels. For high throughput (HT) frames such as IEEE 802.11n frames, the non-HT preamble and L-Sig are taken as the first portion of the frame, with the HT-Sig, HT-training and HT-data portions of the frame taken as the second portion of the frame, transmitted using a narrower radiation pattern.
US08223069B2
A method for acquiring positioning information includes receiving downlink data in a plurality of downlink slot frames, and receiving at a mobile terminal within one of the downlink slot frames, broadcasted global positioning system (GPS) orbital description data. The GPS orbital description data information relates to a first group of orbiting satellites within operable range of the base station (BS) providing the broadcasting of the GPS orbital description data. The method further includes performing GPS-based positioning for the mobile terminal based upon signaling received from a second group of a plurality of orbiting satellites in conjunction with the GPS orbital description data, such that at least one of the second group of the plurality of orbiting satellites is the same as some or all of the orbiting satellites of the first group.
US08223066B2
A radar level gauge system for determination of a filling level of a product contained in a tank including first pulse generating circuitry for generating a transmission signal in the form of a first pulse train having a first pulse repetition frequency and second pulse generating circuitry for generating a reference signal in the form of a second pulse train having a second pulse repetition frequency. The second pulse repetition frequency differs from the first pulse repetition frequency by a predetermined frequency difference. A propagation device propagates the transmission signal towards a surface of the product inside the tank. Measurement circuitry forms a measurement signal based on a reflected signal and the reference signal. Processing circuitry determines a value indicative of a filling level based on the measurement signal.
US08223063B2
A system and method for presenting wind speed information in a manner so as to be easily understood and appreciated by viewers of televised weather report presentations and the like. Wind speed information is presented as a planar representation of three-dimensional wind speed data using contour lines, delineating areas with a planar location in the three dimensional data, overlaid on a geographic map display either alone, or in combination with radar reflectivity information. Wind velocity information received from a weather radar system, such as NEXRAD, relative to the weather radar is converted to absolute wind speed information for display.
US08223058B2
A capacitor array circuit receives a plurality of input signals, generate a single output signal by combining the plurality of input signals, and output the single output signal. A comparator receives the output signal of the capacitor array circuit. A current source, which is disposed between a predetermined fixed voltage source and an output terminal of the switched-capacitor circuit, supplies the current to the output terminal until the output signal of the comparator changes. A plurality of input capacitors in the capacitor array circuit receives a plurality of input signals in parallel with each other. At least one additional regulating capacitor in the capacitor array circuit store the charge to compensate for an offset component caused by the delay in the comparator. The respective output terminals of the plurality of input capacitors and the at least one additional regulating capacitor are combined into one.
US08223052B1
A time encoding machine (TEM) for time encoding an input signal includes a hysteresis quantizer having a time encoded sequence output and a random sequence generator having a random signal output coupled to the hysteresis quantizer for randomizing switching times of the hysteresis quantizer.
US08223043B2
The invention provides a data compression method, comprising: (a) obtaining a first reading sequence and a second reading sequence from an identical source by a receiving unit; (b) comparing the first reading sequence with the second reading sequence according to a comparison condition to generate a sequence comparison result by the processor; (c) outputting a final template sequence according to the sequence comparison result by the processor; (d) comparing the final template sequence to each of the first and second reading sequences, to generate a respective difference between the final template sequence and each of the first and second reading sequences by the processor; and (e) compressing the first and second reading sequences according to the final template sequences and all generated differences between the final template sequence and the first and second reading sequences, to generate a compression file by the processor.
US08223042B2
M-bit data are encoded into n-bit data such that the encoded n-bit data has a sufficient number of encoded data patterns enough to encode the number (2m) of data patterns in the m-bit data but that the n-bit data has Hamming Weights (HWs) with minimum (smallest possible) variation. Specifically, encoder logic is configured to receive 2m of m-bit data patterns and encode the 2m of m-bit data patterns to n-bit encoded data patterns, n being greater than m and me being a positive integer greater than one. The encoder logic is configured to map the 2m m-bit data patterns to a subset of 2m of the n-bit encoded data patterns, and the n-bit data patterns in said subset has a minimum (smallest possible) range of Hamming Weight variation while the number of the n-bit data patterns in said subset is not less than 2m.
US08223036B2
In a telemetry system for use in an engine, a circuit structure (34) affixed to a moving part (20) of the engine is disposed for amplifying information sensed about a condition of the part and transmitting the sensed information to a receiver external to the engine. The circuit structure is adapted for the high temperature environment of the engine and includes a differential amplifier (102, 111) having an input for receiving a signal from a sensor (101, 110) disposed on the part. A voltage controlled oscillator (104, 115) with an input coupled to the output of the amplifier produces an oscillatory signal having a frequency representative of the sensed condition. A buffer (105, 116) with an input coupled to the output of the oscillator buffers the oscillatory signal, which is then coupled to an antenna (26) for transmitting the information to the receiver.
US08223019B2
A method for identifying, tracking, and monitoring a firearm includes steps of: attaching a low frequency radio tag to the firearm; storing, in the data storage device of the radio tag, identification data relating to the firearm; and reading the identification data from the transceiver by interrogating the radio tag. The radio tag includes a shot sensor, a shot count register for tracking the number of shots fired and cadence registers for tracking the intervals between shots.
US08223014B2
An energy-conserving triggered ID system, comprising: a reading assembly having a normally non-activated state and having a triggered subassembly configurable to activate the reading assembly; and a mobile assembly having no power source and having a triggering subassembly configurable to activate the triggered subassembly when the mobile assembly is located within a triggering range, wherein the reading assembly is operable to transfer power to the mobile assembly and wherein data transfer is effected between the mobile assembly and the reading assembly within a data transfer range.
US08223011B2
Method and system for detecting abnormal situations of a person in a living place. One such method involves: receiving information provided by a sensor carried by the person, which information relates to at least one vital variable of the person, receiving information originating from a series of motion sensors provided at various locations in the living place, and comparing said information with predetermined rules involving timeouts established as a function of the location and of the period of the day, or else different timeouts depending on whether an anomaly has been detected at the level of the vital variable, or else according to a common process relaunched upon each arrival in a new location although no abnormal situation exists, and in response to the previous step, triggering or otherwise a signalling of abnormal situation. Application in particular to the telesurveillance of the elderly, with improved discrimination between normal, anomalous and alert situations.
US08223003B2
The present disclosure provides a swinging device having a swinging mechanism disposed on an energy provider, wherein volume and shape of the swinging mechanism and a distance between the swinging mechanism and the energy provider are adjusted so as to control the ratio of the distance and a characteristic value corresponding to the swinging mechanism in a specific range such that the swinging mechanism is capable of resonating with respect to the rotation of the energy provider. The swinging mechanism is capable of detecting the rotating frequency of the energy provider as well as combining with a display unit which is capable of displaying information with respect to the rotating status or displaying image patterns controlled according to the rotating status.
US08222997B2
Disclosed herein is a method of preventing collisions between readers in an RFID system. The method includes a first step of RFID readers selecting transmitting channels by examining channels, a second step of transmitting signals via the selected transmitting channels, a third step of receiving signals via channels having the same frequencies as the selected transmitting channels; a fourth step of determining whether a collision has occurred by examining the status of the signals that are received via the transmitting channels; a fifth step of, if, as a result of the determination at the fourth step, it is determined that a collision between the readers has occurred, repeating the first to fourth steps after delays of random time periods based on a predetermined equation, and a sixth step of, if, as a result of the fourth step, no collision between readers is detected, communicating with the corresponding RFID tags.
US08222994B1
Techniques to provide automatic reminders are described. A mobile computing device may comprise a memo database and a memo application. The memo application may be arranged to set a memo reminder value for a memo, store the memo with the memo reminder value in the memo database, and provide a memo reminder for the memo with the memo reminder value. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US08222981B1
An electrical switching device includes first and second circuit assemblies. Each of the first and second circuit assemblies includes a base terminal and a moveable terminal movable between an open state and a closed state. The movable terminal is electrically connected to the base terminal in the closed state. An actuator assembly is electromechanically controlled by a motor. The actuator assembly includes a pivot member rotated by the motor that has a post extending outward from a pivot body. An actuator is moved by the pivot member and is movable between a first position and a second position. The actuator is operatively coupled to the moveable terminals of the first and second circuit assemblies. The actuator moves the movable terminals to the closed state as the actuator is moved from the first position to the second position. The actuator has a pocket with a compression spring received in the pocket. The compression spring extends between a first end and a second end. The first end engages the actuator. The second end engages the post. The compression spring provides a force on the actuator to push the movable terminals toward the base terminals.
US08222979B2
An electromagnetic relay includes a base and an electromagnetic block mounted on a surface of the base, which is formed by winding a coil around a first end portion of an iron core. The first end portion serves as a magnetic pole portion, and a second end portion of the iron core is caulk-fixed to a vertical portion of a yoke having a generally L-shape in cross section. The electromagnetic relay also includes a movable iron piece rotated based on excitation and non-excitation of the electromagnetic block and a card for driving a contact mechanism portion by making a reciprocating movement through the movable iron piece. A shallow groove along an outer peripheral surface of the wound coil is formed in an upper surface of a horizontal portion of the yoke along a lengthwise direction.
US08222972B2
An acoustic wave element includes: resonators 2 each including an electrode to excite acoustic waves; a power supply wiring portion 3 that is disposed so as to connect the resonators 2 electrically; a piezoelectric substrate 4 on which the resonators 2 and the power supply wiring portion 3 are formed; a second medium 5 that is formed on the piezoelectric substrate 4 so as to cover the resonators 2; and a third medium 6 that is formed on the piezoelectric substrate 4 so as to cover at least the second medium 5 and the power supply wiring portion 3. A side surface 34 of the power supply wiring portion 3 that is in contact with a surface of the piezoelectric substrate 4 forms an obtuse first angle θ with respect to the surface 4a of the piezoelectric substrate 4.
US08222968B2
A method for manufacturing a microstrip transmission line device includes forming a resistor layer on an insulating or dielectric substrate having a back face where a metal layer to be grounded is provided. The method also includes removing the formed resistor layer except for a part of the formed resistor layer which requires a resistor. Further, the method includes forming a metal conductive layer on the remaining part of the resistor layer. The metal conductive layer contacts the substrate. The method additionally includes removing the formed metal conductive layer at a part required as a resistor except for a part required for connection to the resistor, the parts being included at the remaining part of the resistor layer.
US08222958B2
The present invention relates generally to an operational amplifier. In one embodiment, the present invention is an operational amplifier including a transimpedance input stage, the transimpedance input stage including a first stage connected to a first resistor and a second resistor, and an output stage connected to the transimpedance input stage.
US08222956B2
An amplifying device and a signal processing method based on an amplifying device are provided, capable of reducing performance requirements of modules and reducing design difficulty of the modules. The amplifying device includes at least one amplifying module, including two receiving paths, in which a first receiving path is configured to attenuate and amplify an input signal after the input signal is pre-amplified, and a second receiving path is configured to amplify the input signal when the input signal is not pre-amplified. The signal processing method based on the amplifying device is further provided. The amplifying device and the signal processing method may be applied in a communication network system.
US08222946B2
The invention provides a capacitive touching apparatus, which includes at least an equivalent capacitor module, a first comparator, a first reference current generator, a first detection capacitor module and a selection switch module. The equivalent capacitor module receives a periodic driving signal and produces an output voltage according to the driving signal. The first comparator compares the output voltage with a first reference voltage and thereby produces a first comparison result. The first reference current generator produces a first reference current and a second reference current according to a base current, in which the first reference current generator decides whether to respectively output the first reference current and the second reference current according to the first comparison result, and the first reference current is output to the equivalent capacitor module. The first detection capacitor module produces a first detection output signal according to the second reference current.
US08222938B2
A delay locked loop semiconductor apparatus that models a delay of an internal clock path is presented. The semiconductor apparatus includes: a DLL and a detection code output block. The DLL includes a delay model unit in which a delay value of an internal clock path is modeled and is configured to output a DLL clock signal of which the phase is controlled by reflecting the delay value of the internal clock path into an applied input clock signal. The detection code output block is configured to output a phase difference detection code having a code value corresponding to a phase difference between a first phase correction clock signal generated by reflecting a model delay value of the delay model unit into the DLL clock signal and a second phase correction clock signal generated by reflecting an actual delay value of the internal clock path into the DLL clock signal.
US08222936B2
Phase and frequency detectors and techniques are disclosed. For example, apparatus comprises a first circuit for receiving first and second clock signals and for generating at least one signal indicative of a phase difference between the first and second clock signals. The apparatus also comprises a second circuit for receiving the at least one signal generated by the first circuit and, in response to the at least one received signal, generating at least one output signal, wherein a frequency associated with the at least one output signal is proportional to a frequency difference between the first and second clock signals.
US08222933B2
A digital phase lock loop circuit, where under certain conditions the phase error is derived from phase comparison between a reference clock edge and the next oscillator clock edge rather than a feedback clock edge. This technique can be used to significantly reduce digital phase lock loop circuit power by disabling feedback divider and sync FF once initial frequency lock is established, provided phase jitter of digital phase lock loop circuit is low enough so that there is no cycle slip. This technique can also be used to multiply the effective reference clock frequency of digital phase lock loop circuits to increases the loop bandwidth, thus reducing the phase noise. Both the applications of this technique can be combined in some circuits.
US08222932B2
A phase-locked loop includes: a voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) system receiving one or more control signals and in response thereto generating a PLL output signal; a plurality of phase detectors for comparing a reference signal having a reference frequency to a PLL feedback signal having a PLL feedback frequency derived from the PLL output signal, and in response thereto to output a comparison signal; and a plurality of signal processing paths each connected to an output of a corresponding one of the phase detectors for outputting a phase detection output signal. The signal processing paths have different frequency responses from each other. In operation only one of the phase detectors is activated, and a switching arrangement selectively switches between outputs of the signal processing paths to select the phase detection output signal from the activated phase detector to generate the control signal(s) for the VCO system.
US08222929B1
Switch pre-driver systems and methods are described. The present switch pre-driver systems and methods facilitate switch driver breakdown protection, reduction of leakage current, and avoidance of false switching. In one embodiment, a switch system includes a switch driver, a switch pre-driver, and a mode detection circuit. The switch driver drives a voltage. The switch pre-driver controls the switch driver. The mode detection circuit notifies the switch pre-driver of a mode condition.
US08222923B1
A technique is provided for memory control in a device having programmable circuitry, including providing a dedicated memory controller circuit in the device before the programmable circuitry is field programmed. Another technique involves fabricating a device, where the fabricating involves forming programmable circuitry that includes a dedicated memory controller circuit before the circuitry is field programmed.
US08222921B2
Configurable time-borrowing flip-flops are provided for circuits such as programmable logic devices. The flip-flops may be based on a configurable delay circuit and two latches or may be based on a configurable pulse generation circuit and a single latch. In designs based on two latches, a first and a second latch are arranged in series. A clock signal is delayed using a configurable delay circuit. Programmable memory elements that have been loaded with configuration data may be used to adjust how much delay is produced by the configurable delay circuit. The delayed version of the clock signal is provided to a clock input associated with the first latch. The second latch has a clock input that receives the clock signal without delay. In designs based on a single latch, a configurable pulse generation circuit receives a clock signal for the flip-flop and generates a corresponding clock pulse for the latch.
US08222913B2
A probe block mounted on a probe card is provided for achieving fine pitch probes. A probe block for a probe card of a semiconductor test device according to the present invention includes a guide member and a probe. A guide member includes pairs of upper and lower holes and middle holes each interconnecting the upper and lower holes of each pair. A probe includes a first pin tip protruded through a corresponding upper hole for contacting a pad of a device to be tested and a second pin tip protruded through a corresponding lower hole for transferring an electrical signal to the device and a bridge part situated within the middle hole for interconnecting the first and second pin tips. The upper, lower, and middle holes allow the probe to elastically moves in vertical direction. The probe block of the present invention is advantageous in that the probes are supported by guide members so as not to be bent while maintaining a fine pitch. Also, the probe block of the present invention is advantageous in fabrication and repair since probes are elastically contacted rather than directly bonded to the circuit substrate of the probe card.
US08222908B2
A detector for use in an extrusion-based digital manufacturing system, the detector comprising a sense conductive component and an excitation conductive component to define a first gap that is configured to receive a consumable material used in the extrusion-based digital manufacturing system, where the excitation conductive component is configured to generate a first electrical field across the first gap.
US08222895B2
A compact sensing device capable of sensing a rotational angle and a rotational velocity, or a rectilinear moving distance and a moving velocity. A displacement sensing device that senses a rotational angle of a moving member rotation and a distance of a linear movement of the moving member, or senses an angular velocity of the moving member rotation and a velocity of a linear movement of the moving member, includes: a first movable member, moved together with the moving member by a linear movement of the moving member; a second movable member holding the first movable member in a rotatable manner, and rotated together with the moving member by rotation of the moving member; a first sensor outputting a signal in accordance with a linear movement of the first movable member; and a second sensor outputting a signal in accordance with a rotation of the second movable member.
US08222877B2
A voltage regulator, comprising: an input terminal; an output terminal at which an output voltage is provided; an output transistor which couples the input terminal of the voltage regulator to the output terminal of the voltage regulator; and a transimpedance amplifier including an input terminal which is coupled to the output terminal of the voltage regulator and an output terminal which is coupled to a control terminal of the output transistor, optionally via a coupling, the coupling having an impedance value between the output terminal of the transimpedance amplifier and the control terminal of the output transistor which at a given frequency is smaller than or equal to an impedance value of an output impedance of the transimpedance amplifier.
US08222870B2
A battery management system includes a monitoring circuit and a charger. The monitoring circuit is operable for monitoring a battery pack that includes a plurality of cells, and for checking an unbalanced condition of the battery pack in each cycle of a plurality of cycles. The charger is operable for controlling a charging current to the battery pack and for receiving monitoring information from the monitoring circuit, and for adjusting the charging current from a first level in a previous cycle to a second level that is lower than the first level in response to a detection of the unbalanced condition in a current cycle.
US08222867B2
The invention provides a battery charging and discharging apparatus and method. The battery charging and discharging apparatus comprises a power source and a plurality of charging and discharging module. The charging and discharging module comprises a current-limiting transistor, a current-limiting resistor, a charging controlling unit, and a discharging controlling unit, wherein both the charging controlling unit and the discharging controlling unit are of battery voltage tracking types. When the charging and discharging module charges a battery, the voltage across two ends of the current-limiting transistor and the current-limiting resistor connected in series is limited to a fixed value by the charging controlling unit. When the battery discharges, the voltage across two ends of the current-limiting transistor and the current-limiting resistor connected in series is limited to a fixed value by the discharging controlling unit. Besides, the discharging controlling unit feedbacks the discharging energy from the battery to the power source.
US08222864B2
A battery system capable of inhibiting a reverse voltage applied to a unit cell that has lost the electromotive force without active control is provided. The battery system include two or more unit cells electrically connected in series, and a rectification section that is composed of at least one of an electronic device having a rectification function and an interface having a rectification action, and is electrically connected to the respective two or more unit cells in parallel.
US08222862B2
A first power storage unit is a battery assembly, and is divided into battery blocks of n (n is a natural number) in number each formed of several electric cells connected together in series. When a state allowing charging with an external power supply is attained, the ECU executes an operation of resetting an SOC of a first power storage unit. The ECU controls a corresponding converter to discharge the first power storage unit with a constant current, and sets reset values for battery blocks of n in number based on battery voltages and battery temperatures exhibited when any one of the battery voltages of the n battery blocks becomes lower than a reset voltage. The ECU resets the SOCs of the battery blocks of the first power storage unit to the respective reset values thus set.
US08222861B1
A plug-and-socket arrangement connects a portable appliance to a mains-powered battery charger/power supply. To avoid unwanted power consumption while the appliance is not connected, the plug-and-socket arrangement, when unplugged so that the appliance can be made portable, disconnects the mains power from the battery charger/power supply.
US08222859B2
A method is provided for determining the charge state of a motor vehicle battery. An electrical voltage of the motor vehicle battery is detected and the electrical charge state of the motor vehicle battery is determined on the basis of the detected voltage of the motor vehicle battery. According to the method, the temperature of the motor vehicle battery is detected using a sensor that is separated spatially from the motor vehicle battery, and the charge state of the battery is determined on the basis of the detected voltage of the motor vehicle battery and on the basis of the detected temperature of the motor vehicle battery.
US08222856B2
A control system for a motor, including a first detector providing signals indicative of the sign and zero-crossings of a supply voltage, and a second detector providing signals indicative of the sign and the zero-crossings of BEMF developed in the stator winding. A switch is driven to cause a first current pulse through the winding at a first delay relative to the zero-crossing of the supply voltage. The system checks if the BEMF has a first zero-crossing within a predetermined period of time preceding a third zero-crossing of the voltage, and if so, causes an opposite second current pulse through the winding with a second delay relative to the third zero-crossing of the supply. If not, the first current pulse is repeated, reducing or increasing the duration of the first delay if the first zero-crossing of the BEMF took place after or before the predetermined period of time.
US08222848B2
A starter for an auxiliary power unit includes a direct current motor operably connectable to an auxiliary power unit. A clutch is arranged in an electrically parallel relationship and configured to operably connect the motor to the auxiliary power unit when engaged, the motor and the clutch powered by a common input line. A time delay switching element is located and configured to delay power delivery to the direct current motor thus providing for full engagement of the clutch prior to initiation of rotation of the motor.
US08222842B2
A rotating electromechanical machine has a rotor having at least one current-carrying winding and at least one rotor-mounted sensor configured to sense a machine property or parameter during machine operation. Rotor-mounted circuitry dynamically modifies at least one property of the current-carrying winding during machine operation in response to the sensed machine property or parameter.
US08222841B2
A method of controlling a moving part of a voice coil motor to move from an first position to a second position, wherein the position of the moving part is controlled by the level of an electrical signal applied to a coil of the voice coil motor, a first level of the electrical signal corresponding to the first position, and a second level of the electrical signal corresponding to the second position, the method including: at a first time, changing the electrical signal from the first level to an intermediate level, the intermediate level being chosen such that a peak overshoot of the moving part corresponds to the second position; and at a second time calculated to correspond to a delay of half an oscillation period of the moving part after the first time, changing the electrical signal to the second level.
US08222826B2
Systems and techniques to control of delivery of current through one or more lamps include, in at least one aspect, a method comprising: receiving an electric signal from a resistor in a circuit, where the resistor is selected based on a lamp; determining that a value associated with the electric signal falls in a preset range of values, the preset range having one or more parameters that correspond to the lamp; and outputting the one or more parameters to operate the lamp.
US08222823B2
A wireless-controlled solar brick includes a circuit board disposed with a microcontroller that connects with a signal receiver and a plurality of light sources. A solar panel is disposed above the circuit board. There is a remote controller corresponding to the solar brick. The remote controller consists of a control module connected with a signal transmitter. The solar brick is placed on flat surface, such as the ground or a wall. Sunlight can be absorbed by the solar panel to generate electric power for further storage of the same. While in the dark or at night, the light source emits light to allow the solar brick to be seen clearly under conditions of low visibility. The colors or lighting patterns of the solar brick can be changed by using the remote controller, thereby providing a dynamic light and shadow show on the flat surface.
US08222817B2
An arc tube for a discharge bulb includes: an electrode assembly that has an electrode bar and a molybdenum foil, wherein an overlapping portion of an end portion of the electrode bar and a molybdenum foil is joined by spot welding; a pinch seal portion that seals a part of the electrode assembly, the part including at least the molybdenum foil; and a closed glass bulb, into which a tip of the electrode bar protrudes, the closed glass bulb forming a discharge light-emitting portion, wherein the size of a recess, which is a weld mark, in the molybdenum foil on the side opposite to a joint portion, at which the molybdenum foil and the electrode bar are joined with each other, is within a range from 0.07 mm2 to 0.25 mm2.
US08222815B2
A PDP includes a first substrate and a second substrate facing each other, a plurality of first discharge electrodes on the first substrate, a first dielectric layer covering the plurality of first discharge electrodes, and a plurality of second discharge electrodes on the second substrate to cross the plurality of first discharge electrodes, wherein a difference between thermal expansion coefficients of the first substrate and the first dielectric layer is greater than or equal to about 2×10−7/° C. and less than or equal to about 17×10−7/° C.
US08222810B2
A substrate board, a fabricating method thereof, and a display using the same are provided. The substrate board includes a substrate having at least a rigid area and at least a flexible area, and at least an electronic component disposed on a surface of the substrate, wherein the rigid area is thicker than the flexible area. A patterned high-extensive material may be additionally disposed on the substrate to improve reliability thereof. The rigid area and the flexible area may be formed by molds or cutters. By using an above structure, the electronic component is less affected when the substrate is under stress, so that good characteristics are maintained.
US08222809B2
A flat panel display apparatus, including a substrate, a display unit disposed on the substrate, a first interconnecting line positioned on the substrate at an outer side of the display unit, a second interconnecting line located above the first interconnecting line, and at least two insulating layers interposed between the first and second interconnecting lines.
US08222804B2
An area-emissive light-emitting diode (LED) device comprises a substrate having an internal substrate surface, an external substrate surface opposite the internal substrate surface, and a substrate edge; an array of area-emissive LED pixels formed on the internal substrate surface with an edge gap between the substrate edge and the LED pixel on the internal substrate surface nearest the substrate edge; and a light-extraction structure formed in the edge gap and at least partially exterior to the LED pixels.
US08222791B2
A stator segment for a segmented stator of an electric machine includes insulative material configured for overlapping with insulative material of an adjacent stator segment to provide continuous insulation along a joint between the adjacent stator segments. Additionally, or alternatively, the stator segment can include one or more alignment tabs configured to engage a surface of an adjacent stator segment to inhibit relative axial movement between adjacent stator segments.
US08222789B2
A brushless D.C. disk motor has one or more disk rotor assemblies and pairs of stator assemblies for each rotor assembly. Each disk rotor assembly has a disk and a plurality of permanent magnets distributed along two or more circular paths in the disk inboard of the peripheral edge of the rotor. Each stator assembly has a plurality of pole pieces and coils distributed along a mounting plate in corresponding circular paths. The disk is rotatably mounted to a support member; while the stator sub-assemblies are fixed to the support member. The coils are selectively activated by commutated power control signals generated in response to a vehicle condition parameter, such as vehicle speed or disk motor load, to optimize power drain from the source of electrical power in accordance with the value of the vehicle condition parameter. The stator assembly pole pieces are movably mounted on the stator mounting plate to improve motor efficiency.
US08222785B2
A magnet comprising grains of a ferromagnetic material whose main component is iron and a fluorine compound layer or an oxy-fluorine compound layer of fluoride compound particles of alkali metals, alkaline earth metals and rare earth elements, present on the surface of the ferromagnetic material grains, wherein an amount of iron atoms in the fluorine compound particles is 1 to 50 atomic %.
US08222782B2
Disclosed is a brushless motor which allows easy positioning of an air core coil and facilitates quick assembling of the coil because the air core coil is positioned by fitting an air core portion of the air core coil to bosses formed in a coil plate. Moreover, since no jig is required for the positioning of the coil, the positional precision of the coil can be stably attained, thereby enhancing the positional precision of the coil. Furthermore, although the positioning of the coil becomes difficult as the coil is reduced in size, the present invention is capable of easily coping with the thinning and miniaturization of the coils, i.e., thinning and miniaturization of the motor. In addition, the thinning and miniaturization of the motor can also be attained by arranging a circuit board and a coil plate in parallel to each other.
US08222780B2
Embodiments of the invention relate generally to lead path configurations in generator rotors and, more particularly, to a support apparatus for a main lead and generator rotors incorporating such a support apparatus. In one embodiment, the invention provides a support apparatus for a main lead of a generator rotor, the support apparatus comprising: a cross-sectionally L-shaped body having: a first portion; and a second portion substantially perpendicular to the first portion, wherein the first portion includes an arcuate first surface for interfacing with a centering ring of the generator rotor and an arcuate second surface adapted to be substantially parallel to a rotor shaft of the generator rotor; a main lead passage extending along the arcuate first surface of the first portion and through the second portion.
US08222775B2
A method of electromechanical energy harvesting includes sensing electrical current generated by relative movement of a coil and a magnetic flux source produced by movement of a cantilevered beam in response to ambient vibration energy, determining a vibration characteristic of the ambient vibration energy, and adjusting an effective flexible length of the cantilevered beam as a function of the vibration characteristic and the sensed electrical current.
US08222766B2
Methods and mechanisms to simultaneously regulate two or more supply voltages provided to an integrated circuit by a voltage regulator. In an embodiment of the invention, a voltage regulation message exchanged between the integrated circuit and the voltage regulator includes an identifier indicating two or more supply voltages selected from a plurality of supply voltages provided to the integrated circuit by the voltage regulator, where the voltage regulation message relates to the indicated two or more supply voltages. In another embodiment, the voltage regulation message indicates a desired supply voltage level to which the indicated two or more supply voltages are to transition.
US08222765B2
A method and system for reducing power output rate change variability. A photovoltaic power output is received from a photovoltaic array. The rate of change of the photovoltaic power output is measured. An auxiliary power source output is adjusted to limit a plant power output rate of change to within a power output rate change band when combined with the photovoltaic power.
US08222762B2
A turbine rotor for a wind power plant or a hydropower plant with a direct-drive generator for converting the energy in flowing wind or water into electrical energy wherein the wind or hydropower plant comprises a turbine rotor and a stator and wherein the turbine rotor further comprises a ring-shaped hub (6) having an axis of rotation that coincides with the center axis of the stator and wherein the turbine rotor comprises at least one rotor blade, which rotor blade is arranged on the ring-shaped hub. The turbine rotor is also intended to be used as a propeller for a craft.
US08222758B2
An object is to improve the operating rate. A first switch is provided in a power line connecting a power generator to a power system, and a second switch that can be opened and closed by remote control is provided in the power line between the power generator and the first switch. In the second switch, a withstand current capability is set that allows current flowing in a low-voltage event and that withstands current having a value equal to or less than a current value specified by the thermal setting of the power generator. In the first switch, a withstand current capability is set that is superior to the withstand current capability of the second switch and that withstands current having a value equal to or less than the current value specified by the thermal setting of the power generator.
US08222752B2
Provided is an organopolysiloxane composition that provides a cured product which has excellent heat resistance and does not peel or crack even under high temperatures. The organopolysiloxane composition comprises (A) an organopolysiloxane having difunctional siloxane units (D units) and trifunctional siloxane units (T units), and a weight-average molecular weight of 37,000 to 140,000 in which the molar ratio (T/D) of the T units to the D units is 0.3 to 0.8; and (B) an organopolysiloxane having the difunctional siloxane units (D units) and the trifunctional siloxane units (T units), and a weight-average molecular weight of 1,000 to 60,000 in which the molar ratio (T/D) of the T units to the D units is 0.15 or less, the organopolysiloxane composition being characterized by having a molar ratio (B/A) of the organopolysiloxane (B) to the organopolysiloxane (A) of 1.5 to 6.5.
US08222751B2
An electroconductive bonding material contains a thermosetting resin, a low-melting-point metal powder which is melted at a temperature equal to or lower than the thermosetting temperature of the thermosetting resin, a high-melting-point metal powder which is not melted at a temperature equal to or lower than the thermosetting temperature of the thermosetting resin and which reacts with the low-melting-point metal powder to form a reaction product having a high melting point of 300° C. or higher during heat-hardening of the thermosetting resin, and a reducing substance which removes an oxide formed on the surface of the high-melting-point metal powder. The total content of the low-melting-point metal powder and the high-melting-point metal powder is 75% to 88% by weight, and the particle size ratio D1/D2 of the average particle size D1 of the low-melting-point metal powder to the average particle size D2 of the high-melting-point metal powder is 0.5 to 6.0. Thereby, an electroconductive bonding material is provided which has good conduction properties and high connection strength even when reflow heat treatment is repeatedly carried out or thermal shock accompanied with a rapid temperature change is applied to the electroconductive bonding material, and an electronic apparatus using such an electroconductive bonding material.
US08222748B2
A packaged electronic device including a package substrate having a top substrate surface including a die attach region including at least one land pad thereon and a first dielectric layer positioned lateral to the land pad and a non-die attach region. The non-die attach region includes a second dielectric layer, wherein a thickness of the second dielectric layer is>a thickness of the first dielectric layer by at least 5 μm. An IC die has a top semiconductor surface including active circuitry and at least one bonding conductor formed on the top semiconductor surface, and a bottom surface, wherein the bonding conductor of the IC die is joined to the land pad of the package substrate. An underfill layer is between the IC die and the die attach region.
US08222745B2
An electronic device includes a heat dissipating component located over a substrate. An isolation trench is formed in the substrate adjacent the component. A contact region of the substrate is bounded by the trench. An electrically isolated contact is located over and in contact with the contact region. The electrically isolated contact and the contact region provide a thermally conductive path to the substrate.
US08222740B2
A transparent, electrically conductive composite includes a layer of molybdenum oxide or nickel oxide deposited on a layer of zinc oxide layer. The molybdenum component exists in a mixed valence state in the molybdenum oxide. The nickel component exists in a mixed valence state in the nickel oxide. The composite may be utilized in various electronic devices, including optoelectronic devices. In particular, the composite may be utilized as a transparent conductive electrode. As compared to conventional transparent conduct oxides such as indium tin oxide, the composite exhibits superior properties, including a higher work function.
US08222739B2
A system to improve core package connections may include ball grid array pads, and a ball grid array. The system may also include connection members of the ball grid array conductively connected to respective ball grid array pads. The system may further include magnetic underfill positioned adjacent at least some of the connection members and respective ball grid array pads to increase respective connection members' inductance.
US08222736B2
A semiconductor device includes: a pad that is formed on a semiconductor layer, contains Al, and has an interconnection portion that is formed outside a bonding area; an interconnection layer that contains Au and is electrically connected to the interconnection portion of the pad, an edge of the interconnection layer being formed outside of the bonding area; and a barrier layer that is provided between the interconnection portion and the interconnection layer.
US08222731B2
In a package, a heat slug, encapsulated by molding compound, encases an integrated circuit device (IC). In an example embodiment, a semiconductor package structure comprises a substrate having conductive traces and pad landings. The conductive traces have pad landings. An IC is mounted on the substrate. The IC has bonding pads. With conductive wires, the IC bonding pads are connected to the pad landings, which in turn, are connected to the conductive traces. A heat slug, having predetermined height, is disposed on the substrate surface. The heat slug includes a plurality of mounting feet providing mechanical attachment to the substrate. A cavity in the heat slug accommodates the IC. A plurality of first-size openings surrounds the IC. A second-size opening constructed from one of the first size-openings, is larger than the first-size opening. The second size-opening facilitates the introduction of molding compounds into the cavity of the heat slug.
US08222725B2
A microelectronic assembly includes an interconnection element, element contacts, first and second metal layers, conductive elements, and first and second microelectronic devices. The first metal layer may extend beyond at least one of the edges of the first microelectronic device. The conductive elements may respectively extend beyond at least one of the edges of the first metal layer. The first metal layer may have a surface disposed at a substantially uniform spacing from at least substantial portions of the conductive elements, such that a desired impedance may be achieved for the conductive elements. The conductive elements may be spaced a smaller distance from the metal layer than the distance of the conductive elements from the front surface of the first microelectronic device. The second metal layer may be connectable to a source of reference potential.
US08222723B2
An electronic module including a conductive-pattern layer; an insulating-material layer supporting the conductive-pattern layer; and at least one component inside the insulating-material layer is disclosed. The component includes a first surface and contact zones on the first surface. The electronic module further includes a first hardened adhesive layer on the first surface of the component; a second hardened adhesive layer in contact with the conductive-pattern layer and the first hardened adhesive layer; holes in the first and second hardened adhesive layer at the locations of the contact zones; and conductive material in the holes and in electrical connection with the contact zones of the component and the conductive-pattern layer.
US08222720B2
There are constituted by a tab (1b) on which a semiconductor chip (2) is mounted, a sealing portion (3) formed by resin-sealing the semiconductor chip (2), a plurality of leads (1a) each having a mounted surface (1d) exposed to a peripheral portion of a rear surface (3a) of the sealing portion (3) and a sealing-portion forming surface (1g) disposed on an opposite side thereto, and a wire (4) for connecting a pad (2a) of the semiconductor chip (2) and a lead (1a), wherein the length (M) between inner ends (1h) of the sealing-portion forming surfaces (1g) of the leads (1a) disposed so as to oppose to each other is formed to be larger than the length (L) between inner ends (1h) of the mounted surfaces (1d). Thereby, a chip mounting region surrounded by the inner end (1h) of the sealing-portion forming surface (1g) of each lead (1a) can be expanded and the size of the mountable chip is increased.
US08222719B2
A QFN IC package is provided that has all of the advantages of the typical QFN IC package, but in addition, has a paddle that is configured to facilitate trace routing and/or via placement on the PWB or PCB on which the IC package is mounted. By configuring the paddle as necessary or desired in order to facilitate routing and/or via placement, the overall size of the PWB or PCB can be reduced without sacrificing the thermal or electrical performance advantages that the paddle provides. In addition, the reduction in the overall size of the PWB or PCB results in reduced cost.
US08222709B2
A solid-state imaging device includes a pixel array area in which an unit pixel including a photoelectric conversion element converting optical signals to signal charges and a transfer gate transferring the signal charges which have been photoelectrically converted in the photoelectric conversion element is two-dimensionally arranged in a matrix form, a supply voltage control means for supplying plural first control voltages sequentially to a control electrode of the transfer gate, and a driving means for performing driving of reading out signal charges transferred by the transfer gate when the plural first control voltages are sequentially applied twice and more.
US08222707B2
A semiconductor package structure and a package method thereof are provided. The semiconductor package structure includes a substrate, a sensing chip, a first patterned conductive layer and a electrical connection portion. The substrate has an accommodating portion, a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The accommodating portion are extended to the second surface from the first surface.
US08222706B2
A semiconductor device includes, a gate insulating film, a gate electrode, a source/drain region, and a Si mixed crystal layer in the source/drain region. The Si mixed crystal layer includes a first Si mixed crystal layer that includes impurities with a first concentration, a second Si mixed crystal layer formed over the first Si mixed crystal layer and that includes the impurities with a second concentration higher than the first concentration, and a third Si mixed crystal layer formed over the second Si mixed crystal layer and that includes the impurities with a third concentration lower than the second concentration.
US08222704B2
An electrical device includes a substrate; first and second active areas; first and second word lines disposed in a first plane; first and second bit lines in a second plane and in electrical communication with first and second active areas; and a reference line disposed in a third plane. A nanotube element disposed in a fourth plane is in electrical communication with first and second active areas and the reference line via electrical connections at a first surface of the nanotube element. The nanotube element includes first and second regions having resistance states that are independently adjustable in response to electrical stimuli, wherein the first and second regions nonvolatilely retain the resistance states. Arrays of such electrical devices can be formed as nonvolatile memory devices. Methods for fabricating such devices are also disclosed.
US08222703B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor layer formed on an insulation layer and having an MOS (Metal Oxide Semiconductor) transistor area and a bi-polar transistor area; an MOS transistor formed in the MOS transistor area; and a bi-polar transistor formed in the bi-polar transistor area. The MOS transistor includes a source area of a second conductive type; a drain area of the second conductive type; and a channel area of a first conductive type. The MOS transistor further includes a gate electrode formed on the channel area with a first oxide layer inbetween. The bi-polar transistor includes a collector area of the second conductive type; an emitter area of the second conductive type; and a base area of the first conductive type. The bi-polar transistor further includes a dummy pattern formed on the base area with a second oxide layer inbetween.
US08222699B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor substrate including a semiconductor layer, a power device formed in the semiconductor substrate, a plurality of concentric guard rings formed in the semiconductor substrate and surrounding the power device, and voltage applying means for applying successively higher voltages respectively to the plurality of concentric guard rings, with the outermost concentric guard ring having the highest voltage applied thereto.
US08222698B2
In various embodiments, the invention relates to bond pad structures including planar transistor structures operable as over-voltage clamps.
US08222695B2
An electronic device, including an integrated circuit, can include a buried conductive region and a semiconductor layer overlying the buried conductive region, wherein the semiconductor layer has a primary surface and an opposing surface lying closer to the buried conductive region. The electronic device can also include a first doped region and a second doped region spaced apart from each other, wherein each is within the semiconductor layer and lies closer to primary surface than to the opposing surface. The electronic device can include current-carrying electrodes of transistors. A current-carrying electrode of a particular transistor includes the first doped region and is a source or an emitter and is electrically connected to the buried conductive region. Another current-carrying electrode of a different transistor includes the second doped region and is a drain or a collector and is electrically connected to the buried conductive region.
US08222683B2
To realize miniaturization/high integration and increase in the amount of accumulated charges, and to give a memory structure having a high reliability. A 1 transistor 1 capacitor (1T1C) structure having 1 ferroelectric capacitor structure and 1 selection transistor every memory cell is adopted, and respective capacitor structures are disposed respectively in either one layer of interlayer insulating films of 2 layers having different heights from the surface of a semiconductor substrate.
US08222680B2
A double gate metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET) includes a fin, a first gate and a second gate. The first gate is formed on top of the fin. The second gate surrounds the fin and the first gate. In another implementation, a triple gate MOSFET includes a fin, a first gate, a second gate, and a third gate. The first gate is formed on top of the fin. The second gate is formed adjacent the fin. The third gate is formed adjacent the fin and opposite the second gate.
US08222678B2
A semiconductor structure including a substrate, at least one power MOSFET, a floating diode or a body diode, and at least one Schottky diode is provided. The substrate has a first area, a second area and a third area. The second area is between the first area and the third area. The at least one power MOSFET is in the first area. The floating diode or the body diode is in the second area. The at least one Schottky diode is in the third area. Further, the contact plugs of the power MOSFET and the Schottky diode include tungsten and are electronically connected to each other.
US08222675B2
A nitride semiconductor device 2 comprises a nitride semiconductor layer 10. A gate insulating film 16 is formed on the surface of the nitride semiconductor layer 10. The gate insulating film 16 includes a portion composed of an aluminum nitride film 15 and a portion composed of an insulating material 14 that contains at least one of oxygen or silicon. A region W2 of the nitride semiconductor layer 10 facing the aluminum nitride film 15 is included in a region W1 of the nitride semiconductor layer 10 facing a gate electrode 18. The nitride semiconductor device 2 may further comprise a nitride semiconductor lower layer 8. The nitride semiconductor layer 10 may be stacked on the surface of the nitride semiconductor lower layer 8. The nitride semiconductor layer 10 may have a larger band gap than that of the nitride semiconductor lower layer 8 and have a heterojunction formed there between.
US08222672B2
A semiconductor device is configured so as to comprise a substrate, an n-type semiconductor layer or an undoped semiconductor layer on the substrate, and an ohmic electrode on the n-type semiconductor layer or the undoped semiconductor layer, and the ohmic electrode is configured so as to comprise a tantalum layer formed on the n-type semiconductor layer or the undoped semiconductor layer, an aluminum layer formed on the tantalum layer, and a metal layer formed on the aluminum layer and made of any one material of tantalum, nickel, palladium, and molybdenum.
US08222662B2
An LED package structure includes a transparent substrate having a supporting face and a light-emergent face opposite to the supporting face, a housing disposed on the supporting face, two electrodes disposed on the housing, an LED chip disposed on the supporting face and electrically connected to the two electrodes, a reflecting layer covering the LED chip to reflect light emitted by the LED chip toward the transparent substrate, and a phosphor layer formed on the light-emergent face of the substrate. The phosphor layer includes a plurality of layers each having a specific light wavelength conversion range to generate a light with a predetermined color.
US08222654B2
The present invention relates to a nitride semiconductor light emitting device including: a substrate having a predetermined pattern formed on a surface thereof by an etch; a protruded portion disposed on a non-etched region of the substrate, and having a first buffer layer and a first nitride semiconductor layer stacked thereon; a second buffer layer formed on the etched region of the substrate; a second nitride semiconductor layer formed on the second buffer layer and the protruded portion; a third nitride semiconductor layer formed on the second nitride semiconductor layer; an active layer formed on the third nitride semiconductor layer to emit light; and a fourth nitride semiconductor layer formed on the active layer. According to the present invention, the optical extraction efficiency of the nitride semiconductor light emitting device can be enhanced.
US08222646B2
A thin-film transistor includes a source and a drain that have each been replaced with a metal by a heat-treatment at a temperature within the range of 250° C. and 500° C.
US08222636B2
To provide a display device which can be manufactured with higher efficiency in the use of material through a simplified manufacturing process, and a method for manufacturing the display device. Another object is to provide a technique by which patterns of a wiring the like which constitutes the display device can be formed to a desired shape with good control. In a method for forming a pattern according to the present invention, a mask is formed over a light-transmitting substrate; a first region including a photocatalyst is formed over the substrate and the mask; the photocatalyst is irradiated with light through the substrate to modify a part of the first region; a second region is formed; and a composition containing a pattern forming material is discharged to the second region, thus, a pattern is formed. The mask does not transmit light.
US08222633B2
The present invention relates to an organic transistor that includes an organic semiconductor layer containing a thiazolothiazole derivative and an insulating organic material having a band gap of 3 eV or more or no portion having four pairs or more of double bonds and single bonds continuously connected.
US08222629B2
An electronic device using quantum dots, which comprises a ferromagnetic micro magnet and performs individual ESR control on each multi-quantum bit in a power saving way. The electronic device comprising the ferromagnetic micro magnet (10) disposed in the vicinity of the quantum dots (8, 9) of a plurality of aligned semiconductor quantum dots, wherein a strong magnetic field is applied so as to induce electron spin resonance (ESR), and the layout of the ferromagnetic micro magnet (10) is changed, thereby controlling the resonance frequency of the quantum dots (8, 9). Under the condition where the resonance frequency of each quantum dot (8, 9) is controlled, swapping of the electron spins in the quantum dots (8, 9) is performed, thereby creating a quantum bit (QUBIT) required for quantum calculation.
US08222627B2
A copper-diffusion plug 21 is provided within a pore in dielectric layer over a copper signal line. By positioning the plug below a chalcogenide region, the plug is effective to block copper diffusion upwardly into the pore and into the chalcogenide region and thus to avoid adversely affecting the electrical characteristics of the chalcogenide region.
US08222614B2
The apparatus has a rotating body 11 in an irradiation processing chamber 10. Outside the rotating body 11, plural retaining mechanisms 2 are installed at regular interval to retain open-mouthed containers. Above the conveying path, an electron beam generating means 40 is arranged. The rotating body 11 has a rotary shaft 12 that penetrates into the electron beam generating means 40. On the rotary shaft 12, a grid plate 45 of an electron beam source 41 of the electron beam generating means 40 is rotatively installed. On the grid plate 45, plural emission holes 46 are provided at the same interval as that of the retaining mechanisms 2 on the rotating body 11. In an predetermined irradiation area, the emission holes 46 and a irradiation windows 43 on the irradiation processing chamber 10 and the retaining mechanism 2 for holding the container are aligned approximately on the same axes.
US08222613B2
An inexpensive scanning irradiation device of a particle beam is obtained without using a rotating gantry. A first scanning electromagnet and a second scanning electromagnet, whose deflection surfaces of the particle beam are the same, and which bend the particle beam having an incident beam axis angle of approximately 45 degrees relative to a horizontal direction in reverse directions to each other; an electromagnet rotation driving mechanism which integrates the first and the second scanning electromagnets and rotates these scanning electromagnets around the incident beam axis; and a treatment bed are provided. The particle beam deflected by the first and the second scanning electromagnets can be obtained at a range of −45 degrees to +45 degrees in deflection angle from an incident beam axis direction.
US08222599B1
A method of measuring a three-dimensional device in a wafer is provided. The method comprises the step of forming a trench in the wafer. The trench has a facet passing through the three-dimensional device a predetermined offset from a desired image position. The method further comprises iteratively, until a remaining distance between the facet and the desired image position is less than a predetermined threshold, adjusting one or more parameters of a polishing beam based on the remaining distance, polishing the facet with the polishing beam to position the facet closer to the desired image position, and measuring the remaining distance.
US08222598B2
A method and apparatus for quantitative analysis of a material in which an electron beam is caused to impinge upon the material are described. The method comprises detecting low loss electrons (LLEs) received from a first region of the material due to interaction with the electron beam and generating corresponding LLE data. The method further comprises detecting x-rays received from a second region of the material due to interaction with the electron beam and generating corresponding x-ray data, wherein the first and second regions overlap, and analysing the LLE data together with the x-ray data so as to generate compositional data representative of the composition of the first region.
US08222596B2
Analyzer constituted by gas chromatograph combined with inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometer
The invention provides a new GC/ICP-MS capable of preventing carbon deposition caused by the analysis sample or its solvent. With a GC/ICP-MS, it is effective to introduce oxygen continuously or during a specific period to the part where argon or other makeup gas is introduced to the ICP-MS, and this is achieved by introducing oxygen in air into the gas supply line using an oxygen permeable tube or oxygen permeable membrane. A selector valve is used to introduce permeated oxygen to the aforementioned gas supply line only during a desired period.
US08222590B2
A signal amplifier connected to a photodetector that converts a received optical signal to a current signal includes: a preamplifier converting the current signal to voltage and supplying the resultant voltage signal; a main amplifier amplifying the voltage signal supplied from the preamplifier and in which at least the input stage is made up from a differential circuit; two or more follower circuits provided between the preamplifier and the main amplifier and supplied with the voltage signal; resistors of equal resistance provided for each follower circuit on the paths between the output of the preamplifier and each input of the main amplifier; and a capacitor having one end connected to one of the resistors and the other end connected to ground. A low-pass filter for detecting the average potential of the voltage signal is configured by the capacitor and the resistor that is connected to the capacitor.
US08222583B2
A drag-stabilized water-entry projectile having a projectile body, one or more drag-stabilizing elements, such as fins, flares or canards, and one or more attachment members adapted to hold the one or more drag-stabilizing elements to the projectile body. The one or more attachment members are coated with a thermally reactive material. A projectile and cartridge assembly has a shear pin, a projectile having a first cutout portion, the cutout portion sized to receive the shear pin. The assembly also includes a sabot configured to house the projectile and having a second cutout portion, the second cutout portion sized to receive the shear pin. The cutout portion is positioned to provide an offset region between an aft end of the projectile and a base of the sabot.
US08222582B1
A method is provided for characterizing luminous celestial objects (e.g., stars) in celestial navigation of a missile system. The method includes segmenting, assigning, measuring, computing, ratioing, producing, scaling, and determining operations. Segmenting includes subdividing wavelength range into discrete contiguous bins. Assigning arranges each bin into a plurality of color bands. Establishing sets a transmissivity to each bin of each color band. Computing calculates broad-based fluxes for a reference value as a reference flux. Ratioing computes a ratio between the target flux to the library flux as a color scale for each band. Squaring determines the library flux for each band as a library flux squared. Producing sums a spectral scale over the color bands, a second multiplication of the color scale and the library flux squared as a first sum product, and sums over all the bands the library flux squared as a second sum product and dividing the sum products. Scaling factors each measured intensity of the measured intensities as a scaled intensity by multiplying each target intensity by the spectral scale for each bin. Determining sums a scaled broad-band flux for each band over the bins, a third multiplication of the transmissivity and the scaled intensity.
US08222574B2
Apparatus and methods for achieving uniform heating or cooling of a substrate during a rapid thermal process are disclosed. More particularly, apparatus and methods for controlling the temperature of an edge ring supporting a substrate and/or a reflector plate during a rapid thermal process to improve temperature uniformity across the substrate are disclosed, which include a thermal mass or plate adjacent the edge ring to heat or cool the edge ring.
US08222572B2
A steam generator for food processor comprising a shell separated into a sink and a steam generating chamber, wherein the sink has an inlet for importing water from a water source, and the bottom of the sink has an outlet in communication with the steam generating chamber, wherein the generating chamber comprises a heater inside for heating the flowed-in water, as well as a steam outlet. The steam generator is separated from the cavity of the food processor and will not be polluted by the food, so that the generated steam remains pure, which ensures food safety and the taste, and the heating unit of the steam generating device does not connect with the cavity of the microwave oven, so the cavity will not be distorted.
US08222571B2
An apparatus for curing an electrolyte membrane of a fuel cell is disclosed, by which curing can be performed by preventing a surface of an electrolyte layer from swelling. The present invention includes an oven body, a vacuum sucking plate entering the oven body while the electrolyte membrane having an electro-catalyst liquid sprayed thereon is attached to an upper surface of the vacuum sucking plate, a magazine provided within the oven body to sequentially load a plurality of vacuum sucking plates to enter the oven body in a horizontal state, and an air-sucking terminal provided to a rear side of the magazine to sustain a vacuum state of the vacuum sucking plate by being connected to the vacuum sucking plate loaded in the magazine.
US08222566B2
Alternative designs, materials and manufacturing methods for guidewires. Some embodiments pertain to a composite guidewire having proximal and distal section, and a connector adapted and configured for permanently joining the proximal section to the distal section. In some embodiments, at least one of the sections is made of a linear-elastic nickel-titanium alloy. Several alternative guidewire tip constructions and/or designs including methods and techniques of construction are also disclosed.
US08222524B2
A protective casing for a joint, termination or cross-connection of at least one high voltage cable. The protective casing includes a first material portion of a first metal material having good strength properties. The protective casing includes a second material portion of a second metal material which is fixedly attached to the first material portion. The second metal material has good soft soldering properties such that it is possible to provide a strong and tight connection between the second material portion of the protective casing and a sheath of at least one of the cable parts by a soft soldering process.
US08222512B2
Traditional power generation systems using thermoelectric power generators are designed to operate most efficiently for a single operating condition. The present invention provides a power generation system in which the characteristics of the thermoelectrics, the flow of the thermal power, and the operational characteristics of the power generator are monitored and controlled such that higher operation efficiencies and/or higher output powers can be maintained with variably thermal power input. Such a system is particularly beneficial in variable thermal power source systems, such as recovering power from the waste heat generated in the exhaust of combustion engines.
US08222511B2
A thermoelectric device comprises a plurality of semiconductor elements comprising a first set of semiconductor elements and a second set of semiconductor elements, which include dissimilar electrical properties. The semiconductor elements are oriented in a substantially hexagonal array that includes rows in which semiconductor elements of the first and second sets of semiconductor elements alternate. The thermoelectric device also comprises a first set of electrical conductors and a second set of electrical conductors; each of the first set of electrical conductor being electrically coupled to the first end of a semiconductor element of the first set of semiconductor elements and the first end of a semiconductor element of the second set of semiconductor elements, each of the second set of electrical conductors are electrically coupled to the second end of a semiconductor element of the first set of semiconductor elements and the a second end of a semiconductor element of the second set of semiconductor elements such that the plurality of semiconductor elements are electrically coupled to each other in series.
US08222505B1
A string bouncing bar for striking strings of a stringed musical instrument is comprised of an elongate bar body with a distal end and a proximal end. A striking head is provided at the distal end of the bar body and formed integrally therewith and of the same material as the material of the bar body. The striking head has a longitudinally extending string striking surface with the length from 0.25 to about 1.6 inches and extends along the length of the elongate bar body. A grip is provided at the proximal end of the bar body and includes a bulb portion and a generally flattened web located between and joining the bulb portion in the bar body. The web extends in a plane parallel to the plane of the striking head with the web having a thickness dimension sufficiently small to fit and to be held between adjoining fingers of a players' hand using the bar to strike the strings of the musical instrument.
US08222501B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the corn variety designated CV970480. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CV970480, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CV970480 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to corn seeds and plants produced by crossing plants of variety CV970480 with plants of another variety, such as another inbred line. The invention further relates to the inbred and hybrid genetic complements of plants of variety CV970480.
US08222499B1
Basically, this invention provides for an inbred corn line designated NPFA4734, methods for producing a corn plant by crossing plants of the inbred line NPFA4734 with plants of another corn plants. The invention relates to the various parts of inbred NPFA4734 including culturable cells. This invention also relates to methods for introducing transgenic transgenes into inbred corn line NPFA4734 and plants produced by said methods.
US08222498B1
A novel maize variety designated PHPKE and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PHPKE with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PHPKE through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PHPKE or a locus conversion of PHPKE with another maize variety.
US08222497B1
A novel maize variety designated PHV6T and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PHV6T with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PHV6T through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PHV6T or a locus conversion of PHV6T with another maize variety.
US08222491B2
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1016190. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1016190. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1016190 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1016190 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08222490B2
The invention relates to the soybean variety designated A1016495. Provided by the invention are the seeds, plants and derivatives of the soybean variety A1016495. Also provided by the invention are tissue cultures of the soybean variety A1016495 and the plants regenerated therefrom. Still further provided by the invention are methods for producing soybean plants by crossing the soybean variety A1016495 with itself or another soybean variety and plants produced by such methods.
US08222485B2
The present disclosure is directed to plants that display a modified pathogen resistance phenotype (e.g., increased nematode resistance) due to altered expression of an NMR nucleic acid. The invention is further directed to methods of generating plants with a modified pathogen resistance phenotype.
US08222479B2
The present invention relates to a recombinant organism having any one of nucleic acids (i) to (iv) introduced therein: (i) a nucleic acid having a base sequence of SEQ ID NO: 1; (ii) a nucleic acid encoding a protein having an amino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 2; (iii) a nucleic acid encoding a dragline protein and having a sequence identity of 90% or more with the nucleic acid (i); (iv) a nucleic acid which encodes a dragline protein and hybridizes with a complementary chain of the nucleic acid (i) under stringent conditions.
US08222473B1
A process for isomerizing light paraffins using a catalyst comprising an STI-type zeolite and at least one Group VIII metal. It has been found that the catalyst can selectively convert C6 paraffins into the more favorable higher octane C6 isomer, namely 2,3-dimethylbutane (RON=105), over the less favorable C6 isomer, namely octane 2,2-dimethylbutane (RON=94).
US08222471B2
We provide a process, comprising oligomerizing one or more olefins having a boiling point less than 82° C. in a presence of an ionic liquid catalyst and one or more C5+ alpha olefins in a reactor to produce a base oil having a kinematic viscosity at 100° C. of 36 mm2/s or higher and a VI greater than 55; and wherein the one or more olefins having the boiling point less than 82° C. comprise greater than 50 wt % of a total mixture of olefins fed to the reactor. We provide a process, comprising oligomerizing olefins having a low boiling point in a presence of an ionic liquid catalyst and a mixture of C5+ alpha olefins derived from waste plastic to produce a base oil having a kinematic viscosity at 40° C. greater than 1100 mm2/s and a VI greater than 55. We also provide a base oil made by the process.
US08222469B2
The present invention relates generally to catalysts and processes for the formation of terminal olefin(s) from internal olefin(s) via ethenolysis reactions. The ethenolysis reactions may proceed with high conversion, high turnover, and/or high selectivity.
US08222465B2
A catalytic process for generating at least one polyol from a feedstock comprising cellulose is performed in a continuous manner. The process involves, contacting, continuously, hydrogen, water, and a feedstock comprising cellulose, with a catalyst to generate an effluent stream comprising at least one polyol, water, hydrogen, and at least one co-product. The water, hydrogen, and at least one co-product are separated from the effluent stream and recycled to the reaction zone. The polyol is recovered from the effluent stream.
US08222461B2
Disclosed herein are mixed oxide catalysts for the catalytic gas phase oxidation of alkanes, or mixtures of alkanes and olefins, for the production of aldehydes and carboxylic acids with air or oxygen in the presence of inert gases at elevated temperatures and pressures, and methods for the production of the catalyst.
US08222455B2
Viscoelastic compositions are disclosed herein containing an effective amount of one or more random or structurally defined polycationic quaternary ammonium compounds for controlling the viscoelasticity of the composition. In one aspect, the present technology provides polycationic quaternary ammonium compounds that comprise bis-quaternary compound. The bis-quaternary compounds of the present technology can be symmetric or dissymmetric. In another aspect, the present technology provides viscoelastic well bore treatment fluids comprising water, and at least one polycationic quaternary ammonium compound that comprises a bis-quaternary compound. In another aspect, the present technology provides polycationic carboxylates. Preferred viscoelastic compositions of the present technology maintain viscoelasticity at a temperature greater than about 80° C., preferably greater than about 100° C. or 110° C. when the amount of the one or polycationic quaternary compounds is less than about 10% by weight based on the total weight of the composition.
US08222451B2
The invention provides novel classes of HDAC inhibitors. Methods of sensitizing a cancer cell to the cytotoxic effects of radiotherapy are also provided as well as methods for treating cancer and methods for treating neurological diseases. Additionally, the invention further provides pharmaceutical compositions comprising an HDAC inhibitor of the invention, and kits comprising a container containing an HDAC inhibitor of the invention.
US08222446B2
A method of producing a compound represented by the following general formula (3): [wherein R is a bivalent aliphatic group having a carbon number of 1-16 or a bivalent aromatic group], which comprises a step (i) of reacting a compound represented by the following general formula (1): with a carboxylic acid halide represented by the following general formula (2): [wherein R is a bivalent aliphatic group having a carbon number of 1-16 or a bivalent aromatic group and X is a halogen atom] in the presence of a basic compound to form an ester, and a step (ii) of conducting a heat treatment after the step (i) to decompose an oligomer in the ester.
US08222441B2
A series of novel phosphorus-containing compounds having the following formula are disclosed: wherein R1-R12, A, B, D, X, and Y are as defined in the specification. A process for the preparation of the compound of formula (1), a curing agent, and a flame resistant epoxy resin and a preparation process thereof are also provided.
US08222438B2
Process for the production of saturated monocarboxylic acids and triglycerides of saturated carboxylic acids having more than one acid functionstarting from non-modified vegetable oils containing triglycerides of unsaturated fattyacids, comprising the oxidative cleavage of the unsaturated fatty acids.
US08222434B1
The present inventions are directed to a novel bactobolin analog bactobolin D. The present inventions also are directed to a method of producing a composition comprising at least one bactobolin analog using a bacteria strain comprising a bacterial cell comprising the biosynthetic locus of the bactobolin analog in Burkholderia thailandensis (bta cluster) or a homolog structure (at least 95% sequence identity) thereof, and further isolation and purification of the bactobolin analog. For example, the bacterial strain can be a wild type bacterial strain such as a Burkholderia strain comprising a bta cluster (e.g. Burkholderia thailandensis (e.g. E264, Bt4, and TXDOH) and Burkholderia pseudomallei (e.g. K96243, 1106a, and 1106b).
US08222424B2
The present invention provides a compound of formula (I): said compound is inhibitor of MMP-2, and/or MMP-8, and/or MMP-9, and/or MMP-12 and/or MMP-13, and thus can be employed for the treatment of a disorder or disease characterized by abnormal activity of MMP-2, and/or MMP-8, and/or MMP-9, and/or MMP-12 and/or MMP-13. Accordingly, the compound of formula (I) can be used in treatment of disorders or diseases mediated by MMP-2, and/or MMP-8, and/or MMP-9, and/or MMP-12, and/or MMP-13. Finally, the present invention also provides a pharmaceutical composition.
US08222422B2
Provided is a crystal of (R)-2-[[[3-methyl-4-(2,2,2-trifluoroethoxy)-2-pyridinyl]methyl]sulfinyl]-1H-benzimidazole showing an X-ray powder diffraction pattern having characteristic peaks at interplanar spacings (d) of 10.06±0.2, 8.70±0.2, 6.57±0.2, 5.59±0.2 and 4.00±0.2 Angstroms. The present invention provides a stable antiulcer drug superior in the absorbability.
US08222418B2
Compounds of formula I: modulate the action of gamma secretase, and hence find use in treatment of Alzheimer's disease and related conditions.
US08222409B2
A nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compound is represented by Formula (I): wherein R1 represents a hydrogen atom, a substituted or unsubstituted alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms, or a substituted or unsubstituted alkoxy group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms; A represents a heterocyclic residue that contains at least one nitrogen atom and forms a six-membered aromatic heterocyclic ring; and n represents an integer of from 1 to 3.
US08222403B2
Disclosed are an oligomer and a phthalonitrile monomer having the formulas: M is a metal or H. The value n is an integer greater than or equal to 1 for the oligomer and greater than or equal to 0 for the phthalonitrile monomer. Ar1 and Ar2 are independently selected aromatic- or heterocyclic-containing groups. Ar1, Ar2, or both are heteroaromatic or heterocyclic groups containing a nitrogen, sulfur, or oxygen heteroatom. Also disclosed are thermosets and pyrolyzed materials made from the phthalonitrile monomer.
US08222401B2
This invention relates to a novel metallocenyl phthalocyanine compound represented by the following general formula (I), in which at least one of the four benzene rings of phthalocyanine is connected with the organometallic complex group through a linker having one carbon atom. This invention also relates to the use of the phthalocyanine compounds in optical recording media. wherein, all symbols are defined in the specification.
US08222386B2
Novel promoters which are derived from P. pastoris pastoris which are inducible or repressible under specific growth conditions are provided. These promoters are useful for regulating the expression of a desired structural gene, e.g., a mammalian polypeptide. Particularly preferred is the use of these novel promoters to regulate gene expression in polyploidal yeast such as diploidal P. pastoris produced by mating or spheroplast fusion.
US08222378B2
There is disclosed an isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a human neurotrophic growth factor designated enovin and having the amino acid sequence illustrated in FIG. 1, 21, 23 or 24 or encoding a functional equivalent, derivative or bioprecursor of said growth factor. The growth factor preferably comprises the amino acid sequence from position 27 to 139 of the sequence illustrated in FIG. 1, or a functional equivalent, derivative or bioprecursor thereof. The nucleic acid molecule encoding enovin can be used to transform a host cell, tissue or organism by including it in an appropriate vector. The host cell, tissue or organism and the vector also form part of the invention.
US08222374B2
Monoclonal antibodies are identified that bind the IL-21 protein. These antibodies are used to identify regions of the IL-21 protein to where binding neutralizes IL-21 activity. Hybridomas and methods of producing anti-IL-21 monoclonal antibodies are described. The monoclonal antibodies are useful in treating IL-21-mediated diseases, which may include autoimmune and inflammatory diseases such as pancreatitis, type I diabetes (IDDM), Graves Disease, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), Crohn's Disease, ulcerative colitis, irritable bowel syndrome, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, diverticulosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, psoriasis, ankylosing spondylitis, scleroderma, systemic sclerosis, psoriatic arthritis, osteoarthritis, atopic dermatitis, vitiligo, graft vs. host disease (GVHD), cutaneous T cell lymphoma (CTCL), Sjogren's syndrome, glomerulonephritis, IgA nephropathy, graft versous host disease, transplant rejection, atopic dermatitis, anti-phospholipid syndrome, and asthma, and other autoimmune diseases.
US08222364B2
A composition includes a siloxane of the formula: (RMe2SiO1/2)a(MeRSiO2/2)b(RSiO3/2)c(SiO4/2)d wherein a is at least 2, b is from 3 to 20, c is from 0 to 10, d is from 0 to 10, and each R is independently of the formula —CR′2—CR′2—Y—Z or CR′2—CR′2—Z, wherein each R′ is independently a hydrogen atom or a C1 to C10 hydrocarbyl free of aliphatic unsaturation so long as at least one R′ is a hydrogen atom, Y is a divalent organic group, and Z is a polycyclic group containing at least one aromatic ring. A method of making the siloxane includes charging (HMe2SiO1/2)a(MeHSiO2/2)b(HSiO3/2)c(SiO4/2)d, a platinum catalyst, and an alkene of the formula CR′2═CR′—Y—Z or CR′2═CR′—Z into a reactor to form the siloxane. The siloxane is useful as a component in holographic storage media for photopolymer-based holographic data storage applications. The siloxane exhibits excellent compatibility when mixed with a polymerizable component before the polymerizable component is cured. Furthermore, the siloxane exhibits excellent diffusion from polymers of the polymerizable component after partial and complete curing. The siloxane also has a high refractive index while maintaining the excellent compatibility and diffusion properties when mixed with polymerizable component.
US08222362B2
The present invention refers to a polymer latex made by free-radical polymerization comprising polymer particles containing structural units derived from at least one conjugated diene monomer and at least one aromatic vinyl monomer, whereby no vinyl pyridine is used in the polymerization and the polymer latex is polymerized in the presence of at least one chain transfer agent having the general formula RSH, wherein R is a linear alkyl group having 3 to 20 carbon atoms and the dried latex polymer has a Mooney viscosity measured according to DIN 53 523 of 85 to 155, as well as to articles made there from.
US08222361B2
The present invention relates to a method for the production of an ethylene/propylene/diene copolymer by means of solution polymerization, and more specifically one for a copolymer whose main components are ethylene, propylene and diene monomers using a catalyst of a transition metal coordination compound; the constituent components and characteristics of the copolymer being as follows. The catalyst composition provided by the present invention, which is used to produce a copolymer of which (a) the ethylene content is from 30 wt. % to 80 wt. %, (b) the propylene content is from 19.9% to 60 wt. % and (c) the diene content is from more than 0 wt. % to 15 wt. %, comprises a catalyst system using an activating agent of a compound of aluminum or boron, or aluminoxane together with a transition metal catalyst comprising at least one anionic ligand having an aryloxy group substituted with an aryl derivative in the ortho position and a cyclopentadiene derivative, and provides a highly active polymerization method with outstanding reactivity with respect to ethylene, propylene and diene compounds.
US08222357B2
Provided is a procatalyst composition containing a multiple internal electron donor with at least two components, one of which is a silyl ester. The other component of the mixed internal electron donor may be an electron donor component. The electron donor component may be an aromatic acid ester, a di-ether, and combinations thereof. Catalyst compositions containing the multiple internal electron donor exhibit improved hydrogen response during olefin polymerization and produce propylene-based polymers with broad molecular weight distribution, high flexural modulus, and high melt flow rate.
US08222355B2
In a process for treating viscous products, especially for performing polymerization processes, especially for homo- or copolymerizing thermoplastics and elastomers, wherein monomer(s) and/or catalysts and/or initiators are added to a backmixed mixing kneader, especially with a length/diameter ratio of 0.5-3.5, heat is supplied to the product which is backmixed with already reacted product and the reacted product is removed from the mixing kneader, the product in the mixing kneader shall be heated up to its boiling temperature, portions of the product shall be evaporated and exothermicity of the product shall be absorbed by evaporative cooling.
US08222352B2
A composition for a silicone resin containing a poly(methyl silsesquioxane) derivative having an alkoxysilyl group at an end of a molecule, and fine metal oxide particles having a reactive functional group on the surface thereof, wherein the composition further contains at least one compound selected from the group consisting of disilanol derivatives having silanol groups at both ends of a molecule and a monofunctional silane derivative represented by the formula (II): wherein X is an alkoxy group or a halogen atom. The silicone resin composition of the present invention can be suitably used as, for example, materials for encapsulating photosemiconductor elements for use in backlights for liquid crystal displays, traffic lights, outdoor big displays, advertisement sign boards, and the like.
US08222347B2
A composition of matter comprising a thermoplastic resin composition derived from (i) a polyester derived from a cycloaliphatic diol, and an aromatic diacid; (ii) a polycarbonate derived from at least from 20 mole percent to 100 mole percent of an aromatic diol derived from structure II wherein R3 and R4 are independently selected from the group consisting of C1-C30 aliphatic, C2-C30 cycloaliphatic and C2-C30 aromatic groups, X is CH2 and m is an integer from 3 to 7, n is an integer from 1 to 4, p is an integer from 1 to 4, and from 0 mole percent to 80 mole percent of a second aromatic dihydroxy compound; and wherein the resin composition is transparent is disclosed. Also disclosed is a process to prepare this composition and articles therefrom.
US08222340B2
A pre-adhesive syrup polymer composition is described comprising an acid-functional (meth)acrylate copolymer and an aminoalkyl (meth)acryloyl solvent monomer, which when polymerized, provides a pressure-sensitive adhesive and pressure-sensitive adhesive articles.
US08222335B2
This invention provides an organic rare earth metal complex, which emits fluorescence with a wavelength in the range of 550 to 900 nm, particularly a fluorescent resin composition comprising an ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer containing 0.01 to 10% by mass of an organic rare earth metal complex represented by general formula wherein R represents an aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon group; Ln represents a rare earth metal; A represents group —CH═CH—; and n is 0 or 1. There are also provided a solar battery module using the fluorescent resin composition as a sealing material between a front cover and a crystalline silicon cell, and a solar battery with high conversion efficiency.
US08222323B2
A self-repairing concrete includes polyurethane polymer micro-capsules, in which the polyurethane polymer micro-capsules are mixed for a fixed function of micro-cracks. The quality mixture ratio is: concrete/micro capsules/water=100:1-15:15-50. The manufacturing method is weighing a full amount of water in a container, adding polyurethane polymer micro-capsules, stirring, until fully dispersed microcapsules; pouring the water into the mixing container, adding the corresponding quality of cement; stirring; adding sand and gravel filling materials, conducting worksite watering, ⅓ volume for each time, vibrating, and air exhausting; until the slurry filling mold.
US08222321B2
The present invention provides a thermoplastic resin composition comprising (A) a thermoplastic resin, and (B) a carbon nanofiber-metal composite including a plurality of laminated truncated, conic graphenes continuously coated with a metal. The thermoplastic resin composition according to the present invention can have excellent EMI shielding properties.
US08222318B2
The present invention relates to (1) a process for producing a water dispersion for ink-jet printing containing colorant-containing polymer particles which includes a step I of obtaining a dispersion of colorant-containing polymer particles; a step II of obtaining a water dispersion of the colorant-containing polymer particles from the dispersion obtained in the step I; a step III of mixing the water dispersion obtained in the step II with an organic solvent (B) to suitably control a relative dielectric constant of a mixed solvent in the resultant dispersion, thereby precipitating the colorant-containing polymer particles; and a step IV of separating precipitates obtained in the step III from the dispersion and re-dispersing the precipitates in a water-based solvent; (2) a water-based ink for ink-jet printing which is excellent in ejection stability and optical density; (3) a process for purifying a water dispersion for ink-jet printing; and (4) a process for producing a dispersion containing groups of fine particles.
US08222306B2
A method is described for producing an osmotically compacted polyelectrolyte complex having a first region and a second region, the first region having a greater modulus than the second region. The method comprises contacting an article comprising polyelectrolyte complex to a solution comprising a preferred osmolyte of concentration sufficient to compact said polyelectrolyte complex and terminating the compaction process before the entire article is osmotically compacted.A method is also described for producing a article comprising water and an intermolecular blend of at least one positively charged polyelectrolyte polymer and at least one negatively charged polymer, said article having a core region and a surface region, the surface region having at least twice the elastic modulus of the core region, the method comprising contacting a starting article comprising a blend of said polymers with a solution of osmolyte, wherein the osmolyte is excluded from said article.
US08222305B2
A hydrocarbon synthesis process (10) includes feeding gaseous reactants (18) into a slurry bed (14), allowing the gaseous reactants (18) to react catalytically, thereby to form liquid and gaseous hydrocarbon products, and subjecting a product mixture comprising liquid product and catalyst particles in a filtration stage to filtration, by passing the liquid product through a filtering medium (30) to separate catalyst particles from the liquid product. The gaseous products are withdrawn (23) and cooled to form a multi-phase product which is separated to produce at least a hydrocarbon condensate stream (88) and a tail-gas stream (84). At least a portion of the hydrocarbon condensate stream (88) is treated (96) to remove oxygenated components therefrom, producing a backflush condensate. From time to time, the filtering medium (30) of the filtration stage is backflushed by passing the backflush condensate through the filtering medium (30).
US08222297B2
New aniline or phenol N-mustards linked to DNA-affinity carriers (such as 9-anilinoacridines, acridines and quinolines), aminobenzamides or aminophenol ethers by a urea, carbamic acid, carbanic acid ester, hydrazineurea, hydrazinecarbamic acid ester, phenoxyurea, phenoxycarbamic acid ester linkage with improved chemical stability and anti-tumor therapeutic efficacy are provided.
US08222291B2
The invention provides small molecule mimics of the Smac peptide that are dimer- or dimer-like compounds having two amide-containing domains connected by a linker. These compounds are useful to promote apoptosis. The invention includes pharmaceutical compositions comprising such compounds and methods to use them to treat conditions including cancer and autoimmune disorders.
US08222289B2
The present invention is based on the discovery that certain fermentation products of the marine actinomycete strains CNB392 and CNB476 are effective inhibitors of hyperproliferative mammalian cells. The CNB392 and CNB476 strains lie within the family Micromonosporaceae, and the generic epithet Salinospora has been proposed for this obligate marine group. The reaction products produced by this strain are classified as salinosporamides, and are particularly advantageous in treating neoplastic disorders due to their low molecular weight, low IC50 values, high pharmaceutical potency, and selectivity for cancer cells over fungi.
US08222285B2
Compounds are provided which are glucokinase activators and thus are useful in treating diabetes and related diseases and have the structure wherein in the ring represents one or two double bonds; R1 is alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, heteroaryl, or heteroarylalkyl; R2 is alkyl, aryl, arylalkyl, heteroaryl, or heteroarylalkyl; R5 is as defined herein; Z is O, S, S(O), S(O)2, or NR5a; X is S, O, N, NR3, or CR3; Y is NCR4 or NR4; R3, R4, and R5 are as defined herein; R8 is aryl, heteroaryl, —PO(OR9)(OR10), —PO(OR9)R10 or —P(O)(R9)R10 (wherein R9 and R10 are as defined herein)/R6 and R7 are independently H, halogen, or alkyl; m is 0 or 1; and n is 0 to 3, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof. A method for treating diabetes and related diseases employing the above compounds is also provided.
US08222283B2
An object of the present invention is to provide a new medicinal use of 2-phenyl-1,2-benzisoselenazol-3(2H)-one or a salt thereof. 2-Phenyl-1,2-benzisoselenazol-3(2H)-one or a salt thereof exhibits an excellent prevention and improvement effect in corneal disorder models, and is therefore useful as a preventive or therapeutic agent for a keratoconjunctival disorder such as dry eye, superficial punctate keratopathy, corneal epithelial defects, corneal erosion, corneal ulcer, conjunctival epithelial defects, keratoconjunctivitis sicca, superior limbic keratoconjunctivitis, filamentary keratoconjunctivitis, keratitis or conjunctivitis.
US08222281B2
To find a therapeutic agent and/or a preventive agent for diabetes mellitus or the like having excellent activity and safety. A compound represented by the following general formula (I), or a pharmacologically acceptable salt thereof. In the formula, X represents ═C(R5)- or ═N—; Y represents —O— or —NH—; L represents a bond or a substitutable C1-C3 alkylene group; M represents a substitutable C3-C10 cycloalkyl group, a substitutable C6-C10 aryl group, or a substitutable heterocyclic group; R1 represents a C1-C6 alkyl group, a C3-C10 cycloalkyl group, a C1-C6 haloalkyl group, a C2-C6 alkenyl group, a C2-C6 alkynyl group, a C1-C6 aliphatic acyl group, a C1-C6 alkoxy C1-C6 alkyl group, or a C6-C10 aryl group; and R2, R3, R4, and R5 may be the same or different and each represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a C1-C3 alkyl group, a C1-C3 haloalkyl group, a C1-C3 alkoxy group, or a nitro group. In this connection, the alkyl group moieties of R1 and R2 may be bonded to each other to form a 5- to 6-membered heterocyclic ring containing one oxygen atom.
US08222279B2
Compounds of Formula I are described along with pharmaceutical formulations thereof, and methods of treating disorders such as diabetes and neurodegenerative diseases with such compounds.
US08222276B2
The invention provides an amine salt of a carbostyril derivative formed from a carbostyril derivative represented by the formula (1) [wherein R is a halogen atom; the substituted position of the side chain is 3- or 4-position in the carbostyril skeleton; and the bonding between 3- and 4-positions of the carbostyril skeleton is a single bond or a double bond] and an amine; and the invention is useful as drugs for treating various diseases, especially as aqueous formulations due to the superior water solubility and the superior pharmacologic effects.
US08222275B2
The present invention provides compounds of formula (I): wherein A and Z are as defined in the description, along with methods for preparing such derivatives and their use for the treatment of inflammatory diseases such as neuropathic pain.
US08222274B2
[Problem] To provide a compound which may be used for the prevention and/or treatment of diseases in which 5-HT2B receptor and 5-HT7 receptor are concerned, particularly for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).[Means for Resolution] It was found that a pyrrole derivative characterized by the possession of a guanidinocarbonyl group or amido group as a substituent group at the 3-position, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof, has a strong antagonism for both of the 5-HT2B receptor and 5-HT7 receptor. In addition, the compound of the present invention having the antagonistic activity for both of the receptors showed a good pharmacological action in comparison with the case in which an antagonist selective for either one of the receptors was used alone. Based on the above, the compound of the present invention is useful for the prevention and/or treatment of diseases in which 5-HT2B receptor and 5-HT7 receptor are concerned, particularly for the treatment of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
US08222267B2
A method of converting a treatment for pain comprising intravenous administration of opioids, to a treatment for pain comprising oral administration of a first dose of an immediate release morphine-oxycodone combination in patients in need of analgesia. The method may comprise (1) determining a four-hour average oral morphine equivalents, a one-hour average oral morphine equivalents, or determining a net average hourly intravenous dose, and (2) orally administering to the patient a first dose of a morphine-oxycodone combination in a 3:2 ratio by weight every four to six hours. Also, a method of treating pain in patients who had been administered opioids intravenously, comprising using a dosing algorithm to determine the first dose of the immediate release morphine-oxycodone combination.
US08222263B2
The present invention is directed to a compound of Formula I or a single isomer thereof; where the compound is optionally as a pharmaceutically acceptable salt, hydrate, solvate or combination thereof, in addition to methods of preparing a Compound of Formula I, and methods of using a Compound of Formula I to treat cancer.
US08222261B2
The present invention relates to novel compounds that are useful in the treatment of metabolic disorders, particularly Type II diabetes mellitus and related disorders, and also to the methods for the making and use of such compounds.
US08222257B2
Compounds and compositions are provided for treatment, prevention, or amelioration of a variety of medical disorders associated with viral infections and/or cell proliferation. The compounds provided herein are 5-phosphono-pent-2-en-1-yl nucleosides and esters thereof.
US08222255B2
Novel derivatives of enfumafungin are disclosed herein, along with their, pharmaceutically acceptable salts, hydrates and prodrugs. Also disclosed are compositions comprising such compounds, methods of preparing such compounds and methods of using such compounds as antifungal agents and/or inhibitors of (1,3)-β-D-glucan synthase. The disclosed compounds, their pharmaceutically acceptable salts, hydrates and prodrugs, as well as compositions comprising such compounds, salts, hydrates and prodrugs, are useful for treating and/or preventing fungal infections and associated diseases and conditions.
US08222244B2
The present invention relates to the use of staurosporines derivatives for the preparation of a drug for the treatment of diseases involving deregulated FLT3 receptor tyrosine kinase activity, especially for the curative and/or prophylactic treatment of leukemias and myelodysplastic syndromes, and to a method of treating diseases involving deregulated FLT3 receptor tyrosine kinase activity.
US08222243B2
The invention provides a compound of formula I: wherein A1, A2, A3, R1, X, Y, and B have any of the values described herein, as well as salts of such compounds, compositions comprising such compounds, and therapeutic methods that comprise the administration of such compounds. The compounds are inhibitors of monoamine oxidase B (MAO-B) enzyme function and are useful for improving cognitive function and for treating psychiatric disorders in animals.
US08222224B2
The present invention provides chimeric adenoviral vectors and methods for using the vectors to elicit an immune response to an antigen of interest.
US08222223B2
A method of treating biocells includes the steps of: a. providing biocells; b. applying at least one stressor to the biocells sufficient to cause nonlethal and reparable cell wall damage to the biocells, thereby putting the biocells in a catabolic state during which catabolic metabolic functions predominate over anabolic metabolic functions; and c. obtaining at least one product produced by the biocells during the catabolic state. In another embodiment, the method includes the steps of: a. providing biocells that are mammalian cells; b. applying at least one stressor to the biocells sufficient to cause nonlethal and reparable cell wall damage to the biocells, the reparable cell wall damage comprising openings that allow increased passage of materials through the cells walls; and c. inserting foreign DNA through the openings into the biocells.
US08222222B2
The invention relates to a double-stranded ribonucleic acid (dsRNA) for inhibiting the expression of the PCSK9 gene (PCSK9 gene), comprising an antisense strand having a nucleotide sequence which is less that 30 nucleotides in length, generally 19-25 nucleotides in length, and which is substantially complementary to at least a part of the PCSK9 gene. The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical composition comprising the dsRNA together with a pharmaceutically acceptable carrier; methods for treating diseases caused by PCSK9 gene expression and the expression of the PCSK9 gene using the pharmaceutical composition; and methods for inhibiting expression of a PCSK9 gene in a cell.
US08222210B2
Healing of wounds in mammalian tissue may be enhanced by the application of certain neuropeptides, optionally in combination with known growth promoting hormones. Exemplary neuropeptides include tachykinins, such as Substance P, Substance K, and the like, as well as calcitonin gene-related peptides. The compositions may further include a polymeric delivery carrier and are utilized by applying to the site of the wound. Wounds may be vascular or avascular wounds. The compositions promote elaboration of cellular matrices and development of cellular attachment mechanisms in addition to stimulating cellular proliferation.
US08222198B2
The present invention relates to methods of using certain unsaturated derivatives of 2,6,6-trimethyl-cyclohexane-1-acetonitrile as perfuming ingredients. These compounds are valuable patchouli odorants.
US08222197B2
The invention is directed to a fluid detergent composition comprising a pH tuneable amido gellant and a surfactant, and a method for structuring said composition.
US08222194B2
An environmentally-friendly cleaning composition for industrial and consumer applications comprising (a) a blend of dibasic esters, (b) one or more surfactants (c) and, optionally, (d) water or a solvent. The dibasic esters are be derived from a blend of adipic, glutaric, and succinic diacids, and, in one particular embodiment, the blend comprises dialkyl adipate, dialkyl methylglutarate and dialkyl ethylsuccinate, wherein the alkyl groups individually comprise a C1-C12 hydrocarbon group. The one or more surfactants are typically chosen from alcohol alkoxylate, an alkyl phenol ethoxylate, a terpene, a terpene alkoxylate or any derivates thereof. Optionally, additional components or additives including delaminates such as pinene and d-limonene, fragrances, whiteners, stabilizers, thickeners and the like can be added to the composition. The industrial or consumer application selected from the group consisting of a graffiti cleaner, a painted-substrate cleaner, an ink cleaner, a metal substrate cleaner, a plastic substrate cleaner, an environmentally friendly cleaner, a stain-spot cleaner, an industrial hand cleaner, a resin cleaner, a tar resin cleaner, a textile cleaner, a paint stripper and any combination thereof.
US08222191B2
The present invention relates to a lubricating composition containing an oil of lubricating viscosity, a metal containing antiwear agent and a metal containing dispersant. The invention further provides for a method for lubricating a hydraulic system.
US08222176B2
Bimetallic catalysts, and methods of producing a bimetallic catalyst comprising a modified Ziegler-Natta catalyst and a metallocene are provided, in one embodiment the method including combining: (a) a Ziegler-Natta catalyst comprising a Group 4, 5 or 6 metal halide and/or oxide, optionally including a magnesium compound, with (b) a modifier compound (“modifier”), wherein the modifier compound is a Group 13 alkyl compound, to form a modified Ziegler-Natta catalyst. Also provided is a method of olefin polymerization using the bimetallic catalyst of the invention. The modified Ziegler-Natta catalyst is preferably non-activated, that is, it is unreactive towards olefin polymerization alone. In one embodiment, the molar ratio of the Group 13 metal (of the modifier) to the Group 4, 5 or 6 metal halide and/or oxide is less than 10:1 in one embodiment. The bimetallic catalysts of the present invention are useful in producing bimodal polymers, particularly bimodal polyethylene, having a Polydispersity (Mw/Mn) of from 12 to 50. These bimodal polyolefins are useful in such articles as pipes and films.
US08222172B2
Ceramic materials with relatively high resistance to wetting by various liquids, such as water, are presented, along with articles made with these materials. The oxide materials described herein as a class typically contain europia (Eu2O3). The oxides may further contain other additives, such as oxides of gadolinium (Gd), samarium (Sm), dysprosium (Dy), or terbium (Tb). In certain embodiments the oxide, in addition to europia, further comprises ytterbia (Yb2O3), lanthanum (La), praseodymium (Pr), or neodymium (Nd).
US08222164B2
A moisture vapor permeable, water impermeable composite sheet material is provided which is suitable for use as a housewrap material, and is also useful for other applications such as tarpaulins, or as covers for automobile, boats, patio furniture or the like. The composite sheet material includes a nonwoven substrate and an extrusion-coated polyolefin film layer overlying one surface of the substrate. The nonwoven substrate is comprised of polymeric fibers randomly disposed and bonded to one another to form a high tenacity nonwoven web. The nonwoven substrate has a grab tensile strength of at least 178 Newtons (40 pounds) in at least one of the machine direction (MD) or the cross-machine direction (CD). The extrusion coated polyolefin film layer is intimately bonded to the nonwoven substrate. The film layer has micropores formed therein to impart to the composite sheet material a moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR) of at least 35 g/m2/24 hr. at 50% relative humidity and 23° C. and a hydrostatic head of at least 55 cm. In one embodiment, the nonwoven substrate comprises a spunbonded nonwoven fabric formed of randomly disposed substantially continuous polypropylene filaments. The spunbonded nonwoven fabric is an area bonded fabric in which the filaments are bonded to one another throughout the fabric at locations where the randomly disposed filaments overlie or cross one another.
US08222154B2
A semiconductor device is formed by providing a substrate and forming a semiconductor-containing layer atop the substrate. A mask having a plurality of openings is then formed atop the semiconductor-containing layer, wherein adjacent openings of the plurality of openings of the mask are separated by a minimum feature dimension. Thereafter, an angled ion implantation is performed to introduce dopants to a first portion of the semiconductor-containing layer, wherein a remaining portion that is substantially free of dopants is present beneath the mask. The first portion of the semiconductor-containing layer containing the dopants is removed selective to the remaining portion of semiconductor-containing layer that is substantially free of the dopants to provide a pattern of sublithographic dimension, and the pattern is transferred into the substrate to provide a fin structure of sublithographic dimension.
US08222149B2
The present disclosure provides a method for making a semiconductor device. The method includes forming a sacrificial layer on a substrate; forming a patterned resist layer on the sacrificial layer; performing an ion implantation to the substrate; applying a first wet etch solution to remove the patterned photoresist layer; and applying a second wet etch solution to remove the sacrificial layer.
US08222148B2
A semiconductor device includes a first well formed in a predetermined region of a semiconductor substrate, a second well formed in a predetermined region in the first well, and a third well formed in the first well with the third well being spaced apart from the second well at a predetermined distance. A multiple well of the semiconductor substrate, the first well, the second well, the first well, and the third well, which are sequentially disposed, is formed. Accordingly, a breakdown voltage can be increased and a leakage current can be reduced. It is therefore possible to prevent the drop of an erase voltage and to reduce the error of an erase operation.
US08222146B2
A semiconductor device includes an interlayer insulation film, an underlying line provided in the interlayer insulation film, a liner film overlying the interlayer insulation film, an interlayer insulation film overlying the liner film. The underlying line has a lower hole and the liner film and the interlayer insulation film have an upper hole communicating with the lower hole, and the lower hole is larger in diameter than the upper hole. The semiconductor device further includes a conductive film provided at an internal wall surface of the lower hole, a barrier metal provided along an internal wall surface of the upper hole, and a Cu film filling the upper and lower holes. The conductive film contains a substance identical to a substance of the barrier metal. A highly reliable semiconductor device can thus be obtained.
US08222144B2
An interlayer insulating film is formed on a semiconductor substrate having a semiconductor element formed thereon. At this time, there are protrusions higher than surroundings thereof and non-protruding portions lower than the protrusions on the surface of the interlayer insulating film. First, a first polishing process is carried out on the surface of the interlayer insulating film with use of a first abrasive having non-Prestonian properties produced by mixing abrasive materials including abrasive grains, a polymer additive and water at a predetermined first mixture ratio. Then, after the first abrasive process shifts to an automatically stopping state, a second polishing process is carried out on the surface of the interlayer insulating film with use of a second abrasive having the concentration of polymer additive lower than that of the first abrasive and produced by mixing the abrasive materials at a second mixture ratio different from the first mixture ratio.
US08222141B2
A method for producing an organometallic layer includes providing a substrate having at least a layer with atoms of an oxidizable metal on its surface. The surface is exposed to a fluid that includes organic molecules having at least two functional groups that contain elements of main group VI such that the atoms of the oxidizable metal form a bond with the organic molecules. By consumption of the atoms of oxidizable metal and of the organic molecules, the organometallic layer is formed on the substrate at locations on the surface of the substrate where the atoms of oxizable are disposed, the atoms of oxizable metal being incorporated into the organometallic layer. A thickness of the organometallic layer is determined by a duration of the exposing, a thickness of the layer including the atoms of the oxidizable metal, and the number of organic molecules in the fluid.
US08222136B2
The present disclosure provides a method of fabricating a semiconductor device. The method includes forming a layer over a substrate. The method includes forming a first opening in the layer that exposes a first region of the substrate. The method includes removing a first oxidation layer formed over the first region through a first sputtering process. The method includes filling the first opening with a conductive material. The method includes forming a second opening in the layer that exposes a second region of the substrate, the second region being different from the first region. The method includes removing a second oxidation layer formed over the second region through a second sputtering process. One of the first and second sputtering processes is more powerful than the other.
US08222134B2
An interconnect structure for integrated circuits incorporates manganese silicate and manganese silicon nitride layers that completely surrounds copper wires in integrated circuits and methods for making the same are provided. The manganese silicate forms a barrier against copper diffusing out of the wires, thereby protecting the insulator from premature breakdown, and protecting transistors from degradation by copper. The manganese silicate and manganese silicon nitride also promote strong adhesion between copper and insulators, thus preserving the mechanical integrity of the devices during manufacture and use. The strong adhesion at the copper-manganese silicate and manganese silicon nitride interfaces also protect against failure by electromigration of the copper during use of the devices. The manganese-containing sheath also protects the copper from corrosion by oxygen or water from its surroundings.
US08222127B2
A semiconductor structure including nanotubes forming an electrical connection between electrodes is disclosed. The semiconductor structure may include an open volume defined by a lower surface of an electrically insulative material and sidewalls of at least a portion of each of a dielectric material and opposing electrodes. The nanotubes may extend between the opposing electrodes, forming a physical and electrical connection therebetween. The nanotubes may be encapsulated within the open volume in the semiconductor structure. A semiconductor structure including nanotubes forming an electrical connection between source and drain regions is also disclosed. The semiconductor structure may include at least one semiconducting carbon nanotube electrically connected to a source and a drain, a dielectric material disposed over the at least one semiconducting carbon nanotube and a gate dielectric overlying a portion of the dielectric material. Methods of forming the semiconductor structures are also disclosed.
US08222121B2
A method for stacking integrated circuit substrates and the substrates used therein are disclosed. In the method, an integrated circuit substrate having top and bottom surfaces is provided. The substrate is divided vertically into a plurality of layers including an integrated circuit layer having integrated circuit elements constructed therein and a buffer layer adjacent to the bottom surface. An alignment fiducial mark extending from the top surface of the wafer into the substrate to a depth below that of the circuit layer is constructed. The vias are arranged in a pattern that provides a fiducial mark when viewed from the bottom surface of the substrate. The pattern can be chosen such that it is recognized by a commercial stepper/scanner/contact mask aligner when viewed from said backside of said wafer. After the substrate is thinned, the alignment fiducial mark is then used to position a mask used in subsequent processing.
US08222110B2
A method for fabricating a semiconductor device includes forming a plurality of first active pillars by etching a substrate using a hard mask layer as an etching barrier, forming a gate conductive layer surrounding sidewalls of the first active pillars and the hard mask layer, forming a word line conductive layer filling gaps defined by the gate conductive layer, forming word lines and vertical gates by simultaneously removing portions of the word line conductive layer and the gate conductive layer on the sidewalls of the hard mask layer, forming an inter-layer dielectric layer filling gaps formed by removing the word line conductive layer and the gate conductive layer, exposing surfaces of the first active pillars by removing the hard mask layer, and growing second active pillars over the first active pillars.
US08222107B2
A method of producing a semiconductor device according to the present invention includes: a step of implanting an impurity into a semiconductor layer 2 by using a first implantation mask layer 30, thereby forming a body region 6; a step of implanting an impurity by using the first implantation mask layer 30 and a second implantation mask layer 31, thereby forming a contact region 7 within the body region 6; a step of forming a third implantation mask layer 32, and thereafter selectively removing the second implantation mask layer 31; a step of forming a side wall 34 on a side face of the first implantation mask layer 30; and a step of implanting an impurity to form a source region 8 within the body region 6.
US08222104B2
A method of forming an integrated circuit device includes forming a plurality of deep trench decoupling capacitors on a first substrate; forming a plurality of active circuit devices on a second substrate; bonding the second substrate to the first substrate; and forming electrical connections between the deep trench capacitors and the second substrate.
US08222102B2
A method of forming a field effect transistor includes forming trench isolation material within a semiconductor substrate and on opposing sides of a semiconductor material channel region along a length of the channel region. The trench isolation material is formed to comprise opposing insulative projections extending toward one another partially under the channel region along the channel length and with semiconductor material being received over the projections. The trench isolation material is etched to expose opposing sides of the semiconductor material along the channel length. The exposed opposing sides of the semiconductor material are etched along the channel length to form a channel fin projecting upwardly relative to the projections. A gate is formed over a top and opposing sides of the fin along the channel length. Other methods and structures are disclosed.
US08222099B2
A semiconductor device and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. A multi-component high-k interface layer containing elements of the substrate is formed from a ultra-thin high-k dielectric material in a single-layer structure of atoms by rapid annealing in the manufacturing of a CMOS transistor by the replacement gate process, and a high-k gate dielectric layer with a higher dielectric constant and a metal gate layer are formed thereon. The EOT of the device is effectively decreased, and the diffusion of atoms in the high-k gate dielectric layer from an upper level thereof is effectively prevented by the optimized high-k interface layer at high-temperature treatment. Thus, the present invention may also avoid the growth of the interface layers and the degradation of carrier mobility. Furthermore, the present invention may further alleviate the problem of high interface state and interface roughness caused by direct contact of the high-k gate dielectric layer with high dielectric constant and the substrate, and thus the overall performance of the device is effectively enhanced.
US08222097B2
It is an object to form a conductive region between a front surface and a rear surface of an insulating film without forming contact holes in the insulating film. A method for manufacturing a semiconductor device is provided, in which an insulating film is formed over a semiconductor element and a first electrode electrically connected to the semiconductor element which are over a substrate, a first region having many defects is formed at a first depth in the insulating film by adding first ions into the insulating film at a first accelerating voltage; a second region having many defects is formed at a second depth which is different from the first depth in the insulating film by adding second ions into the insulating film at a second accelerating voltage which is different from the first accelerating voltage, a conductive material containing a metal element is formed over the first and second regions having many defects; and a conductive region which electrically connects the first electrode and the conductive material containing the metal element is formed in the insulating film by diffusing the metal element from the upper region to the lower region of the first and second regions having many defects.
US08222091B2
A method of making a device includes providing a first device level containing first semiconductor rails separated by first insulating features, forming a sacrificial layer over the first device level, patterning the sacrificial layer and the first semiconductor rails in the first device level to form a plurality of second rails extending in a second direction, wherein the plurality of second rails extend at least partially into the first device level and are separated from each other by rail shaped openings which extend at least partially into the first device level, forming second insulating features between the plurality of second rails, removing the sacrificial layer, and forming second semiconductor rails between the second insulating features in a second device level over the first device level. The first semiconductor rails extend in a first direction. The second semiconductor rails extend in the second direction different from the first direction.
US08222090B2
Modular dies and modular masks that can be used during the manufacture of semiconductor devices are described. The modular mask can be used repeatedly to make multiple, substantially-similar modular dies. The modular die contains a substrate with an integrated circuit as well as a conductive layer containing a source metal and a gate metal connected respectively to the source and gate of the integrated circuit. The gate metal of the conductive layer is located only in an outer portion of the modular die. The modular die can be made by providing the integrated circuit in a first and second portion of the substrate, providing the conductive layer on both the first and second portions, making a first modular die by patterning the conductive layer on the first portion using the modular mask; moving the modular mask to the second portion and using it to make a second modular die by patterning the conductive layer on the second portion. Thus, fewer mask sets need to be made, improving efficiency and reducing costs. Other embodiments are described.
US08222068B2
A method for manufacturing an image sensor including forming a microlens array over a color filter array, forming a capping layer over the semiconductor substrate including the microlens array, forming a pad mask over the capping layer, and then exposing a pad in an interlayer dielectric layer.
US08222063B2
One embodiment of the present invention provides a method for fabricating light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The method includes fabricating an InGaAlN-based multilayer LED structure on a conductive substrate. The method further includes etching grooves of a predetermined pattern through the active region of the multilayer LED structure. The grooves separate a light-emitting region from non-light-emitting regions. In addition, the method includes depositing electrode material on the light-emitting and non-light-emitting regions, thereby creating an electrode. Furthermore, the method includes depositing a passivation layer covering the light-emitting and non-light-emitting regions. Moreover, the method includes removing the passivation layer on the electrode to allow the non-light-emitting regions which are covered with the electrode material and the passivation layer to be higher than the light-emitting region and the electrode, thereby protecting the light-emitting region from contact with test equipment.
US08222061B2
An example quantum dot (QD) device comprises a QD layer on a substrate, and may be fabricated by aerosol deposition, for example by mist deposition. An example approach includes providing a liquid precursor including QDs dispersed in a liquid carrier, generating a mist of droplets of the liquid precursor, directing the droplets towards the substrate so as to form a liquid precursor film on the substrate, and removing the liquid carrier from the liquid precursor film to form the quantum dot layer on the substrate. Example devices include multi-color QD-LED (light emitting diode) displays, and other devices.
US08222058B2
A method for producing a semiconductor optical device, includes the steps of: forming a semiconductor region including a semiconductor layer on a substrate; preparing a mold including a pattern surface, the pattern surface including an arrangement of patterns each including first to n-th pattern portions; forming a first mask on the semiconductor region with the mold by a nano-imprint technique; forming first to n-th periodic structures in each of the device sections in the semiconductor region by using the first mask, the first to n-th periodic structures respectively corresponding to the first to n-th pattern portions; forming a second mask after the first mask is removed, the second mask including a first pattern on an i-th periodic structure (1≦i≦n) among the first to n-th periodic structures in a first section of the device sections and including a second pattern on a j-th periodic structure (1≦j≦n) among the first to n-th periodic structures in a second section of the device sections; and forming first and second stripe mesas in the first and second sections respectively by using the second mask.
US08222050B2
In a chip pick-up process after dicing in an assembly process during manufacture of a semiconductor integrated circuit device it is an important subject to diminish a pick-up defect caused by the reduction in thickness of each chip which is proceeding in quick tempo. Particularly, bending of the chip peripheral portion caused by a peeling operation is very likely to induce cracking and chipping of the chip. In the present invention, to solve these problems, in case of peeling a chip from a dicing tape (adhesive tape) or the like while vacuum-chucking the chip by a chucking collet, the flow rate of a vacuum chucking system in the chucking collet is monitored to check a bent state of the chip before complete separation of the first chip from the adhesive tape.
US08222045B2
Provided is a microfluidic device including: a sample chamber; at least one analyzing unit receiving a sample from the sample chamber and detecting components contained in the sample according to a reaction of the sample and a reagent; and a denaturation detection chamber determining the storage condition of the microfluidic device, wherein the denaturation detection chamber accommodates a material whose light absorption changes according to the temperature and the water thereof.
US08222023B2
Integrated microfluidic cartridges for nucleic acid extraction, amplification, and detection from clinical samples are disclosed. The devices are single-entry, sanitary, and disposable. The devices enable simplex or multiplex nucleic acid target detection, as for example: assay panels for multiple infectious agents, or assay panels for cancerous cell types. Methods for use of microfluidic cartridges in a fully automated, pneumatically controlled apparatus are also disclosed.
US08222022B2
This invention relates to biosensors with improved solubility and affinity to a noble element. Specifically, the invention relates to methods and systems for the detection of target entities using the signal observed in a noble element complexed to the biosensor.
US08222015B2
A bioactive composition includes a hydrogel matrix. At least one protein is immobilized in the hydrogel matrix. The digestive protein has a half-life at least 1000 times longer than the half-life of a free digestive protein counterpart.
US08222011B2
An object of the present invention is to provide processes for producing a rubber anti-aging agent, a vulcanization accelerator and a modified natural rubber converting glucose into benzoic acid or a benzoic acid derivative by a microorganism or extracting benzoic acid or a benzoic acid derivative from a plant, converting the obtained benzoic acid or benzoic acid derivative into aniline or an aniline derivative and then making the rubber anti-aging agent, vulcanization accelerator or modified natural rubber with the aniline or aniline derivative.
US08222003B2
This invention provides compositions and methods for HCV typing, e.g., genotyping and/or subtyping. The compositions and methods of the invention can be used to assign an HCV isolate to one of at least five HCV genotypes (for example, selected from genotypes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6), or assign an HCV isolate to one of at least six subtypes (for example, selected from subtypes 1a/b/c, 2a/c, 2b, 3a, 4a, 5a or 6a), where the methods of the invention use only a single typing probe to make the HCV type assignment.
US08221999B2
The invention concerns the field of protein production and cell culture technology. CERT is identified as a novel in vivo PKD substrate. Phosphorylation on serine 132 by PKD decreases the affinity of CERT towards its lipid target phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate at Golgi membranes and reduces ceramide transfer activity, identifying PKD as a regulator of lipid homeostasis. The present invention shows that CERT in turn is critical for PKD activation and PKD dependent protein cargo transport to the plasma membrane. The interdependence of PKD and CERT is thus a key to the maintenance of Golgi membrane integrity and secretory transport.
US08221994B2
An adhesive composition for use in devices and methods for measuring a presence or a concentration of a particular component, such as an antigen, in a sample, such as blood, are provided. In one exemplary embodiment of an adhesive composition, the composition includes an adhesive, water, a poloxamer, and an anticoagulant. The adhesive can include particular properties, such as being hydrophilic, pressure-sensitive, heat-activated, and/or water soluble. The adhesive is particularly useful because it can help improve the flow of sample a device. For example, when the device is an immunosensor, the adhesive can help prevent the blood from clotting in chambers of the immunosensor. This results in a more efficient and accurate determination of the concentration of the sample. Methods of making the composition and device in which the composition can be used are provided, as are methods of using the same.
US08221989B2
Provided are methods of determining whether a cell in a tissue site is viable or nonviable. Also provided are methods of debriding tissue from a tissue site. Further provided are kits comprising a compound that distinguishes between viable and nonviable cells and instructions for using the compound on a tissue site. Additionally, the use of a compound that distinguishes between viable and nonviable cells is provided, where the use is to determine whether a cell in a tissue site is viable or nonviable. Also provided is a use of a compound that distinguishes between viable and nonviable cells, where the use is for the manufacture of the above-described kit.
US08221985B2
A method and apparatus for measuring antibody titers in a thin film sample in an automated system which does not require multiple dilutions. The system provides a simple method for creating an in-situ dilution within a sample analysis chamber without the use of any precision fluid-handling components, and further, to use the same principles to provide a wide range of sample dilutions within the chamber so as to obviate the need for additional dilution steps when dealing with samples possibly containing wide ranges of analyte concentrations.
US08221978B2
A method of selecting a set of normalization probes for use on a comparative genome hybridization array is provided. In certain embodiments, the method includes: a) selecting a first region of a genome to be evaluated by comparative genome hybridization to produce data; b) selecting a second region of the genome for normalization of the data, and c) selecting from a set of candidate probes a sub-set of normalization probes that detect the second region.
US08221975B2
A live cell of microorganism in a test sample is detected by the following steps of: a) adding a cross-linker capable of cross-linking a DNA by irradiation with light having a wavelength of 350 nm to 700 nm to the test sample; b) irradiating the test sample to which the cross-linker is added with light having a wavelength of 350 nm to 700 nm; c) removing the cross-linker contained in the test sample irradiated with light; d) adding a medium to the test sample from which the cross-linker is removed and incubating the test sample; e) adding again the cross-linker capable of cross-linking a DNA by irradiation with light having a wavelength of 350 nm to 700 nm to the incubated test sample; f) irradiating the test sample to which the cross-linker is added with light having a wavelength of 350 nm to 700 nm; g) extracting a DNA from the test sample and amplifying a target region of the extracted DNA by a nucleic acid amplification method; and h) analyzing the amplified product.
US08221969B2
It is intended to provide a safe and efficient method of producing a virus which is free from animal-origin components in the whole process from culturing adhesive cells to producing the virus on an industrial scale by the cell culture. Namely, a method of producing a virus comprising: adhering adhesive cells to a support which has a polypeptide (P) having at least one cell-adhesive minimum amino acid sequence (X) per molecule, and is free from animal-origin components; culturing the adhesive cells in a medium free from animal-origin components; subculturing the cultured adhesive cells using a cell dispersing agent: free from animal-origin components; and then inoculating and proliferating a virus in the cells obtained by culturing the adhesive cells.
US08221967B2
A determination method quantifies a specific protein or peptide contained in a trace amount with high accuracy and in a simple manner without the need of using any expensive reagent. A protein or peptide of interest can be quantified by LC/MS/MS by using, as an internal standard, a protein or peptide including an amino acid sequence having the reshuffling the binding order of amino acid residues in the amino acid sequence for the protein or peptide of interest.
US08221966B2
The present invention provides methods of determining cell sensitivity to a therapeutic agent.
US08221962B2
A method of manufacturing an electronic device includes forming a photosensitive SOG oxide layer on a multi-layer ceramics substrate having a penetrating electrode, forming an opening by subjecting the photosensitive SOG oxide layer to an exposure treatment and developing treatment so that an upper face of the penetrating electrode is exposed, and forming a passive element on the photosensitive SOG oxide layer, the passive element being connected to the penetrating electrode through the opening.
US08221961B2
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing semiconductor devices. According to the method, an etch target layer, a chemically amplified photoresist layer, and an Anti-Reflective Coating (ARC) layer are first sequentially formed over a semiconductor substrate. An exposure process is performed in order to form exposure portions in the photoresist layer. A thermal process is performed so that a decrosslinking reaction is generated in the ARC layer on the exposure portions. A development process is performed in order to form photoresist layer patterns and ARC layer patterns by removing the ARC layer at portions in which the decrosslinking reaction has occurred and the exposure portions. A silylation process is performed in order to form silylation patterns on sidewalls of each of the photoresist layer patterns. The ARC layer patterns and the photoresist layer patterns are removed. The etch target layer is patterned using the silylation patterns as an etch mask.
US08221957B2
The invention provides a planographic printing plate precursor comprising: a hydrophilic support; and an image recording layer that is provided on the support, the image recording layer comprising: an infrared ray absorbing agent (A); a polymerization initiator (B); a polymerizable monomer (C); and a specific polymer compound (D) having an alkyleneoxy group in its molecule and having, in a side chain thereof at least one specific group. The invention further provides a printing method using the planographic printing plate precursor, wherein no specific development process is required for performing printing.
US08221954B2
A method of preparing a color toner by: a) preparing an anionic polymer composite emulsion comprising wax with a wax particle and nanosilica as core by in situ emulsion polymerization; b) preparing a cationic polymer composite emulsion comprising colorant with a colorant and nanosilica as core by in situ emulsion polymerization; c) agglutinating the anionic polymer composite emulsion comprising wax and the cationic polymer composite emulsion comprising colorant; and d) filtering, washing, and drying the product obtained in c). The color toner prepared by this method. The color toner has high development density, high resolution, low bottom ash, low waste rate, and low consumption, and is easy to recover and recycle.
US08221953B2
The present disclosure provides emulsion aggregation (EA) toner particles having less pigment on the particle surface and a more uniform pigment distribution. The process of preparing the toner includes specific mixing speeds and use of specific temperatures during the emulsion aggregation process and the addition of a shell to the toner particles.
US08221951B2
A toner and method for making a toner that includes an amorphous resin, a crystalline resin, and a cyanine dye. The cyanine dye improves heat cohesion without negatively effecting other desirable properties.
US08221950B2
An image forming apparatus comprising an electrophotographic photoreceptor having a photosensitive layer on an electroconductive substrate, and a toner for developing an electrostatic charge image, wherein the photosensitive layer of the electrophotographic photoreceptor contains a phthalocyanine obtained via an acid paste step; the toner for developing an electrostatic charge image is a toner for developing an electrostatic charge image containing toner matrix particles formed in an aqueous medium; the toner has a volume median diameter (Dv50) of from 4.0 μm to 7.0 μm; and the relationship between the volume median diameter (Dv50) and the percentage in number (Dns) of toner particles having a particle diameter of from 2.00 μm to 3.56 μm satisfies the following formula (1): Dns≦0.233 EXP(17.3/Dv50) (1).
US08221949B2
A toner containing a resin binder containing two kinds of polyesters having softening points that differ by 10° C. or more, a colorant and a charge control agent, wherein the two kinds of polyesters contain a polyester A having a softening point of from 105° to 140° C. and a glass transition temperature of from 30° to 55° C., and a polyester B having a softening point of from 140° to 170° C. and a glass transition temperature of exceeding 55° C. and 80° C. or lower. The toner of the present invention is usable in, for example, development of latent images formed in electrophotography, electrostatic recording method, electrostatic printing method or the like.
US08221943B2
A photomask for exposure of a semiconductor wafer using dipole illumination and method of manufacturing the same is disclosed. A method of forming a pattern on a semiconductor using the photomask is also disclosed. The photomask may have an array of islands that are used for printing lines using dipole illumination. The photomask may have sub-resolution assist features (SRAF) to assist in printing the lines. The SRAF may include an array of holes.
US08221940B2
In the field of semiconductor production using charged particle beam lithography, a method and system for fracturing or mask data preparation or proximity effect correction is disclosed, wherein a plurality of exposure passes are used, and where the sum of the base dosage levels for all of the exposure passes does not equal a normal dosage. Methods for manufacturing a reticle and manufacturing an integrated circuit are also disclosed, wherein a plurality of charged particle beam exposure passes are used, and where the sum of the base dosage levels for all of the exposure passes is different than a normal dosage.
US08221938B2
One exemplary embodiment includes a fuel cell component having comprising a carbon chain, and a material grafted to the coating/surface, wherein the material includes ionic or polar groups. One embodiment includes composite plates which include carbon that can be activated and treated to make their surface hydrophilic.
US08221935B2
A coolant inlet manifold for coolant supply passages is attached to an end plate of a fuel cell stack. Pillars are provided on at least one end of the coolant inlet manifold in a longitudinal direction thereof. The pillars are fitted into through holes formed in the end plate, and are connected to a manifold body and to a connector.
US08221933B2
A semi-passive fuel cell system is provided. A stack in which a plurality of unit cells are laterally stacked with one another is provided. Each unit cell includes a membrane-electrode assembly and bipolar plates located on both sides of the membrane-electrode assembly. The membrane-electrode assembly includes an electrolyte membrane, a cathode electrode, and an anode electrode. The cathode and anode electrodes, respectively, are formed on each side of the electrolyte membrane. Also provided are a means for supplying fuel and a means for supplying air. Each of the bipolar plates has air paths formed on a surface facing the cathode electrode and extending from an upper end to a lower end of the bipolar plate. The air supply means includes ducts which are respectively installed on an upper end and a lower end of the stack, and includes a means for blowing air through the ducts.
US08221931B2
A fuel gas inlet, a fuel gas outlet, an oxygen-containing gas inlet, an oxygen-containing gas outlet, and other components, which are disposed at upper and lower portions at both ends in the lateral direction, are provided in a first fuel cell stack. A plurality of cooling medium inlets, a plurality of cooling medium outlets, and other components are provided at lower portions on the long side and at upper portions on the long side respectively. A cooling medium flows from the lower portions to the upper portions through cooling medium flow passages to cool the power generation surface smoothly and reliably.
US08221921B2
A non-aqueous electrolyte battery has a cathode, an anode, an electrolyte, and a separator. The separator is a microporous resin film of a single layer made of a resin material in which at least one kind of insulating and flame-retarding fiber is dispersed in a polyolefin resin.
US08221918B2
Disclosed is anode for use in a lithium ion secondary battery. The anode includes an anode current collector and an anode active material arranged thereon, in which the anode active material contains amorphous carbon and at least one metal dispersed in the amorphous carbon, and the at least one metal is selected from: 30 to 70 atomic percent of Si; and 1 to 40 atomic percent of Sn. The anode gives a lithium ion secondary battery that has a high charge/discharge capacity and is resistant to deterioration of its anode active material even after repetitive charge/discharge cycles.
US08221906B2
The present invention relates to novel polymers comprising a repeating unit(s) of the formula (I) wherein at least one of the substituents R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, and R7 is a group -(Sp)x1-HEI, wherein Sp is a spacer unit, HE1 is a group (HE1I), which increases the hole-injection and/or hole-transport properties of the polymers; or a group (HE1II), which increases the electron-injection and/or electron-transport properties of the polymers, or a group (HE1III), which increases the hole-injection and/or hole-transport properties of the polymers and the electron-injection and/or electron-transport properties of the polymers, x1 is 0, or 1, and their use in electronic devices. The polymers according to the invention have excellent solubility in organic solvents and excellent film-forming properties. In addition, high charge carrier mobilities and high temperature stability of the emission color can be observed, if the polymers according to the invention are used in polymer light emitting diodes (PLEDs).
US08221905B2
Carbazole-containing compounds are provided. In particular, the compounds are oligocarbazole-containing compounds having an unsymmetrical structure. The compounds may be useful in organic light emitting devices, in particular as hosts in the emissive layer of such devices.
US08221903B2
The invention pertains to new materials based on donor carbene intermediates for the improvement of electron injection and electron transport in organic electronic components like organic light-emitting diodes (OLED's), organic field effect transistors (OFET's), and components based on organic photovoltaics, in particular organic solar cells.
US08221899B2
A joined body of dissimilar metals which is produced by joining a steel material and an aluminum alloy material, wherein the steel material to be joined has a specific composition and is specified in the compositions of outer surface oxide layer and inner oxide layer and the aluminum alloy material to be joined is an Al—Mg—Si-base aluminum alloy having a specific composition. In the joined body of dissimilar metals, a content of Fe at a joint interface on the aluminum alloy material side is regulated, and a reaction layer of Fe and Al is formed at the joint interface of the joined body of dissimilar metals. The joined body of dissimilar metals exhibits high joint strength.
US08221895B2
Base paper for decorative coating materials with a raw paper containing 5 to 55% by weight of a white pigment and/or filler and coated with a coating solution containing at least one water soluble modified starch with a specific molecular weight distribution.
US08221894B2
The present invention relates to the technical filed of wood processing, in particular to the method for strengthening the wood surface, the profiles and the solid wood flooring of the same. The density of the surface-strengthened solid wood profiles are 300˜580 Kg/m3, the reinforced surface is 1˜5 mm thick, the hardness of the paint film of the reinforced surface is 2H˜8H, the overall moisture content of the profiles are 6˜9%. The hardness of the paint film on the reinforced surface of the inventive solid wood profiles is higher, and the overall moisture content is stable, which is suitable for wider range of climate conditions.
US08221889B2
A flexible substrate for a TFT includes a metal substrate having a predetermined coefficient of thermal expansion, and a buffer layer on the metal substrate, the buffer layer including a silicon oxide or a silicon nitride, wherein the predetermined coefficient of thermal expansion of the metal substrate satisfies an equation as follows, α f + 0.162 × ( 1 - v f ) E f ≤ α s ≤ α f + 0.889 × ( 1 - v f ) E f Ef representing Young's modulus of the buffer layer, vf representing Poisson's ratio of the buffer layer, αf representing a coefficient of thermal expansion of the buffer layer, and αs representing the predetermined coefficient of thermal expansion of the metal substrate.
US08221884B2
In a method of making graphite devices, a thin-film graphitic layer disposed against a preselected face of a substrate is created on the preselected face of the substrate. A preselected pattern is generated on the thin-film graphitic layer. At least one functionalizing molecule is attached to a portion of the graphitic layer. The molecule is capable of interacting with π bands in the graphitic layer.
US08221879B2
The present invention relates to functionalized silicon and/or germanium surfaces, methods for the preparation of such tailor-made functionalized silicon and/or germanium surfaces, the use of such tailor-made functionalized silicon and/or germanium surfaces for the preparation of surface-bonded organic materials and the use in industrial devices. The silicon and/or germanium surfaces comprise silicon nitride, silicon carbide, germanium nitride, germanium carbide and silicon germanium surfaces.
US08221878B2
A photocurable coating composition is provided comprising (1) porous or hollow inorganic oxide fine particles, (2) a hydrolytic condensate of a bissilane compound or a cohydrolytic condensate of a bissilane compound and another hydrolyzable organosilicon compound, and (3) a photoacid generator. Due to the presence of voids in the resin, the cured coating has a low refractive index.
US08221877B2
The present invention provides a foamed member capable of inhibiting or preventing foam breakage at the time when the foam member is peeled from a carrier tape, even when the foamed member has a high expansion ratio. The foamed member has a thermoplastic resin foam layer containing a thermoplastic resin foam formed through a step of impregnating a high-pressure inert gas into a thermoplastic resin and subsequently reducing pressure, and at least one of a thermoplastic polyester-based resin layer and a thermoplastic elastomer resin layer disposed on at least one side of the thermoplastic resin foam layer.
US08221876B2
The present invention pertains to a skin-covered foamed molded article of expanded propylene resin beads having excellent lightness in weight, mechanical properties and appearance.The present invention provides a skin-covered foamed molded article of propylene resin expanded beads, with the skin covering substantially the entire surface of the molded article of the expanded beads. The skin, within which the molded article of expanded propylene resin beads is placed, is a propylene resin hollow molded body obtained by blow molding. A base resin of which the skin is formed comprises a propylene resin having a partial heat of fusion in a temperature range between 80 and 140° C. of at least 15 J/g and a ratio of the partial heat of fusion to a total heat of fusion (partial heat of fusion/total heat of fusion) of at least 0.2 as measured by heat flux differential scanning calorimetry. The skin has a thickness in the range of 0.3 to 3.5 mm, and the molded article of expanded propylene resin beads has an apparent density in the range of 0.015 to 0.15 g/cm3. The skin is fuse-bonded to the molded article of expanded beads, and the expanded beads from which the molded article is formed are fuse-bonded to each other.
US08221850B2
A method of manufacturing a three-dimensionally shaped object by irradiating a metallic material with light beams, wherein the metallic material is supplied at a high density to increase the density and the strength of the three-dimensionally shaped object. The method of manufacturing a three-dimensionally shaped object comprises: an irradiation step of irradiating a metal mesh (2) formed of metal wires and a powder layer (3) formed of metal powder with light beams (L) to form a solidified layer or molten layer; and a laminating step of repeatedly performing the irradiation step for metal meshes to form a three-dimensionally shaped object. In the method, both of the metal mesh (2) and the metal powder are supplied in combination as the metallic material. Therefore, the method enables to supply the metallic material at a higher density compared to the case where metal powder is supplied alone, and enables to produce a three-dimensionally shaped object with higher dimensional accuracy, higher density and higher strength.
US08221846B2
A variety of refrigerators and merchandisers having glass or plastic substrates that are substantially fog-resistant are provided. For example, refrigerator doors having a substantially transparent substrate including an anti-fog coating on at least a portion thereof are provided. Many of the coatings exhibit color stable properties.
US08221833B2
Certain example embodiments of this invention relate to a window having anti-fungal/anti-bacterial properties and/or self-cleaning properties, and a method of making the same. In certain example embodiments, a silver based layer is be provided and the layer(s) located thereover (e.g., the zirconium oxide inclusive layer) are designed to permit silver particles to migrate/diffuse to the surface over time to kill bacteria/germs at the surface of the coated article thereby creating an anti-bacterial/anti-fungal effect. In certain example embodiments, silver may also or instead be mixed in with other material as the top layer of the anti-bacterial coating.
US08221832B2
A method of making a heat treated (HT) coated article to be used in shower door applications, window applications, or any other suitable applications where transparent coated articles are desired. For example, certain embodiments of this invention relate to a method of making a coated article including a step of heat treating a glass substrate coated with at least a layer of or including carbon and an overlying protective film including a zinc oxide inclusive layer. Following and/or during heat treatment (e.g., thermal tempering, or the like) the protective film may be removed. Other embodiments of this invention relate to the pre-HT coated article, or the post-HT coated article.
US08221826B2
A process for determining the placement of an adhesive relative to an emboss pattern is disclosed. The disclosed process is suitable for forming an embossed multi-ply substrate. The process comprises the steps of: 1. Providing the emboss pattern as a pattern of elements; 2. Providing a grid comprising a plurality of vertices, the grid corresponds to an adhesive application pattern; 3. Providing each vertex of the plurality of vertices with an initial position; and, 4. Overlaying said emboss pattern upon said grid.
US08221822B2
Methods for making medical devices having porous coatings. Methods may comprise providing a tubing section having inner and outer surfaces and positioning a nozzle proximate to a target surface of the parent tubing section. A powder form of the porous coating may be delivered toward the tubing section, and a laser may be directed at the powder to melt the powder to form a melt pool. The melt pool can solidify to form the porous coating on the target surface. Portions of the parent tubing section may then be cut away to form the support structure of the medical device, such as a stent.
US08221821B1
The present invention provides a method of manufacturing a stent having a coating, comprising providing a tubular stent having a lumenal side and an ablumenal side; applying a coating composition to the stents such that the coating composition contacts the lumenal and ablumenal sides of the stent; and modifying the diameter of the stent from a first diameter to a second diameter during the process of applying the coating composition.
US08221807B2
Applicants have amended the original Application, as filed, to include the appropriate arrangement of the specification, with titles for the appropriate sections, as suggested by the Examiner on pages 3 and 4 of the Advisory Action. No new subject matter is introduced by any of these amendments.
US08221805B2
An antioxidant-promoting composition that increases antioxidant defense potential in a subject is disclosed comprising Bacopa monniera extract; milk thistle extract, ashwagandha powder, green tea extract, Gotu kola powder, Ginko biloba leaf extract; Aloe vera powder; turmeric extract; and N-acetyl cysteine. The antioxidant-promoting composition of the invention safely induces cellular antioxidant potential to achieve an overall net decrease in oxidative stress without the undesirable side-effects associated with the individual components of the antioxidant-promoting composition. Also disclosed is a method for reducing the undesirable side-effects of free radicals in a subject by administering to a subject in need of such antioxidants an effective amount of antioxidant-promoting composition of the invention.
US08221803B1
The present invention provides an effective, all-natural, non-toxic, non-hormonal composition consisting of vitamin D3, vitamin E, selenium, green tea extract, saw palmetto berry extract, isoflavanoids, and lycopene for prostate health. The invention provides compositions and methods to prevent, alleviate, and/or treat symptoms associated with prostate conditions and diseases. The prostate health composition may be used to supplement medical treatment such as radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and hormone therapy.
US08221799B2
The invention is directed to a method for administering antioxidant micronutrient formulations comprising multiple dietary and endogenous antioxidants, B-vitamins, vitamin D and minerals at appropriate dosages and dose schedules particularly chosen to produce long-term ‘optimal health’ effects in individuals of various age groups and occupations, with particular emphasis on reducing and/or eliminating acute and/or long term effects of environmental and physical stressors and toxic chemicals to which current Operating Forces and veterans of military service are or have been exposed.
US08221791B1
A silica-based nanoformulation and method is used to treat citrus canker, inhibit the growth of mold and mildew, and add nutrients to soil used for agricultural purposes. The nanotechnology-enabled copper-loaded, silica nanoformulation (CuSiNP/NG) design is a “revolutionary re-invention” of Cu for safe application because it provides a formulation with maximum abundance of ionic Cu, provides sustained and optimal Cu ion release for long-term disease protection, better adherence to plant surfaces and structural surfaces due to gel-based nanostructure of CuSiNG, thus avoiding multiple spray applications and reducing the amount of Cu used in comparison to existing Cu compounds without compromising antibacterial activity. Thus, the silica-based nanoformulation releases copper in non-toxic quantities to the environment and the silica matrix provides an environmentally safe host material with a flexible design that is optimized to provide specific antifungal and antibacterial remediation using infrequent applications.
US08221790B2
Polymers (i.e. polyesters, polyamides, and polythioesters or a mixture thereof) which degrade hydrolytically into biologically active compounds are provided. Methods of producing these polymers, intermediates useful for preparing these polymers, and methods of using these polymers to deliver biologically active compounds to a host are also provided.
US08221788B2
A pharmaceutical composition is disclosed containing amorphous rosuvastatin calcium and at least one of the following stabilizing agents: magnesium hydroxide, calcium acetate, calcium gluconate, calcium glycerophosphate, or aluminum hydroxide, together with at least one pharmaceutically acceptable excipient.
US08221765B2
The present invention relates to multivalent polypeptides comprising at least two fibronectin scaffold domains connected via a polypeptide linker. The invention also relates to multivalent polypeptides for use in diagnostic, research and therapeutic applications. The invention further relates to cells comprising such proteins, polynucleotide encoding such proteins or fragments thereof, and to vectors comprising the polynucleotides encoding the innovative proteins.
US08221763B2
Disclosed is a vaccine that includes a dendritic cell loaded with a yeast vehicle and antigen. Also disclosed are methods of making the vaccine and using the vaccine to elicit cellular and humoral immune responses in a mammal. Additionally, a method to elicit an immune response by administration of a yeast vehicle and an antigen that is not complexed to the yeast vehicle is disclosed.
US08221760B2
A human anti-IL-23p19 antibody, including isolated nucleic acids that encode at least one anti-IL-23p19 antibody, vectors, host cells, and methods of making and using thereof have applications in diagnostic and/or therapeutic compositions, methods and devices.
US08221757B2
The present invention relates to antibodies which bind to C5aR and which are useful in diagnostic and therapeutic methods. The antibodies of the present invention are reactive with an extracellular loop of C5aR other than the N-terminal domain and are capable of substantially reducing or inhibiting the binding of C5a to C5aR and functional consequences of neutrophil chemoattractant receptor activation.
US08221755B2
The present invention relates generally to antibodies that bind to the Interleukin-13 receptor.alpha.1 chain (IL-13R.alpha.1) and antagonize IL-13 receptor-mediated signaling by IL-13 and/or IL-4. More particularly, the present invention provides humanized or human antibodies to mammalian and in particular IL-13R.alpha.1. These antibodies have uses in the treatment or prevention of IL-13- and/or IL-4-mediated diseases or conditions. The present invention further contemplates a method of modulating IL-13- and/or IL-4-mediated diseases or conditions by the administration of the subject antibodies. The present invention further provides an assay system useful for identifying antibodies or other agents which modulate IL-13 and/or IL-4 signaling through an IL-13 receptor complex. Accordingly, a method of screening for modulators of IL-13R.alpha.1/ligand interaction is also provided.
US08221733B2
Process for utilizing the disinfectant composition as a virucidal agent. The disinfectant composition includes: (a) an amine and/or quaternary ammonium salt of the general formula: where R1 is C6-8-alkyl, R2 is benzyl or C6-18-alkyl, R3 is C1-18-alkyl or —[(CH2)2—O]nR6 where n=1-20, R4 and R5 independently of one another are C1-4-alkyl, R6 is hydrogen or unsubstituted or substituted phenyl, and A− is a monovalent anion or one equivalent of a polyvalent anion of an inorganic or organic acid; and (b) at least one alkanolamine of the general formula: where n and, if present, m and o independently of one another have the value 2 or 3, and x and y independently of one another have the value 0 or 1, or a corresponding salt; in the mass ratio of (a) to ( )b) of 20:1 to 1:20.
US08221728B2
UV-photoprotective sunscreen compositions contain at least one novel silanic p-aminobenzalmalonate-substituted s-triazine compound having the general formula (I):
US08221725B2
An oral care composition comprising fused silica, wherein at least 25% of the fused silica particles are spherical.
US08221706B2
Apparatuses for processing a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock flows are provided. In one aspect, the method includes providing two or more hydroprocessing stages disposed in sequence, each hydroprocessing stage having a hydroprocessing reaction zone with a hydrogen requirement and each stage in fluid communication with the preceding stage. A hydrogen source is provided substantially free of hydrogen from a hydrogen recycle compressor. The hydrocarbonaceous feedstock flow is separated into an portions of fresh feed for each hydroprocessing stage, and the first portion of fresh feed to the first hydroprocessing stage is heated. The heated first portion of fresh feed is supplied with hydrogen from the hydrogen source in an amount satisfying substantially all of the hydrogen requirements of the hydroprocessing stages to a first hydroprocessing zone. The unheated second portion of fresh feed is admixed with effluent from previous stage to quench the hot reactor effluent before entering a second stage.
US08221705B2
A receptacle having a plurality of interconnected chambers arranged to permit multiple process steps or processes to be performed independently or simultaneously. The receptacles are manufactured to separate liquid from dried reagents and to maintain the stability of the dried reagents. An immiscible liquid, such as an oil, is included to control loading of process materials, facilitate mixing and reconstitution of dried reagents, limit evaporation, control heating of reaction materials, concentrate solid support materials to prevent clogging of fluid connections, provide minimum volumes for fluid transfers, and to prevent process materials from sticking to chamber surfaces. The receptacles can be adapted for use in systems having a processing instrument that includes an actuator system for selectively moving fluid substances between chambers and a detector. The actuator system can be arranged to concentrate an analyte present in a sample. The detector can be used to detect an optical signal emitted by the contents of the receptacle.
US08221704B2
Provided is a microfluidic device and microfluidic system with the device. The microfluidic device includes a substrate; a channel formed in the substrate and in which a fluid can move; a valve controlling flow of a fluid flowing along the channel and including a phase transition material which can be melted by energy such as electromagnetic wave energy; and a lens disposed on the substrate and adjusting an irradiating region of the valve, onto which the energy is applied.
US08221699B2
A liquid applicator for applying a liquid sample to a liquid receiving surface is disclosed. The liquid applicator comprises a bibulous line to hold a first predetermined volume of liquid for application to a liquid receiving surface. A second predetermined volume less than or equal to the first predetermined volume is applied to the liquid receiving surface in a substantially uniform and consistent pattern. Systems and methods for using embodiments of the liquid applicators are also disclosed.
US08221697B2
An automated lidder and/or delidder apparatus to engage and disengage a lid from a microplate is disclosed. The microplate includes a sample area with a plurality of individual wells and a hollow outer frame formed around the sample area, the frame being shaped to include a plurality of openings in its top surface. The lid includes a plate and a plurality of latches formed on the underside of the plate. In the lidding process, the apparatus presses down on the lid to insert each latch through a corresponding opening in the microplate until the latch snaps into engagement with the frame. In the delidding process, the apparatus inserts delidding posts into the openings to disengage the latches from the frame.
US08221696B2
A detergent dispensing device for an automatic washing machine has a cartridge, a selecting mechanism, an operating mechanism, and a thermal element. The cartridge includes a plurality of chambers to accommodate a detergent composition. The selecting mechanism selectively exposes each chamber to wash liquor allowing the detergent, in use, to be washed out of the chamber. The operating mechanism is movable from a first position to a second position for loading mechanical energy into the device which provides a restoring force for the operating mechanism. The thermal element retains the operating means in the second position and is arranged to move when subjected to an elevated temperature prevailing in an interior of the washing machine during a wash cycle, thereby the thermal element moves or releases the operating mechanism. The operating mechanism is arranged to advance the selecting mechanism to an adjacent chamber as the cartridge remains stationary.
US08221682B2
An automated analyzer for performing multiple diagnostic assays includes multiple modules in which aspects of the assay are performed on fluid samples contained in reaction receptacles. The analyzer includes stations for automatically preparing a sample, pre-heating the sample, incubating the sample, performing an analyte isolation procedure, and ascertaining the presence of a target analyte. A receptacle transporting system moves reaction receptacles from one station to the next. A method for performing an assay includes an automated process for isolating and amplifying a target analyte. The process is performed by moving each of a plurality of reaction receptacles containing a solid support material and a fluid sample between stations for pre-heating and incubating the contents of the reaction receptacle and for separating the target analyte bound to the solid support from the fluid sample. An amplification reagent is added to the analyte after the separation step and before incubation.
US08221680B1
A culinary tool having a sterilizing handle apparatus and method includes a culinary tool, such as a fork, spoon or tongs, which has a tang extending therefrom. A handle is removably attached to the culinary tool over the culinary tool tang which handle includes a non-porous sleeve having a disinfectant impregnated foam reservoir therearound encapsulated in a semipermeable layer. Pressure applied to the handle causes a disinfectant material to ooze through the semipermeable layer to disinfect the handle.
US08221678B2
A system and process is provided for removing or treating harmful biologic and organic substances within an enclosure, such as a container, building or vehicle. Air within the enclosure is heated to a predetermined temperature to kill organisms and cause harmful substances in the structure to migrate into the ambient air. Boric acid in combination with the heat may be used to kill mold and similar undesirable organisms. Temperature and pressure levels are monitored. The heated air carrying the harmful substances is passed through a filter to remove the harmful substances, and the heated air is re-circulated to enhance efficiency. The system effectively kills insects, molds, viruses and bacteria and reduces the levels of allergens and volatile organic compounds in the structure.
US08221674B2
A distributor bottom, particularly a nozzle-type distributor bottom, for steadily introducing process gas, especially process gas loaded with solid particles, into a process chamber, optionally to create a fluidized bed. The process chamber is disposed above the distributor bottom and is formed by walls of a reactor used for metallurgically, particularly thermally, treating feedstock. The distributor bottom is provided with a plurality of holes. Holes are arranged near the walls to prevent substances from attaching to the reactor walls. Special arrangements relate to nozzles and ducts.
US08221668B2
Process and apparatus for forming plastics by heating an open mold and contacting the open mold with plastic particulate material to form a melted skin on the mold, and resulting articles made therefrom. Single skin molded articles may be multi-layered with or without paint on the surface. Multiple skin molded articles may be made by complementary male and female molds, brought together after the skins are made on the individual male and female molds, and may include sandwiched layers of plastic filler or expandable foam filled centers, with or without various inserts or reinforcements. Multi-layer composite articles are made with inserts and/or reinforcements that may be embedded in and surrounded by expandable foam plastic, if used as a middle layer. Resulting articles include a pick-up truck bed box, an industrial tabletop, a series of modular housing panels, an airplane cockpit door, and material handling pallets, among others.
US08221658B2
The invention relates to mixtures of diorganylphosphinic acids and carboxylic acids of the formula [cationn+(phosphinate−)x(carboxylic acid anionz−1/z)y] where n=from 1 to 4 x=from 0.01 to n−0.01 y=n−x z=from 1 to 4, where “cation” means an element of the second main and/or transition group, an element of the third main and/or transition group, an element of the fourth main and/or transition group, an element of the fifth main and/or transition group, an element of the sixth transition group, an element of the seventh transition group, and/or an element of the eighth transition group, “phosphinate” means the anion of diorganylphosphinic acids of the formula where R1 and R2 are identical or different and, independently of one another, are H, C1-C6-alkyl, linear or branched, and/or aryl, and/or hydroxyalkyl, and “carboxylic acid anion” means C1-C18 carboxylic acid anions. The invention also relates to processes for their production, and to their use.
US08221657B2
The instant invention relates to novel phthalocyanines and their use as IR-absorbers, in particular in transparent thermoplastic or crosslinkable polymers. A further aspect of the invention is a composition of these phthalocyanines and thermoplastic or crosslinkable polymers and an architectural or automotive glazing containing these phthatolcyanines.
US08221650B2
An oxide phosphor that is highly durable and produces visible light when excited by exposure to near-ultraviolet excitation light, comprising an oxide having the composition represented by the formula (Al2O3)x.(SiO2)1-x, where 0
US08221647B2
An oxygen-absorbing composition for use as a component of a plastic packaging material that includes in relatively sufficient proportions iron, acidifier, and electrolyte.
US08221631B1
A system and method include providing waste water to a treatment tank, diffusing air into the waste water in the treatment tank to treat the waste water, and measuring O2 percentage in off gas from the waste water having diffused air. Dissolved oxygen in the waste water is measured in further embodiments, and the amount of air diffused into the waste water may be controlled as a function of the measurements.
US08221630B2
The present invention provides a method and a device for dewatering a hydraulic fluid of a hydraulic system, in particular in the aerospace sector, comprising a container which has a sorbent, a feed which supplies the hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic system to the container for the hydraulic fluid to be passed through the sorbent such that it can be dewatered in a dewatering mode of the device, and a return which returns the dewatered hydraulic fluid from the container to the hydraulic system in the dewatering mode of the device. The hydraulic fluid can be dewatered continuously and very efficiently by the method and the device according to the invention.
US08221626B2
A renewable energy microgeneration system is disclosed. The system includes a portable processing container with a mixing tank for mixing waste with a liquid, a macerating pump in fluid communication with the mixing tank that is configured to macerate the waste into smaller pieces, a plurality of small holding tanks in fluid communication with the mixing tank that are configured to perform at least one of a pasteurization thermophilic anaerobic digestion on the waste, a large holding tank in fluid communication with the plurality of small holding tanks that is configured to perform mesophilic anaerobic digestion on the waste after at least one of a pasteurization thermophilic anaerobic digestion is performed on the waste, and a de-watering unit in fluid communication with the large holding tank that is configured to dry what remains of the waste after mesophilic anaerobic digestion is performed on the waste; a controller for automating the flow of the waste between the mixing tank, the plurality of small holding tanks, the large holding tank, and the de-watering unit such that a user does not need to complete any tasks for performing mesophilic anaerobic digestion after the waste is loaded into the mixing tank; and a portable gas storage container comprising a gas storage tank that is configured to store biogas generated by the mesophilic anaerobic digestion, wherein the portable processing container and the portable gas storage container are configured to be transported to a site and placed in fluid communication with each other so the gas storage tank can store biogas generated by mesophilic anaerobic digestion in the processing container at the site.
US08221607B2
The invention provides compositions, methods and kits for high speed, high resolution of analytes by capillary electrophoresis starting with uncoated capillaries. The compositions comprise a sieving component, comprising a non-crosslinked acrylamide polymer, and a surface interaction component, comprising at least one uncharged and non-crosslinked water-soluble silica-adsorbing polymer. Methods for employing the novel compositions in capillary electrophoresis are provided. Kits comprising the novel compositions for use in the novel methods are also provided.
US08221601B2
One embodiment relates to a substrate carrier for use in electroplating a plurality of substrates. The carrier includes a non-conductive carrier body on which the substrates are placed and conductive lines embedded within the carrier body. A plurality of conductive clip attachment parts are attached in a permanent manner to the conductive lines embedded within the carrier body. A plurality of contact clips are attached in a removable manner to the clip attachment parts. The contact clips hold the substrates in place and conductively connecting the substrates with the conductive lines. Other embodiments, aspects and features are also disclosed.
US08221597B2
A pH adjusting apparatus includes an electrolytic chip receiving a solution, an electrolytic chip loading station receiving the electrolytic chip, an input unit inputting electrolysis conditions, a control unit receiving the electrolysis conditions and controlling electrolysis performed in the electrolytic chip, and a display unit displaying the electrolysis conditions and a progress of the electrolysis. Thus, the pH of a solution can be adjusted easily and accurately, by precisely controlling a constant current, a constant voltage, and current and voltage application times, thereby enabling useful application in various biological assays such as cell lysis. Furthermore, the pH adjusting apparatus has small size and weight and can be operated for a long time after charging once due to low power consumption.
US08221594B2
The present invention is to provide a magnetron sputtering technique for forming a film having an even film thickness distribution for a long period of time. A magnetron sputtering apparatus of the present invention includes a vacuum chamber, a cathode part provided in the vacuum chamber, the cathode part holding a target on the front side thereof and having a backing plate to hold a plurality of magnets on the backside thereof, and a direct-current power source that supplies direct-current power to the cathode part. A plurality of control electrodes, which independently controls potentials, is provided in a discharge space on the side of the target with respect to the backing plate.
US08221589B2
In a method for detaching a web threading tail from a moving surface in a fiber web machine, the web threading tail (12) is detached from a moving surface (23) by means of air that flows from a blow-off blow channel (19) included in a blade holder (14). A trailing blow (26) is directed to the web threading tail (12) using air that flows from a trailing blow channel (17) included in the blade holder (14). The blade holder (14) includes a flow surface (32), and the trailing blow (26) is blown to the same direction with or in a small angle relative to the flow surface (32). The invention also relates to a corresponding blade holder and a doctor apparatus for detaching a web threading tail from a moving surface in a fiber web machine.
US08221585B2
Irradiated lignocellulosic or cellulosic materials are provided which contain carboxylic acid groups and/or other functional groups not present in a naturally occurring cellulosic or lignocellulosic material from which the irradiated material was obtained.
US08221584B2
A method and apparatus for producing sheets from the pseudostems of banana plants in the family Musaceae, each pseudostem having a longitudinal axis. The method includes the steps of feeding a pseudostem (14) into a workstation, supporting (62, 34) the pseudostem for rotation thereof about its longitudinal axis within the workstation, and contacting the rotating pseudostem along substantially its entire length with a fiber-separating device (38), whereby a continuous sheet of fiber (60) is removed from the pseudostem by the fiber-separating device during rotation. Raw paper may also be made by laminating two or more of these sheets together such that the direction of the generally parallel fibers in at least two adjacent sheets is not aligned and then curing the sheets to form raw paper.
US08221583B2
A semiconductor system for peeling semiconductor chips from tape, comprising: providing an outer housing having an aperture on a top thereof; providing a magnet with a needle base extension; providing needles magnetically held to the magnet; applying a vacuum through the aperture to hold an adhesive material to the outer housing; and extending the needles through the aperture in the outer housing.
US08221578B2
A method of manufacturing paint roller covers is disclosed in which the paint roller covers are manufactured from a seamless, tubular fabric sleeve having a backing made at least in part from a material having a lower melting point than material used for the pile of the seamless, tubular fabric sleeve. The seamless, tubular fabric sleeve is placed onto a cylindrical member, and heat is applied to cause the material having the lower melting point in the backing be activated to cause the backing of the seamless, tubular fabric sleeve to remain in a cylindrical configuration. The activated tubular knitted pile fabric may be finished into paint roller covers by combing and shearing the pile fabric to a desired length, beveling the edges of the paint roller covers, and vacuuming stray fibers from the paint roller covers.
US08221575B2
A method for manufacturing a contoured composite article. A separation distance of dividing elements of a dividing unit configured to divide a tape comprising fiber is adjusted. The tape is fed through the dividing unit to divide the tape into a plurality of inter-connected or separate, substantially longitudinal strips. The tape is laid onto a surface with an automatic tape laying apparatus.
US08221572B2
A manufacturing method for an absorptive article according to the present invention includes: placing a continuum of the elastic members 4A and 5A in a desired layout, on at least one surface of a web 7A being transported continuously, while swinging the continuum of the elastic members 4A and 5A in a direction crossing a moving direction of the web 7A; feeding the web 7A on which the continuum of the elastic members 4A and 5A are placed, between a first roll 8, which is rotating in the moving direction, and a second roll 9; and pressing the continuum of the elastic members 4A and 5A, and the web 7A between the first roll 8 and the second roll 9. A recess 20 is formed in a predetermined pattern on at least an outer peripheral surface of the first roll 8, and the continuum of the elastic members 4A and 5A, and the web 7A are pressed between the first roll 8 and the second roll 9 while the continuum of the elastic members 4A and 5A placed in an area 3A corresponding to the crotch portion on one surface of the web 7A faces the recess 20 formed on the outer peripheral surface of the first roll 8.
US08221570B2
A process and apparatus for manufacturing tires for vehicle wheels, includes building, on a toroidal support, a carcass structure including at least one carcass ply associated, at axially opposite end edges thereof, with annular anchoring structures, the building step of the carcass structure includes forming at least one reinforcing structure, operatively associated with the annular anchoring structures through deposition on the toroidal support of at least one reinforcing element along a predetermined curvilinear deposition path. The deposition of the at least one reinforcing element includes the steps of: cutting to size a piece of at least one reinforcing continuous band-like element fed by a feeding device along a predetermined feeding direction, deforming the piece obtained according to the curvature of a deposition part of the deposition path intended to receive the piece, and depositing the deformed piece at the deposition part.
US08221568B2
A pneumatic tire for passenger cars has a tread and left and right beads, the beads each having a bead core embedded therein with a bead filler disposed on the outer circumferential side of the bead core, at least one carcass ply being arranged to extend between the beads, the carcass ply having reinforcing cords which extend in a width direction of the tire and are aligned at a predetermined interval along a circumferential direction of the tire, and two belt plies being disposed on the outer circumferential side of the carcass ply in the tread. An average of residual strain of the reinforcing cords of an innermost carcass ply is set to −10% to 5% in each side region located between an outer circumferential end of the bead filler and an end of an overlapping portion of the two belt plies.
US08221567B2
Filter media and a method for manufacturing filter media is disclosed. The filter media includes a corrugated porous filter media layer including a top surface and a bottom surface, wherein the corrugated porous filter media layer includes one or more peaks separated by valleys, a second porous filter media layer including a top surface and a bottom surface, the valleys of the corrugated porous filter media proximate the second porous filter media layer, and an ultrasonically weldable material disposed between one or more of the valleys of the corrugated porous filter media layer and the top surface of the second porous filter media layer.
US08221564B2
A method for manufacturing a steel sheet used for structural members, elements, etc. of automobiles including a front side member, pillar, and the like, and more particularly, a method for manufacturing a steel sheet having a high strength and formability as well as hot-dip galvanizing properties is disclosed. In the method, after an aluminum killed steel slab, which comprises, by weight %: C: 0.05% to 0.25%; Si: 0.1% to 1.5%; S: 0.02% or less; N: 0.01% or less; Al: 0.02% to 2.0%; Mn: 1.0% to 2.5%; P: 0.001% to 0.1%; Sb: 0.005% to 0.10%; the balance of Fe and other unavoidable impurities, is subjected to a homogenization treatment at a temperature range of 1050° C. to 1300° C., the aluminum killed steel slab is subjected to a hot rolling under a finishing hot rolling temperature of 850° C. to 950° C. and a coiling temperature of 400° C. to 700° C., followed by a cold rolling under a cold rolling reduction ration of 30% to 80%, and annealing the cold rolled steel sheet.
US08221563B2
The invention relates to a method for producing a crankshaft, in special for diesel engines, wherein a crankshaft blank is produced from austempered ductile cast iron, the casting blank is subjected to heat treatment matched to the austempered ductile cast iron whereby the blank acquires high strength and hardness. According to the invention, surfaces which form bearing surfaces for connecting rods and shaft bearings are undersized before the ADI heat treatment. Following the heat treatment a coating is applied to the bearing surfaces, the layer thickness being matched to the undersize and dimensional deviations as a result of the heat treatment. The coated bearing surfaces are finally finish-machined to the finished size without the need of machining the bearing surfaces of the casting blank after the heat treatment.
US08221559B2
A surface treatment with a zirconium ion that enables sufficient throwing power and superior anti-corrosion properties to be exhibited when thus surface treated metal base material is subjected to cation electrodeposition coating is provided. A metal surface treatment liquid thereof for cation electrodeposition coating includes zirconium ions, copper ions, and other metal ions, and having a pH of 1.5 to 6.5, in which: the other metal ions are at least one selected from the group consisting of tin ions, indium ions, aluminum ions, niobium ions, tantalum ions, yttrium ions and cerium ions; the concentration of zirconium ions is 10 to 10,000 ppm; the concentration ratio of the copper ions to the zirconium ions is 0.005 to 1 on a mass basis; and the concentration ratio of the other metal ions to the copper ions is 0.1 to 1,000 on a mass basis.
US08221557B2
Systems and methods for exposing semiconductor workpieces to vapors for through-hole cleaning and/or other processes are disclosed. A representative method includes exposing a semiconductor workpiece to a vapor, with the semiconductor workpiece having an opening extending from a first surface of the workpiece through the workpiece to a second surface facing opposite from the first surface. The opening can include a contaminant, and the method can further include drawing the vapor and the contaminant through at least a portion of the opening and away from the second surface of the semiconductor workpiece.
US08221552B2
Methods of cleaning plasma processing chamber components include contacting surfaces of the components with a cleaning solution, while avoiding damage of other surfaces or areas of the components by the cleaning solution. An exemplary plasma processing chamber component to be cleaning is an elastomer bonded electrode assembly having a silicon member with a plasma-exposed silicon surface, a backing member, and an elastomer bonding material between the silicon surface and the backing member.
US08221549B2
A silicon carbide single crystal wafer wherein a substrate is cut out at an OFF angle from a (0001) c plane of an α-type silicon carbide single crystal of less than 2° and in an OFF direction in which a deviation from a (11-20) direction is less than 10°, the number of substantially triangular lamination defects exposed from a surface of a wafer which is epitaxial grown on the substrate is less than 4/cm2 over the entire surface of the wafer. The invention provides a producing method of a silicon carbide single crystal wafer capable of enhancing the utility ratio of the bulk silicon carbide single crystal, the element characteristics and the cleavage, as well as a silicon carbide single crystal wafer obtained by such a producing method.
US08221548B2
A process for producing a diamond thin-film includes forming a diamond crystal thin-film on a substrate and firing the diamond crystal thin-film at a sufficient temperature under high pressure under which a diamond is stable. A diamond single-crystal substrate having a diamond single-crystal thin-film formed thereon is placed in an ultra-high-pressure and high-temperature firing furnace to anneal the diamond single-crystal thin-film under the conditions of 1200° C. and 6 GPa.
US08221532B2
An adsorbent having porosity expanded by contact with a first agent effecting such expansion and a pressurized second agent effecting transport of the first agent into the porosity, wherein the adsorbent subsequent to removal of the first and second agents retains expanded porosity. The adsorbent can be made by an associated method in which materials such as water, ethers, alcohols, organic solvent media, or inorganic solvent media can be utilized as the first agent for swelling of the porosity, and helium, argon, krypton, xenon, neon, or other inert gases can be employed as the pressurized second agent for transport of both agents into the porosity of the adsorbent, subsequent to which the agents can be removed to yield an adsorbent of increased capacity for sorbable fluids, e.g., organometallic compounds, hydrides, halides and acid gases. Also described is a nanoporous carbon composite having porosity that is at least partially filled with material imparting to the composite an enhanced character with respect to characteristics selected from the group consisting of hardness, wear-resistance and toughness, as compared with the nanoporous carbon alone.
US08221530B2
A water trap (1) improved with respect to handling and operational safety includes: two semipermeable membranes (2) and at least one tank (7), wherein the membranes have a water penetration pressure greater than 750 hPa and are made of the same or different PTFE laminates. The gas flow is divided in a ratio between 10:90 and 25:75 into the flush-/purge branch and analysis branch to the sensors (12) and a path parallel to the sensors (12), respectively, with the aid of the membranes and downstream filter elements and via the material and configuration.
US08221527B1
An apparatus for capture of CO2 from the atmosphere comprising an anion exchange material formed in a matrix exposed to a flow of the air.
US08221523B2
The invention is an apparatus and method for filtering a volume of gas. In one embodiment, the invention is a filtering apparatus having a hollow vessel with inlets and outlets, channels in communication with the inlets and outlets, a form of filter media, and an uninterruptible flow controlling device for regulating the circulation of gas within the apparatus. In another embodiment, the invention is a method incorporating an uninterruptible filtering apparatus to remove evaporated liquid from a volume of gas by passing the gas over a filter media contained within a hollow vessel.
US08221499B2
An infection-blocking dental implant in which a threaded portion which contacts bone is roughened except for up to three threads which may be exposed by bone recession after implantation, which have a smooth surface. Preferably, the implant is of titanium or titanium alloy and the threaded portion is roughened by a two-step acid treatment.
US08221498B2
An apparatus and method for fixation of a soft tissue graft. The apparatus may include a member having a first surface and a second surface. Each of the surfaces extend a distance relative to one another. A member is operable to resist movement of the apparatus relative to an anatomical portion. An interference member may be provided to fixedly associate the apparatus with the anatomical structure.
US08221496B2
An expandable medical device includes a plurality of elongated struts, forming a substantially cylindrical device which is expandable from a cylinder having a first diameter to a cylinder having a second diameter. A plurality of different beneficial agents may be loaded into different openings within the struts for delivery to the tissue. For treatment of conditions such as restenosis, different beneficial agents are loaded into different openings in the device to address different biological processes involved in restenosis and are delivered at different release kinetics matched to the biological process treated. The different beneficial agents may also be used to address different diseases, such as restenosis and acute myocardial infarction from the same drug delivery device. In addition, anti-thrombotic agents may be affixed to at least a portion of the surfaces of the medical device for the prevention of sub-acute thrombosis.
US08221495B2
A medical device which is at least partially bio-erodible and which exhibits controlled elution of therapeutic agent.
US08221493B2
This invention relates to prosthetic cardiac and venous valves and a single catheter device and minimally invasive techniques for percutaneous and transluminal valvuloplasty and prosthetic valve implantation.
US08221491B1
A new multiple component stent arrangement which allows for initial self-expansion and subsequent deformation to a final enlarged size.
US08221489B2
A device and method for treating a body conduit/lumen having an undesired reduced diameter include delivering an expandable stent in a contracted configuration to a target location. The stent has small cells that form an open tight mesh providing the effective capture of small particles such as thrombi. Preferably, the tight mesh is combined with structure that permits creation of large side openings to accommodate lumen branches.
US08221487B2
A method of making an tubular intraluminal graft in the form of a tubular diametrically adjustable stent having a tubular covering of porous expanded PTFE which is less than 0.10 mm thick. The covering may be on the exterior surface of the stent, or on the interior surface of the stent, or both. The covering may be affixed to the stent by an adhesive which is preferably fluorinated ethylene propylene.
US08221486B2
A method of making a stent-graft comprising, providing a radially distensible, tubular stent having opposed open ends comprising an undulating wire helically wound into a plurality of circumferential windings to define stent wall structure having opposed exterior and luminal surfaces, providing a first non-textile, polymeric graft tube, providing a second non-textile, polymeric graft tube, laminating the radially distensible, tubular stent between the first non-textile, polymeric graft tube and the second non-textile, polymeric graft tube, trimming the laminated polymeric graft tube beyond the undulating wire at the open ends, providing a third non-textile, polymeric graft layer; placing the third non-textile, polymeric graft layer over the trimmed over ends, inserting the third non-textile, polymeric graft layer of the tubular stent into the undulating wires; and laminating the third non-textile polymeric graft layer to the first non-textile, polymeric graft tube and the second non-textile, polymeric graft tube.
US08221482B2
An intraluminal endoprosthesis having a conically shaped first end and a tubular shaped balloon-expandable stent for a main body is disclosed. The conically shaped first end may form a flare to the main body and is particularly well suited for in ostium use. The first end is preferably self-expanding and the main body is preferably balloon-expandable. Also disclosed is a delivery device for delivering intraluminal ostial endoprosthetic devices, especially those disclosed herein, to a site for deployment. The delivery device may comprise an over-the-wire system or may comprise a rapid-exchange shuttle system. The self-expanding portion of the endoprosthesis is encapsulated in a sheath or other restraining apparatus on the delivery device. The balloon-expandable stent portion of the endoprosthesis is crimped onto a balloon delivery device. The delivery system and endoprosthesis of the present invention allow the endoprosthesis to be partially expanded and relocated if it is determined that it is not located in the proper location. To aid in positioning, the delivery device may comprise marker bands.
US08221476B2
Spinal plate assemblies, methods of fabrication, and methods of use. Such assemblies comprises blocking structures assembled to spinal plates. The blocking structure comprises an elongate band which can be against structure of the plate. The band is mounted into a continuous or intermittent channel in the plate, and extends into an aperture in the plate. The band responds to side forces applied by interfering elements of bone fasteners driven through an aperture, by moving away from the interfering element, and returning to a blocking position over the interfering element after the interfering element has passed the band. Methods of fabrication include inserting the blocking structure, optionally longitudinally, into the channel. Methods of use include advancing bone screws through an aperture and past the band. The bone screw deflects the band as the screw passes, and the band moves to the blocking position when the screw has moved past the band.
US08221469B2
A pedicle screw with a closure device for securing a rod for stabilization of the vertebral column comprises a screw-in part with a head part, a U-shaped recess in the head part., in which recess the rod is held by the closure device. The closure device comprises a yoke-shaped locking element, which has a collar with a projection on each of the two opposite end regions. One groove is provided on each of the two arms in such a way that the locking element is rotatably placed on the arms. The projections are inserted in the grooves to achieve locking position. A tension screw is screwed into the locking element and rotatably connected to a tension element inserted between the arms, and, in the locked state of the locking element, is able to be tensioned, by means of the tension screw, against the rod inserted in the recess.
US08221468B2
A method of performing a surgical anterior extradiscal correction of a thoracolumbar pathology includes steps of surgically approaching a patient's spine and correcting a thoracolumbar pathology, aligning adjacent vertebral bodies, and securing the vertebral bodies in a desired relative position with anterior instrumentation that penetrates at least one of the vertebral bodies. The anterior instrumentation includes a bioabsorbable element and in one embodiment includes first and second bioabsorbable anchors for penetrating anterior portions of respective first and second sacral, thoracic or lumbar vertebral bodies and bioabsorbable instrumentation that fixedly connects the first bioabsorbable anchor to the second bioabsorbable anchor. This permits the first sacral, thoracic or lumbar vertebral body to be surgically fixed to the second sacral, thoracic or lumbar vertebral body for a predetermined period of time, when the bioabsorbable apparatus will be absorbed by a patient's body.
US08221448B2
An embolic protection device has a collapsible filter element (105) mounted on a carrier such as a guidewire (101). The filter element (105) collapses into the outer end of a catheter (118) for deployment and retrieval through a vascular system of a patient. The filter element (105) has a collapsible filter body with a proximal inlet end and a distal outlet end. The proximal inlet end has inlet openings sized to allow blood and embolic material enter the filter body. The outlet end has outlet openings which allow through passage of blood but retain embolic material within the filter body. After use, the catheter (118) is movable along the guidewire (101) to engage the proximal end of the filter element and close the inlet openings before sliding over the filter element from the proximal end to the distal end to progressively collapse the filter body on the guidewire (101) for retrieval. The filter element (105) may conveniently be mounted on a tubular sleeve (104) which is slidable and rotatable on the guidewire (101) between spaced-apart stops (106, 120) on the guidewire (101) which allows some manipulation of the guidewire independently of the filter when the filter is in use.
US08221447B2
Devices and methods for treating an aneurysm include a single unit having an access element and an occlusion element, the access element providing access to the aneurysm for introducing treatment objects such as coils therethrough while the occlusion element blocks the treatment objects from protruding into the vessel. The access element is an elongated element having an access lumen for direct introduction of coils or for introduction of coils via a microcatheter. The occlusion element is a balloon or an elongated element for introduction of blocking objects such as coils therethrough. In embodiments of the present invention, a distal end of the access element is preshaped at an angle to a longitudinal axis of the device, wherein upon introduction of the device into the vessel, the access element is aligned with the longitudinal axis and at placement of the device adjacent the aneurysm, the access element assumes its pre-shaped configuration.
US08221442B2
A tissue displacement/separation device is provided. The device includes a bladder which is expandable between a first tissue and a second tissue of a body. The bladder has an expanded shape which is selected capable of displacing or separating the first tissue from the second tissue in a manner suitable for protecting the first tissue from an effect of a treatment applied to the second tissue.
US08221435B2
The present invention relates to a device for fixation to a patient during neurological diagnosis, therapy or surgery, in particular during MRI diagnosis. The device comprises at least one fixation pin being made of a non-magnetic, electrically conductive material for fixation to a patient, and at least one pin support member for supporting said fixation pin. An insulation means is arranged so as to restrict the electrical coupling between said pin support member and fixation pin. Said insulation means is sleeve shaped and arranged to at least partly surround said fixation pin. The invention also relates to an insulation means, a pin support member and to a method for assembling a fixation device.
US08221434B2
A medical retrieval device for retrieving foreign objects from a patient and the method of constructing the device are disclosed. The device incorporates a wire cable composed of a precursor alloy to a superelastic material to improve durability of the device. Because precursor alloys exhibit, a linear stress-strain relationship and a yield point associated with a relatively high stress level, the device transfers greater stresses before experiencing deformation. Thus, greater crushing forces can be achieved using a device of this type. These crushing forces may be needed when the foreign object is too large to remove intact. This property also facilitates the device in dilating ducts to retrieve foreign objects. Using the precursor alloy additionally eliminates the need for heat treatment of the cables used in constructing the device. A retrieval device made of precursor alloy cable also is less susceptible to permanent deformation and unwinding during use.
US08221430B2
Disclosed herein is a method of computer generating a three-dimensional surface model of an arthroplasty target region of a bone forming a joint. The method may include: generating two-dimensional images of at least a portion of the bone; generating an open-loop contour line along the arthroplasty target region in at least some of the two-dimensional images; and generating the three-dimensional model of the arthroplasty target region from the open-loop contour lines.
US08221428B2
A sacro-iliac implant delivery instrument includes a first arm connected to a first cannula. The first cannula is rotatable relative to the first arm and is configured for support of a fastening element. A second arm is connected to the first arm. The second arm is rotatable relative to the first arm and is configured for detachable connection to a sacro-iliac implant. The second arm and the first cannula are configured for rotation relative to the first arm to a preset orientation such that the second arm is disposed along a first predetermined trajectory for delivering the sacro-iliac implant and the first cannula is disposed along a second predetermined trajectory for delivering the fastening element in alignment with the sacro-iliac implant for transarticular fixation. Methods of use are disclosed.
US08221424B2
A rotatable surgical instrument having a protective hood with articulating bendable distal end is provided to improve and enable various orthopedic surgical procedures such as arthroscopy. The protective hood surrounds the surgical tool bit exposing only a portion of the tool bit for removing bone or soft tissue material and protects the nerve from the surgical tool bit. The protective hood can be controllably rotated from the instrument's hand piece to control the orientation of the attack angle of the surgical tool bit. Additionally, the bending of the distal end of the instrument can be controlled from the hand piece.
US08221422B2
A device for sectioning a vertebral lamina, which can comprise a base for positioning the device and protecting the medullar canal when sectioning the lamina, sectioning means slide-mounted in the base along a first axis, a first piston slide-mounted in a sleeve of the sectioning means along a second axis secant to the first sliding axis of the sectioning means, a second piston made integral with the first piston and slide-mounted in the base along a third axis, the sectioning means being provided with a cutting element oriented in opposite direction to the second piston with respect to the sleeve, and the sliding of the second piston along the third axis causing the sliding of the sectioning means along the first axis via the first piston.
US08221415B2
A method for ablation in which a portion of atrial tissue around the pulmonary veins of the heart is ablated by a first elongated ablation component and a second elongated ablation component movable relative to the first ablation component and having means for magnetically attracting the first and second components toward one another. The magnetic means draw the first and second components toward one another to compress the atrial tissue therebetween, along the length of the first and second components and thereby position the device for ablation of the tissue.
US08221408B2
A catheter or lead having electrically conductive traces and external electrical contacts. Each trace may be in electrical connection with one or more external electrical contacts. More specifically, each trace is typically electrically connected to a single contact. The traces and contacts may assist in diagnosis and/or detection of bio-electrical signals emitted by organs, and may transmit such signals to a connector or diagnostic device affixed to the catheter. The external electrical contacts may detect bioelectric energy or may deliver electrical energy to a target site.
US08221398B2
A remote-controlled actuator includes a spindle guide section of an elongated shape, a distal end member fitted to a distal end of the spindle guide section for alteration in attitude and rotatably supporting a tool, and a drive unit housing having a base end of the spindle guide section connected therewith. A rotary shaft for transmitting rotation of a tool rotation drive source within the drive unit housing to the tool and an attitude altering member for altering the attitude of the distal end member by the drive of an attitude altering drive source within the drive unit housing are accommodated within the spindle guide section. A cutting force estimator is provided for estimating the magnitude of at least one component force of a principle force, a radial force and a feed force in a cutting force which the tool applies to a work to be processed.
US08221387B2
One embodiment is a medical device comprising an elongate catheter having a proximal end, a distal end, and a lumen extending therethrough and a tip disposed at the distal end of the elongate catheter, the tip extending distally of the distal end of the catheter, the tip comprising a soft body portion and a rigid ring distal the soft body portion.
US08221380B2
The present invention relates to a method for the high production speed manufacturing of articles comprising a closed or hoop structure, such as garments like pants, or absorbent articles like diapers, having a waist- and leg hoops.
US08221371B2
A process for overwrapping a catamenial device such as a tampon includes the steps of providing a substantially cylindrical overwrapper material, inserting a catamenial device into the overwrap material, and closing the open end of the overwrapper material. The overwrapper material has an open end, a closed end, and a first length. The catamenial device has a tapered insertion end, a longitudinal axis, and a length less than the first length, such that the open end of the overwrapper material extends beyond the insertion end of the inserted catamenial device. Concave clamping jaws are applied to the open end of the overwrapper material to urge it toward the longitudinal axis of the catamenial device; to conform portions of the overwrapper material to the insertion end of the catamenial device; and to fold overwrapper material between adjacent clamping jaws to form fins extending outwardly from the conformed portions.
US08221369B2
An extra-labia urine voiding apparatus including a container sized and shaped to externally cover a vulval region of a female anatomy. The container has an open side and defines a reservoir that is adapted for receiving urine. The container also includes a surface disposed at a top of the container adapted to face and generally surround a periphery of the vulval region. The voiding apparatus also includes a conduit in fluid communication with the reservoir of the container and adapted for draining urine from the reservoir.
US08221368B2
The present invention is directed to an apparatus for use with an ostomate device. The apparatus of the present invention may provide protection and sound attenuation (e.g. reduction or elimination) of a stomal aperture for an ostomate having undergone an ostomy procedure. The present invention enables an ostomate safety when undergoing physical activity and confidence in social environments.
US08221367B2
A disposable urine control device for females during urination when in a crouched position. The control device is provided preferably folded flat and preferably packaged in a stack, each including an elongated flexible folded panel formed of disposable material and having side margins preferably narrowing toward a central portion from enlarged end portions thereof. A perimeter sealing bead extends upwardly from, and substantially continuously around the panel perimeter to provide stiffness and sealing against the labia majora of a female to contain urine within the perimeter sealing bead during urination. A flexible elongated conduit is connected at one end thereof in alignment with a urine drainage aperture formed into a central portion of the panel. When the panel and conduit are unfolded for use from a substantially flat folded orientation of the panel and a folded orientation of the conduit, urine is directed through the conduit into a toilet bowl. An inner sealing bead and urine impermeable layers may also be provided.
US08221361B2
The disclosures made herein relate to an infusion device specifically adapted for syringe injections. In one embodiment of the disclosures made herein, an infusion device comprises a body including an accessible surface having a single inlet port therein, an engagement surface having a single outlet port therein, a medication delivery channel extending between the single inlet port and the single outlet port, and an identification feature on the accessible surface of the body adjacent to the single inlet port. The single inlet port of the medication delivery channel is tapered thereby forming a funnel-shaped entry into the medication delivery channel. A cannula is coupled to the body at the single outlet port and is adapted for receiving medication from the single outlet port and transmitting the medication therethrough.
US08221357B2
Guidewire exit ramp members that may be placed over a tubular member having a guidewire lumen, which longitudinally extending and laterally accessible, and methods of use. The guidewire exit ramp member can be placed to force a guidewire loaded through the lumen in a first direction to be forced out of the lumen via an opening, slit or channel. The guidewire exit ramp member, in an illustrative embodiment, takes the form of a relatively short member having a proximal portion and a distally extending flap. The flap may be designed to enter and remain in a longitudinally accessible guidewire lumen. Combinations of such ramp members and device shafts having longitudinally extending laterally accessible guidewire lumens are also disclosed, as are methods for securing such combinations together. A method of backloading a guidewire into a catheter while causing lateral exit of the guidewire at a desired location is also shown.
US08221346B2
The present invention relates to a blood sugar level control system equipped with an insulin dispensing device 2 and a blood sugar measuring device 3. An attachment mechanism 4 is provided which serves to couple the insulin dispensing device 2 and said blood sugar measuring device 3 in a relatively movable manner. Preferably, the attachment mechanism 4 is constructed so that the blood sugar measuring device 3 is movable or slidable with respect to the insulin dispensing device 2. A blood sugar level control system can be provided which includes a blood sugar measuring device and an insulin dispensing device without using an adapter. Accordingly, it is possible to avoid a cost rise due to an increase in the number of parts as required. In addition, it is possible to prevent the blood sugar level control system from being unable to be used due to the loss of an adapter in the form of a different part.
US08221343B2
A vibrational catheter for disrupting obstructions in lumens such as blood vessels includes an elongate flexible catheter body having a proximal end, a distal end and at least one lumen extending longitudinally therethrough, a vibrational transmission member extending longitudinally through the lumen of the catheter body and having a proximal end and a distal end, and a transition connector attached to the proximal end of the vibrational transmission member for coupling the transmission member with a vibrational energy source. The transition connector includes a bore into which the proximal end of the vibrational transmission member extends. The proximal end of the vibrational transmission member is attached within the bore of the transition connector with variable attachment forces such that the transition connector exerts a lowest amount of attachment force on an attached distal-most portion of the vibrational transmission member housed within the bore.
US08221342B2
Methods and devices are provided for switching fluid flow through a body part, such as all or portions of an organ or extremity. In general, fluid inflow and fluid outflow vessels to at least a portion of a body part can be switched such that all fluid in at least a portion of the inflow and outflow vessels flows in an opposite direction. In other words, the fluid inflow vessel (or at least a portion thereof) becomes the fluid outflow vessel that receives fluid from a body part, and the fluid outflow vessel (or at least a portion thereof) becomes the fluid inflow vessel that delivers fluid to a body part.
US08221340B2
A compression stocking for compressing a limb is disclosed. The stocking may include a proximal tube, a distal tube, and an transition line or zone. The proximal tube may have a distal end and a proximal end and be configured to compress a proximal portion of a limb. The distal tube may have a distal end and a proximal end and be configured to compress a distal portion of the limb. The transition line or zone may provide a location where the distal end of the proximal tube connects to the proximal end of the distal tube. The transition line or zone may correspond to an abrupt change in magnitude between compression provided by the proximal tube and compression provided by the distal tube.
US08221339B2
A femoral support member (30) comprises a stiff frame (31) made of an elongated rectangular plate member curved so as to extend along an outer side and front of a femoral part of a wearer and a flexible belt (32) extending along a rear of the femoral part. The femoral support member allows a walking assistance force to be transmitted to the femoral part of the wearer in a favorable manner. Also, the pressure and stress on the wearer are minimized, and a favorable fit can be achieved.
US08221338B2
A therapeutic treatment head for treating living tissue (T), the head comprising a casing (1), an ultrasound therapeutic transducer (2) mounted on the casing, and a diaphragm (3) mounted on the casing (1), the diaphragm (3) being designed to come into contact with an application surface (S) of the tissue (T), such as skin; the diaphragm (3), the transducer (2), and the casing (1) together defining a chamber (4) that is filled with an acoustic coupling liquid (L) that flows through the chamber between an inlet (41) and an outlet (42); the transducer (2) being placed in such a manner as to emit ultrasound through a propagation zone (Z) of the chamber towards the diaphragm (3); the head being characterized in that a first temperature sensor (51) is placed close to the inlet (41) and a second temperature sensor (52) is placed close to the outlet (42), the sensors (51, 52) delivering signals that are representative of temperatures.
US08221335B2
A blood test apparatus has a housing with an opening, and a plunger that moves back and forth inside the housing, the plunger having a projecting member. A fixing member fixes the plunger, which is provided in the housing. A blood sampling cartridge, in which a blood sensor, a puncturer, and a holder that holds the blood sensor and the puncturer, are integrated. The blood sampling cartridge is removably attached to the opening. The puncturer includes a lancet, one end of which is held by the plunger, and a blood collection needle attached to an other end of the lancet. A measuring circuit measures a signal obtained from the blood sensor to analyze components in the blood.
US08221334B2
These and other objects of the present invention are achieved in a body fluid sampling system for use on a tissue site that includes a single drive force generator. A plurality of penetrating members are operatively coupled to the force generator. The force generator moves each of the members along a path out of a housing with a penetrating member exit, into the tissue site, stops in the tissue site, and withdraws out of the tissue site. A flexible support member couples the penetrating members to define a linear array. The support member is movable and configured to move each of the penetrating members to a launch position associated with the force generator. A user interface is configured to relay at least one of, penetrating member performance or a penetrating member setting.
US08221331B2
The invention relates to an apparatus for fetal scalp blood sampling, having a shaft, a blade that is mounted removably in the distal end of the shaft and that can be slid by means of a positioning mechanism between a starting position mounted in the shaft and a working position extending beyond the distal end of the shaft, and also having a blood sampling device mounted on the distal end of the shaft. To create an apparatus for fetal scalp blood sampling that is easy to operate and also ensures a high degree of operating safety, it is proposed with the invention that the blade can be fixed by the positioning mechanism in the respective end position.
US08221321B2
Ultrasound imaging systems and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, an ultrasonography method includes creating a database that is representative of a tissue, a fluid, or a cavity of a body, and transmitting ultrasound pulses into a region-of-interest in a patient. Echoes are received from the region of interest, and based upon the received echoes, compiling an ultrasonic pattern of the region-of-interest is compiled. The pattern is processed by comparing the region-of-interest patterns to the pattern information stored in the database. A composition within the region-of-interest of the patient is then determined.
US08221319B2
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a system and method for determining a physiologic parameter of a patient. Specifically, embodiments of the present invention include methods and systems for correcting a pulse oximetry plethysmographic waveform variability measurement based on parameters that may influence the waveform variability. The corrected measurement may be used to estimate intravascular blood volume and/or fluid responsiveness of a patient.
US08221318B2
A process for surgical operations on a rectal/haemorrhoidal prolapse comprises stages of realising, in the anal canal, at least a first circular stitching at a first portion of a haemorrhoidal prolapse; realising at least a second circular stitching in a second portion of the haemorrhoidal prolapse, and nearing the first circular stitching and the second circular stitching in order to create a constriction of the haemorrhoidal prolapse. The invention also relates to a device, preferably for actuating the process, which comprises a hollow divaricator (17) having a prevalent development direction along a longitudinal axis (Z) and being insertable in a patient's anal orifice. The device further exhibits a window (29) defining an operational area and creating a communication between a cavity (17b) internal of the divaricator (17) and a portion of haemorrhoidal prolapse. The device further comprises means for opening and closing (31) the window (29).
US08221316B2
A combination suction retraction instrument for surgery is disclosed. The suction retraction instrument includes a retractor including a body, a suction nozzle secured to a distal end of the body, and means for retaining a suction tube adjacent the retractor. The suction tube is connected to a vacuum source for removing fluids and debris from a surgical site. The means for retaining the suction tube is secured to the body. The means for retaining the suction tube is structured to allow the suction tube to slide within the means for retaining the suction tube upon manual pulling of the suction tube by a surgeon. A proximal end of the suction nozzle is dimensioned to engage a distal end of the suction tube in a sealing relationship thereby providing a suction flow path from an opening of the suction nozzle into the suction tube.
US08221304B2
There is disclosed an operation microscope in which an observing and displaying system of an operating instrument are selected, and an endoscope image for observing a dead angle of the microscope and a navigation image are selectively displayed in a microscope observation field, so that a tomographic image, three-dimensionally constructed image, and the like can be selectively displayed in a display screen in accordance with a treatment position displayed in a monitor or an observation position of the operation microscope.
US08221294B2
A fence surrounds a trampoline and extends above the rebounding surface, reducing the risk of injury. Shock absorption is aided by a support system of independent poles. Variable placement net fasteners also are detailed.
US08221292B2
A user status notification system and method indicate to non-users proximate the fitness equipment unit status information pertaining to the user while the user is using the fitness equipment unit.
US08221284B2
An engine, an electric motor-generator, an oil pump, an air conditioner, and a first power transmitting means that performs power transmission among a crank shaft of the engine, a rotating shaft of the electric motor-generator, and rotating shafts of the oil pump and the air conditioner are included. The first power transmitting means has: a crank pulley; a first electric motor-generator pulley; an oil pump pulley; an air conditioner pulley; a first belt that is wound around these pulleys; and a first one-way clutch that is interposed between the rotating shaft and the first electric motor-generator pulley so as to transmit a rotational driving force from the crank shaft to the rotating shaft without transmitting a rotational driving force from the rotating shaft to the crank shaft, and the electric motor-generator is motor driven while the engine is being driven.
US08221276B1
A hydraulic motor assembly having a motor, gear reduction set and axle disposed in a housing is disclosed. A brake assembly may be mounted externally to the axle housing portion of the assembly to provide braking for the output axle. The housing may be formed of separate components, including the axle housing portion, an external surface of a ring gear and a hydraulic motor port block.
US08221270B1
A combination sporting practice assembly includes a stem, a first structure, a second structure, and a basketball hoop. The stem extends between first and second ends. The first and second structures are releasably engaged with the first and second ends of the stem, respectively. The basketball hoop is releasably engaged with at least one of the stem, the first structure, and the second structure. The combination sporting practice assembly is selectively reconfigurable between different configurations.
US08221263B2
Golf club heads include: (a) a club head body having a ball striking face and defining a rear cavity; (b) a fluid-filled bladder in the cavity; and (c) a retaining member holding the fluid-filled bladder in the cavity. Other club heads include: (a) a club head body having a ball striking face and defining a rear cavity; and (b) an insert member in the rear cavity, wherein the insert member interior includes one or more chambers facing the rear surface of the ball striking face. The chamber(s) may cover at least 30% of a total surface area of the interior surface of the insert member and/or at least 30% of a total interior major surface area of the rear cavity. Golf clubs including these club heads and methods of making such golf clubs and golf club heads also are described.
US08221259B2
Golf club heads are releasably engaged with shafts so that the club heads and shafts can be readily interchanged and/or so that the shaft position with respect to the club head can be readily changed. Assemblies for connecting the club head and shaft may include: a shaft adapter, a shaft retainer, and a club head having an interior chamber. The club head and shaft may be changed by releasing the securing system and exchanging the original parts with different parts. Furthermore, the shaft may be bent or otherwise extend at an angle from the shaft adapter so as to allow adjustment of the shaft position with respect to the club head.
US08221256B2
A golf swing training system and method includes a golf club, a light connected to or incorporated in the golf club, and a graphical display upon which a light is projected when a golfer swings the club. The graphics include various markings that indicate foot position and that can be observed to generate the desired golf swing. The golfer moves the clubhead and then the light along a first line until the light reaches a point at the top of the golfer's backswing. As the golfer begins the downswing, a third line provides a visual indication of the orientation of the club shaft at a midpoint of the downswing, when the shaft is parallel to the ground, and then the golfer swings the clubhead to impact the ball on plane and square to the target line, and other markings indicate foot position.
US08221252B2
A bowling ball with an indicia is provided. A method for manufacturing such a bowling ball is also provided. The indicia may be preformed and attached to the core of the bowling ball before the outer layer of the bowling ball is created.
US08221250B2
A damper unit (1) composed of two parts (2, 3) which are connected to rotate with one another and between which an axially elastic element (7) is disposed. Such damper units are used particularly for axial damping and for compensating slight axial misalignments of shafts in drive trains. To improve such damper units, particularly with respect to their external diameters, the axially acting energy storage device is compressed by a rotational movement produced by threads upon axial loading of the two parts.
US08221249B2
A tripot universal joint includes a first rotatable shaft member having a first longitudinal axis and three longitudinal guide channels disposed parallel to the first longitudinal axis, each having two opposing concave side surfaces and a back surface. The joint also includes a rotatable second shaft member having a second longitudinal axis and comprising a spider having three radially extending trunnions equally, each of the trunnions having a convex outer surface disposed within an associated longitudinal guide channel. The joint further includes three rotatable rollers, each rotatably disposed on a convex outer surface of a respective trunnion, each roller having a convex outer surface that is configured for disposition within the concave side surfaces of the longitudinal guide channel with which it is associated for moveable engagement within the channel and an inner surface that is rotatably disposed on the convex surface of the trunnion.
US08221248B2
An overload protection mechanism includes a frame and a positioning assembly received in the frame. The frame includes at least one side plate, the at least one side plate defining a receiving depression. The positioning assembly includes a fixing sleeve, at least one elastic member received in the fixing sleeve, and at least one latching member positioned on the at least one elastic member and movably received in the receiving depression. The at least one side plate further defines a slanted repositioning surface adjoining the receiving depression. The positioning assembly is slidable relative to the frame with the at least one elastic member resisting the at least one latching member to press the at least one latching member along the slanted repositioning surface until the at least one latching member is received in the receiving depression.
US08221247B2
A transmission device includes a first transmission mechanism comprising a first rotatable member and a first transmission member fixed to the first rotatable member for rotating together with the first rotatable member; and a second transmission mechanism comprising a second rotatable member and a second transmission member fixed to the second rotatable member for rotating together with the second rotatable member. The second transmission member received in the first transmission member, and the second transmission member being magnetically connected with the first transmission member. When a load applied to the first transmission mechanism is less than a predetermined value of the first transmission mechanism, the first transmission member rotates together with the second transmission member by a magnetic force generated therebetween, which in turn makes the first transmission mechanism rotates with the second transmission mechanism together.
US08221240B2
A gaming apparatus is disclosed where the gaming apparatus may have a display unit that is capable of generating video images, an input device and a controller operatively coupled to the display unit and the input device where the controller may have a processor and a memory operatively coupled to said processor. The controller may be programmed to allow a person to insert an object into the input device, scan an image of the object, save the scan of the object to a memory, display the scan of the object, determine if the scan of the object is recognized, communicate to the player that the object is not recognized if the scan of the object is not recognized, allow the player to modify the scan of the object if the scan of the object is recognized, allow the player to approve the scan of the object if the scan of the object is recognized and store the scan of the object as approved by the player as an approved scan in a memory if the player approves the scan of the object.
US08221239B2
Techniques for authenticating gaming applications are presented. Authentication requests are periodically and regularly sent by a requestor to a gaming device for purposes of authenticating configurable portions of a gaming application. The gaming device generates results which are transmitted back to the requestor. The requestor compares the results against known results to determine if the configurable portions are authenticated or not authenticated.
US08221234B2
In a portable terminal device capable of downloading an application, a picture screen of the application is displayed on a display unit without starting the application. To this end, the picture screen of the application is registered as picture data during execution of the application and stored in an application picture area due to an operation of a user. Such a picture screen is read out of the application picture area to be displayed on the display unit. The displayed picture screen serves to confirm a content of the application.
US08221227B2
A betting apparatus for game includes a betting board, antennas and a control unit. The antennas are arranged to regions on the betting board and detect a gaming chip placed on the betting board. The control unit turns on or off an electric current to each of the antennas. When the control unit turns on an electric current to one antenna arranged to one region, the control unit shorts another antenna arranged to another region adjacent to the one region.
US08221226B2
A gaming system including a central server linked to a plurality of gaming machines. In one embodiment, the gaming system provides players with one or more loyalty incentives, such as one or more loyalty awards, utilizing one or more loyalty incentive award sequences. In one embodiment, the gaming system determines a loyalty award to provide to a player and then determines an appropriate loyalty award sequence to utilize to provide the player the determined loyalty award, wherein the loyalty award sequence is determined based on the individual gaming device that the player is currently playing.
