US08243660B2
Disclosed is a method and apparatus for transmitting an uplink scheduling request in a mobile communication system. A radio resource controlling node sets a priority for scheduling request retransmission, and cyclically notifies the priority in downlink. A terminal does not retransmit a scheduling request when the highest priority included in the scheduling request to be retransmitted is lower than the lowest priority for scheduling request retransmission. Alternatively, the radio resource controlling node sets scheduling request retransmission cycles (timers) according to priorities, and transmits the cycles in the downlink. The terminal does not retransmit a scheduling request before a cycle (timer) corresponding to the highest priority included in the scheduling request expires after the scheduling request is initially transmitted or retransmitted.
US08243657B2
Disclosed is the radio (wireless) communication system providing a radio communication service and the terminal, and more particularly, to a method of a downlink HARQ (Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest) operation of terminal that is not time-aligned with the base station in an Evolved Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (E-UMTS) evolved from the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) or a Long Term Evolution (LTE) system.
US08243652B2
A radio frame control apparatus for controlling a radio frame of an orthogonal frequency division multiple access system, having a placement information generation section generating first placement information including a radio resource amount assigned to each terminal station based on a received radio resource request, a pseudo placement information generation section generating pseudo placement information including a temporal radio resource amount assigned to pseudo communication, a radio resource assignment section generating second placement information by inserting the pseudo placement information into the first placement information.
US08243640B2
A WCDMA enabled user equipment device configured to have functions collectively or selectively idle to conserve power. A discontinuous receiver is used to detect and read network messages and report the messages to the computer within the WCDMA enabled user equipment device. The computer then activates functions previously powered down to receive incoming messages for the user of the device. The discontinuous receiver is also used when the device is active to read network messages, freeing a modem of the device to operate on user messaging; and therefore, enhancing user related performance.
US08243636B2
Embodiments of ihe disclosure are concerned with modification of messages en route to a destination. One such modification is the addition of third party material, such as advertisement data, to a message. A service located in the network receives the sender's message and decodes the indicated modification in order to decide how to modify the message. The message can include transmission data identifying one or more destinations and a message body identifying content thereof which is specified by a sending party. The service can select data on the basis of at least one parameter that is not directly related to the location of the sending party and the selected data are not directly related to the content of the message. The service can modify the message with the selected data. Thus, the decision as to the nature of the modification is unrelated to messages that are composed by the user.
US08243633B2
Parameters are defined for use on an interface (lub/lur) between network elements to enable configuration setup of an enhanced radio uplink (UL E-DCH). The basic Information Elements (IEs) are defined to support UL E-DCH functionality in the network on lub/lur. Particular parameters are shown for communication over the lub/lur interface between the RNCs and the Node Bs in order to be able to setup and re-configure the UL E-DCH channel. Flexibility is provided so as not to be restricted to any particular message or information element, but to be applicable to any selected message or messages in a given protocol.
US08243630B2
Systems and methods are described for implementing an application-level routing protocol for multiparty audio-video conferencing. In one implementation, application-level per-stream routing techniques separately control audio data and video data between conference members hosted on a network. Different audio application-level multicast (ALM) trees are generated by each member, are dynamically updated according to shortest-path-first selection of data delivery paths, and are used to send audio data to the other members of the videoconference. Likewise, different video ALM trees are generated by each member, are dynamically updated according to broadest-path-first selection of data delivery paths, and are used to send video data to the other members of the videoconference. Separate audio and video ALM trees for each member can utilize IP multicast in segments of the network in which IP multicast is enabled.
US08243628B2
A system and method for establishing a price for communicating over a communications network may include initiating a bandwidth occupancy query message to at least one network node along a traffic path to which a user is communicating. A highest bandwidth occupancy of the network nodes along the traffic path may be determined. A current price may be computed for a user communicating over the traffic path based on the highest bandwidth occupancy. The user may be notified of the current price for communicating over the traffic path, thereby enabling the user to adjust network usage.
US08243623B2
A tunneled direct link set-up (TDLS) capable wireless network may comprise a router such as an access point (AP) and a plurality of stations (STA) including service consumer and service provider station. A service consumer station may generate and send a layer-2 query frame to the plurality of stations. A service provider station may generate a layer-2 service frame in response to receiving the layer-2 query frame. The service consumer station may discover the service provider station and the services offered by the service provider station based on the layer-2 service frame. Also, the service consumer may discover the service provider station using layer-2 query frame and may discover the services offered by the service provider station using higher layer service discovery procedure.
US08243612B2
Techniques for enhancing throughput capacity and/or bandwidth distribution fairness among APs in a wireless network are described. Specifically, a channel frequency profile which includes a center frequency and channel-width (i.e., channel bandwidth) is dynamically assigned to each of one or more APs in a wireless network. The assigned channel frequency profile for each AP is based, at least in part, on the current composition of the wireless network including, its topology and traffic load distribution. In this regard, each AP's channel frequency profile can be continuously or periodically changed such that the entire available frequency spectrum is effectively utilized and/or interference between APs is avoided or limited. This, in turn, enhances the throughput capacity and/or bandwidth distribution fairness of the wireless network.
US08243591B2
A method of router interface level 2 redundancy, and router implementing the method, including one or more of the following: starting redundant ports that are members of a level 2 redundancy group (L2RG) in a DOWN state; determining that none of the redundant ports are in an ACTIVE state; switching a first one of the redundant ports to an ACTIVE state; activating an Internet protocol interface for the L2RG; inserting an Internet protocol route for an interface subnet in an FIB of a router that contains the redundant ports; binding the Internet protocol route for the interface to the first one of the redundant ports; transitioning the first one of the redundant ports to a DOWN state; transitioning the Internet protocol interface to the DOWN state from an UP state; and removing the Internet protocol route for the interface from the FIB of the router.
US08243581B2
A method of transmitting a control signal in wireless communication system includes generating a multiplexed control signal by multiplexing a first control signal and a second control signal, and transmitting the multiplexed control signal on a control channel. Overhead due to control signaling can be reduced by transmitting or receiving a multiplexed control signal through one channel.
US08243579B2
Embodiments according to the application relates to an OFDM (orthogonal frequency division multiplexing) receiving circuit and methods thereof configured to have a plurality of demodulation paths for an oversampling ADC, which can increase or improve an overall performance of the circuit.
US08243576B2
To determine the optimum amplitude of high frequency signal for the loaded disc with a simple configuration to achieve stable playing performance, there is provided an optical disc device comprising: a light source driven by a drive signal with a high frequency signal superimposed; a detector for detecting return light emitted from the light source; and a controller for controlling amplitude of the high frequency signal to be superimposed on the drive signal for the light source; the optical disc device being configured to read data on an optical disc loaded therein by a signal outputted from the detector, wherein the controller determines the amplitude of the high frequency signal to be superimposed on the drive signal based on asymmetry of the signal outputted from the detector.
US08243572B2
Proposed is a disk controller capable of notifying that a hard disk drive needs to be replaced even when the power of such hard disk drive is turned off. When a controller is to control the supply of electrical power to a disk in the respective disk units, the controller turns off a green LED and turns on a red LED when a disk in a disk group becomes a replacement target disk, turns off the power of the replacement target disk by opening a power switch corresponding to the respective replacement target disks, turns on the disk power source by closing the power switch when the replacement target disk is replaced with a new disk, and recognizes information concerning the new disk.
US08243568B2
An optical disc apparatus for recording or reproducing on or from an optical disc, comprising a laser light source for emitting a laser beam; a drive portion for driving the laser light source; a detection portion for detecting the emission power of the laser beam; and means for focusing the laser beam onto the optical disc, wherein information is reproduced by a reproducing power varied according to a recording power to obtain reproducing signals having necessary quality while suppressing deterioration of the recording quality due to the reproducing power.
US08243562B2
A method for recording a digital broadcast, and a digital broadcast recording using the method, includes: recording start location data of a plurality of programs recorded during a recording mode of the digital broadcast; and indicating start locations of the individual programs using the start location data during an edition mode of the recorded digital broadcast.
US08243558B2
A thermally assisted magnetic head includes a main magnetic pole for writing and a near-field light generator provided near the main magnetic pole, the near-field light generator having a non-magnetic base metal layer, a non-magnetic upper metal layer, an intermediate insulating layer interposed between the base metal layer and the upper metal layer, and the base metal layer having a V-shaped groove and also the upper metal layer having a projection facing the deepest part in the groove of the base metal layer, in a vertical cross-section parallel to a medium facing surface.
US08243555B2
Implementations are presented herein that include a time delay path.
US08243552B2
An ultrasound emission deratization device is described, comprising generation means (A, B, D) of a first ultrasound frequency (P1) and a second ultrasound frequency (P2) which are alternated, with a predetermined mean emission time for each of the two, and randomly variable time range pauses between a minimum and a maximum between one and the other.
US08243547B2
A method for identifying and suppressing water column reverberations (“multiple reflections”) in two-component ocean bottom seismic data is disclosed. The method involves processing the hydrophone (P) data and the geophone (Z) data separately to produce two stacked images of the subsurface (21). Analyzing the stacked P-image and the stacked Z-image together can be used to identify multiple reflections (22). Analyzing the stacked /′-image and the stacked Z-image together with an image of the subsurface created from hydrophone and geophone data combined in the usual way (PZ-image) (20) can be used to identify residual multiples in the PZ image (23). The stacked P and Z images can be combined using an existing PZ combination technique to suppress multiples (24). The efficiency of the PZ combination technique at suppressing multiples is increased because of the higher signal-to-noise ratio of stacked data.
US08243545B2
A card controller includes an arithmetic processing device. The controller writes data to a semiconductor memory having a first memory block and a second memory block each including a plurality of nonvolatile memory cells each configured to hold at least 2 bits, data in the first memory block and data in the second memory block being each erased at a time. The arithmetic processing device writes the data to the memory cells in the first memory block using an upper bit and a lower bit of the at least 2 bits and writes the data to the memory cells in the second memory block using only the lower bit of the at least 2 bits.
US08243539B2
When bit lines or sense amplifiers are checked whether they are defective during a test performed to check whether the bit lines are defectively open, an electrical current supplied from one sense amplifier is detected by another sense amplifier. Thus, if plural bit lines are defectively open, they can be detected simultaneously. Consequently, the test time can be shortened greatly.
US08243532B2
A structure and method for increasing the operating speed and reducing the overall programming time of a memory array are provided herein. The method and structure reduce the maximum write current consumption, for writing a plurality of data bits to a NVM array, by writing the data bits sharing an activated word line at different times (e.g., activating bit lines associated with an activated word line at different times). The write operation of respective data bits, which individually utilize only a fraction of the overall write window of the bits, are interleaved so that the maximum write current of respective bits are offset in time from the maximum write current of another bit, allowing a larger number of data bits to be written without exceeding system specifications (e.g., maximum current) and reducing overall memory write time.
US08243527B2
A non-volatile memory device includes a first metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) device coupled to a bit line and a word line and a second CMOS device coupled to the first CMOS device. The second CMOS device is also coupled to a complementary bit line and a complementary word line. The first and second CMOS devices are complementary to one another. An output node is coupled between the first CMOS device and the second CMOS device. A method of programming a non-volatile field programmable gate array (NV-FPGA) includes coupling an information handling system to the FPGA, performing a block erase of a plurality of memory cells in the FPGA, verifying that the block erase is successful, programming an upper page of the FPGA, verifying that the upper page programming is successful, programming a lower page of the FPGA and verifying that the lower page programming is successful.
US08243521B2
This disclosure concerns memory kink compensation. One method embodiment includes applying a number of sequentially incrementing programming pulses to a memory cell, with the sequential programming pulses incrementing by a first programming pulse step voltage magnitude. A seeding voltage is applied after applying the number of sequentially incrementing programming pulses. A next programming pulse is applied after applying the seeding voltage, with the next programming pulse being adjusted relative to a preceding one of the sequentially incrementing programming pulses by a second programming pulse step voltage magnitude. The second programming pulse step voltage magnitude can be less than the first programming pulse step voltage magnitude.
US08243515B2
A read compensation circuit is provided. The read compensation circuit corrects a read error occurring in an erased cell based on a pattern of programmed cells adjacent to the erased cell. The read compensation circuit also transmit program state information of a memory cell stored in a page buffer to another page buffer through a bit line, thereby allowing page buffers to easily detect and correct errors occurring in memory cells.
US08243513B2
Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods, devices, modules, and systems for non-volatile multilevel memory cell data retrieval with data read of reference cells. One method includes programming at least one data cell of a number of data cells coupled to a selected word line to a target data threshold voltage (Vt) level corresponding to a target state; programming at least one reference cell of a number of reference cells coupled to the selected word line to a target reference Vt level, the number of reference cells interleaved with the number of data cells; determining a reference state based on a data read of the at least one reference cell; and changing a state read from the at least one data cell based on a change of the at least one reference cell.
US08243507B2
Programmable via devices and methods for the fabrication thereof are provided. In one aspect, a programmable via device is provided. The programmable via device comprises a first dielectric layer; at least one isolation layer over the first dielectric layer; a heater within the isolation layer; a capping layer over a side of the isolation layer opposite the first dielectric layer; at least one programmable via extending through the capping layer and at least a portion of the isolation layer and in contact with the heater, the programmable via comprising at least one phase change material; a conductive cap over the programmable via; a second dielectric layer over a side of the capping layer opposite the isolation layer; a first conductive via and a second conductive via, each extending through the second dielectric layer, the capping layer and at least a portion of the isolation layer and in contact with the heater; and a third conductive via extending through the second dielectric layer and in contact with the conductive cap.
US08243506B2
Methods, devices, and systems associated with phase change memory structures are described herein. One method of forming a phase change memory structure includes forming an insulator material on a first conductive element and on a dielectric material of a phase change memory cell, forming a heater self-aligned with the first conductive element, forming a phase change material on the heater and at least a portion of the insulator material formed on the dielectric material, and forming a second conductive element of the phase change memory cell on the phase change material.
US08243496B2
A resistive memory device operates to sequentially activate bit lines, which are divided into plural groups, after precharging all of word and bit lines in a writing operation. The device is able to write a large amount of data therein at a high frequency, with a reduced the chip size.
US08243492B2
Embodiments relate to a manufacturing method of a one time programmable (OTP) memory device including: forming a common source in a linear configuration on a semiconductor substrate; forming a gate dielectric layer on the semiconductor substrate at both sides of the source; forming a gate over the gate dielectric layer; forming a spacer between the gates and at both side walls of the gate; and forming a drain on the semiconductor substrate at both sides of the spacer. With embodiments, the OTP memory device can be formed together with the logic part using the logic process and can increase the storage capacity of the OTP memory device by improving density of memory arrays.
US08243490B2
Disclosed herein are memory devices and related methods and techniques. A cell in the memory device may be associated with an intervening transistor, the intervening transistor being configured to isolate the cell from adjacent cells under a first operating condition and to provide a current to a bit line associated with the cell under a second operating condition.
US08243488B2
The present invention provides a novel wiring method for LR-DIMM of VLP type that conforms to LR-DIMM technology. The LR-DIMM comprises a plurality of DRAMs mounted on a board, two connectors mounted on the board for receiving data, and a buffer device mounted on the board for redriving data applied to the two connectors to supply the data to the plurality of DRAMs. The buffer device is located near the center of the board on which the two connectors are arranged at both ends thereof, and supplies data from each connector to DRAMs arranged on the opposite side to the connector.
US08243478B2
An example power converter includes an energy transfer element, a switch, a controller, and a current offset circuit. The controller switches the switch between an ON state and an OFF state to regulate the output of the power converter and is adapted to terminate the ON state of the switch in response to a switch current flowing through the switch reaching a switch current threshold. The current offset circuit is coupled to the input to be directly powered from an input voltage of the power supply. The current offset circuit generates an offset current to flow through the switch only during the ON state of the switch in response to a magnitude of the input voltage. The input current of the power converter is adjusted in response to the offset current.
US08243477B2
A controller that forces primary regulation is disclosed. An example controller includes a switched element to be coupled to a second winding of an energy transfer element of a power supply. A secondary control circuit is coupled to the switched element. The secondary control circuit is to be coupled across an output of the second winding to switch the switched element in response to a difference between an actual output value at the output of the second winding and a desired output value to force a current in a third winding of the energy transfer element that is representative of the difference between the actual output value at the output of the second winding and the desired output value. A primary switch is to be coupled to a first winding of the energy transfer element. A primary control circuit is coupled to the primary switch. The primary control circuit is to be coupled to receive the current forced in the third winding of the energy transfer element in response to the secondary control circuit. The primary control circuit is coupled to switch the primary switch to regulate an output of the power supply coupled to the output of the second winding in response to the forced current.
US08243476B2
A half-bridge circuit in accordance with an embodiment of the present application includes an input voltage terminal operable to receive an input voltage, a first bi-directional switch, a second bi-directional switch connected in series with the first bi-directional switch, wherein the first and second bi-directional switches are connected to the input voltage terminal such that the input voltage is provided across the first and second bi-directional switches and a controller operable to turn the first and second bi-directional switches ON and OFF such that a desired voltage is provided at an midpoint node positioned between the first bi-directional switch and the second bi-directional switch. The first bi-directional switch and the second bi-directional switch are high electron mobility transistors structured to allow for conduction in two directions when ON and to prevent conduction in any direction when OFF.
US08243475B2
Provided is a resonance converting apparatus. The resonance converting apparatus preferably includes a resonant circuit, a bridge-type converter, and a synchronous rectification circuit. In which the resonant circuit has a transformer. The bridge-type converter connects with a primary side of the transformer, and operates open or close according to a switching signal. The synchronous rectification circuit further includes a pair of rectification transistors and driving circuits. The driving circuits correspondingly connect with channels to the rectification transistors, and respectively examine the current passing through the rectification transistors. A sensing signal is then generated. In accordance with the switching signal and the sensing signal, a driving signal is generated for driving the rectification transistor. Consequently the apparatus can raise the efficiency of the resonance converting apparatus.
US08243469B2
An input/output cable port assembly and electromagnetic interference (EMI) attenuation method are provided. The port assembly includes a cable port structure for an electronics rack with an opening for input/output cables to pass therethrough, and a first and a second partition. The first and second partitions couple to the cable port structure and reside within the opening. The first partition includes at least one ferrite inductor portion and the second partition includes at least one second ferrite inductor portion. The partitions are configured to be disposed adjacent to each other as adjoining partitions within the cable port structure, and when disposed as adjoining partitions, the first and second ferrite inductor portions mate and define a ferrite inductor with a central opening for input/output cable(s) of the electronics rack to pass. The ferrite inductor attenuates electromagnetic interference resulting from transient or steady state currents on the cable(s) passing therethrough.
US08243464B2
Disclosed is a printed circuit board structure which is manufactured by providing a core board, forming an inner circuit layer on the core board surface, forming a bonding pad on the inner circuit, forming a ring-shaped anti-etching layer on the bonding pad, forming an anti-soldering insulation layer on the ring-shaped anti-etching layer and the bonding pad, and forming an opening to expose a part of the bonding pad, wherein the radius of the opening is shorter than the radius of the ring-shaped anti-etching layer, and the bonding pad surface is free of concave. The described structure may prevent the solder extending along the bottom void of the anti-soldering insulation layer to other regions.
US08243463B2
A capacitor module in which the structure of a connecting portion is highly resistant against vibration and has a low inductance. The capacitor module includes a plurality of capacitors and a laminate made up of a first wide conductor and a second wide conductor joined in a layered form with an insulation sheet interposed between the first and second wide conductors. The laminate comprises a first flat portion including the plurality of capacitors which are supported thereon and electrically connected thereto, a second flat portion continuously extending from the first flat portion while being bent, and connecting portions formed at ends of the first flat portion and the second flat portion and electrically connected to the exterior.
US08243454B2
In an electronic control unit, a semiconductor device that is installed to a circuit board includes a semiconductor chip, multiple leads and a resin body. The semiconductor chip is electrically connected to the circuit board through the leads and is molded in the resin body. A case receives the semiconductor device. A heat releasing gel contacts the semiconductor device, and conducts heat generated from the semiconductor device to a first cover of the case located on one side of the semiconductor device, which is opposite from the circuit board. A groove portion as a movement limiting means is placed at a location between the circuit board and the first cover. Therefore, movement of the heat releasing gel is limited, and heat can be released to a side of the case through the heat releasing gel with high efficiency.
US08243451B2
A cooling member for withdrawing heat from a heat containing device is disclosed. The cooling member can have a housing with a fluid inlet, a fluid outlet and a plurality of irregular-shaped fins located at least partially therewithin. In addition, a plurality of irregular-shaped and hierarchical branched fluid pathways can be located between the plurality of fins and the housing and/or the plurality of fins can be in physical contact with the heat containing device.
US08243449B2
A heat-transporting device includes a working fluid, a vessel, a vapor-phase flow path, and a liquid-phase flow path. The working fluid transports heat using a phase change. The vessel seals in the working fluid. The vapor-phase flow path includes a first mesh member and causes the working fluid in a vapor phase to circulate inside the vessel, the first mesh member including a through-hole larger than a mesh thereof. The liquid-phase flow path causes the working fluid in a liquid phase to circulate inside the vessel.
US08243444B2
Electronic equipment includes a protruding member on a bottom surface of a first housing. Thus, when a user holds a notebook PC with one hand, a palm is brought into contact with the protruding member, whereby the hand is less likely to shift relative to the first housing. Consequently, the notebook PC can be held in a stable position. Further, the protruding member is attachable/detachable with respect to the first housing. Thus, it is possible to place the electronic equipment on a planar surface such as a desk surface in a stable position by removing the protruding member.
US08243442B2
An integrated switch assembly is described, the integrated switch assembly including at least an actuator and a flexible membrane mechanically coupled to the actuator, the flexible membrane formed of a resilient, electrically conductive material. In the described embodiment, the flexible membrane is held at a first electrical potential. The integrated switch assembly also includes at least an electrical contact at a second electrical potential connected to an electrical circuit. The integrated switch assembly is engaged when the actuator applies a mechanical force to the flexible membrane causing the flexible membrane to deflect to a point of contact with the electrical contact causing the electrical potential of the electrical contact to change from the second potential to the first potential. The electrical circuit detects the change in potential of the electrical contact as a signal.
US08243435B2
A retaining apparatus includes a tray and a retaining member. The tray is used for receiving at least one data storage device. The retaining device includes a base member, a retaining member, an arm member and a locking member. The base member is attached to the tray. The retaining member is movably attached to the base member along a first direction. The retaining member includes an engaging portion, a retaining portion and a latch. The arm member is pivotably attached to the base member about a pivot axis, and the pivot axis is located at a first end of the arm member. The locking member is slidably attached to the arm member. The arm member includes a latching portion.
US08243434B2
An electronic device enclosure includes a chassis, a drive bracket, and an air duct. The drive bracket is secured to the chassis and defines a subspace for receiving a disk drive. The air duct is rotatably secured to the drive bracket, and rotatable between a first position, where the subspace is exposed, and a second position, where the subspace is covered by the air duct.
US08243432B2
An exemplary support mechanism for a portable electronic device includes a seat, a button, a support member, and a hinge assembly. The seat defines a cavity. The button is received in the cavity. The support member includes a knuckle portion. The knuckle portion is received in the cavity. The button abuts against the support member. The hinge assembly connects the knuckle portion to the seat. When the button is pressed to force the hinge assembly to unlock, the hinge assembly drives the support member to rotate.
US08243422B2
A subunit is provided for a motor control center including an enclosure, a number of compartments, a plurality of power lines, and a number of covers for covering the compartments. The subunit includes a housing removably disposed within a corresponding one of the compartments, a plurality of electrical contacts movably coupled to the housing, and an actuating assembly for moving the electrical contacts into and out of electrical contact with the power lines. The subunit further includes at least one of a locking assembly, a panel assembly, and a secondary disconnect assembly. The locking assembly locks the position of the electrical contacts and restricts access to the actuating assembly. The panel assembly is pivotable and translatable with respect to the subunit housing. The secondary disconnect assembly is independent from the actuating assembly in order that movement of the electrical contacts does not move the secondary disconnect assembly.
US08243420B2
A porous conducting metal oxide electrode prepared by depositing a porous conducting metal oxide film containing a conducting metal oxide film layer having a network structure of nanofibers, containing nanograins or nanoparticles, on at least one surface of a current collector, and a conducting metal oxide coating layer on the network layer of the porous conducting metal oxide through a constant current method or a cyclic voltammetric method; and a high-speed charge/discharge and ultrahigh-capacity supercapacitor using the porous conducting metal oxide electrode are provided.
US08243408B2
Provided is an apparatus and method for preventing reverse power flow of an over current relay. When a neutral line current is greater than a phase current, it is determined that a reverse power flow occurs, and thus a protection relay is prevented from malfunctioning. The apparatus for preventing reverse power flow of an over current relay includes: a detecting unit which detects a phase current and a neutral line current; a reverse power flow determining unit which is electrically connected to the detecting unit and compares the phase current and the neutral line current which are detected by the detecting unit to determine whether or not a reverse power flow occurs; a setting unit which is electrically connected to the reverse power flow determining unit and sets an operation time and the number of operation times of a protection relay; and an operation unit which is electrically connected to the setting unit and operates the protection relay in a manner set by the setting unit.
US08243407B2
A semiconductor switch control device includes a current detecting unit that detects a current that flows in a semiconductor switch, a voltage detecting unit that detects a voltage, and a temperature detecting unit that detects a temperature. A transient thermal resistance value providing unit provides a transient thermal resistance value Zth in accordance with an elapsed time from reception of an excess voltage signal to a computing unit. A temperature detecting unit detects an initial temperature TJ0 when an excess voltage is produced. The computing unit calculates a temperature of the semiconductor switch by a following expression when a detected current value is represented by Ids, and a detected voltage value is represented by Vds: (expression): temperature of the semiconductor switch TJ=Ids×Vds×Zth+TJ0.
US08243404B2
An ESD protection circuit has a merged triggering mechanism. The ESD protection circuit comprises: an ESD detection circuit, for detecting an ESD voltage to generate a control signal; a first type ESD protection device, for outputting a first trigger current; a second type ESD protection device, for receiving a second trigger current; and a trigger circuit, for constituting a conductive path according to the control signal, such that the trigger circuit can receive the first trigger current from the first type ESD protection device and outputs the second trigger current to the second type ESD protection device.
US08243400B2
A magnetoresistive effect element includes a first ferromagnetic layer, Cr layer, Heusler alloy layer, barrier layer, and second ferromagnetic layer. The first ferromagnetic layer has the body-centered cubic lattice structure. The Cr layer is formed on the first ferromagnetic layer and has the body-centered cubic lattice structure. The Heusler alloy layer is formed on the Cr layer. The barrier layer is formed on the Heusler alloy layer. The second ferromagnetic layer is formed on the barrier layer.
US08243382B2
A method of generating a position error signal for a desired radial position of a read/write head relative to a data track of a disk is disclosed. The track has a plurality of servo bursts defining a plurality of servo nulls for the track, and are positioned such that they are at more than four different radial positions relative to the track, and define a predetermined locus having a known position relationship with the track. The method comprises determining a target null position on the null locus corresponding to the radial position of the head relative to the track; detecting the position of the servo null with the head; determining from the detected servo null position the position error of the head relative to the target null position; and, generating a position error signal.
US08243364B2
A reflective optical element and an EUV lithography appliance containing one such element are provided, the appliance displaying a low propensity to contamination. The reflective optical element has a protective layer system includes at least two layers. The optical characteristics of the protective layer system are between those of a spacer and an absorber, or correspond to those of a spacer. The selection of a material with the smallest possible imaginary part and a real part which is as close to 1 as possible in terms of the refractive index leads to a plateau-type reflectivity course according to the thickness of the protective layer system between two thicknesses d1 and d2. The thickness of the protective layer system is selected in such a way that it is less than d2.
US08243362B2
This invention relates generally to the field of quasicrystalline structures. In preferred embodiments, the structure is heterostructure comprising dielectric materials arranged in two-dimensional space such that the overall structure is more rotationally symmetric than periodic structures. Symmetry may be five-fold or greater than six-fold. Such higher rotational symmetries provide stopgaps in nearly all directions. More particularly, the invention relates to the use of quasicrystalline structures for optical, mechanical, electrical and magnetic purposes. In some embodiments, the invention relates to manipulating, controlling, modulating and directing waves including electromagnetic, sound, spin, and surface waves, for a pre-selected range of wavelengths propagating in multiple directions.
US08243361B2
An electrophoretic display apparatus and a method of manufacturing the same are provided. The electrophoretic display apparatus includes a driving substrate, an electrophoretic display panel disposed on the driving substrate, a controller disposed on the driving substrate, and a conductive element. The electrophoretic display panel comprises a peripheral region and a display region, and the display region is positioned between the controller and the peripheral region. The first conductive element is disposed in the peripheral region, and electrically connected the controller and the electrophoretic display panel.
US08243360B2
A system and method for an optical component that masks non-active portions of a display and provides an electrical path for one or more display circuits. In one embodiment an optical device includes a substrate, a plurality of optical elements on the substrate, each optical element having an optical characteristic which changes in response to a voltage applied to the optical element, and a light-absorbing, electrically-conductive optical mask disposed on the substrate and offset from the plurality of optical elements, the optical mask electrically coupled to one or more of the optical elements to provide electrical paths for applying voltages to the optical elements. In another embodiment, a method of providing an electrical signal to optical elements of a display comprises electrically coupling an electrically-conductive light-absorbing mask to one or more optical elements, and applying a voltage to the mask to activate the one or more optical elements.
US08243352B2
An image processing apparatus includes an image input unit configured to input image data, a calculation unit configured to calculate an application amount of a recording material to form an image on a recording paper according to the input image data, a conversion characteristics creation unit configured to create composite conversion characteristics based on gradation-prioritized conversion characteristics and tint-prioritized conversion characteristics according to the application amount, and a conversion unit configured to convert the image data according to the created conversion characteristics.
US08243346B2
A recording medium includes lenticules and a guided portion guided by a guide portion which is provided in a supporter for supporting the recording medium provided on a recording apparatus carrying out a recording on the recording medium, so that the recording medium is guided in a predetermined conveying direction.
US08243342B2
An image processing device includes a processing section, a load section, an operating section, and a display unit. The processing section performs processing upon sheets of a recording medium. The operating section includes input keys which receive input operation for controlling the processing section, and is disposed over the load section. The display unit displays information corresponding to input operation from the operating section. And the operating section can be freely shifted between a pulled out position in which its input keys are exposed to the exterior, and a storage position in which it is stored internally, and, in the storage position, is disposed below the display unit.
US08243339B2
A multifunction apparatus includes an image recording unit that records an image on a recording medium; and an image reading unit that can read an image from an original placed on an original placement surface. The image reading unit is configured to move into a plurality of positions in relation to the image recording unit, and to read an image from the original placed on the original placement surface in the plurality of positions.
US08243335B2
The present invention relates to a device that, in printing of controlling the amount of color materials applied, changes a screen ruling for image formation according to the relationship between luminance and saturation. A first component obtains color component data of a plurality of colors so that the total amount of controlled variable in each pixel does not exceed a first limit amount. A second component obtains color component data of a plurality of colors so that the total amount of controlled variable in each pixel does not exceed a second limit amount by performing color conversion processing different from the color conversion processing with the first component. A third component performs pseudo halftone processing by changing a screen ruling to be applied to the color component data of a plurality of colors obtained by the color conversion processing with the second component from chromaticity of color image data.
US08243329B2
A printing control device that specifies to a printing apparatus a coloring material volume set which is a combination of usage amounts of coloring materials when the printing apparatus executes printing by depositing a plurality of coloring materials onto a recording medium, including: a print data acquisition unit that acquires print data of pixels having an information area for storing an index associated with the coloring material volume set; a color conversion unit that acquires the coloring material volume set corresponding to the index stored in the pixel; and a printing control unit that executes printing by specifying to the printing apparatus the coloring material volume set acquired by the color conversion unit.
US08243324B2
When a user sets, from a user interface window using a bookbinding application, instructions of dividing a document into a plurality of parts and stapling each part of the document, a printer driver generates one job in which the staple attribute of a binder corresponding to each part is set to “ON” or “OFF”, and issues the job for a printer. With this operation, the user can perform staple designation to an arbitrary part of the document, and can realize a plurality of staple processes in one print job.
US08243312B2
A network synchronizing system includes plural apparatuses. A first apparatus includes a first recording unit to record personal data of one or more users who can use the first apparatus to share the personal data with other apparatuses. A second apparatus includes a first setting unit to record personal data of one or more users who can use the second apparatus; and a first control unit to compare the personal data recorded in the first setting unit and the first recording unit and update the personal data recorded in the first setting unit of the second apparatus with the latest personal data for each user. The first control unit determines that users are the same user when data uniquely provided for the users in the personal data recorded in the first setting unit and the first recording unit are the same.
US08243310B2
An image forming device, which is configured to receive print data from a client via a network and process the print data, includes a print request receiving unit configured to receive a print request transmitted by the client with a protocol through a port of the image forming device, a protocol specifying unit configured to specify a kind of the protocol used in the transmission of the print request, a destination information creating unit configured to create destination information representing a destination to which the print data are to be sent, based on the protocol of the kind specified by the protocol specifying unit, and a destination information sending unit configured to send the destination information to the client with the protocol of the specified kind.
US08243309B2
When a storage medium is connected to an MFP, it is determined whether or not the connected storage medium stores data. If it is determined that the storage medium does not store any data for printing, a setting dialog of scanning processing of an original using a scanner is automatically displayed, and the scanning processing of an original is started so as to store the image data corresponding to the original into the storage medium.
US08243303B2
An image forming system includes an image forming apparatus and a mobile terminal. The image forming apparatus includes: a two-dimensional code output unit for outputting a two-dimensional code into which address information of the image forming apparatus is converted; and a job execution unit for executing a job transmitted from the mobile terminal that has accessed the image forming apparatus based on address information into which the two-dimensional code obtained by photographing an image of the two-dimensional code outputted from the image forming apparatus by the mobile terminal is inversely converted. The mobile terminal includes: a photographing unit for photographing an image of the two-dimensional code; an inverse converter for inversely converting the photographed two-dimensional code into address information; and a communication unit for accessing an address of the image forming apparatus, which address is obtained through the inverse conversion, to transmit a job.
US08243301B2
An image forming apparatus performs a user authentication process and performs a private print process according to a request from an authenticated user. When the user requests interruption of the private print which is now performed or it is detected that the user has left a place near the image forming apparatus while the private print is being performed, the image forming apparatus interrupts the private print which is now performed and stores a print state at the interruption time. Further, the image forming apparatus performs a user authentication process and re-starts the private print which is interrupted in response to a re-start request from the authenticated user.
US08243297B2
An information processing apparatus, etc., are disclosed. The information processing apparatus includes: first rule storage means for storing a first conflict processing rule determined in accordance with a dependency relation held between two or more settings of the function of the print processing related program; second rule storage means for storing a second conflict processing rule determined in accordance with a dependency relation held between settings of the function of the print processing related program and the additional function and; and setting adjustment means for reading the first conflict processing rule and the second conflict processing rule from the first rule storage means and the second rule storage means, and for performing setting adjustment processing such that inconsistencies do not arise between any of two settings of the print processing related program function and the additional function based on the first conflict processing rule and the second conflict processing rule which have been read.
US08243295B2
An image processing application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) is capable of receiving a plurality of image data signals having different formats. The image processing ASIC includes a data-format selecting unit that determines a format of each of the image data signals and selects, based on the signal format, one image data signal from among the image data signals.
US08243291B2
The image forming apparatus includes: a recording head which has a plurality of recording elements; an intermediate transfer medium on which an image is recorded temporarily by the recording head while the intermediate transfer medium implements relative movement with respect to the recording head; an image defect determination device which is disposed on a downstream side of the recording head in terms of a direction of the relative movement of the intermediate transfer medium and which determines whether the image recorded on the intermediate transfer medium includes an image defect or not; a transfer device which is disposed on a downstream side of the image defect determination device in terms of the direction of the relative movement of the intermediate transfer medium and which transfers the image recorded on the intermediate transfer medium, to a recording medium; and an image correction device which creates correction data according to information about the image defect if the image defect determination device determines that the image recorded on the intermediate transfer medium includes the image defect, wherein, if the image defect determination device determines that the image recorded on the intermediate transfer medium includes the image defect, an image based on the correction data is recorded on the intermediate transfer medium by the recording head.
US08243287B2
A projector includes a determination section, an amplification section, an identification section and a calculation section. The determination section specifies a reflection position of a reflected light received by a light receiving sensor based on a horizontal synchronizing signal and a pixel clock signal of an image signal, and determines an amplification quantity of the intensity of a reflected light reflected at the specified reflection position to be received by the light receiving sensor. The amplification section amplifies the intensity of the reflected light received by the light receiving sensor by the determined amplification quantity. The identification section identifies an external obstacle when the intensity of the amplified reflected light exceeds a predetermined threshold value. The calculation section calculates the position information of the external obstacle based on the timing of identifying the external obstacle, the horizontal synchronizing signal, and the pixel clock signal of the image signal.
US08243284B2
A method for measuring the roundness profiles moved forward in longitudinal direction inside a rolling mill, using two laser scanners, respectively provided with a light-sensitive sensor and a laser. At least three shadow edges that fit against the round profile to be measured and enclose the round profile to form a polygon are generated and measured and the corresponding tangents are computed. The method includes: a) determining a center (Z0) in the measuring field prior to the measuring operation; b) determining perpendicular lines from the center (Z0) to the tangents and measuring the distance from the center (Z0) to the tangents; c) determining a contour by computing the corner points of the polygon enclosing the round profile; d) positioning a reference circle relative to the contour so that: i) the square shape deviation of the contour relative to this reference circle reaches a minimum; ii) the reference circle represents the smallest possible circle that can fit around the contour, iii) the reference circle represents the largest possible circle that can fit inside the contour; or iv) the reference circle together with a different circle, arranged concentric to the reference circle, encloses the contour with a minimum radial difference; e) computing the diameter (Dref) of the reference circle and determining from the position in space of the reference center (Zp), which represents the center point of the reference circle, and f) computing at least two vectors extending from the reference center (Zp) to the contour and determining the out-of-roundness from the obtained data.
US08243283B2
A method of optically imaging an object includes the determination of a source point and a destination point within the object. Planar boundaries are selected that approximate a geometrical shape of the object, and virtual sources are found using a reflection of the original source through the boundaries. Subsequent reflections of the added sources may be used to find higher order sources. Contributions to an optical transfer function from each of the added sources are added to determine a cumulative optical transfer function until a convergence limit is reached. The resulting optical transfer function is more accurate than the original in that it takes boundary phenomena into consideration.
US08243273B2
A semiconductor wafer may include a dummy field configured to enable overlay measurements. The enhanced dummy field may include a plurality of encoding blocs that enable OVL measurements to be made throughout the enhanced dummy field.
US08243268B2
In a method of obtaining an optical constant of each the films of a film-stacked structure formed on a substrate, a basic process obtains an optical constant of each of the films by successively providing the films one by one as a target film from bottom to top and obtaining an optical constant of the target film by using a previously obtained optical constant of a below-located film that is located below the target film and a re-obtaining process re-obtains the optical constant of each of the films by correcting the previously obtained optical constant of the below-located film and the optical constant of the target film obtained in the basic process.
US08243262B2
A device and a method for supporting an optical component (240) of an optical evaluation system, the device includes: (a) a supporting element (220) that includes a sloped portion (222); (b) at least one movement control component (210) that is coupled to the sloped portion; and (c) a movable element (230), adapted to move along the at least one movement control component; wherein the movable element is adapted to support the optical component; wherein when the movable element supports the optical component a center Of gravity of a combination of the movable element and the optical component is positioned above, the sloped portion or in proximity to the sloped portion.
US08243243B2
An embodiment of the invention provides a display device having a common electrode and pixel electrodes disposed in an insulating state on one of a pair of substrates between which a liquid crystal layer is held, in which each of the pixel electrodes includes a plurality of electrode portions disposed in parallel with one another, each of the electrode portions has a flat surface shape in which each of the electrode portions is bent approximately at a central portion in an extension direction, and each of the pixel electrodes also includes a bridge portion through which corresponding ones of the electrode portions are connected to one another in the bending portion.
US08243228B2
The backlight unit 12 includes cold cathode tubes 18, a chassis 14, inverter boards 20, relay connectors 21, and covers 22. The chassis 14 houses the cold cathode tubes 18. The inverter boards 20 are arranged on a side of the chassis 14 opposite from the cold cathode tubes 19. The inverter boards 20 are configured to supply drive power to the cold cathode tubes 18. The relay connectors 21 are mounted to the chassis 14 such that the inverter boards 20 are connected thereto so as to be removal therefrom in one of the directions along a board surface of the inverter board 20. The relay connectors 21 are configured to relay power from the inverter boards 20 to the cold cathode tubes 18. The covers 22 are made of material having a lower strength than the chassis 14 and arranged between the chassis 14 and the inverter boards 20. The chassis 14 has receiving portions 35 that project toward the inverter boards 20 and receive the inverter boards 20. The covers 22 have spacer portions 38 between the receiving portions 35 and the inverter boards 20.
US08243222B2
A method of manufacturing an array substrate for a liquid crystal display device includes forming a gate electrode and a gate line on a substrate through a first mask process, forming a first insulating layer, an active layer, an ohmic contact layer, a buffer metallic layer, and a data line on the substrate including the gate electrode and the gate line through a second mask process, and forming a source electrode, a drain electrode, and a pixel electrode through a third mask process, the pixel electrode extending from the drain electrode, wherein the active layer is disposed over and within the gate electrode.
US08243219B2
Each pixel of an LCD display includes a main pixel, a sub-pixel, a resistor, and a third switch. The third switch is used for controlling the charging time of the main pixel and the sub-pixel. A data signal of a main pixel of a previous pixel is utilized to pre-charge the main pixel and the sub-pixel, and then data is transmitted to the sub-pixel and the main pixel. When data transmission to the sub-pixel is ended, the data transmission path to the sub-pixel is switched off, and the data keeps being transmitted only to the main pixel. The LCD panel utilizing this method only needs to add one gate line at each of the top and bottom of the panel to realize the AMVA structure of 8-domain for the LCD panel.
US08243218B2
An LCD device and a method for manufacturing the same are disclosed, in which a width of a gate line is decreased by forming a storage capacitor of a high capacitance with a small area, and by improving an aperture ratio, thereby obtaining high picture quality.
US08243201B2
The invention relates to a method and module for regulating saturation degree. In this method, a curvature of a special function in all position is regulated by a saturation parameter to obtain a regulated function. A color input signal is assigned as an independent variable of the regulated function to calculate a color output signal corresponding to the color input signal.
US08243185B2
A lens includes an optical portion and a mounting portion. The optical portion refracts a first portion of light from an object incident on the optical portion to form an image of the object. The mounting portion surrounds the optical portion. The mounting portion includes at least one light dispersing surface dispersing a second portion of light from the object light incident thereon. A lens module and camera module utilizing the lens are further disclosed.
US08243180B2
An imaging apparatus has an optical system that forms an optical image of a subject field and can vary a magnification of the optical image; an imaging section that converts the optical image formed by the optical system, into an electrical image signal; a display section that displays an image taken by the imaging section; a subject detecting section that detects a main subject in the image taken by the imaging section; a framing controlling section that controls framing based on information about a position of the main subject detected in the subject detecting section; a controlling section that selectively executes one of a first framing support mode that presents on the display section a display that supports the framing based on the information about the position of the main subject detected in the subject detecting section, and a second framing support mode that operates the framing controlling section based on the information about the position of the main subject detected in the subject detecting section; and a switching section that switches between the first framing support mode and the second framing support mode.
US08243176B2
A solid-state image sensor includes: a semiconductor substrate 22; a plurality of pixels 23 arranged on the semiconductor substrate 22 and respectively including photoelectric conversion regions 24; and an isolation region 25 electrically isolating the pixels 23 from one another. The first pixel 31 includes a first photoelectric conversion region 32 and a first color filter 41 having a peak of its optical transmission in a first wavelength range. The second pixel 34 adjacent to the first pixel 31 includes a second photoelectric conversion region 35 and a second color filter 42 having peaks in its optical transmission in the first wavelength range and a second wavelength range including shorter wavelengths than the first wavelength range. A portion 33 of a deep portion of the first photoelectric conversion region 32 extends across the isolation region 25 to reach a portion under the second photoelectric conversion region 35.
US08243172B2
An SSG circuit section is composed of: a memory storing correction information for correcting a transmission characteristic of an image pickup signal in a transmission path; a readout circuit for reading out the correction information stored in the memory; and an SSG for generating a drive signal to be outputted from a driving circuit and a sampling pulse to be used in a CDS circuit, and for specifying an amplification factor of an amplifier circuit.
US08243167B2
An image sensor having an output of an integral image is provided. The image sensor includes a pixel circuit, a line accumulator, and a volume accumulator. The pixel circuit includes a plurality of pixels for capturing pixel values of the pixels. The line accumulator is used for accumulating the pixel values of the pixels from a first pixel to a target pixel in a target pixel line of the image so as to obtain an accumulated line pixel value. The volume accumulator is used for adding the accumulated line pixel value output by the line accumulator to an integral pixel value of the pixel corresponding to the target pixel in a previous pixel line of the target pixel line, and using an adding result as the integral pixel value of the target pixel, so as to output the integral pixel value of the target pixel to form an integral image.
US08243166B2
Methods and apparatus for detecting a blockage in the field-of-view of a camera in an image capture system by monitoring changes in the quality of images captured by the camera. As an image is acquired by the camera, intensity values for pixels in the acquired image are determined and stored in a data structure in memory of the camera. Image statistics are calculated based in part on the intensity values for pixels in the currently acquired image and at least some previous images acquired by the camera. If the image statistics satisfy at least one predetermined alert criterion, an alert is triggered. In response to triggering an alert, an alert sensor included as part of the camera is activated to indicate to a user of the image capture system that a possible blockage in the field-of-view of the camera has been detected.
US08243165B2
A video camera includes an image sensor. The image sensor repeatedly outputs an object scene image produced on an imaging surface having a plurality of pixels lined up in a vertical direction. A driver repeatedly executes an exposing operation for exposing the imaging surface for each pixel lined up in a vertical direction. A CPU repeatedly detects a plurality of luminance values respectively corresponding to a plurality of flicker evaluation areas allocated to the imaging surface in a manner to be located at positions different from one another in a vertical direction, based on the object scene image outputted from the image sensor. Moreover, the CPU determines the presence or absence of a flicker based on the plurality of luminance values thus detected.
US08243163B2
Techniques, systems and apparatus are described for adjusting auto white balance (AWB). An AWB adjusting device includes a map setting unit to perform map-setting on a number of light-source boxes that is at least M times greater than a number of registers by performing map-switching. M is an integer greater than or equal to 2. The AWB adjusting device includes a pixel counting unit for counting a number of white pixels of a standard image contained in each light-source box with map-setting. The AWB adjusting device includes a light-source selection unit to select a light source based on a maximum light-source box selected from the number of light-source boxes having a greatest number of the white pixels. The AWB adjusting device includes a balance gain applying unit to calculate a red gain and a blue gain based on a mapping value of the maximum light-source box to adjust AWB.
US08243162B2
An image sensor system includes an image sensor that can be exposed with light from an illuminated scene to produce a secondary image, a meter sensor that can be exposed with light from the illuminated scene to produce a meter secondary image, and an image processor. The image processor can be configured to determine an average pixel color in the secondary image. The image processor can also be configured to determine a white balancing point in response to the secondary image average pixel color, the meter secondary image, meter calibration information for the meter sensor, and the image calibration information for the image sensor.
US08243160B2
An imaging and processing device includes: an optical element; a single imager with a color filter array of a plurality of colors attached thereto for outputting a value according to an amount of light which has been guided by the optical element and transmitted through the color filter array, thereby enabling to obtain separate images of the plurality of colors for every frame time point; a first adder section for adding together values, associated with a first color of the plurality of colors, of different images obtained over a plurality of frame time points; a second adder section for adding together a plurality of values, associated with a second color of the plurality of colors other than the first color, of an image captured at a single frame time point; and an image restoring section for restoring an image including a plurality of colors at each frame time point from an image based on the first color which has been subjected to the addition by the first adder section, and an image based on the second color which has been subjected to the addition by the second adder section.
US08243157B2
Digital images are computed using an approach for correcting lens aberration. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, a digital imaging arrangement implements microlenses to direct light to photosensors that detect the light and generate data corresponding to the detected light. The generated data is used to compute an output image, where each output image pixel value corresponds to a selective weighting and summation of a subset of the detected photosensor values. The weighting is a function of characteristics of the imaging arrangement. In some applications, the weighting reduces the contribution of data from photosensors that contribute higher amounts of optical aberration to the corresponding output image pixel.
US08243144B2
Aspects of the present invention include systems and methods for obtaining a light transport between a projector and a camera. In embodiments, the light transport between the projector and the camera is represented as a matrix and is obtained assuming that the projector displays on a surface that is planar or at least substantially planar. The light transport matrix is obtained by finding a homography between the projector and the camera. Using the homography to correlate camera and projector pixels and using color values in a captured solid color image, the light transport matrix can be obtained. In embodiments, at least an approximation of an inverse light transport matrix can also be computed, which is useful for many applications, such as inferring unknown projector images.
US08243143B2
This invention provides a parameter for use in assessing video quality based on temporal frame freezing for use in an apparatus and method for perceptual video quality measurement. The invention provides a method of generating a freeze frame parameter relating to the perceptual impact of frozen frames in a video signal comprising the steps of: identifying frozen frames; identifying a freeze event comprising a plurality of consecutive frozen frames, the freeze event having a duration in dependence upon the number of frozen frames in said sequence; defining a set of duration ranges; and generating a freeze frame parameter in dependence upon the number of freeze events having a duration falling within each duration range. Methods and apparatus for perceptual video quality measurement using the method are also provided.
US08243142B2
A mobile object image tracking apparatus includes at least one unit rotating about at least one axis, a camera sensor photographing a mobile object to acquire image data, a unit detecting a tracking error as a tracking error detection value, a unit detecting an angle of the rotary unit, a unit estimating the tracking error as a tracking error estimation value, a unit selecting the tracking error detection value when the mobile object falls within the field of view, and selecting the tracking error estimation value when the mobile object falls outside the field of view, a unit computing an angular velocity instruction value used to drive the rotating unit to track the mobile object, a unit detecting an angular velocity of the rotary unit, and a unit controlling the rotating unit to make zero a difference between the angular velocity instruction value and the angular velocity.
US08243138B2
An display system of an image around a vehicle includes: a shooting element; a controller including a processor and a memory; and a display device. The shooting element includes a bracket fixed to the vehicle, a camera in the bracket, a protrusion of the camera and a contact position sensor of the protrusion. The memory stores retrieved region information about a retrieved region defined by a display coordinate system and retrieved from the image. The display device displays the retrieved region. When the contact position of the protrusion is changed, the processor modifies the retrieved region information based on the contact positions before changing and after changing such that a region defined by a local coordinate system corresponding to the retrieved region after changing is equal to the region defined by the local coordinate system before changing.
US08243135B2
A motion video camera that removes the need for mechanical pan, tilt, and zoom apparatus is disclosed. The video camera includes the following. A wide-angle optical system is configured to receive an optical image. An image sensor is coupled to the optical system and is configured to convert the optical image to an electronic image. An image processing circuit is coupled to the image sensor and is configured to receive the electronic image and to execute movement and zoom operations by correcting distortions in the electronic image introduced by the wide-angle optical system and image sensor.
US08243124B2
Provided are a face detection apparatus and a distance measurement method using the same. The face detection apparatus detects a face using left and right images which are acquired from a stereo camera. The face detection apparatus measures distance from the stereo camera to the face using an image frame which is provided from the stereo camera without a stereo matching process. Accordingly, the face detection apparatus simultaneously performs face detection and distance measurement even in a low-performance system.
US08243119B2
In one aspect, a request to initiate a video conference is received from a caller. The request identifies one or more called parties for the video conference. A request for the video conference is sent to one of the called parties. The called party does not accept the request. In response to a lack of acceptance of the request by the called party, a videomail service is provided. A videomail message from the caller is recorded. The caller is the sender of the videomail message and the called party is the recipient of the videomail message. The called party is notified that he has a videomail message.
US08243116B2
A method is described for modifying behavior for social appropriateness in computer mediated communications. Data can be obtained representing the natural non-verbal behavior of a video conference participant. The cultural appropriateness of the behavior is calculated based on a cultural model and previous behavior of the session. Upon detecting that the behavior of the user is culturally inappropriate, the system can calculate an alternative behavior based on the cultural model. Based on this alternative behavior, the video output stream can be modified to be more appropriate by altering gaze and gesture of the conference participants. The output stream can be modified by using previously recorded images of the participant, by digitally synthesizing a virtual avatar display or by switching the view displayed to the remote participant. Once the user's behavior changes to be once again culturally appropriate, the modified video stream can be returned to unmodified state.
US08243113B2
The present invention provides an organic material that is characterized by including a rigid matrix and a dye having a phosphorescence lifetime of 0.1 seconds or more in a rigid medium at 77 K and that exhibits such a strong and long-lived phosphorescence as to be recognizable with the naked eyes even at ordinary temperature: namely, an ordinary-temperature-phosphorescent organic material.
US08243108B2
Pixel circuit includes first and second scan lines, data line, three switches, and pixel. Three switches all include first end, second end, and control end. Pixel includes first and second sub-pixels. First end of first switch is coupled to data line. Control end of first switch is coupled to first scan line. First end of second switch is coupled to second end of first switch. Control end of second switch is coupled to second scan line. First end of third switch is coupled to data line. Control end of third switch is coupled to first scan line. First sub-pixel is coupled to second end of second switch for coupling to second end of third switch through second and first switches. Second sub-pixel is coupled to second end of third switch for coupling to data line through third switch.
US08243100B2
Systems and methods to perform fast rotation operations are disclosed. In a particular embodiment, a method includes executing a single instruction. The method includes receiving first data indicating a first coordinate and a second coordinate, receiving a first control value that indicates a first rotation value selected from a set of ninety degree multiples, and writing output data corresponding to the first data rotated by the first rotation value.
US08243092B1
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for approximating a pixel color. In operation, an average color value and a number of fragments are identified for each of a plurality of pixels. Additionally, a color of each pixel is approximated, based on such average color value and number of fragments.
US08243085B2
A novel graphics system including workload detection software is disclosed. The novel graphics system increases the voltage and frequency of the graphics hardware in an integrated graphics chipset, depending on operations performed by the hardware, for either a performance advantage or a power savings advantage.
US08243083B1
A system, method, and computer program product are provided for converting a scan algorithm to a segmented scan algorithm in an operator independent manner. In operation, a scan algorithm and a limit index data structure are identified. Utilizing the limit index data structure, the scan algorithm is converted to a segmented scan algorithm in an operator-independent manner. Additionally, the segmented scan algorithm is performed to produce an output.
US08243082B1
One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a method for accessing display configuration information in a multi-GPU system, which includes the steps directing the display configuration information of a display device, coupled to a discrete GPU (dGPU), to a controller capable of accessing a display data bus, if the dGPU is unavailable, wherein the controller is capable of making the display configuration information available via a system interface, and validating the display configuration information prior to availing the dGPU or the display device as an option to be selected.
US08243081B2
Embodiments of the invention provide devices and techniques for partitioning a spatial index. In one embodiment of the invention, an image processing system may partition a spatial index into a plurality of portions such that different processing elements may be responsible for traversing a ray through different portions of the spatial index. The determination of where to partition the spatial index may be made based on any number of factors. For example, according to some embodiments of the invention, the spatial index may be partitioned to evenly distribute workload (e.g., determined by real-time performance metrics) amongst multiple processing elements. Partitioning of the spatial index to distribute workload may be based on the total number of nodes, the number of leaf nodes or the number of primitives which will be included in each resulting partition.
US08243079B2
An event, such as a vertical blank interrupt or signal, received from a display adapter in a system is identified. Activation of a timer-driven animation routine that updates a state of an animation and activation of a paint controller module that identifies updates to the state of the animation and composes a frame that includes the updates to the state of the animation are aligned, both being activated based on the identified event in the system.
US08243073B2
A method, program product and system for conducting a ray tracing operation where the rendering compute requirement is reduced by varying the size of bounding volumes into which image data is divided and/or by varying a number of primitives included within nodes of an acceleration data structure that correspond to the bounding volumes.
US08243068B2
A method, system and apparatus for determining and modifying saliency of a visual medium are provided. The method, system and apparatus may obtain saliency values for a visual medium based on a plurality of visual channels. The saliency values may be obtained based on at least one of computer-generated modeling, user-specified input and eye-tracking. The method, system and apparatus may aggregate the obtained saliency values and classify regions of the visual medium based on the aggregated saliency values. The visual channels may include one or more of absolute mean curvature, a gradient of mean curvature, a gradient of color intensity, color luminance, color opponency, color saturation, lighting and focus. When calculating mean curvature, the method, system and apparatus may calculate a change in mean curvature for a plurality of vertices around a region and displace the vertices in accordance with the calculated change in mean curvature to change a saliency of the region.
US08243043B2
A conductive shield that is disposed near the sensor, wherein a signal is driven on the shield that is similar to the signal induced on the sensor, thereby reducing stray capacitances and protecting the sensor from external noise sources, and resulting in a stronger signal reaching the sensor.
US08243034B2
An organic light emitting display device includes: a substrate; an organic light emitting unit on the substrate; a sealing substrate sealing the organic light emitting unit; and a touch panel on the sealing substrate, and configured for polarizing light, wherein the touch panel includes a first film on the sealing substrate and a second film spaced from the first film and on the first resistive layer.
US08243027B2
Disclosed herein are liquid-crystal display (LCD) touch screens that integrate the touch sensing elements with the display circuitry. The integration may take a variety of forms. Touch sensing elements can be completely implemented within the LCD stackup but outside the not between the color filter plate and the array plate. Alternatively, some touch sensing elements can be between the color filter and array plates with other touch sensing elements not between the plates. In another alternative, all touch sensing elements can be between the color filter and array plates. The latter alternative can include both conventional and in-plane-switching (IPS) LCDs. In some forms, one or more display structures can also have a touch sensing function. Techniques for manufacturing and operating such displays, as well as various devices embodying such displays are also disclosed.
US08243021B2
Apparatus, systems, and methods described herein may couple a base component associated with a portable electronic device (PED) to a display component associated with the PED such that the display component is capable of sliding and rotating relative to the base component. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.
US08243015B2
A virtual data entry device including an illuminator generating a generally planar beam of light and an impingement sensor assembly operative to sense at least one location of impingement of the planar beam of light by at least one object, the impingement sensor assembly including at least one optical element arranged to receive light from the planar beam reflected by the at least one object, the at least one optical element having optical power in a first direction such that it focuses light at at least one focus line location, which the at least one focus line location is a function of the location of the at least one object relative to the at least one optical element and a multi-element detector arranged to receive light passing through the at least one optical element, wherein the distribution of the light detected by the multi-element detector among multiple elements thereof indicates the location of the at least one object.
US08243003B2
Disclosed is a level shift circuit including a first level shift circuit that is connected between a first power supply terminal and first and second output terminals and receives first and second input signals from the first and second input terminals, respectively, and sets one of the first and second output terminals to a first voltage level, based on the first and second input signals; a second level shift circuit that is connected between a second power supply terminal and the first and second output terminals, and sets the other of the first and second terminals to a second voltage level; and a circuit that performs control to disconnect a current path in the second level shifter between the second power supply terminal and one of the first and second output terminals that is driven to the second voltage level at a time point when the first and second input signals are supplied to the first and second input terminals for a predetermined period including the time point when the first and second input signals are supplied to the first and second input terminals, and to cancel the disconnection of the current path in the second level shifter between the one output terminal and the second power supply terminal after the predetermined period. Output amplitudes at the first and second output terminals are set to be larger than amplitudes of the first and second input signals.
US08243000B2
A data driver IC of a liquid crystal display is provided. The data driver IC includes a latch circuit latching digital pixel data, a digital-to-analog converter converting an output of the latch circuit into an analog video signal, and an analog amplifier amplifying the analog video signal converted in the digital-to-analog converter. The analog amplifier includes a NAND gate, a capacitor connected to an input terminal of the NAND gate, and a switch for connecting the input terminal and an output terminal of the NAND gate.
US08242992B2
A driving apparatus and a driving method thereof are provided. The driving apparatus includes a digital to analog converter and a signal amplifier. The digital to analog converter is used for receiving a digital data and converting the digital data to an analog signal. The signal amplifier is coupled to the digital to analog converter. The signal amplifier is used for receiving the analog signal to generate a driving signal. The signal amplifier also dynamically changes the driving ability of the driving signal according to at least one bit of the digital data.
US08242991B2
A liquid crystal display apparatus includes a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix shape and a drive circuit for actively driving the plurality of pixels. Each of the pixels has a laminated structure including a pixel electrode, a first alignment film, a liquid crystal layer, a second alignment film, and a counter electrode. The liquid crystal layer includes a liquid crystal molecule having a vertical alignment property. The first alignment film and the second alignment film are inorganic alignment films formed by obliquely depositing an inorganic material. The drive circuit has a first calculation section for extracting a first positional information, a second calculation section for extracting a second positional information, a third calculation for calculating a third positional information, and a fourth calculation section for calculating a third video signal.
US08242985B2
A pixel circuit (Aij) has a capacitor (Cs) having one of ends connected with a gate terminal of a DTFT (driving TFT) and the other end connected with a capacitance feedback line (CSi), a current-voltage conversion circuit (14) having an input terminal to which a feedback current flowing to a DDTFT (dummy driving circuit) is input when a predetermined potential is supplied to a gate terminal of the DDTFT having TFT characteristics substantially same as those of the DTFT in the pixel circuit (Aij) during a selected period for converting the feedback current into voltage and outputting a potential according to the voltage from an output terminal, and a changeover switch (CSW) for connecting the capacitance feedback line (CSi) corresponding to the pixel circuit (Aij) with the current-voltage conversion circuit (14) during the selected period and connecting the capacitance feedback line (CSi) corresponding to the pixel circuit (Aij) during a non-selected period with a constant potential supply line for supplying a constant potential (Vref). Thus, degradation in display quality due to a variation in DTFT characteristics of the pixel circuit can be inhibited while preventing enlargement of a circuit scale in a current-control-type display device.
US08242973B2
An image processing apparatus receives first and second input image signals and generates first and second projection image signals for projecting images from first and second projectors so as to be superimposed on a screen. A storage unit stores, for each projection position on the screen, intensity ratios between projected light from the first and second projectors when viewing from first and second viewing position. An intensity correcting unit adds the first and second input image signals in proportions set for generating the first projection image signal and in proportions set for generating the second projection image signal, according to the stored intensity ratios. The first projection image signal is supplied to the first projector and the second projection image signal is supplied to the second projector.
US08242971B2
In a multi-window display device, the following has been merely performed: before data for plural screens is inputted to a display, video signals themselves are subjected to signal processing, and the processed video signals are inputted to the display, whereby display is performed. Therefore, a circuit for performing signal processing, for example, an IC has a complicated structure since video signals for plural screens are stored in a memory. There is provided a pixel structure in which: signal lines for plural screens are arranged; and one of the signal lines is selected to supply a video signal to a display element. For example, in the case of performing display of two screens, there is provided a pixel structure in which: two signal lines, which are inputted with respective video signals for a first screen and a second screen, are arranged; and one of the signal lines is selected to supply a video signal from the selected signal line to a display element.
US08242969B2
An antenna system is provided. The antenna system includes a ground plane, an antenna, a feed cable, a cable connector, and an antenna connector. The ground plane has a first ground side and a second ground side. The antenna operates on the first ground side of the ground plane. The feed cable has a center conductor that is configured to transmit signals to and receive signals from the antenna. The cable connector couples the feed cable with the second ground side of the ground plane. The center conductor of the feed cable is electrically isolated from the ground plane and electrically coupled with the antenna connector. The antenna connector electrically couples the center conductor with the antenna. The antenna connector is connected to the center conductor and the feed cable is substantially parallel to the ground plane from the antenna connector to the cable connector.
US08242967B2
A multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) device includes a substrate, a shielding cover and a MIMO antenna. The shielding cover is positioned on the substrate, and includes a plurality of sidewalls. The MIMO antenna includes a first solid antenna, a second solid antenna, and a plane antenna. The first solid antenna and the second solid antenna are electrically connected to two ends of one sidewall of the shielding cover, respectively. The first plane antenna is configured on the substrate, and disposed between the first solid antenna and the second solid antenna.
US08242960B2
The disclosed subject matter generally relates to hybrid positioning systems and methods and, more specifically, systems and methods of detecting moved WLAN assess points using a wireless local area network based positioning system (WLAN-PS) and a satellite-based positioning system (SPS) with at least two satellites measurement.
US08242954B2
This disclosure relates to the field of space and can be used for radio navigation determinations using man-made satellites of the Earth, in particular, for monitoring the integrity of a system without participation of ground control segment facilities and monitoring stations allocated globally. The apparatus includes: enhancement of responsiveness of a user's notification about navigation signal uncertainty; reduction of costs for solving the problem of the system integrity monitoring due to absence of ground control and monitoring complexes allocated globally; exclusion of complementary radio links; improvement of system integrity monitoring certainty; growth of reliability.
US08242947B2
A remote controller has at least one input switch, and transmits a signal based on a state of the input switch to a target object. A main electrode pair is arranged as the input device and is configured such that inter-electrode distance varies in accordance with a pressing force. Plural sub electrode pairs are each arranged at positions different from the main electrode pair and are configured such that inter-electrode distance varies in accordance with a pressing force. The signal processor monitors a capacitance value of the main electrode pair and the plural sub electrode pairs, and performs predetermined signal processing in accordance with the capacitance value that has been detected. A transmitter transmits a control signal in accordance with the capacitance value of the main electrode pair to the target object.
US08242929B2
A communication module for transfer of information along a drill string has at least one antenna coil, wherein the communication module is configured such that a central coil axis of the antenna coil is substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of a drill pipe to which it is affixed. Signals are relayed magnetically from node to node to exchange data along any desired length of drill string. The drill string itself forms a portion of the magnetic flux path and the earth and/or surrounding media forms another substantial portion of the closed flux path. Magnetic induction is advantageous because the steel drill pipe is ferromagnetic and exhibits a magnetic permeability of a few hundred to a few thousand times that of air.
US08242924B2
A laptop computer with hardware security protection includes a lid near the image capture module. The lid can move to shield the image capture module to avoid the image captured by the image capture module transmitting to another computer. Therefore, the hardware security protection is achieved by the real lid to prevent the hacker attacking and increase the security protection.
US08242919B2
Provided is a moisture detection device including: a moisture detection label that has at least a pair of detection terminals and a pattern, the detection terminals being provided on a base material with an insulated front surface, the pattern being provided on the surface of the base material and formed between the detection terminals with water-dispersible and conductive paint; and detection circuit which detects an electrical connection state between the detection terminals.
US08242914B2
The present invention provides an article tracking and control system that records articles when they are entered into or removed from a case. Each article is tagged with an RFID tag and is identified individually by the system. The system comprises: wireless identification device attached to each article; a case for containing the tagged articles; an antenna mounted close to the cover of the case so that the antenna is able to read the tagged articles entering or being removed from the case, while tagged articles inside the case are not detected by the antenna; processing means for tracking each entry and removal of a tagged article into or out of the case; and means for visualizing reports and/or alerts regarding the status of tagged articles inside the case.
US08242891B2
To estimate a tag read status of a passive RFID system in an actual operation environment. A method for estimating, by simulation, a tag read status of an RFID system comprises the steps of calculating the power supply activation status of each of one or more tags having IDs within a range in which the tag moves; and analyzing the operation of a collision avoidance protocol provided in the RFID system. The tag has a state parameter representative of the state of the tag. For a command signal in conformance with the collision avoidance protocol, the operation and state parameter of the tag are changed in accordance with the power supply activation status when the command signal is being processed in the tag.
US08242886B2
A door lock control device that performs locking and/or unlocking of a door of a vehicle subject to a condition that a result of communication with a portable device has authenticated the portable device. The door lock control device has: an operation reception unit that is provided in the vehicle and receives an input for instructing the locking and/or unlocking of the door; a vehicle power source determination unit that determines whether a power source of the vehicle is ON; an occupant determination unit that determines whether an occupant is present in a cabin of the vehicle; and a power supply control unit that stops power supply to the operation reception unit when determination is made that the power source of the vehicle is ON and an occupant is present inside the vehicle cabin.
US08242881B2
According to an aspect of an embodiment, a method of adjusting reference information for biometric authentication, comprises storing the reference information including reference biometric data and threshold values corresponding to a plurality of users, respectively, obtaining biometric data of a user by inputting biometric information of the user, calculating a matching ratio of the biometric data with the reference biometric data of each of the users, respectively, comparing the matching ratio of each of the users with the threshold value of each of the users, respectively, determining which of the matching ratios exceed the corresponding threshold values and adjusting the threshold values which are exceeded by the corresponding matching ratios so that all the matching ratios but the highest matching ratio become lower than the adjusted threshold values, respectively.
US08242876B2
A trimmable resistor for use in an integrated circuit is trimmed using a heater. The heater is selectively coupled to a voltage source. The application of voltage to the heater causes the heater temperature to increase and produce heat. The heat permeates through a thermal separator to the trimmable resistor. The resistance of the trimmable resistor is permanently increased or decreased when the temperature of the resistor is increased to a value within a particular range of temperatures.
US08242873B2
The transformer includes: first and second cores each including a magnetic center leg and a magnetic outer leg positioned outside of the magnetic center leg; a first adhesion part that adheres the magnetic center leg of the first core and the magnetic center leg of the second core to each other; a second adhesion part that adheres the magnetic outer leg of the first core and the magnetic outer leg of the second core to each other; a bobbin inserted through the magnetic center leg of the first core and the magnetic center leg of the second core, a primary coil and a secondary coil being wound on the bobbin; and an elastic member that applies pressure to the magnetic outer leg of the first core and the magnetic outer leg of the second core in a neighborhood of the second adhesion part, in an inward direction of the transformer.
US08242869B2
A transformer having a coil which is wound with conductor material and which contains cooling channels through which a cooling fluid flows is provided. The cooling channels are formed by corrugated components, the corrugation shape of which matches the outer surface, including the outer contour in corner regions of the coil.
US08242867B2
An embodiment is a magnetic switch assembly generally comprising a switch base coupled to a switch housing. The switch base and switch housing may be coupled to, for example, a door frame or other substantially fixed location. Adjacent the switch base and switch housing may be an actuating magnet base including a plurality of actuating magnets. The proximity to or distance from the actuating magnets in the actuating magnet base may actuate magnets within the switch housing to open and/or close a circuit and/or otherwise generate a signal that may be communicated by an interface cable to, for example, a security system. The magnetic switch assembly of an embodiment may include one or more features that impede and/or substantially prevent tampering to defeat the magnetic switch assembly.
US08242861B2
An acoustic wave filter device is capable of increasing the steepness of a filter characteristic at a boundary between a passband and an attenuation band and achieving a low loss in the passband. The acoustic wave filter device has a ladder circuit configuration including a plurality of series arm resonators and at least one parallel arm resonator. The anti-resonant frequency of the series arm resonator is different from that of the series arm resonator. The series arm resonator having the lowest anti-resonant frequency has a resonant frequency located in the passband and an electromechanical coupling coefficient less than an average of electromechanical coupling coefficients of the series arm resonators.
US08242858B2
Methods and systems for matching networks embedded in an integrated circuit package are disclosed and may include controlling impedance within an integrated circuit via one or more impedance matching networks. The impedance matching networks may be embedded within a multi-layer package bonded to the integrated circuit. The impedance of one or more devices within the integrated circuit may be configured utilizing the impedance matching networks. The multi-layer package may include one or more impedance matching networks. The impedance matching networks may provide impedance matching between devices internal to the integrated circuit and external devices. The impedance matching networks may be embedded within the multi-layer package, and may include transmission lines, inductors, capacitors, transformers and/or surface mount devices. The impedance matching networks may be deposited on top of and/or on bottom of the multi-layer package. The integrated circuit may be flip-chip bonded to the multi-layer package.
US08242855B2
An integrated power combiner is disclosed. The power combiner includes a first circular geometry primary winding having one or more inductive elements, such as an active winding with one or more driver stages. A circular geometry secondary winding is disposed adjacent to the first primary winding, such as an active winding with one or more driver stages. A second circular geometry primary winding is disposed adjacent to the secondary winding and has one or more inductive elements. One or more connections are provided between one or more of the inductive elements of the first circular geometry primary winding and one or more of the inductive elements of the second circular geometry primary winding.
US08242851B2
A method to construct a chip-scale atomic clock is provided. The method comprises providing a scaffolding for components in a chip-scale atomic clock. The components include a laser and at least one other component. The method also includes operationally positioning the components on the scaffolding so that an emitting surface of the laser is non-parallel to partially reflective surfaces of the at least one other component.
US08242846B2
There is provided a power amplifier capable of improving harmonics characteristics of an output signal of an amplifier circuit by compensating a phase of the output signal. A power amplifier according to an aspect of the invention may include: an amplification section having a plurality of amplification units each amplifying a radio frequency (RF) signal according to a gain being controlled; a phase correction section performing phase correction by removing harmonic components of respective output signals from the plurality of amplification units of the amplification section; and a coupling section coupling the respective output signals phase-corrected by the phase correction section.
US08242841B2
A receiver having multi-stage low noise amplifier are provided. In this regard, a representative receiver, among others, includes at least one antenna and a filter that receives and filters signals from the at least one antenna. The filtered signals include a first frequency band signal and a second frequency band signal. The receiver further includes a multi-stage low noise amplifier that receives the filtered signals from the filter. The multi-stage low noise amplifier includes a first stage low noise amplifier that receives and performs impedance matching for the first frequency band signal and second frequency band signal. The multi-stage low noise amplifier further includes a second stage low noise amplifier that receives the first frequency band signal and second frequency band signal. The second stage low noise amplifier includes load resistors that switch off for the first frequency band signal and switch on for the second frequency band signal based on receiving either the first frequency band signal or second frequency band signal.
US08242838B2
An amplifier with wide gain range includes a signal converting unit, a channel unit, and multiple amplifiers. The signal converting unit receives a gain modulation signal and accordingly outputs multiple modulation signals and multiple selection signals. Based on a level of the gain modulation signal, one of the selection signals is set at a first logic state and the other selection signals are at a second logic state. The channel unit has multiple channels, respectively controlled by the selection signals, so as to conduct the channel with at the first logic state. The amplifiers are connected in series. Output terminals of the amplifiers are also respectively output to the channels of the channel unit. The amplifiers are also controlled by the modulation signals of the signal converting unit.
US08242836B2
An acoustic characteristic control apparatus supplies music signal, for example, to input terminal connected to a band-pass filter and a peaking filter. In a zero-cross detection circuit, a pulse signal corresponding to a period while a signal is positive is formed. A pulse-width measuring circuit output a signal corresponding to a pulse width. Next, the output of the pulse-width measuring circuit is inputted to one comparator and another comparator. The one comparator discriminates a time when the pulse width is equal to or larger than a first setting value, and the another comparator discriminates a time when the pulse width is equal to or smaller than a second setting value. The comparator is connected to the up terminal and the down terminal of an up/down counter. The output of the up/down counter is connected to the peaking filter through the subtractor, and acoustic characteristics of the peaking filter is controlled according to the count value of the up/down counter.
US08242832B2
A solar cell device includes a solar cell section configured to output a first voltage upon receiving light. A charge pump circuit includes a first charge pump. The first charge pump includes a first terminal and a second terminal. The first terminal is configured to receive the first voltage from the solar cell section, and the second terminal is configured to output a second voltage that is higher than the first voltage. An output section is configured to receive an output voltage output by the charge pump circuit. The charge pump circuit is formed on a single semiconductor substrate.
US08242803B2
A method and apparatus is disclosed that is capable of transmitting video signals and/or audio signals using the HDMI interface standard or the DisplayPort interface standard. A dual mode transmitter is disclosed that is configurable to transmit to a first sink device, configured in accordance with a HDMI display interface, in a HDMI mode of operation and/or a second sink device, configured in accordance with a DisplayPort display interface, in a DisplayPort mode of operation. The dual mode transmitter is configured to receive a biasing current from the first sink device in the HDMI mode of operation or to internally provide the biasing current in DisplayPort mode of operation by selecting impedances from selectable impedance networks. The dual mode transmitter is configured to transmit the video signals and/or audio signals by biasing one or more transistors using the biasing current.
US08242800B2
An apparatus in an integrated circuit for re-enabling the use of precluded extended JTAG operations. The apparatus includes a JTAG control chain, a feature fuse, a machine specific register, and an access controller. The JTAG control chain is configured to enable/disable the extended JTAG operations. The feature fuse is configured to indicate whether the extended JTAG features are to be disabled. The machine specific register is configured to store a value therein. The access controller is coupled to the feature fuse, the machine specific register, and the JTAG control chain, and is configured to determine that the feature fuse is blown, and is configured to direct the JTAG control chain to enable the precluded extended JTAG operations if the value matches an override value within the access controller during a period that the value is stored within the machine specific register.
US08242797B2
According to the present invention, allowable displacement can be increased from an excellent stress relaxation effect achieved by applying a hinge structure while adopting advantages of a dual beam cantilever-type probe that can reduce scrub. Since the hinge structure is a structure that does not receive a moment, an effect that is the same as eliminating a moment in a conventional prove can be achieved so that stress can be evenly applied and the allowable displacement of the probe can be increased.
US08242793B2
Counterfeit electronic devices are detected by comparing a thermal profile of the counterfeit device and an authentic device under predetermined operating conditions. A thermal profile for an authentic electronic device is recorded executing an instruction set over time, such as with static infrared images at predetermined times, video infrared images over a predetermined time period or temperature measurements made at predetermined locations of the electronic device. In one embodiment, a thermal profile indicates that a processor device has been used in the place of a field programmable grid array device. In an alternative embodiment, an electromagnetic profile is detected instead of or in addition to the thermal profile. The electromagnetic profile of an authentic device is used to create an expected profile for comparison with an electromagnetic profile of electronic devices under test.
US08242788B2
A calibration apparatus and method for a capacitive sensing device, in which a calibration capacitor device connects to the capacitive sensing device which is connected to an integration circuit that generates a voltage output and a latch output, a transforming circuit transforms a sensitivity calibration parameter into a pair of corresponding analog signal outputs, and an offset calibration parameter into a corresponding analog signal output, at least two first switches between the pair of corresponding analog signal outputs and a fixed potential according to system clock's levels, and at least a third switch switches between the corresponding analog signal output and another fixed potential according to the system clock's levels. The apparatus determines the switch between the pair of signal outputs according to the latch output.
US08242776B2
A semiconductor process and apparatus provide a high-performance magnetic field sensor from two differential sensor configurations (201, 211) which require only two distinct pinning axes (206, 216), where each differential sensor (e.g., 201) is formed from a Wheatstone bridge structure with four unshielded MTJ sensors (202-205), each of which includes a magnetic field pulse generator (e.g., 414) for selectively applying a field pulse to stabilize or restore the easy axis magnetization of the sense layers (e.g., 411) to eliminate micromagnetic domain switches during measurements of small magnetic fields.
US08242772B2
An exemplary embodiment relates to a measuring device for measuring a current flowing in a first cable. The measuring device includes a measuring shunt in the form of a plate connected in series with the first cable and associated with a measuring electronic card connected to a data transmission cable. The measuring shunt further includes a measuring portion of resistive alloy coupled to connection portions on either side of the measuring portion. The connection portions are integrally formed with the measuring portion, and the first cable is secured to at least one of the connection portions of the measuring shunt.
US08242763B2
A DC to DC converter has first and second transistor coupled at a first node and coupled between first and second power supply terminals. An inductor has a first terminal coupled to the first node and a second terminal coupled to an output terminal for receiving a variable load. Transistor drive circuitry controls conduction of the first and second transistor in a non-overlapping conduction operation. A duty cycle controller controls a duty cycle for the first transistor and the second transistor. Control circuitry determines a mode of operation by monitoring cycles of operation and detecting a predetermined pattern of cycles in which inductor current becomes negative. A first mode of operation permits both the first transistor and the second transistor to alternately conduct and a second mode of operation does not permit the second transistor to conduct during each cycle when the inductor current is reduced to substantially zero.
US08242758B2
The present invention relates to a converter and a driving method thereof. The converter includes a switch controller that controls switching operation of a master switch and a slave switch. The switch controller detects a center point of one switching operation period of the master switch by using an internal triangular wave having a period that is the same as that of the one switching operation period, and starts the switching operation of the slave switch at the detected point. The internal triangular wave signal has a waveform that varies within one period, and detects a crossing point of an average value of the internal triangular wave and the internal triangular wave as a center point of one switching operation period of the master switch.
US08242757B2
A constant power control apparatus and a controlling method thereof are provided. The constant power control apparatus outputs output power to a load element. The constant power control apparatus includes a compensation and modification device, a constant power control device, and a power generation circuit. The compensation and modification device receives an expected output power voltage and a voltage feedback signal relating to the output power. The compensation and modification device transforms the expected output power voltage into a current reference value, and modifies the current reference value to generate a modified current reference value according to the voltage feedback signal. The constant power control device receives the modified current reference value and a current feedback signal relating to the output power, and generates a control signal for use in power modulation. The power generation circuit receives the control signal and outputs the output power.
US08242755B2
The present invention relates to a switch control device and a converter including the same. According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the switch control device includes a PWM controller for forcing a power switch to turn on when the power switch is turned off during a predetermined period, a current sensor for determining whether a current flows through the power switch, and a conditional counter for determining that an input voltage is input to a power transmission element by using a sense result of the current sensor and a number of times that the PWM controller turns on the power switch by force.
US08242753B2
In a method and an apparatus for controlling the output or drawn active and reactive power of a double-fed asynchronous machine (5), the maintenance of a maximum permissible current (16) of the machine—without the use of a subordinate current controller—is ensured by virtue of the fact that, during the operation of the double-fed asynchronous machine, a maximum permissible desired value for the active power (10a) to be output or to be drawn and a maximum permissible desired value for the reactive power (10b) to be output or to be drawn are calculated with the aid of a model of the asynchronous machine from the maximum permissible current (16), preferably corrected at least using the actual value of the current to be limited of the machine, in such a way that the maximum permissible current (16) is not exceeded. The predetermined active and reactive power desired values are then limited to the calculated maximum permissible values.
US08242752B2
The invention relates to a method and arrangement for detecting a situation in which an electrical device is connected to another electrical device. The electrical device comprises a first, second, and third electrical contact terminal (101, 102, 103). Non-zero voltage is arranged between the second and third electrical contact terminal. The other electrical device comprises counterparts (104, 105, 106) for the first, second, and third electrical contact terminal. There is a galvanic coupling (107) between the counterparts for the first and second electrical contact terminal. The arrangement comprises a resistor (108) between the first and second electrical contact terminal and a detector (112) for detecting the situation in which the electrical device is connected to the other electrical device on the basis of a change of an electrical quantity associated with the resistor. The first electrical contact terminal can be e.g. a metal shield on a USB-connector.
US08242749B2
A battery testing apparatus includes a charge circuit, a discharge circuit, a computer, and a control circuit. The charge circuit is coupled to a direct current (DC) adapter, the DC adapter charges a battery through the charge circuit. The discharge circuit is coupled to the battery and configured to discharge the battery. The computer records charge/discharge time and charge/discharge cycles of the battery, and calculates capacity and cycle life of the battery according to the time and cycles of charge and discharge. The control circuit has an input terminal coupled to the computer, and a plurality of output terminals respectively coupled to the charge circuit and the discharge circuit, the control circuit controls the charge and discharge circuits charging and discharging the battery.
US08242748B2
A method and integrated circuit for preserving a battery's charge and protecting electrical devices is disclosed. A maximum and a minimum battery voltage value at the output port are stored in a memory. A steady state battery voltage at the output port is measured and stored in the memory. A processor compares the measured steady battery voltage value to the maximum and the minimum battery voltage values. If the measured steady state battery voltage value is greater than the maximum battery voltage value, an over voltage state is reported by the processor. If the measured steady state battery voltage value is less than the minimum battery voltage value, a low battery voltage state is reported by the processor.
US08242747B2
In a charging control circuit for controlling charging of a secondary battery, a charging transistor generates a charging current according to a control signal input to a control electrode and outputs the charging current to the secondary battery. The proportional current generation transistor generates and outputs a proportional current proportional to the charging current output by the charging transistor. The constant current charging controller controls the charging transistor so that the proportional current generated by the proportional current generation transistor attains a predetermined first value. The constant current charging controller controls a voltage of a current output terminal of the proportional current generation transistor so that a voltage difference between the voltage of the current output terminal of the proportional current generation transistor and a voltage of a current output terminal of the charging transistor is maintained at a predetermined second value.
US08242746B2
The invention relates to a method and a device for measuring cell voltages of accumulator cells in a plurality of series-connected accumulator cells in a battery pack or cell pack including an Li-Ion cell pack. The method and the device are characterized in that no unbalancing of the battery pack is caused by the measurements of the cell voltages on the individual accumulator cells.
US08242737B2
In a motor-driven vehicle using power stored in a secondary battery as a source of motive power in which part of vehicle braking is achieved by regenerative braking by generating electrical energy absorbed by charging the secondary battery, the state of charge of the secondary battery is adjusted during charging so that, when charging is completed, the state of charge of the battery will be such that it is still capable of receiving energy generated during regenerative braking. During charging, after the battery has been charged to a target charge level, and battery temperature has subsequently changed, a state where the battery is still capable of receiving energy generated during regenerative braking can be achieved by slightly discharging the battery depending on the temperature of the battery. Such slight discharge of the battery can be obtained by powering an electric heater (22) in an engine cooling water circuit or operating a generator (7) as a motor for motoring the vehicle engine (8).
US08242736B2
A device and method for matching the rates of speed at which an electric motor that is drivingly connected to a worm gear raises and lowers a window in an automobile power window assembly. By axially displacing the motor's armature, and/or by varying the thread and tooth profiles of the worm and the gear, the amount of torque produced by the motor and transmitted through the worm gear can be altered. In order to compensate for the effect of gravity on the motor load and on the window's speed of ascent and descent, more torque is provided when the window is being raised and less torque is provided when the window is being lowered.
US08242734B2
The controller controls a spindle connected to an induction motor via a belt by controlling the rotational velocity of the induction motor. The spindle has an encoder attached thereto for detecting the position of the spindle, but the induction motor does not have a velocity detector attached thereto. The velocity of the induction motor is estimated from the spindle velocity obtained from output of the encoder, and slip of the belt is detected based on the estimated velocity of the induction motor. When occurrence of slip of the belt is detected, the estimated velocity of the induction motor will not be used for the control of the induction motor.
US08242724B2
A driving device for three-phase alternating current synchronous motors controls state of charge of a capacitor, and a three-phase alternating current synchronous motor is started prior to the operation of the synchronous motor. Prior to control by a normal operation control unit, the state of charge of the capacitor is controlled by an initial state control unit and a synchronization control unit. Passage of large current through the capacitor immediately after the start of the execution of control by the normal operation control unit is suppressed. As a result, the operating state of the three-phase alternating current synchronous motor does not become unstable and the execution of control by the normal operation control unit can be started with the output voltage of the capacitor stable.
US08242723B2
A method of calculating a control parameter for a component in an HVAC system includes receiving a plurality of input signals, and calculating a value of the control parameter using a control parameter equation having a plurality of predetermined coefficients and a plurality of variables, each variable corresponding to one of the input signals. This equation is stored in and subsequently fetched from memory associated with a component of the HVAC system, such as a blower motor controller or a system controller. In some embodiments, the equation is stored in a device for interfacing a system controller with a blower motor assembly.
US08242703B2
A driving apparatus is provided and configured to suit driving at least a string of light emitting diodes (LEDs). The driving apparatus includes a flyback power factor correction (PFC) converter, a harmonics-filtering unit and a control unit. The flyback PFC converter works in an operation mode according to a pulse-width modulation (PWM) signal and receives an AC power so as to convert the AC power into a pulsating current. The harmonics-filtering unit is coupled to the flyback PFC converter and the string of LEDs, for receiving the pulsating current and filtering out the high-frequency harmonic components in the pulsating current so as to drive the string of LEDs. The control unit is coupled to the flyback PFC converter and the harmonics-filtering unit, for producing the PWM signal according to the AC power and the pulsating current, and reducing the peak-to-average ratio (PAR) of the pulsating current.
US08242701B1
An LED assembly adapted to mount in a bayonet type socket of the type having a slotted casing comprising the negative terminal and a central pin comprising the positive terminal in which a plurality of LED's are mounted on a circuit board and the LED assembly has an electrically conductive screw comprising the positive connection for engaging the central pin of the socket and an electrically conductive tube with a pin member extending outwardly therefrom for insertion in the slots of the casing of the socket for comprising the negative connection.
US08242700B2
A backlight unit that realizes stabilization of lighting operation in the event of carrying out lighting operation at low luminance. The backlight unit is backlight unit (10) comprising a light source composed of multiple light emitting diode groups (4a, 4b, 31a, 31b, 31c, 31d) each including a given number of serially connected light emitting diodes (4,31); and lighting circuit (20, 40) for lighting the light source in accordance with a light control signal. The lighting circuit has at least multiple drive circuit portions (21a, 21b, 41a, 41b, 41c, 41d) respectively connected to the multiple light emitting diode groups, and in accordance with a light control signal, allows all the light emitting diodes included in each of the multiple light emitting diode groups to emit light, or allows only light emitting diodes included in light emitting diode group(s) selected from among the multiple light emitting diode groups to emit light.
US08242689B2
An organic electroluminescence display device includes a plurality of pixels and an array of lenses arranged thereupon. Each pixel includes a light emitting region provided with a lens and a light emitting region provided without a lens. The light emitting regions of each pixel includes an organic electroluminescence material. The lenses are arranged in a staggered pattern.
US08242687B2
An object of the present invention is to provide an organic EL display that enables accurate measurement of the thickness of a transparent resin in an effective pixel area. The organic EL display of the present invention has a structure in which an organic EL device (21) having a plurality of partitions (25) placed at intervals in a predetermined direction and an organic light emitting layer (26) provided between the adjacent partitions (25), and a color filter (22) having a black matrix (29) and a pigment layer (30) placed in each of frames of the black matrix (29) are bonded via a transparent resin (31), and a light transmissive opening (33) is provided in a section of the black matrix (29) other than a section facing the partition (25).
US08242685B2
An organic electroluminescence device includes an organic electroluminescence element having a function layer interposed between a first electrode and a second electrode. The function layer includes at least an organic light emission layer. The electroluminescence device includes: partition walls which define concave portions and each of formation areas of the organic electroluminescence element within each of the concave portions to arrange the function layer within the concave portion; and auxiliary electrodes which are each arranged continuously on the partition wall and within the concave portion. The second electrode is formed in an area where both the formation area of the organic electroluminescence element and a non-formation area of the organic electroluminescence element overlap with each other, so as to be electrically connected to the function layer and the auxiliary electrode and is formed continuously between the function layer arranged within the concave portion and the auxiliary electrode in a state where the second electrode contacts with the function layer arranged within the concave portion and the auxiliary electrode. The auxiliary electrode is formed to be thicker than the second electrode.
US08242684B2
A wavelength-converting plate for a wavelength-converted light emitting diode (LED) assembly. The wavelength-converting plate includes microlenses deposited thereon. The microlenses may have an index of refraction different from the index of refraction of the wavelength-converting plate. The microlenses on the top surface of the plate increase lumen output in a direction normal to the top surface of a wavelength-converting plate.
US08242681B2
A display panel includes a vacuum vessel provided with a face plate, a rear plate having a first surface that opposes the face plate at an interval therefrom, a connecting member provided between the face plate and the rear plate and connecting the face plate and the rear plate, and a plurality of plate-like spacers provided between the face plate and the rear plate so that lengthwise directions thereof are parallel to each other. In addition, a plurality of linear fixing members are adhered to the vacuum vessel by a plurality of linear bonding members. The fixing members are adhered to the rear plate by the linear bonding members at mutually prescribed intervals and along the lengthwise direction of the plurality of spacers, with each of the plurality of linear fixing members provided with a plate-like member adhered to the rear plate and a plurality of protruding portions provided on a surface of the plate-like member on an opposite side from the rear plate.
US08242677B2
Provided is an organic light emitting diode (OLED) panel for lighting, including an organic layer emitting light by reaction in response to power supplied by a positive electrode and a negative electrode, a protection cap protecting the organic layer from external moisture and oxygen, a cover film attached to upper surfaces of the positive electrode and negative electrode, and serving as a ground for the positive electrode and the negative electrode, and a conductive metal layer grounding the positive electrode and the negative electrode to the cover film.
US08242662B2
A special thermo magnetic motor which is an electromagnetic heat engine used for directly converting power between heat and electrical forms using magnetism. It is comprised of a unique combination of a base support, a heating system to heat the magnetic wafers to the Curie temperature; a magnet system with a base and shorting bar; a rotatable disk assembly with the magnetic wafers and a support shaft/transfer means; and an output to an output means to the using device. It provides significant benefits compared to prior art devices and is used for driving various other devices.
US08242656B1
The present invention discloses a motor. A rotor and bearings are installed first and then copper wires are wrapped by a machine. Therefore, the copper wires wrapped are denser and thinner that a space filling factor is improved and an entire size of the motor is reduced. In addition to saving of electricity consumption and improvement of motor performance, the bearings are directly enclosed in two insulation plates to isolate from ambient environment, so that dust contamination can be reduced and noise from operation can be decreased, thereby extending a service life of the motor. Furthermore, packing and transportation costs can be even saved. Additionally, the insulation plates include plural insertion slots for insertion with copper plates which are electrically connected with a motor power cord. Thus, an inner stator can be connected with the power cord by plugging, so as to save labor work and time.
US08242646B2
There is provided a rotating electric machine capable of preventing a coolant from being retained at an outer surface of a rotor. This rotating electric machine includes a rotation shaft provided so as to be rotatable, a core body secured to the rotation shaft, a permanent magnet embedded in the core body, and an end plate provided so as to be opposed to an axial end surface of the core body. A first coolant channel is formed in the rotation shaft to allow a coolant to flow therethrough. A second coolant channel is formed between the end plate and the axial end surface of the core body to communicate with the first coolant channel. A partition wall that partitions the second coolant channel in a circumferential direction and a path wall that guides the coolant in the second coolant channel toward an outer peripheral edge region of the axial end surface where the permanent magnet is placed are formed inside the second coolant channel.
US08242638B2
The invention proposes a means for transporting electrical energy and/or information from a distance by using, at a slowly varying regime, the Coulomb field which surrounds any set of charged conductors. The device according to the invention is composed of energy production and consumption devices situated a short distance apart, it uses neither the propagation of electromagnetic waves nor induction and cannot be reduced to a simple arrangement of electrical capacitors. The device is modeled in the form of an interaction between oscillating asymmetric electric dipoles, consisting of a high-frequency high-voltage generator (1) or of a high-frequency high-voltage load (5) placed between two electrodes. The dipoles exert a mutual influence on one another. The devices according to the invention are suitable for powering industrial and domestic electrical apparatus, they are especially suitable for powering low-power devices moving in a limit [sic] environment and for short-distance non-radiating transmission of information.
US08242633B2
A power failure protection circuit (10) for a non-volatile semiconductor storage device includes at least an energy storage unit (C1) that serves as a backup power supply for providing backup electrical energy when a power failure occurs. During normal operation of the device, a main control unit (12) is responsible for controlling an external power input to charge the energy storage unit, for dynamically detecting the status of the energy storage unit and for using information about the status to ensure sufficient backup electrical energy for the energy storage unit. During an abnormal operation of the power supply, the main control unit (12) is responsible for discharging the energy storage unit.
US08242631B2
A device and method to control a programmable portable electronic timer to selectively provide AC power to an external electrical device by selecting a plurality of varying start times and stop times for each of at least two days, where each start time and stop time may be unique, and whereby the start/stop times define a period of timer operation to provide AC power to an external electrical device. An uninterrupted “count down” of timer information stored within the timer while AC power is unavailable to the timer is also provided, such that when AC power is restored to the timer, the providing of AC power to the external electrical device is not skewed by any period of time that the AC power is unavailable to the timer.
US08242630B2
A multiple power supply integration apparatus measures electric power and stability of power supplies, outputs thereof having irregularity. Based on measured values of the electric power and the stability, certainty of entire supply of the electric power when a use allocation rate of the power supplies is changed is indexed as an evaluation value. The multiple power supply integration apparatus adjusts each converter according to a use allocation rate corresponding to a largest evaluation value, thereby adjusting a magnitude of the electric power supplied from each power supply to a common power line.
US08242629B2
A hybrid load system includes a dynamic electronic load module, and a plurality of passive resistive modules coupled with the dynamic electronic load module. The hybrid system includes a control system in communication with the dynamic electronic load module and the passive resistive modules for determining when and how many of the passive resistive modules should be applied in parallel with the dynamic electronic load module for creating a desired load.
US08242622B2
A method and system for communicating over neutral power lines is provided wherein the neutral power line is isolated from the ground line and other connections, such as with transformers, by using a plurality of ferrites. The ferrites are positioned between the connections to the neutral line and the outputs of a BPL modem.
US08242616B1
There is provided a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, including: forming an interconnection layer over a support base; mounting a plurality of semiconductor chips over the interconnection layer; molding the plurality of semiconductor chips with resin; forming an alignment mark in the resin; and obtaining a molded structure by removing the interconnection layer, the plurality of semiconductor chips and the resin from the support base after forming the alignment mark.
US08242611B2
A method provides a first substrate with a conductive pad and disposes layers of Cu, TaN, and AlCu, respectively, forming a conductive stack on the conductive pad. The AlCu layer of the first substrate is bonded to a through substrate via (TSV) structure of a second substrate, wherein a conductive path is formed from the conductive pad of the first substrate to the TSV structure of the second substrate.
US08242606B2
A semiconductor integrated circuit includes a semiconductor chip. The semiconductor chip includes a well arranged to receive a first well bias voltage from a well biasing region, a through-chip-via arranged to penetrate the well, and a guard region disposed around the through-chip-via with space in-between and arranged to apply a second well bias voltage to the well.
US08242603B2
An integrated circuit (IC) structure includes a semiconductor substrate having a plurality of memory bits including IC identification information and a plurality of alternating metal and via layers thereabove. The IC structure includes a bond pad layer formed over a top one of the metal layers. The bond pad layer includes a plurality of pins connected to respective ones of the plurality of memory bits through the metal and via layers, at least one first pad connected to a higher voltage power supply rail and at least one second pad is connected to a lower voltage power supply rail. The bond pad layer has a plurality of circuit segments therein that each connects a respective one of the plurality of pins to either the at least one first pad or the at least one second pad for programming the IC identification information into the memory bit corresponding to that pin.
US08242602B2
A method includes providing a mixture of molten indium and molten aluminum, and agitating the mixture while reducing its temperature until the aluminum changes from liquid phase to solid phase, forming particles distributed within the molten indium. Agitation of the mixture sufficiently to maintain the aluminum substantially suspended in the molten aluminum continues while further reducing the temperature of the mixture until the indium changes from a liquid phase to a solid phase. A metallic composition is formed, including indium and particles of aluminum suspended within the indium, the aluminum particles being substantially free from oxidation.The metallic (solder) composition can be used to form an assembly, including an integrated circuit (IC) device, at least a first thermal component disposed adjacent to the IC device, and a solder TIM interposed between and thermally coupled with each of the IC device and the first thermal component.
US08242600B2
A redundant metal diffusion barrier is provided for an interconnect structure which improves the reliability and extendibility of the interconnect structure. The redundant metal diffusion barrier layer is located within an opening that is located within a dielectric material and it is between a diffusion barrier layer and a conductive material which are also present within the opening. The redundant diffusion barrier includes a single layered or multilayered structure comprising Ru and a Co-containing material including pure Co or a Co alloy including at least one of N, B and P.
US08242596B2
Improved techniques to produce integrated circuit products are disclosed. The improved techniques permit smaller and less costly production of integrated circuit products. One aspect of the invention is that the integrated circuit products are produced a batch at a time, and that singulation of the batch into individualized integrated circuit products uses a non-linear (e.g., non-rectangular or curvilinear) sawing or cutting action so that the resulting individualized integrated circuit packages no longer need to be completely rectangular. Another aspect of the invention is that the integrated circuit products can be produced with semiconductor assembly processing such that the need to provide an external package or container becomes optional.
US08242594B2
A chip package structure includes a circuit substrate, a chip, at least one bonding wire, and an adhesive layer. The circuit substrate has a bonding surface and at least one pad disposed on the bonding surface. The chip is disposed on the bonding surface of the circuit substrate and has an active surface away from the circuit substrate and at least one contact pad disposed on the active surface. The bonding wire is connected between the contact pad and the pad, such that the chip is electrically connected to the circuit substrate through the bonding wire. The bonding wire includes a copper layer, a nickel layer covering the copper layer, and a gold layer covering the nickel layer. The adhesive layer is disposed between the pad and the bonding wire and between the contact pad and the bonding wire and respectively covers two terminals of the bonding wire.
US08242591B2
A back of a dielectric transparent handle substrate is coated with a blanket conductive film or a mesh of conductive wires. A semiconductor substrate is attached to the transparent handle substrate employing an adhesive layer. The semiconductor substrate is thinned in the bonded structure to form a stack of the transparent handle substrate and the semiconductor interposer. The thinned bonded structure may be loaded into a processing chamber and electrostatically chucked employing the blanket conductive film or the mesh of conductive wires. The semiconductor interposer may be bonded to a semiconductor chip or a packaging substrate employing C4 bonding or intermetallic alloy bonding. Illumination of ultraviolet radiation to the adhesive layer is enabled, for example, by removal of the blanket conductive film or through the mesh so that the transparent handle substrate may be detached. The semiconductor interposer may then be bonded to a packaging substrate or a semiconductor chip.
US08242589B2
In a test method of stacked LSIs connected by Through Silicon Vias, it is difficult to perform a failure diagnosis by using a conventional device test method to only one side of a silicon wafer, there is a possibility of yield degradation at a stacking time of LSIs, and a plurality of LSIs is connected to one Through Silicon Via so that it is necessary to select and remedy a defective Through Silicon Via taking into account all the device states. These problems cannot be solved by conventional test methods. Therefore, for a device test of a Through Silicon Via through a plurality of chips, a circuit that generates a time-series test pattern having both 0 and 1 values for a delay fault test is added to a circuit portion that transmits data to a Through Silicon Via in the stacked LSIs, and a circuit that receives the test pattern and compares the pattern received with a fixed pattern for a match to detect a defect of a Through Silicon Via is added to a circuit portion that receives data from a Through Silicon Via in the stacked LSIs.
US08242578B2
Disclosed are embodiments of a circuit and method for electroplating a feature (e.g., a BEOL anti-fuse device) onto a wafer. The embodiments eliminate the use of a seed layer and, thereby, minimize subsequent processing steps (e.g., etching or chemical mechanical polishing (CMP)). Specifically, the embodiments allow for selective electroplating metal or alloy materials onto an exposed portion of a metal layer in a trench on the front side of a substrate. This is accomplished by providing a unique wafer structure that allows a current path to be established from a power supply through a back side contact and in-substrate electrical connector to the metal layer. During electrodeposition, current flow through the current path can be selectively controlled. Additionally, if the electroplated feature is an anti-fuse device, current flow through this current path can also be selectively controlled in order to program the anti-fuse device.
US08242574B2
A method for forming an isolation layer of a semiconductor device includes forming a trench in a substrate, forming a high-density plasma (HDP) oxide layer filling a portion of the trench, forming a spin-on-dielectric (SOD) oxide layer having a certain height over the HDP oxide layer, performing a thermal treatment, and forming an enhanced high-aspect-ratio process (eHARP) oxide layer filling another portion of the trench over the SOD oxide layer.
US08242572B2
A semiconductor apparatus includes, below a high-voltage wiring, a p− diffusion layer in contact with an n drain buffer layer and a p+ diffusion layer in contact with a p− diffusion layer for reducing the electric field strength in an insulator film, which the high-voltage wiring crosses over. Reducing electric field strength in the insulator film prevents lowering of breakdown voltage of a high-voltage NMOSFET, break down of an interlayer insulator film, and impairment of isolation breakdown voltage of a device isolation trench. The semiconductor apparatus according to the invention facilitates bridging a high-voltage wiring from a high-voltage NMOSFET and such a level-shifting device to a high-voltage floating region crossing over a device isolation trench without impairing the breakdown voltage of the high-voltage NMOSFET, without breaking down the interlayer insulator film and without impairing the isolation breakdown voltage of the device isolation trench.
US08242566B2
A stacked electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection clamp (99, 100-104) for protecting associated devices or circuits (24) comprises two or more series coupled (stacked) bipolar transistors (70, 700) whose individual trigger voltages Vt1 depend on their base-collector spacing D. A first (70-1, 700-1) of the transistors (70, 700) has a spacing DZ1 chosen within a D range Z1 whose slope (ΔVt1/ΔD) has a first value (ΔVt1/ΔD)Z1, and a second (70-2, 700-2) of the transistors (70, 700) has a spacing value D(Z2 or Z3) chosen within a D range Z2 or Z3 whose slope (ΔVt1/ΔD) has a second value (ΔVt1/ΔD)(Z2 or Z3) less than the first value (ΔVt1/ΔD)Z1. The sensitivity of the ESD stack trigger voltage Vt1STACK to base-collector spacing variations ΔD during manufacture is much reduced, for example, by as much as 50% for a 2-stack and more for 3-stacks and beyond. A wide range of Vt1STACK values can be obtained that are less sensitive to unavoidable manufacturing spacing variations ΔD.
US08242563B2
A semiconductor device includes a semiconductor layer overlapping with a gate electrode and having an impurity region outside a region which overlaps with the gate electrode; a first conductive layer which is provided on a side provided with the gate electrode of the semiconductor layer and partially in contact with the impurity region; an insulating layer provided over the gate electrode and the first conductive layer; and a second conductive layer which is formed in the insulating layer and in contact with the first conductive layer through an opening at least part of which overlaps with the first conductive layer.
US08242552B2
Disclosed herein is a storage element including: a first electrode; a second electrode formed in a position opposed to the first electrode; and a variable-resistance layer formed so as to be interposed between the first electrode and the second electrode. The first electrode is a tubular object, and is formed so as to be thicker on an opposite side from the variable-resistance layer than on a side of the variable-resistance layer.
US08242544B2
A method for reducing resist poisoning is provided. The method includes forming a first structure in a dielectric on a substrate and reducing amine related contaminants from the dielectric and the substrate created after the formation of the first structure. The method further includes forming a second structure in the dielectric. A first organic film may be formed on the substrate which is then heated and removed from the substrate to reduce the contaminant. Alternatively, a plasma treatment or cap may be provided. A second organic film is formed on the substrate and patterned to define a second structure in the dielectric.
US08242543B2
A semiconductor manufacturing process for wafer-to-wafer stacking of a reconstituted wafer with a second wafer creates a stacked (3D) IC. The reconstituted wafer includes dies, die interconnects and mold compound. When stacked, the die interconnects of the reconstituted wafer correspond to die interconnects on the second wafer. Wafer-to-wafer stacking improves throughput of the manufacturing process. The reconstituted wafer may include dies of different sizes than those in the second wafer. Also, the dies of the reconstituted wafer may be singulated from a wafer having a different size than the second wafer. Thus, this wafer-to-wafer manufacturing process may combine dies and/or wafers of dissimilar sizes.
US08242534B2
The present invention improves the performance of a semiconductor device formed with a triac. A thyristor is formed between a back surface electrode and an electrode by p-type semiconductor regions, an n-type substrate region, p-type semiconductor regions and an n-type semiconductor region. A thyristor is formed therebetween by the p-type semiconductor regions, the n-type substrate region, the p-type semiconductor regions and an n-type semiconductor region. The two thyristors are opposite in the direction of currents flowing between the back surface electrode and the electrode. The p-type semiconductor region of a high impurity concentration is formed so as to be internally included in the p-type semiconductor region of a low impurity concentration. The p-type semiconductor region of a low impurity concentration is interposed between the p-type semiconductor region of a high impurity concentration and the n-type substrate region.
US08242533B2
High- and low-side surface voltage sustaining regions are produced utilizing optimum surface variation lateral doping. Schottky junctions are formed by depositing metal (M) on an n-type region having the lowest potential, taking M as the anode AL or AH of the Schottky diode, and ohmic contact is formed at the portion having the highest potential, taken as the cathode KL or KH of the Schottky diode. The potentials refer to a reverse bias applied to the Schottky diode. Each voltage-sustaining region is isolated and can be divided into several sections with isolation region inserted between them. A Schottky diode is formed in each section and connected to each other in series. A lateral Schottky diode and an n-MOST can be formed within a single voltage-sustaining region. The source region and drain region are connected directly to the anode and cathode of the Schottky junction, respectively.
US08242519B2
A package structure of a light emitting diode for a backlight comprises a long-wavelength LED die and a short-wavelength LED die. The lights emitted from the two LED dies are mixed with the light emitted from excited fluorescent powders for serving as the backlight of a liquid crystal display. A partition plate is disposed between the two LED dies for separating them from each other. The effective light output of the package structure is increased because each of the two LED dies cannot absorb the light from the other.
US08242480B2
A light emitting device is provided that includes at least one first semiconductor material layers and at least one second semiconductor material layers. At least one near-direct band gap material layers are positioned between the at least one first semiconductor layers and the at least one second semiconductor material layers. The at least one first semiconductor layers and the at least one second material layers have a larger band gap than the at least one near-direct band gap material layers. The at least one near-direct band gap material layers have an energy difference between the direct and indirect band gaps of less than 0.5 eV.
US08242478B2
A typical switching device according to the present invention comprises first insulating layer 1003 having an opening and made of a material for preventing metal ions from being diffused, first electrode 104 disposed in the opening and including a material capable of supplying the metal ions, ion conduction layer 105 disposed in contact with an upper surface of the first electrode 104 and capable of conducting the metal ions, and second electrode 106 disposed in contact with an upper surface of the ion conduction layer 105 and including a region made of a material incapable of the metal ions. A voltage is applied between the first electrode 104 and the second electrode 106 for controlling a conduction state between the first electrode 104 and the second electrode 106.
US08242477B2
An inspection system for inspecting a sheet of glass comprises an illumination module, a collimating lens system, a telecentric imaging lens system and a Time Delay Integration line-scan camera. The illumination module has a low coherence light source emitting light. The collimating lens system has a focal point on the main axis thereof on which focal point its light source is located. The collimating lens system produces a collimated sheet of light from the emitted light. This collimated sheet of light passes through the sheet of glass. The telecentric imaging lens system concentrates the sheet of light passed through the sheet of glass on an image formation plane.
US08242475B1
A UV liquid gel solidifying device includes a support member, a UV LED module, a top cover, and a base. The UV LED module is installed on the support member and emits light into a first chamber of the support member. The support member is disposed on the base, and the base has a third chamber defined there beneath. The top cover is assembled on the support member and has a slide cover slideably mounted thereto. When the slide cover moves toward a first direction, the first open end and the second open end are opened so that the user's fingernails can be put in the first chamber for treatment. When the slide cover is released to revert back to close the first open end and the second open end, the user's eyes can avoid from being directly exposed to the UV light. When the toenails are to be treated, the base can be conveniently disassembled from the support member, and the toenails to be treated are inserted into the first chamber for treatment.
US08242471B2
A radiation source includes a radiation emitter configured to emit radiation, a collector configured to collect the radiation, and a contamination trap configured to trap contamination emitted by the radiation source. The contamination trap includes a plurality of foils that extend substantially radially, a first magnet ring configured to lie outside of an outer conical trajectory of radiation that is collected by the collector, and a second magnet ring configured to lie within the trajectory of radiation that is collected by the collector. The magnet rings are configured to provide a magnetic field that includes a component that is parallel to the foils.
US08242468B2
Ion implanters are especially suited to meet process dose and energy demands associated with fabricating photovoltaic devices by ion implantation followed by cleaving.
US08242463B2
A system and method for imaging biological samples on multiple surfaces of a support structure are disclosed. The support structure may be a flow cell through which a reagent fluid is allowed to flow and interact with the biological samples. Excitation radiation from at least one radiation source may be used to excite the biological samples on multiple surfaces. In this manner, fluorescent emission radiation may be generated from the biological samples and subsequently captured and detected by detection optics and at least one detector. The detected fluorescent emission radiation may then be used to generate image data. This imaging of multiple surfaces may be accomplished either sequentially or simultaneously. In addition, the techniques of the present invention may be used with any type of imaging system. For instance, both epifluorescent and total internal reflection methods may benefit from the techniques of the present invention.
US08242461B2
An integrated test element (110) is proposed for detecting for detecting at least one analyte in a sample (142), in particular in a liquid sample (142). The integrated test element (110) has a carrier element (112), with an application face (114) on which at least one organic electroluminescent component (126) is applied. Furthermore, at least one indicator substance (136) is applied on the application face (114), which indicator substance (136) alters at least one optical characteristic, in particular an emission characteristic (e.g. a fluorescence characteristic), when it comes into contact with the at least one analyte. Furthermore, the integrated test element (110) has at least one photodetector element (116).
US08242459B2
The current invention involves a desorption corona beam ionization source/device for analyzing samples under atmospheric pressure without sample pretreatment. It includes a gas source, a gas flow tube, a gas flow heater, a metal tube, a DC power supply and a sample support/holder for placing the samples. A visible corona beam is formed at a sharply pointed tip at the exit of the metal tube when a stream of inert gas flows through the metal tube that is applied with a high DC voltage. The gas is heated for desorbing the analyte from solid samples and the desorbed species are ionized by the energized particles embedded in the corona beam. The ions formed are then transferred through an adjacent inlet into a mass spectrometer or other devices capable of analyzing ions. Visibility of the corona beam in the current invention greatly facilitates pinpointing a sampling area on the analyte and also makes profiling of sample surfaces possible.
US08242457B2
A charged particle shaped beam column includes: a charged particle source; a gun lens configured to provide a charged particle beam approximately parallel to the optic axis of the column; an objective lens configured to form the charged particle shaped beam on the surface of a substrate, wherein the disk of least confusion of the objective lens does not coincide with the surface of the substrate; an optical element with 8N poles disposed radially symmetrically about the optic axis of the column, the optical element being positioned between the condenser lens and the objective lens, wherein N is an integer greater than or equal to 1; and a power supply configured to apply excitations to the 8N poles of the optical element to provide an octupole electromagnetic field. The octupole electromagnetic field is configured to induce azimuthally-varying third-order deflections to the beam trajectories passing through the 8N-pole optical element. By controlling the excitation of the 8N poles a shaped beam, such as a square beam, can be formed at the surface of the substrate. The 8N-pole element can be magnetic or electrostatic.
US08242454B2
A scintillation array and methods of making and using are provided. The array may be a flexible array that can be arranged into two or more flexible configurations. The array may be positioned around a portion of an object so that the array pixels are equidistant from the center or surface of the object.
US08242452B1
The present invention relates to scintillator compositions and related devices and methods. The scintillator may include, for example, a mixed halide scintillator composition including at least two different CsNaLa halide compounds and a dopant. Related radiation detection devices and methods are further included.
US08242447B1
An apparatus and method designed for generating and detecting reflected Terahertz waves using high-transition temperature (Tc) superconducting quantum devices (Josephson junctions) is described and the spectral response of reflected Terahertz radiation is mathematically analyzed to positively identify explosives strapped on a human or animal subject. This embodiment is well-suited for high traffic physical locations currently under surveillance such as security check points and also venues demanding significantly less obtrusive surveillance such as revolving entry doors, moving walkways, and entry gates of an airplane. The apparatus and method detects explosives through clothing without raising privacy concerns.
US08242446B2
A first object of the invention is a radiation detector comprising an energy absorber (203), for absorbing incident radiation (RAD) and thus undergoing a temperature increase; and optical readout means, for detecting said temperature increase; wherein said optical readout means comprises input coupling means (202) for coupling a light beam (2011) to said energy absorber (203) by exciting surface plasmons resonance, a surface plasmons resonance condition being dependent on the energy absorber (203) temperature, and wherein said energy absorber (203) is separated from said input coupling means (202) by a dielectric layer (2032).A second object of the invention is a micromechanical sensor comprising: a micromechanical oscillator and optical readout means (202) for detecting a displacement of said micromechanical oscillator; wherein said optical readout means comprise input coupling means (202) for coupling a light beam (2011) to a conductive surface (2031) by exciting surface plasmons resonance, a surface plasmons resonance condition being dependent on the displacement of said micromechanical oscillator.
US08242442B2
The present invention involves a series of shifting reagents that selectively interact with a targeted functional group of biological molecules, pharmaceutical drugs, small molecules, chemicals, chemical agents, or explosives resulting in a structure selective based drift time shift in the IMS. The invention allows detecting and confirming samples using one or more ion mobility based spectrometers.
US08242437B2
The gas conductance on the ion injection side of a collision cell is made larger than the gas conductance on the ion exit side by providing two ion injection apertures 23, 25 in the collision cell. Due to the different gas conductances, a CID gas supplied through the gas supply tube 31 generally flows in a direction from the ion injection side to the ion exit side in the collision cell, namely, in the ion's passage direction. When the ions injected in the collision cell 20 slow down upon contacting with the CID gas, their progress is assisted by the gas flow, so that the delay of the ions in the collision cell 20 is alleviated. As a result, it is possible to avoid a deterioration in the detection sensitivity of a target product ion and to prevent a ghost peak caused by the stay of the ions.
US08242436B2
A neutron porosity measurement device uses semiconductor detectors located at different distances from a cavity configured to accommodate a neutron source. Each of the semiconductor detectors includes (i) a semiconductor substrate doped to form a pn junction, and having microstructures of neutron reactive material formed to extend from a first surface inside the semiconductor substrate, and (ii) electrodes, one of which is in contact with the first surface of the semiconductor substrate and another one of which is in contact with a second surface of the semiconductor substrate, the second surface being opposite to the first surface. The electrodes are configured to acquire an electrical signal occurring when a neutron is captured inside the semiconductor substrate.
US08242435B2
Excitation light is split into two components with mutually orthogonal polarization. One component is fed clockwise and the other component is fed counterclockwise into a polarization maintaining loop. An optical conversion generation unit including two second-order nonlinear optical media disposed on opposite sides of a half-wave plate in the loop generates up-converted light from each excitation component by second harmonic generation, and generates down-converted light from the up-converted light by spontaneous parametric down conversion. A polarization manipulation unit manipulates the polarization direction of at least one of the excitation or down-converted components. The clockwise and counterclockwise components of the down-converted light are recombined and output as quantum entangled photon pairs having substantially the same wavelength as the excitation light. The optical components can be optimized for operation at this wavelength without the need to consider the shorter wavelength of the up-converted light.
US08242430B2
A system and method for adaptive analog infrared subtraction during ambient light sensing is provided. The system employs a current mirror circuit to perform an analog subtraction of currents (IIR and IIR+AB) obtained from photodiodes. An ADC is employed to digitize the output signal from the current mirror and, the digitized signal is amplitude modulated at a chop frequency utilized by the current mirror. Further, a digital filer is employed to generate an adjustment signal by filtering the modulated signal and the gain of the current mirror is calibrated by employing the adjustment signal. Moreover, as the adjustment signal converges to a value indicative of the mismatch error of the current mirror, the output signal of the current mirror provides an accurate value of ambient light incident on the photodiode.
US08242418B2
A golf ball bag includes a main housing for receiving one or more golf balls in the receiving cavity, and a temperature controlling device. The temperature controlling device includes a heating plate disposed within the receiving cavity to substantially align with the hitting surface of the golf balls, and a power source supported by the main housing to electrically connect with the heating plate. When the power source is activated, the heating plate is arranged to generate heat and to transfer to the hitting surfaces of the golf balls so as to heat up and maintain the hitting surfaces of the golf balls at an elevated temperature for achieving an optimal performance.
US08242411B2
A method for holding together an electrically non-conductive stack of objects, such as a stack of magazines or foil strips includes forming the stack of objects; and applying to one side of the stack a static polarity with a planar, semi-conductive electrode.
US08242410B2
A welding system is provided, in which two electrodes are directed at a joint between two work pieces and the electrodes are energized with DC pulse or AC welding waveforms at a controlled waveform phase angle. The systems include a synchronizing controller to synchronize the welding waveforms, and a work point allocation system provides one or more work point values to the welding machines to provide synergic control of the welding according to a user selected system work point value or parameter. The systems and methods further provide for synchronized work point value modulation for the opposite sides of a dual fillet weld. The system and method further provide a high energy heat source that directs intense heat at a portion of the weld joint to improve weld penetration.
US08242405B2
A microwave plasma processing apparatus has a microwave antenna in which a wavelength-shortening plate and a cooling portion of a cooling jacket are arranged adjacent to each other.
US08242387B2
An electronic component storing package which generates a large quantity of heat during operation and an electronic apparatus storing such an electronic component are provided. In the electronic component storing package and the electronic apparatus, a heat dissipating member (1) is used which comprising at least five layers including first metal layers (11) having good thermal conductivity and second metal layers (12) having a smaller coefficient of thermal expansion and less thickness compared with the first metal layers (11), the first metal layers (11) and second metal layers (12) being alternately stacked, the first metal layers uppermost and lowermost layers of the layers, a thickness of at least one internally-arranged first metal layer (11a) being thicker than that of the lowermost and uppermost layers. Accordingly, heat generated from the electronic component (5) can be dissipated well to the outside, and a coefficient of thermal expansion of a mounting portion (1a) can be brought close to that of the electronic component (5) or the like.
US08242379B2
A multilayered printed wiring board includes a multilayered core substrate having multiple insulation layers and one or more stacked via structure formed through the multiple insulation layers, and a build-up structure formed over the multilayered core substrate and including multiple interlaminar insulation layers and multiple conductor circuits. The stacked via structure has multiple vias formed in the multiple insulation layers, respectively. Each of the interlaminar insulation layers includes a resin material without a core material. The multiple insulation layers in the multilayered core substrate have three or more insulation layers and each of the insulation layers in the multilayered core substrate includes a core material impregnated with a resin.
US08242374B2
Provided is a flexible-circuit-board cable having a positioning structure. A connection zone is defined in a free end of the flexible-circuit-board cable and is provided with a plurality of conductive contacts. The connection zone has a first surface on which at least one projection section is formed and a second surface. A shielding layer overlaps the projection section and a portion of the first surface. The second surface of the connection zone is also bonded to a shielding layer. When the connection zone of the flexible-circuit-board cable is inserted into an insertion space defined in a connector, the first and second local zones of the connection zone formed by the shielding layers and the projection section are put into engagement with and thus positioned and retained by walls on opposite sides of the insertion space of the connector to thereby fix within the connector.
US08242372B2
Disclosed is a thermally conductive, electrically insulating composite film, including interface layers disposed on the top and bottom surface of a metal substrate, and an insulation layer. Because the film has thermal conductivity and electric insulation properties, it can be disposed between the chips of a stack chip package structure, thereby dissipating the heat in horizontal and vertical directions simultaneously.
US08242365B2
A cover assembly for use on a recessed in-floor fitting. The cover assembly includes a flange configured to be mounted along the surface of a floor and a cover rotatably connected to the flange and configured to be moved with respect to the flange from a closed position covering the interior of the in-floor fitting to an open position allowing access to the interior. The cover includes a gasket that forms a radial seal along an inner wall of the flange when the cover is in the closed position and at least one door that is movable from a closed position that covers up an egress passageway in the cover to an open position that exposes the egress passageway. The door is configured to slide under a top surface of the cover when moved between the open and closed positions and is biased toward the closed position.
US08242361B2
A tuner housing according to the invention comprises a support for carrying electronic equipment and at least one cover part which is attached to the support. The support comprises at least one ground lug which extends through a hole of the cover part. The cover part is provided with a projection which projects into the hole and contacts the ground lug.
US08242358B2
A micro coaxial cable with a high bending performance, having an inner conductor; an insulating layer configured to surround the inner conductor, and a helical winding conductor configured to surround the insulating layer and having an elongation of 1.5 to 4% and a pitch of 3.0 to 5.0 mm.
US08242353B2
A solar cell includes a substrate layer and a plurality of nanowires grown outwardly from the substrate layer, at least two of the nanowires including a plurality of sub-cells. The solar cell also includes one or more light guiding layers formed of a transparent, light scattering material and filling the area between the plurality of nanowires.
US08242351B2
A solar cell concentrator structure includes a first concentrator element having a first aperture region and a first exit region including a first back surface region and a first corner region. The structure also includes a second concentrator element integrally formed with the first concentrator element. The second concentrator element includes a second aperture region and a second exit region-including a second back surface region and a second corner region. Additionally, the structure includes a first radius of curvature of 0.10 mm and less characterizing the first corner structure and the second corner structure, a first coupling region between the first exit region and a first surface region of a first photovoltaic device. The structure further includes a second radius of curvature of 0.10 mm and less characterizing a region between the first concentrator element and the second concentrator element.
US08242343B2
A mount for mounting and affixing an object to a supporting structure, for example, a drum to a drum stand. The mount includes a hanger plate that mounts to the drum and a bracket that mounts to the drum stand. The hanger plate has a downwardly depending L-shaped flange that is received by a cavity in the bracket. Once inserted into the cavity, the weight of the drum translates through the flange to form a locking engagement of the drum to the drum stand such that the drum is supported substantially adjacent to the drum stand.
US08242339B2
According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH604406. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH604406, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH604406 with itself or with another corn plant, such as a plant of another variety. The invention further relates to genetic complements of plants of variety CH604406.
US08242334B1
A soybean cultivar designated 07194277 is disclosed. The invention relates to the seeds of soybean cultivar 07194277, to the plants of soybean cultivar 07194277, to the plant parts of soybean cultivar 07194277, and to methods for producing progeny of soybean cultivar 07194277. The invention also relates to methods for producing a soybean plant containing in its genetic material one or more transgenes and to the transgenic soybean plants and plant parts produced by those methods. The invention also relates to soybean cultivars or breeding cultivars, and plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 07194277. The invention also relates to methods for producing other soybean cultivars, lines, or plant parts derived from soybean cultivar 07194277, and to the soybean plants, varieties, and their parts derived from use of those methods. The invention further relates to hybrid soybean seeds, plants, and plant parts produced by crossing cultivar 07194277 with another soybean cultivar.
US08242324B2
A method of scrubbing mercury compounds and nitrogen oxides from a gas stream employing a scrubbing operation. The method involves the contact of the stream which contains mercury, SOx and NOx compounds with a sorbent to remove at least a portion of the latter compounds. This results in a partially cleaned stream. The method further involves contacting the latter stream with an oxidant to oxidize and remove substantially all residual nitrogen oxides, mercury and mercury compounds remaining in the stream.
US08242316B2
A method for producing 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoropropene and/or 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropene using a single set of four unit operations, the unit operations being (1) hydrogenation of a starting material comprising hexafluoropropene and optionally recycled 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropene; (2) separation of the desired intermediate hydrofluoroalkane, such as 1,1,1,2,3,3-hexafluoropropane and/or 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropane; (3) dehydrofluorination of the intermediate hydrofluoroalkane to produce the desired 1,1,1,2-tetrafluoropropene and/or 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropene, followed by another separation to isolate the desired product and, optionally, recycle of the 1,1,1,2,3-pentafluoropropene.
US08242311B2
The present invention relates to a process for preparing 2,2-difluoroethylamine of the formula (I) and salts thereof, for example sulphates, hydrochlorides or acetates, which proceeds from difluoroacetonitrile.
US08242297B2
Metal-ligand combination initiators are provided which yield organometallic complexes capable of the polymerization of olefins to high molecular weight polymers. Additionally, these initiators also enable the copolymerization of olefins with functionalized comonomers. These organometallic complexes comprise of a late transition metal with a neutral chelating ligand that contains a Lewis basic functionality in conjugation with an electronically delocalized conduit extending from the metal to the functionality. This structural feature results in a highly active complex, which generates high molecular weight polymers with unique microstructures. Under particular conditions, the organometallic complexes provide for the living polymerization of monomers and comonomers.
US08242296B2
A method of making biofuels and valuable food and neutraceutical products includes dewatering intact algal cells to make an algal biomass, extracting neutral lipids along with carotenoids and chlorophylls from the algal biomass, and separating the carotenoids and chlorophylls. The remaining neutral lipids are esterified with a catalyst in the presence of an alcohol. The method also includes separating a water soluble fraction comprising glycerin from a water insoluble fraction comprising fuel esters and distilling the fuel esters under vacuum to obtain a C16 or shorter fuel esters fraction, a C16 or longer fuel ester fraction, and a residue comprising omega-3 fatty acids esters and remaining carotenoids. The method further includes hydrogenating and deoxygenating at least one of (i) the C16 or shorter fuel esters to obtain a jet fuel blend stock and (ii) the C16 or longer fuel esters to obtain a diesel blend stock.
US08242293B2
Method for the manufacture of organic acid esters of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural by reacting a fructose or glucose-containing starting material with an organic acid or its anhydride in the presence of a catalytic or sub-stoechiometric amount of solid acid catalyst. The catalysts are heterogeneous and may be employed in a continuous flow fixed bed reactor. The esters can be applied as a fuel or fuel additive.
US08242285B2
N-tert-butoxycarbonyl-2-pyrrolidinones represented by the following formula (1). In the formula (1), R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 independently represent a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a cyano group, a linear, branched or cyclic alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, a linear, branched or cyclic alkenyl group having 2 to 10 carbon atoms, which may have a substituent, or the like, R1 and R2 may be linked to form a >C═O group along with the carbon atom to which both are attached, R3 and R4 may be linked to form a >C═O group along with the carbon atom to which both are attached, R5 and R6 may be linked to form a >C═O group along with the carbon atom to which both are attached, or any two among R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 may be linked to form a polymethylene group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms which may have a substituent.
US08242284B1
The present disclosure relates to novel compounds having the structural Formulas (1a,1b), stereoisomers, tautomers, racemics, prodrugs, metabolites thereof, or pharmaceutically acceptable salt and/or solvate thereof as chemotherapy agents for treating of cancer, particularly androgen-independent prostate cancer. The disclosure also relates to methods for preparing said compounds, and to pharmaceutical compositions comprising said compounds.
US08242271B2
The present invention provides compounds, pharmaceutically acceptable compositions thereof, and methods of using the same.
US08242270B2
The invention relates to processes for preparing compounds having the formula, and crystalline forms thereof, wherein Ar is aryl or heteroaryl, L is an optional alkylene linker, and R2, R3, R4, and R5, are as defined in the specification herein, which compounds are useful as kinase inhibitors, in particular, inhibitors of protein tyrosine kinase and p38 kinase.
US08242254B2
The present invention provides compositions, kits and methods for rapid identification and quantification of bacteria by molecular mass and base composition analysis.
US08242250B2
The present invention relates to a novel nucleic acid molecule encoding an amino acid sequence, which is capable of forming a cyclic structure. Cyclization may occur within a cell or cell membrane, or linear forms of the molecules may be circularised or partially circularised, in vitro using isolated enzyme systems or chemical means. The cyclised amino acid sequence is generally in the form of a stabilized folded structure such as acyclic knotted peptide, polypeptide or protein or functional equivalent. The nucleic acid molecules and cyclic and linear peptides are useful inter alia in the generation of molecules having animal or plant therapeutic properties, as well as in a range of diagnostic, industrial and agricultural, including horticultural, applications. Of particular importance is the use of these molecules in the protection of plants, such as crop plants, from pest and/or pathogen infestation.
US08242243B2
The present invention provides a simple and sensitive technology for the detection of CpG methylation in DNA without chemical modification of sample DNA by bisulfite treatment or PCR amplification. Signal generation is based on an Abscription (Abortive Transcription) technology in which DNA signal generators called Abortive Promoter Cassettes (APCs) are bound to target mCpG sites via mCpG target specific probes based on methyl binding polypeptides or methyl binding domains thereof. RNA polymerase produces uniform, short RNA molecules from synthetic promoters in APCs as signals of the presence of methylated CpGs. Detection of CpG methylation and hypermethylation of DNA targets such as CpG islands provides a convenient means for detecting and monitoring cancer in a subject.
US08242242B2
The present invention relates to an artificial transcription factor which can artificially regulate gene expression of an E. coli, wherein the transcription factor comprising zinc finger proteins and transcription factors of prokaryote, and to be engineered E. coli using the same. Specifically, the artificial transcription factors comprising zinc finger domains and transcription factors in E. coli as effector domains are prepared and said artificial transcription library is introduced to E. coli to effectively and artificially regulate gene expression regardless of an activity of endogenous transcription factors in the E. coli and to induce E. coli having various desired phenotypes. Thus, only E. coli having the desired phenotypes useful for industries can be selected and used.
US08242235B2
Objects of the present invention are to provide a purification process that enables Pd and P to be removed effectively, and to provide an electroluminescent material and an electroluminescent device obtained by employing the process. The present invention relates to a process for purifying an electroluminescent material, the process involving treating, with an oxidizing agent and then with a column, an electroluminescent material that contains Pd and/or P as impurities so as to remove the Pd and/or P.
US08242232B2
Disclosed herein are copolymers comprising a repeat unit of formula (I) and at least one of the following additional repeat units of formulae (II and III): wherein at least from about 20% to about 90% of the copolymer is the repeat unit of formula (I), by weight based on the total weight of the copolymer and wherein the variables are as defined herein.
US08242231B2
The present invention relates to an improved process for recycling a coupling catalyst, preferably an amine catalyst in an interfacial polycarbonate manufacturing process. Specifically, the amine catalyst is recycled in an acidic wash water solution.
US08242228B2
The present invention is a low haze thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) prepared from a chain extender mixture that includes an acyclic diol and a mixture of 1,3- and 1,4-cyclohexanedimethanol. The TPU elastomers exhibit good optical clarity, particularly when formed into relatively thick injection molded parts.
US08242224B2
The present invention relates to a polymerizable polymer formed from an N-vinyl amide monomer and containing a polymerizable functionality. In one approach, a dual functional monomer may be employed. In the case where the dual functional monomer incorporates glycidyl methacrylate, a third polymerizable monomer is also included. In a second approach, a monomer with polymerizable functionality can be grafted onto a pre-existing, suitable N-vinyl amide co-polymeric material, yielding a co-polymer comprising a polymerizable functionality. where x+y+z+a=100.
US08242222B2
A polysiloxane includes a structural unit in which a functional group represented by a general formula of (in the formula, each of R1, R2, and R3 is independently an alkyl group with a carbon number of 1 or more and 6 or less and m is an integer of 2 or more and 6 or less), an ester bond or an amide bond, a spacer, and a silicon atom are bonded sequentially.
US08242221B2
The present invention provides polymerization catalyst compositions employing half-metallocene compounds with a heteroatom-containing ligand bound to the transition metal. Methods for making these hybrid metallocene compounds and for using such compounds in catalyst compositions for the polymerization and copolymerization of olefins are also provided.
US08242220B2
Copolymer of ethylene and an alpha-olefin having (a) a density in the range 0.900-0.940 g/cm3, (b) a melt index MI2 (2.16 kg, 190° C.) in the range of 0.01-50 g/10 min, (c) a molecular weight distribution (Mw/Mn) in the range 3.5 to 4.5, and (d) a melt elastic modulus G′(G″=500 Pa) in the range 40 to 150 Pa. The copolymer has a melt index MI2 (2.16 kg, 190° C.) Dow Rheology Index (DRI) and melt elastic modulus G′(G″=500 Pa) satisfying the equations of [DRI/MI2]>0 and [DRI/MI2]<0.0225G′−0.745.
US08242217B2
It is an object of the present invention to provide an epoxy resin curing agent which has a favorable pot life and good storage stability as a curing agent for epoxy resins and from which an epoxy resin cured product having good water resistance and hardness is obtained through curing. The present invention is an epoxy resin curing agent containing a secondary or tertiary branched thiol compound having a substituent on a carbon atom at the α-position to a thiol group, and is also an epoxy resin composition comprising a polyvalent epoxy compound and the epoxy resin curing agent.
US08242216B2
An embodiment of the present invention is a technique to form a resin. A mixture is formed by a curing agent dissolved in the epoxy resin. The epoxy resin contains a first rigid rod mesogen. The curing agent contains a second rigid rod mesogen and one of a hydroxyl, amine, and anhydride.
US08242204B2
Provided is an organic-inorganic nano composite, and more particularly, an organic-inorganic nano composite which is a product formed by the reaction of a styrene-butadiene copolymer; an acryl-based monomer; a living radical polymerization initiator; silica; and a coupling agent, in which radiality is maximized. The organic-inorganic nano composite has excellent tensile and tear properties, and high wet fraction capability. Thus, if the organic-inorganic nano composite according to the present invention is applied to organic filler for tires, rolling resistance can be decreased and wet traction capability can be increased, and the organic-inorganic nano composite can be efficiently applied to a hard coating material as well.
US08242201B2
A pigment dispersion is provided that includes a pigment, a pigment dispersant, a polymer dispersion stabilizer and water, wherein the polymer dispersion stabilizer is an alpha-olefin/maleic anhydride copolymer expressed by the formula (1) below. A recording ink is also provided that includes the pigment dispersion, a surfactant, a water-dispersible resin, a humectant and water. In the structural formula (1), R represents an alkyl group and n is an integer of 30 to 100.
US08242197B2
The present disclosure pertains to a blend of aromatic polycarbonate and polylactic acid, the method for preparing the same and the use thereof. In the present invention a transesterification catalyst is added during the preparing process with regard to the blend of aromatic polycarbonate and polylactic acid to improve the compatibility of the components in the blend. The blend of aromatic polycarbonate and polylactic acid is provided with the good mechanical properties, thermal processibility and flame retardance properties, and can be widely applied to mechanical product or parts, electronic equipments and/or parts, construction material and/or commodities.
US08242196B2
The present invention provides a tire puncture sealant which has a reduced viscosity at low temperatures and better injectability at low temperatures while exerting excellent initial sealing performance and storage stability. The present invention also provides a tire puncture sealant which further has better injectability at high temperatures while exerting the seal retention performance. The present invention relates to a tire puncture sealant including: a natural rubber latex; a tackifier; and propylene glycol, wherein the amount of the propylene glycol in 100% by mass of a liquid portion of the puncture sealant is 55% by mass or more, and also relates to a tire puncture sealant including: a natural rubber latex; a tackifier; propylene glycol; and a nonionic surfactant, wherein the nonionic surfactant is a polyoxyalkylene alkyl ether and/or a polyoxyalkylene alkenyl ether.
US08242182B2
The invention provides a method for preparing water dispersible or water soluble porous bodies and the bodies themselves The bodies have an intrusion volume as measured by mercury porosimetry of at least about 3 ml/g and comprise a three dimensional open-cell lattice containing less than 10% by weight of a water soluble polymeric material and 5 to 90% by weight of a surfactant, with the proviso that said porous bodies are not spherical beads having an average bead diameter of 0.2 to 5 mm. The method comprises the steps of: a) providing an intimate mixture of the polymeric material and the surfactant in a liquid medium b) providing a fluid freezing medium at a temperature effective for rapidly freezing the liquid medium; c) cooling the liquid medium with the fluid freezing medium at a temperature below the freezing point of the liquid medium for a period effective to rapidly freeze the liquid medium; and d) freeze-drying the frozen liquid medium to form the porous bodies by removal of the liquid medium by sublimation.
US08242181B2
An aluminum oxide dispersion comprising from 30 to 99.9% (w/w) of a solvent; and from 0.1 to 70% (w/w) of aluminum oxide nanofibers suspended in the solvent, wherein the nanofibers comprise from 0 to 99.99% (w/w) of γ-AlO(OH) and from 0.01 to 100% (w/w) of γ-Al2O3; and a method of preparing the aluminum oxide dispersion.
US08242180B2
Low sugar solid food product such as a cracker, chip, shelf-stable bread or crouton, that promotes satiety primarily as a result of its high fiber and protein content. The fiber plus protein content, expressed in grams, times n=kcal per portion, where n is from 5 to 10 gives a result from 1 to 3.
US08242177B2
The present disclosure relates to 4-(2-amino-1-hydroxyethyl)phenol derivatives of formula (I) as well as pharmaceutical compositions comprising them, and their use in therapy as agonists of the BETA2 adrenergic receptor.
US08242173B2
The invention features 4-((phenoxyalkyl)thio)-phenoxyacetic acids and analogs, compositions containing them, and methods of using them as PPAR modulators to treat or inhibit the progression of, for example, dyslipidemia.
US08242153B2
The invention relates to compounds of formula I wherein R1, R2, X, Y, and n are defined in the specification and to pharmaceutically acceptable acid addition salts thereof. The invention also provides pharmaceutical compositions and methods of manufacture of such compounds. The compounds are useful for the treatment of diseases related to the biological function of the trace amine associated receptors, which diseases are depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, stress-related disorders, psychotic disorders, schizophrenia, neurological diseases, Parkinson's disease, neurodegenerative disorders, Alzheimer's disease, epilepsy, migraine, substance abuse and metabolic disorders, eating disorders, diabetes, diabetic complications, obesity, dyslipidemia, disorders of energy consumption and assimilation, disorders and malfunction of body temperature homeostasis, disorders of sleep and circadian rhythm, and cardiovascular disorders.
US08242148B2
Methods of treating depression, binge eating disorder, narcolepsy, excessive daytime sleepiness, substance use disorders, and Prader Willi syndrome, disorders characterized at least in part by hypocortisolemia and decreased activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis, and disorders related to disturbances in circadian rhythm, comprising the step of administering an effective amount of a histamine type 3 (H3) receptor antagonist, such as betahistine or its pharmaceutically acceptable salts, or its metabolites to an individual.
US08242146B2
The invention relates to the combined use of a PDE4 inhibitor and a conventional NSAID in the treatment of an inflammatory disease and/or an inflammation-associated disorder while minimizing gastrointestinal side effects, such as gastric erosions and ulcer, which are frequently associated with the use of conventional NSAIDs. A preferred PDE 4 inhibitor for this combination is roflumilast or a derivative thereof. A preferred conventional NSAID for this combination is diclofenac or a derivative thereof.
US08242135B2
This invention provides biphenyl derivatives of formula I: wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, W, a, b and c are as defined in the specification, or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt or solvate or stereoisomer thereof. The biphenyl derivatives of this invention possess both β2 adrenergic receptor agonist and muscarinic receptor antagonist activity and therefore, such biphenyl derivatives are useful for treating pulmonary disorders, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and asthma.
US08242134B2
The invention relates to compounds useful in therapy, in particular in the treatment of psychosis, to compositions comprising said compounds, and to methods of treating diseases comprising the administration of said compounds.
US08242130B2
The present disclosure provides non-naturally occurring polyphenol compounds that upregulate the expression of Apolipoprotein A-I (ApoA-I). The disclosed compositions and methods can be used for treatment and prevention of cardiovascular disease and related disease states, including cholesterol or lipid related disorders, such as, e.g., atherosclerosis.
US08242127B2
The present invention relates to derivatives of pyrimido[6,1-a]isoquinolin-4-one and their application as inhibitors of phosphodiesterase (PDE) isoenzymes. More particularly the invention relates to derivatives of pyrimido[6,1-a]isoquinolin-4-one and their use in medicine for example as bronchodilators with anti-inflammatory properties.
US08242113B2
Disclosed is a novel oxazolidinone derivative, particularly a novel oxazolidinone compound with a cyclic amidoxime or cyclic amidrazone group. Also disclosed is a pharmaceutical antibiotic composition including a novel oxazolidinone derivative, in vivo hydrolysable ester thereof, in vivo hydrolysable phosphate ester thereof, an isomer thereof or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof as an effective ingredient. Because the novel oxazolidinone derivative, in vivo hydrolysable ester thereof, in vivo hydrolysable phosphate ester thereof, an isomer thereof or a pharmaceutically acceptable salt thereof exhibits a wide antibacterial spectrum against resistant bacteria, a low toxicity, and a strong antibacterial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, it can be usefully used as an antibiotic.
US08242110B2
The present invention relates to the use of at least one antihistamine agent for the preparation of a medicament for use in the preventive or early treatment of inflammatory syndromes of viral origin, in particular arthritis of the distal joints, more particularly those triggered by togaviruses. The invention also relates to a combination product of at least one antihistamine agent and of at least one antiserotonin agent for its simultaneous, separate or sequential use in preventive or early therapy for inflammatory syndromes of viral origin, in particular arthritis of the distal joints, more particularly those triggered by togaviruses.
US08242105B2
The invention relates to compounds of general formula (I), which can be used particularly as structural mimetics of proline-rich peptides and are therefore capable of binding PRM binding domains (proline-rich motif binding domains) of proteins. The invention also relates to the use of said compounds as pharmaceutical active agents and the use of these pharmaceutical active agents for treating bacterial diseases, neurodegenerative diseases and tumors.
US08242102B2
The present invention relates to novel quinoline compounds. The compounds possess valuable therapeutic properties and are particularly suitable, for treating diseases that respond to modulation of the serotonin 5-HT6 receptor. wherein R is a moiety of the formula wherein A, R1 to R4 are as defined in the claims and the specification, n is 0, 1 or 2; m is 0, 1, 2 or 3; Ra, Rb are independently selected from the group consisting of halogen, CN, C1-C4-alkyl, C1-C4-haloalkyl, C1-C4-alkoxy, C1-C4-haloalkoxy, C(O)Raa, C(O)NRccRbb and NRccRbb; X is CH2, C(O), S, S(O) or S(O)2; which is located in the 3- or 4-position of the quinoline ring; Ar is a radical Ar1, Ar2—Ar3 or Ar2—O—Ar3, wherein Ar1, Ar2 and Ar3 are each independently selected from the group consisting of aryl or hetaryl wherein aryl or hetaryl moieties may be unsubstituted or may carry 1, 2, 3 substituents Rx, wherein and physiologically tolerated acid addition salts and the N-oxides thereof.
US08242097B2
The present disclosure relates to the cosmetic use of grafted polysaccharide compounds comprising at least one non-polymer siloxane graft that may be obtained by reacting a polysaccharide and a siloxane compound corresponding to formula (I), such as for the cosmetic treatment of keratin materials. The disclosure also relates to compositions comprising the grafted polysaccharide compounds in a cosmetically acceptable medium, and also to certain novel grafted polysaccharide compounds comprising at least one non-polymer siloxane graft.
US08242093B2
The invention provides methods for treating ocular diseases using a recombinant vehicle to express a protein useful in the treatment of ocular disease, with particular preference for use of neurotrophin-4 (NT4) for targeting subpopulations of cells in the retina. A genetically engineered gene transfer vector containing sequences encoding a growth factor such as neurotrophin-4 (NT4) is used to transduce cells of the retinal ganglion cell (RGC) layer, in situ, via administration of the vector intravitreally. Accordingly, methods are disclosed for treating subjects in need thereof by therapeutic protein delivery via a recombinant expression vector, including rescue of photoreceptors by targeting the RGC layer subpopulation of retinal cells.
US08242090B2
The present invention provides a method of preventing or reducing restenosis, neointima formation, graft failure, atherosclerosis, angiogenesis and/or solid tumor growth in a subject The method comprises administering to the subject a prophylactically effective dose of a nucleic acid which decreases the level of c-Jun mRNA, c-Jun mRNA translation or nuclear accumulation or activity of c-Jun. It is preferred that the nucleic acid is a DNAzyme that targets c-Jun mRNA.
US08242086B2
The present invention provides methods and compositions for treating a disorder associated with a deficiency in a gene product of a CLN gene in a subject (e.g., neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (NCL)), comprising administering to the subject an effective amount of a sphingolipid (e.g., galactosylceramide, ceramide, lysophosphatidic acid, sulfatide and any combination thereof), thereby treating the disorder in the subject.
US08242084B2
The present invention provides a novel tumor antigen peptide and its cancer vaccine, specifically, a peptide dimer wherein two peptide monomers consisting of 7-30 amino acids including at least one cysteine residue and being capable of producing a tumor antigen peptide are bound each other through a disulfide bond.
US08242082B2
The present invention provides a novel peptide based on CAP11 as well as provides an antibacterial agent, an LPS-cell-binding inhibitor, and a drug such as a bacterial-infection-treating agent or an endotoxin-shock suppressant, each containing the peptide as an active ingredient. The peptide has the following amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 1): X01 X02 X03 X03 X04 X02 X03 X03 X05 X04 X03 X04 X02 X01 X03 X02 X05 X03 (wherein X01 represents a cationic amino acid residue or a polar uncharged amino acid residue, X02 represents a non-polar amino acid residue, X03 represents a cationic amino acid residue, X04 represents a non-polar amino acid residue or a cationic amino acid residue, and X05 represents a non-polar amino acid residue or a polar uncharged amino acid residue). Each of the antibacterial agent, lipopolysaccharide-cell-binding inhibitor, and drug (e.g., bacterial-infection-treating agent or endotoxin-shock suppressant) contains the peptide as an active ingredient. The present invention also provides for a peptide comprised of a sequence of cationic and non-polar or polar uncharged amino acids forming an α-helix wherein the amino acids are arranged along the α-helix such that when represented as a helical wheel, there is a substantial bi-lateral symmetry between cationic versus non-polar or polar uncharged amino acids.
US08242081B2
The present invention concerns cell-penetrating peptides which comprise an amino acid sequence consisting of GLX9RALX9RX1LX2RSLX9X3X4X5X6X7X8 (SEQ ID No: 1), wherein X1 is A, L or G, X2 is W or none, X3 is R or K, X4 is K, L or S, X5 is L or K, X6 is R or W, X7 is K or S, and X8 is A, V or Q, and X9 is W, F or Y. These CPPs can be used as vectors for delivering nucleic acids and/or proteins and/or peptides to cells, in vitro or in vivo.
US08242080B2
The invention provides methods and compositions for the modulation of EGFR activity. In particular, inhibition of EGFR activation through an allosteric mechanism is discloses, as is a method for targeted drug discovery and design based on models of the three dimensional structure of the kinase domains of the protein dimers.
US08242074B2
The invention is based on the discovery that interleukin-1 alpha (IL-1alpha) is expressed on the proinflammatory CD14+CD16+ monocyte subset. Importantly, since IL-1alpha appears to be almost exclusively expressed on this monocyte subset and not other leukocytes, it represents an ideal marker for targeting the CD14+CD16+ monocyte subset. The effectiveness of an agent that depletes such pathogenic cells or modulates IL-1alpha function on such cells type can be monitored by assessing CD14+CD16+ monocyte levels or functionality.
US08242073B2
The present invention relates to a process of making biodegradable and/or bioabsorbable biomaterials and keratin nonwoven fibrous articles by electrospinning fibers from a blend of biomaterials and keratin dissolved in organic solvents includes generating a high voltage electric field between oppositely charged biomaterials and keratin fluid in a syringe with a capillary tip and a metallic collection roller and causing a jet to flow to the roller as solvent evaporates and collecting fibrous membranes or scaffolds on the roller. Keratin increased the cell affinity of biomaterial scaffolds which have potential medical applications.
US08242072B2
Disclosed are antagonists of IL-17A and IL-17F. The antagonists are based on soluble IL-17RA and IL-17RC fusion proteins, including hybrid soluble receptors comprising portions of both IL-17RC and IL-17RA (“IL-17RC/IL-17RA”). Such antagonists serve to block, inhibit, reduce, antagonize or neutralize the activity of IL-17F, IL-17A, or both IL-17A and IL-17F. Also disclosed are methods of using such antagonists for treating disease, particularly inflammatory diseases mediated at least in part by IL-17A and/or IL-17F.
US08242071B2
A process is disclosed for preparing a fabric softener composition containing a quaternary ammonium salt, and a silicone or organic oil. The process involves forming a thick phase aqueous dispersion of the quaternary ammonium salt with the silicone or organic oil, and further admixing additional water to form a fabric softener composition.
US08242065B2
A grease composition, which comprises a base oil selected from at least one of synthetic hydrocarbon oil, ester-based synthetic oil, and ether-based synthetic oil; a thickening agent selected from at least one of lithium-based soap, lithium-based complex soap, and a urea-based compound; polytetrafluoroethylene resin powders having a number average molecular weight Mn of 20,000-100,000; and zinc dialkyldithiophosphate having straight or branched alkyl groups of at least 3 carbon atoms, preferably 5-13 carbon atoms, and more preferably 8-12 carbon atoms, has not only a distinguished lubricability, when applied to plastic members, but also a distinguished durability as given by change in friction coefficient and wear loss, after the sliding test.
US08242063B2
A lubricating grease composition comprising base oil and a blended thickener which comprises, as the thickener constituents, (a) one or more urea-type compounds; (b) one or more fatty acid metal salts; and (c) at least one type of amide compound selected from the group comprised of aliphatic amides and aliphatic bisamides shown by the general formulae (1) and (2): R1CONH2 (1) R1CONHR2NHCOR1 (2) wherein R1 denotes a saturated or unsaturated alkyl group having from 15 to 17 carbon atoms and R2 denotes a methylene group or an ethylene group and wherein the blending weight proportions of (a), (b) and (c) are in the ratio of a/(b+c) is in the range of from 0.20 to 10 wherein (1) constituent (a) has a blending weight ratio in the range of from 1 to 10; (2) constituent (b) has a blending weight ratio in the range of from 0.5 to 2.5; and (3) constituent (c) has a blending weight ratio in the range of from 0.5 to 2.5.
US08242060B2
Stable solutions of zirconium hydroxyalkylethylene diamine complex and use in oil field applications
A clear, stable, salt-free solution of a 1:1 molar complex of zirconium and N,N,N′,N′-tetrakis-(2-hydroxypropyl)ethylene diamine. The solution can be used in a cross-linking composition comprising a cross-linkable organic polymer for oil field applications such as fluid fracturing and plugging permeable zones in subterranean formations.
US08242058B2
Methods and reagents for site-selective functionalization of peptides and proteins. The methods most generally involve the reaction of a thioester with hydrazine. Reagents include bifunctional reagents of formula: H2N—NH—CH2-M-L-FG and salts thereof where M is a single bond or a chemical group carrying a non-bonding electron pair, such as —C(O)NR′—, where R′ is H, or an alkyl or aryl group; L is an optional linker group as described above; and FG is a functional group having reactivity that is orthongonal to that of the hydrazine group. FG can, among others, be an azide, alkenyl, alkynyl, nitrile (—CN) or triazole group and is preferably an azide group (—N3). Methods and reagents can, for example, be combined with intein-mediated protein splicing to link proteins or fragments thereof to various chemical species or to a surface. Surface immobilization of proteins via the methods herein results in immobilized proteins which substantially retain biological activity and is thus useful for the generation of peptide or protein microarrays. Kits for functionalization and/or immobilization of peptides and proteins are provided as well as microarrays of peptides, proteins or both.
US08242047B2
The present invention relates to an oxide catalyst and a phosphoric oxide catalyst for hydrocarbon steam cracking, method for preparing the same and a method for preparing olefin by using the same. More precisely, the present invention relates to an oxide catalyst for hydrocarbon steam cracking represented by formula 1 and a phosphoric oxide catalyst for hydrocarbon steam cracking represented by formula 3 which would be used for the production of olefin such as ethylene and propylene by hydrocarbon steam cracking, and a method for preparing the same. The present invention provides an oxide catalyst and a phosphoric oxide catalyst for hydrocarbon steam cracking that has excellent thermo-stability at high temperature and improved olefin yield. CrZrjAkOx [Formula 1] CrZrjAkPlOx [Formula 3] Wherein, j, k, l and x are as indicated in the description.
US08242046B2
A particulate inorganic oxide containing aluminum oxide, a metal oxide forming no composite oxide with aluminum oxide, and an additional element including at least one of a rare-earth element and an alkali earth element, the inorganic oxide containing a secondary particle formed by aggregating primary particles; wherein at least a part of the secondary particle includes a plurality of first primary particles, each having a particle size of 100 nm or less, containing aluminum oxide and the additional element, and a plurality of second primary particles, each having a particle size of 100 nm or less, containing the metal oxide and the additional element; wherein at least a part of the first and second primary particles has a surface concentrated region where the additional element has a locally increased content in a surface layer part thereof.
US08242045B2
A wash-coat (16) for use as a support for an active catalyst species (18) and a catalytic combustor component (10) incorporating such wash-coat. The wash-coat is a solid solution of alumina or alumina-based material (Al2O3-0-3 wt % La2O3) and a further oxide exhibiting a coefficient of thermal expansion that is lower than that exhibited by alumina. The further oxide may be silicon dioxide (2-30 wt % SiO2), zirconia silicate (2-30 wt % ZrSiO4), neodymium oxide (0-4 wt %), titania (Al2O3-3-40% TiO2) or alumina-based magnesium aluminate spinel (Al2O3-25 wt % MgO) in various embodiments. The active catalyst species may be palladium and a second metal in a concentration of 10-50% of the concentration of the palladium.
US08242038B2
A cement mixture suitable for use with ceramic honeycomb bodies, such as for forming an outer layer on the outer periphery of the honeycomb body, or for forming plugs in the honeycomb body. The cement mixture, when fired, preferably exhibits low coefficient of thermal expansion and high strength. The cement mixture can be applied to a green honeycomb body and simultaneously fired with the green body or can be applied to an already fired ceramic honeycomb body and then fired. Includes cement mixture comprising a plurality of inorganic components comprising talc, kaolin, alumina, silica, and aluminum hydroxide, wherein the mixture contains less than or equal to 18.0% silica and greater than or equal to 17.0% aluminum hydroxide, in percent by weight of the inorganic components.
US08242037B2
Methods of making and compositions of dense sintered ceramic nano- and micro-composite materials that are highly stable in a variety of conditions and exhibit superior toughness and strength. Liquid feed flame spray pyrolysis techniques form a plurality of nanoparticles (e.g., powder), each having a core region including a first metal oxide composition comprising Ce and/or Zr or other metals and a shell region including a second metal oxide composition comprising Al or other metals. In certain aspects, the core region comprises a partially stabilized tetragonal ZrO2 and the shell region comprises an α-Al2O3 phase. The average actual density of the ceramic after sintering is greater than 50% and up to or exceeding 90% of a theoretical density of the ceramic.
US08242036B2
An adhesive resin composition excellent in adhesiveness and heat resistance thereof, film-forming properties, and film quality and a laminate having an adhesive resin layer made of this adhesive resin composition are provided.The Composition is an adhesive resin composition comprising 10-99.5% by weight resin ingredient (A), 0.5-30% by weight another resin ingredient (unsaturated-carboxylic-acid-modified polypropylene), and 0-89.5% by weight still another resin ingredient (olefin resin).Resin ingredient (A): a product of successive propylene polymerization comprising 10-60% by weight (propylene homopolymer) component and 40-90% by weight (propylene/ethylene copolymer) component. The contents of room-temperature-xylene solubles derived from (a2), room-temperature-xylene insolubles derived from (a2), and room-temperature-xylene solubles derived from the same are 1-20% by weight, lower than 20% by weight, and 10-60% by weight, respectively, based on resin ingredient (A). The room-temperature-xylene solubles derived from (a2) have a content of α-olefins excluding propylene of 20% by weight or higher.
US08242035B2
A textile web material impregnated with a mixture that contains at least a prepolymer prepolymerized from a starting material of one or more bifunctional or polyfunctional organic cyanates and from a starting material of one or more bifunctional or polyfunctional aromatic alcohols, wherein the one or more bifunctional or polyfunctional organic cyanates and the one or more bifunctional or polyfunctional aromatic alcohols are present in weight ratios ensuring a molar ratio of the OCN groups to the OH groups between 95:5 and 70:30 prior to prepolymerization. The mixture further contains one or more fillers.
US08242034B2
Phase change memory devices and methods for manufacturing the same are provided. An exemplary embodiment of a phase change memory device includes a bottom electrode formed over a substrate. A first dielectric layer is formed over the bottom electrode. A heating electrode is formed in the first dielectric layer and partially protrudes over the first dielectric layer, wherein the heating electrode includes an intrinsic portion embedded within the first dielectric layer, a reduced portion stacked over the intrinsic portion, and an oxide spacer surrounding a sidewall of the reduced portion. A phase change material layer is formed over the first dielectric layer and covers the heating electrode, the phase change material layer contacts a top surface of the reduced portion of the heating electrode. A top electrode is formed over the phase change material layer and contacts the phase change material layer.
US08242032B2
This invention relates to silicon precursor compositions for forming silicon-containing films by low temperature (e.g., <550° C.) chemical vapor deposition processes for fabrication of ULSI devices and device structures. Such silicon precursor compositions comprise at least a silane or disilane derivative that is substituted with at least one alkylhydrazine functional groups and is free of halogen substitutes.
US08242031B2
A method of depositing a silicon and nitrogen containing film on a substrate. The method includes introducing silicon-containing precursor to a deposition chamber that contains the substrate, wherein the silicon-containing precursor comprises at least two silicon atoms. The method further includes generating at least one radical nitrogen precursor with a remote plasma system located outside the deposition chamber. Moreover, the method includes introducing the radical nitrogen precursor to the deposition chamber, wherein the radical nitrogen and silicon-containing precursors react and deposit the silicon and nitrogen containing film on the substrate. Furthermore, the method includes annealing the silicon and nitrogen containing film in a steam environment to form a silicon oxide film, wherein the steam environment includes water and acidic vapor.
US08242026B2
Provided is a method for performing etching process or film forming process to a substrate W whereupon a prescribed pattern is formed with an opening. The method is provided with a step of mixing a liquid and a gas, at least one of which contains a component that contributes to the etching process or the film forming process, and generating charged nano-bubbles 85 having a diameter smaller than that of the opening formed on the semiconductor substrate W; a step of forming an electric field to attract the nano-bubbles onto the surface of the substrate W; and a step of performing the process by supplying the substrate with the liquid containing the nano-bubbles 85 while forming the electric field.
US08242020B2
A method for producing a semiconductor wafer. The method includes placing the semiconductor wafer in a cutout in a carrier. Both sides of the semiconductor wafer are polished between an upper and a lower polishing plate with a polishing agent until the thickness of the center of the semiconductor wafer is less than the thickness of the carrier and from 10 μm to 30 μm of semiconductor wafer material is removed. The polishing agent contains 0.1 to 0.4% by weight of SiO2 and 0.1 to 0.9% by weight of an alkaline component.
US08242015B2
On a surface of an object to be treated, a Mn-containing thin film or CuMn-containing alloy thin film is formed by heat treatment (CVD or ALD) by using a Mn-containing source gas (or Mn-containing source gas and a Cu-containing gas) and an oxygen-containing gas (for instance, water vapor) as a processing gas. The Mn-containing thin film or the CuMn-containing alloy thin film can be formed with high step coverage in a fine recess formed on the surface of the object to be treated.
US08242013B2
A virtually substrate-less composite power semiconductor device (VSLCPSD) and method are disclosed. The VSLCPSD has a power semiconductor device (PSD), a front-face device carrier (FDC) made out of a carrier material and an intervening bonding layer (IBL). Both carrier and IBL material can be conductive or non-conductive. The PSD has back substrate portion, front semiconductor device portion with patterned front-face device metallization pads and a virtually diminishing thickness TPSD. The FDC has patterned back-face carrier metallizations contacting the front-face device metallization pads, patterned front-face carrier metallization pads and numerous parallelly connected through-carrier conductive vias respectively connecting the back-face carrier metallizations to the front-face carrier metallization pads. The FDC thickness TFDC is large enough to provide structural rigidity to the VSLCPSD. The diminishing thickness TPSD effects a low back substrate resistance and the through-carrier conductive vias effect a low front-face contact resistance to the front-face device metallization pads.
US08242011B2
The disclosure relates to fabrication of to a metal pillar. An exemplary method of fabricating a semiconductor device comprises the steps of providing a substrate having a contact pad; forming a passivation layer extending over the substrate having an opening over the contact pad; forming a metal pillar over the contact pad and a portion of the passivation layer; forming a solder layer over the metal pillar; and causing sidewalls of the metal pillar to react with an organic compound to form a self-assembled monolayer or self-assembled multi-layers of the organic compound on the sidewalls of the metal pillar.
US08242009B2
The present invention provides nanophotovoltaic devices having sizes in a range of about 50 nm to about 5 microns, and method of their fabrication. In some embodiments, the nanophotovoltaic device includes a semiconductor core, e.g., formed of silicon, sandwiched between two metallic layers, one of which forms a Schottky barrier junction with the semiconductor core and the other forms an ohmic contact therewith. In other embodiment, the nanophotovoltaic device includes a semiconductor core comprising a p-n junction that is sandwiched between two metallic layers forming ohmic contacts with the core.
US08241992B2
Methods for producing air gap-containing metal-insulator interconnect structures for VLSI and ULSI devices using a photo-patternable low k material as well as the air gap-containing interconnect structure that is formed are disclosed. More particularly, the methods described herein provide interconnect structures built in a photo-patternable low k material in which air gaps are defined by photolithography in the photo-patternable low k material. In the methods of the present invention, no etch step is required to form the air gaps. Since no etch step is required in forming the air gaps within the photo-patternable low k material, the methods disclosed in this invention provide highly reliable interconnect structures.
US08241990B2
An air gap fabricating method is provided. A patterned sacrificial layer is formed over a substrate, and the material of the patterned sacrificial layer includes a germanium-antimony-tellurium alloy. A dielectric layer is formed on the patterned sacrificial layer. A reactant is provided to react with the patterned sacrificial layer and the patterned sacrificial layer is removed to form a structure with an air gap disposed at the original position of the patterned sacrificial layer.
US08241986B2
The present invention, in one aspect, provides an integrated circuit that comprises a first region of transistors having gate structures with a low dopant concentration, and a second region of transistors having gate structures with a dopant concentration substantially higher than the gate structures of the first region, and wherein the transistors in the first region comprise a substantial portion of the integrated circuit. The transistors may include a resistor region located between an upper portion of the gate and the gate dielectric.
US08241980B2
Stable contact hole forming is attained even when an aluminum oxide film is present between layers provided with contact holes. The process comprises the steps of forming a first element layer on a semiconductor substrate; forming a first interlayer insulating film on the first element layer; forming a second element layer on the first interlayer insulating film; forming a second interlayer insulating film on the second element layer; forming a hole resist pattern on the second interlayer insulating film; conducting a first etching for forming of holes by etching the second interlayer insulating film; and conducting a second etching for extending of holes to the first element layer by etching the first interlayer insulating film.
US08241973B2
The thickness of drain and source areas may be reduced by a cavity etch used for refilling the cavities with an appropriate semiconductor material, wherein, prior to the epitaxial growth, an implantation process may be performed so as to allow the formation of deep drain and source areas without contributing to unwanted channel doping for a given critical gate height. In other cases, the effective ion blocking length of the gate electrode structure may be enhanced by performing a tilted implantation step for incorporating deep drain and source regions.
US08241971B2
Nanowire-channel metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) and techniques for the fabrication thereof are provided. In one aspect, a MOSFET includes a nanowire channel; a fully silicided gate surrounding the nanowire channel; and a raised source and drain connected by the nanowire channel. A method of fabricating a MOSFET is also provided.
US08241970B2
An integrated circuit is fabricated with at least one p-FinFET device and at least one n-FinFET device situated parallel to each other. A first silicon layer having a first crystalline orientation is bonded to a second silicon layer having a second crystalline orientation. The first and second orientations are different from each other. A volume of material is formed that extends through the first layer from the second layer up to the surface of the first layer. The material has a crystalline orientation that substantially matches the orientation of the second layer. Areas of the surface of the first layer that are outside of the region are selectively etched to create a first plurality of fins and areas inside the region to create a second plurality of fins. The etching leaves the first and second pluralities of fins parallel to each other with different surface crystal orientations.
US08241953B2
A method of fabricating a low profile semiconductor package is disclosed including at least first and second stacked semiconductor die mounted to a substrate. The first and/or second semiconductor die may be fabricated with a plurality of redistribution pads formed over and electrically coupled to a plurality of bond pads. After the semiconductor die are formed and diced from the wafer, the die may be mounted to the substrate using a low profile reverse wire bond according to the present invention. In particular, a wedge bond may be formed between the wire and the redistribution pad without having to use a second wire bond ball on the die bond pad as in conventional reverse ball bonding processes.
US08241952B2
A semiconductor wafer contains semiconductor die. A first conductive layer is formed over the die. A resistive layer is formed over the die and first conductive layer. A first insulating layer is formed over the die and resistive layer. The wafer is singulated to separate the die. The die is mounted to a temporary carrier. An encapsulant is deposited over the die and carrier. The carrier and a portion of the encapsulant and first insulating layer is removed. A second insulating layer is formed over the encapsulant and first insulating layer. A second conductive layer is formed over the first and second insulating layers. A third insulating layer is formed over the second insulating layer and second conductive layer. A third conductive layer is formed over the third insulating layer and second conductive layer. A fourth insulating layer is formed over the third insulating layer and third conductive layer.
US08241945B2
Solar cells and methods for fabrication thereof are provided. A method may include forming a via through at least one dielectric layer formed on a semiconductor wafer by using a laser to ablate a region of the at least one dielectric layer such that at least a portion of the surface of the semiconductor wafer is exposed by the via. The method may further include applying a self-doping metal paste to the via. The method may additionally include heating the semiconductor wafer and self-doping metal paste to a temperature sufficient to drive at least some dopant from the self-doping metal paste into the portion of the surface of the semiconductor wafer exposed by the via to form a selective emitter region and a contact overlying and self-aligned to the selective emitter region.
US08241938B2
Methods for forming a conductive oxide layer on a substrate are provided. The method can include sputtering a transparent conductive oxide layer (“TCO layer”) on a substrate from a target (e.g., including cadmium stannate) at a sputtering temperature of about 10° C. to about 100° C. The TCO layer can then be annealed in an anneal temperature comprising cadmium at an annealing temperature of about 500° C. to about 700° C. The method of forming the TCO layer can be used in a method for manufacturing a cadmium telluride based thin film photovoltaic device, further including forming a cadmium sulfide layer over the transparent conductive oxide layer and forming a cadmium telluride layer over the cadmium sulfide layer.
US08241936B2
An improved display substrate is provided to reduce surface defects on insulating layers of organic thin film transistors. Related methods of manufacture are also provided. In one example, a display substrate includes a base, a plurality of data lines, a plurality of gate lines, a pixel defined by the data lines and the gate lines, an organic thin film transistor, and a pixel electrode. The data lines are on the base and are oriented in a first direction. The gate lines are oriented in a second direction that crosses the first direction. The organic thin film transistor includes a source electrode electrically connected to one of the data lines, a gate electrode electrically connected to one of the gate lines, and an organic semiconductor layer. The pixel electrode is disposed in the pixel and electrically connected to the organic thin film transistor. The pixel electrode comprises a transparent oxynitride.
US08241935B2
A method of fabricating a liquid crystal display device having a concave reflector includes forming a switching element on a substrate, the switching element comprising a gate electrode, a semiconductor layer, a source electrode, and a drain electrode, forming a first insulating layer on the substrate including the switching element, forming a plurality of photoresist patterns on the first insulating layer, patterning the first insulating layer to have a concave surface by using the photoresist patterns as masks, and forming a reflector on the first insulating layer having the recessed uneven surface.
US08241933B2
An organic light emitting diode display and a method of manufacturing the display, the organic light emitting diode display including: a substrate; a semiconductor layer formed on the substrate, having a channel region, a source region, and a drain region; a gate insulating layer covering the semiconductor layer; a gate electrode formed on the channel region; and an interlayer insulating layer covering the gate electrode. Source and drain electrodes are formed on the interlayer insulating layer, and are connected to the source and drain regions, respectively. A pixel electrode extends from the drain electrode, in the same plane as the source and drain electrodes. The source and drain electrodes each have a first conductive layer formed of a transparent conductive material, and a metallic second conductive layer formed on the first conductive layer. The pixel electrode is formed from the first conductive layer.
US08241927B2
Methods are provided that relate to the capacitive monitoring of characteristic pertaining to layer formed during the back end-of-the-line (BEOL) processing of a semiconductor device. In one embodiment, a method includes the steps of forming a first capacitor array including first and second overlying contacts each formed in a different one of the plurality of BEOL layers, measuring the interlayer capacitance between the first and second overlying contacts, and converting the measured interlayer capacitance to a distance between the first and second overlying contacts.
US08241918B2
A beverage dispensing device including a housing, a tapping device for dispensing a beverage, a beverage container connectable with the tapping device, a freshness indicator device, a data input unit for recording replacement of the beverage container, a temperature sensor for measuring the storage temperature of the beverage, a temperature controller for adjusting the cooling temperature of a chiller, a storage unit for storing the freshness criteria, and a processing unit. The temperature sensor transmits the current beverage storage temperature to the processing unit and the processing unit calculates, depending on a recorded storage temperature period and based on stored freshness criteria, the actual freshness of the beverage, the time left until expiry of the freshness of the beverage and/or the date of expiry of the freshness of the beverage. The processing unit transmits the calculated data to the display.
US08241916B2
A method allowing an accurate diagnosis of a failure of an oil-filled electrical apparatus resulting from production of copper sulfide even with a small amount of an insulating oil is implemented. A diagnostic method for an oil-filled electrical apparatus for diagnosing a failure of the oil-filled electrical apparatus having a copper part disposed in an insulating oil is implemented by detecting at least one compound of bibenzyl and dibenzyl sulfide in the oil of the oil-filled electrical apparatus, to diagnose a failure of the oil-filled electrical apparatus in accordance with the detected amount of the compound. It is configured such that a failure of the oil-filled electrical apparatus resulting from production of copper sulfide can be diagnosed by detecting a specified substance, which allows an accurate diagnosis of a failure even with a small amount of the insulating oil.
US08241914B2
A method and apparatus for sorting stained particles in a fluid stream, each of the method and apparatus including an epi-illumination optics system with a focusing lens. The optics system being operable to direct a beam of electromagnetic radiation through the focusing lens in a forward direction along a beam axis intersecting particles in the fluid stream at the first location so that the particles pass through the beam, resulting in the fluorescence emissions from the particles being directed along the beam axis in a rearward direction.
US08241911B2
A calibration card and method of using the card to calibrate an analytical instrument capable of reading a photoluminescent oxygen probe. The card includes at least (a) a first mass of an oxygen sensitive photoluminescent dye retained within a hermetically sealed space so as to isolate the dye from environmental oxygen, and in fluid communication with an activated metal-air battery whereby any oxygen permeating into the hermetically sealed space is quickly consumed by the battery, and (b) a second mass of an oxygen sensitive photoluminescent dye in fluid communication with the environment whereby the second mass of photoluminescent dye is exposed to an environmental concentration of oxygen.
US08241903B2
The invention relates to receptors of catecholamines and their role in stem cell development and function.
US08241897B2
During the growth and study of NSCs, a range of molecules present on the surface of multipotent neural stem and progenitor cells (NSCs) were identified. These markers were identified using a number of human and murine neural stem cell lines, including retinal stem cells (RSCs). The NSC-specific markers identified included gene products as well as non-protein molecules and sugar epitopes not directly coded in the genome. Together with surface markers which were determined to be absent from the surface of hNSCs, the molecules described herein provide a means to enrich for neural stem cells, or neural progenitor subpopulations, particularly using combinatorial cell sorting strategies. These same molecules also represent targets for pharmacological manipulation of NSC populations and subpopulations, both in vivo and ex vivo. Furthermore, these molecules provide potential targets for therapeutic manipulation of other neural precursor-related cell types including malignant conditions as well as other diseases originating from, or preferentially affecting, various uncommitted or replication-competent cell types.
US08241893B2
The invention relates to a method of analysing molecular targets contained in a complex mixture, comprising the following steps consisting in: a) bringing the mixture of molecular targets to be analysed into contact with an array of different types of primary probes, whereby each type of primary probe forming the array can bind specifically to a type of target selected from among the molecular targets, under conditions that enable specific binding between the molecular targets and the primary probes; b) optionally eliminating the primary probes that are not bound specifically to a molecular target; c) separating the molecular targets and the primary probes which are bound specifically in a probe/target complex, such as to recover the array of primary probes representing a fingerprint of the molecular targets to be analysed; and d) quantitatively analysing the primary probes eluted in step c.
US08241890B2
A method and device are disclosed for industrial production of immobilized biocatalysts such as enzymes or microorganisms. In the method, a polyvinyl alcohol gel is produced containing the biocatalysts, and the gel is shaped in a stream of drying air. The device includes a continuous conveyor belt. A casting mechanism is positioned above the belt for applying a mixture containing a biocatalyst to the belt. Positioned for the belt to pass through following the casting mechanism, is a drying channel, a reswelling tank, a wiping and collecting device, a rinse box, and a drying channel.
US08241889B2
Strains of Cryptococcus flavescens which are superior antagonists of F. graminearum for suppression and control of FHB in cereals, particularly in wheat and barley, are described. The strains are prothioconazole tolerant variants of previously described C. flavescens OH 182.9 (NRRL Y-30216). Moreover, these prothioconazole tolerant variants exhibit significantly increased efficacy against F. graminearum in comparison to the parent strain OH 182.9.
US08241869B2
A fermentation device for biological degradation of substrate containing organic material and for recovery of biogas produced by degradation has an elongate closed container having a first end and a second end opposite the first end. The first end has an inlet opening for untreated substrate and the second end has at least one removal opening for treated substrate. The container has at least one removal opening for biogas. The container has several reaction cells provided with individually driven mixing units. The mixing units have mixing unit shafts positioned transversely to a longitudinal extension of the container and mixing impellers mounted on the mixing unit shafts and driven on a circular path. The mixing unit shafts are arranged at axial spacings smaller than a diameter of the mixing units so that the mixing impellers when the mixing unit shafts rotate pass trough an overlap range.
US08241852B2
Embodiments of the present invention provide methods and nucleic acid reporter molecules for the detection of nucleic acid in a sample. The nucleic acid reporter molecule comprises two unsymmetrical cyanine monomer moieties, which may be the same or different, that are covalently attached by a linker comprising at least one aromatic, heteroaromatic, cyclic or heterocyclic moiety comprising 3-20 non-hydrogen atoms selected from the group consisting of O, N, S, P and C. The linker may be rigid, relatively flexible or some degree thereof. The unsymmetrical cyanine monomer moieties comprise a substituted or unsubstituted benzazolium moiety and a substituted or unsubstituted pyridinium or quinolinium moiety that is connected by a methine bridge that is monomethine, trimethine or pentamethine. The linkers form the cyanine dimer compounds by attaching to the pyridinium or quinolinium moiety of the monomer moieties. The present nucleic acid reporter molecules find utility in forming a nucleic acid-reporter molecule complex and detecting the nucleic acid. In particular, present nucleic acid reporter molecules with a rigid linker and monomer moieties with a monomethine bridge find utility in detecting RNA in the presence of DNA.
US08241849B1
The invention is directed to isolated genomic polynucleotide fragments that encode human lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2, vectors and hosts containing the fragment and fragments hybridizing to noncoding regions as well as antisense oligonucleotides to these fragments. The invention is further directed to methods of using these fragments to obtain human lipoprotein-associated phospholipase A2 and to diagnose, treat, prevent and/or ameliorate a pathological disorder.
US08241841B2
The present invention provides a process for producing a surface-modified layer system comprising a substrate (2) and a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) (1) anchored to its surface. The SAM (1) is comprised by aryl or rigid alicyclic moiety species. The process comprises providing a polymorphic SAM (1) anchored to the substrate (2), and thermally treating (4) the SAM to change from a first to a second structural form thereof. The invention also provides a thermolithographic form of process in which the thermal treatment (4) is used to transfer a pattern (3) to the SAM (1), which is then developed.
US08241832B2
Topcoat layer compositions are provided that are applied above a photoresist composition. The compositions find particular applicability to immersion lithography processing.
US08241831B2
An acid generating agent represented by the following formula (1) or (2) is provided, which is included in chemically amplified resist compositions: wherein in the formula (1) and (2), X represents an unsubstituted or substituted alkyl group having 1 to 20 carbon atoms and selected from alkyl, haloalkyl and alkylsulfonyl, which may have at least one hydrogen atom substituted by an ether group, an ester group, a carbonyl group, an acetal group, a nitrile group, a cyano group, a hydroxyl group, a carboxyl group or an aldehyde group, or represents a perfluoroalkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms; R6 represents an alkyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, or a heteroatom selected from nitrogen, sulfur, fluorine and oxygen; m is an integer from 0 to 2; and A+ is an organic counterion.
US08241819B2
A sensor for the detection of an analyte, comprising a holographic element comprising a medium and a hologram disposed throughout the volume of the medium, wherein an optical characteristic of the hologram changes as a result of a variation of a physical property occurring throughout the volume of the medium, wherein the medium is obtainable by formation in situ in the presence of a pore-forming agent, wherein the agent is not present in the sensor or does not react with the analyte and the sensor.
US08241817B2
The present invention provides a material and a method for its creation and use wherein a reactive element, preferably a rare earth element, is included in an oxide coating material. The inclusion of this material modifies the growth and structure of the scale beneath the coating on metal substrate and improves the scale adherence to the metal substrate.
US08241815B2
A solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) device having a gradient interconnect is provided, including a first gradient interconnect having opposing first and second surfaces, a first trench formed over the first surface of the first gradient interconnect, a second trench formed over the second surface of the first gradient interconnect, and an interconnecting tunnel formed in the first gradient interconnect for connecting the first and second trenches. A first porous conducting disc is placed in the first trench and partially protrudes over the first surface of the first gradient interconnect. A first sealing layer is placed over the first surface of the first gradient interconnect and surrounds the first trench. A membrane electrode assembly (MEA) is placed over the first surface of the first gradient interconnect and contacted with the first porous conducting disc and the first sealing layer.
US08241813B2
A fuel cell arrangement comprises at least one fuel cell module, each fuel cell module comprises a plurality of fuel cells. Each fuel cell module is hollow and defines a chamber. Each fuel cell module is arranged within an inner vessel and the inner vessel is arranged within an outer pressure vessel. Means to supply oxidant is arranged to supply oxidant to the space within the inner vessel so as to supply oxidant to the cathode electrodes. Means to supply fuel is arranged to supply fuel to the chamber in each fuel cell module so to supply fuel to the anode electrodes. The outer pressure vessel is protected from the high temperature environment of the fuel cells by the inner vessel. The outer pressure vessel forms the main pressure containment of the arrangement and operates at a lower temperature and operates with a greater safety margin than a single pressure vessel arrangement.
US08241809B2
A fuel cell system comprises a fuel gas supply conduit which supplies fuel gas to a fuel cell, a circulation conduit which returns discharged fuel gas discharged from the fuel cell to the fuel gas supply conduit, and a control device. When the control device determines that freezing may occur, the control device releases the discharged fuel gas from a water discharge valve of a gas-liquid separator provided in the circulation conduit to the outside, and reduces the flow volume of the discharged fuel gas returned to the fuel gas supply conduit in order to reduce moisture contained in the gas. Consequently, freezing can be prevented using a simple structure.
US08241802B2
There is provided a fuel cell system in which a constantly accurate impedance measurement is made possible regardless of a response characteristic of the voltage converting device. A superimposed signal analysis section analyzes an impedance measuring signal after passing through a DC/DC converter to thereby notify a superimposed signal amplitude control section of an analysis result. A superimposed signal amplitude control section controls an amplitude value of the impedance measuring signal generated by a superimposed signal generating section based on the result notified from the superimposed signal analysis section.
US08241801B2
An integrated fuel cell unit (10) includes an annular array (12) of fuel cell stacks (14), an annular cathode recuperator (20), an annular anode recuperator (22), a reformer (24), and an anode exhaust cooler (26), all integrated within a common housing structure (28).
US08241791B2
A cathode composition for a lithium-ion battery having the formula Li[M1(1-x)Mnx]O2 where 0
US08241786B2
By combining crimping fixing and laser welding, a collector attached to a substrate of an electrode assembly is fixed to a terminal. A negative electrode terminal 19A has a terminal portion formed on one side of a flange portion, and a cylindrical crimping member 19b on the other side. The cylindrical crimping member 19b is inserted through openings formed in a first insulating member, a sealing plate, a second insulating member, and a negative electrode collector 18a. The cylindrical crimping member 19b is crimped in a diameter-increasing direction, and is mechanically fixed in a countersunk hole 18c of the negative electrode collector 18a. A peripheral portion of a thin-walled portion 19d having a thickness smaller than those of other portions formed at the tip end portion of the cylindrical crimping member 19b is thoroughly adhered and welded by a high energy beam to the edge of the countersunk hole 18c.
US08241778B2
A mobile phone battery includes a battery body and a protecting structure. The battery body includes positive and negative electric poles formed on a side wall of the battery body. The protecting structure is movably set on the battery body. The protecting structure includes a protecting piece. The protecting piece is operable to cover or expose one of the electric poles.
US08241777B2
A battery cover mechanism used in a portable electronic device includes a housing, a releasing assembly and a battery cover. The housing has an assembling surface, an accommodating portion disposed on the assembling surface and at least one latching slot disposed thereon. The battery cover defines a notch therethrough and comprises at least one latch disposed thereon corresponding to the latching slot of the housing for being detachably mounted on the housing. The releasing assembly is releasably assembled within the accommodating portion of the housing and partially accommodated within the notch of the battery cover to release the battery cover from the housing.
US08241774B2
Disclosed is a battery device including a battery enclosure incorporating a battery cell. The battery device further includes an output terminal that outputs power of the battery cell. The battery enclosure includes a first surface, a second surface, a first step surface, a second step surface, a first engaging portion, a second engaging portion, a first groove, and a second groove formed in the second step surface and the second engaging portion, and a recess is provided in at least one of the first step surface and the second step surface.
US08241773B2
Disclosed is a method for preparing an electrochemical device, comprising the steps of: charging an electrochemical device using an electrode active material having a gas generation plateau potential in a charging period to an extent exceeding the plateau potential; and degassing the electrochemical device. An electrochemical device, which comprises an electrode active material having a gas generation plateau potential in a charging period, and is charged to an extent exceeding the plateau potential and then degassed, is also disclosed. Some electrode active materials provide high capacity but cannot be applied to a high-capacity battery due to the gas generation. This is because a battery using such electrode active materials should be charged to an extent exceeding the gas generation plateau potential in order to realize a high capacity. To solve the problems caused by the gas generation, the battery is charged to an extent exceeding the plateau potential, and then degassed. In other words, the problems including variations in outer shape of a battery and degradation in cycle life characteristics and C-rate characteristics of a battery can be solved. After the first cycle, the battery can be charged to an extent exceeding the plateau potential with no further gas generation, thereby providing a significant increase in capacity.
US08241770B2
Polymer ion-exchange membranes having outstanding electrical conductivity, water retention and oxidation resistance are produced by the steps of uniformly mixing an organic high-molecular weight resin with functional inorganics having the abilities to promote graft polymerization of polymerizable monomers, adsorb water and conduct protons, irradiating the resulting functional inorganics/polymer membrane to initiate graft polymerization or graft copolymerization of polymerizable monomers having functional groups, and then introducing sulfonic acid groups into the graft chains.
US08241768B2
It is an object to provide a magnetic disk substrate highly reliable to prevent the occurrence of crash failure even if a magnetic disk is rotated at high speed, and suitable for a hard disk that starts and stops by the load/unload method, and a magnetic disk using such a substrate.The representative structure of a magnetic disk substrate according to this invention is a disk-shaped glass substrate 10 having a generally flat main surface 11, an end face 12, a chamfered face 13 formed between the main surface 11 and the end face 12, and an offset portion, at the periphery of the main surface 11, raised or lowered with respect to a flat surface, other than the periphery, of the main surface 11, and characterized in that the magnitude of the offset portion is approximately uniform over the entire circumference of the glass substrate 10.
US08241755B2
Polymerizable compositions comprising particularly useful for brightness enhancing films.
US08241738B2
Hydroxyl polymer-containing compositions, especially hydroxyl polymer-containing compositions that can be processed into polymeric structures, especially polymeric structures in the form of fibers are provided.
US08241733B2
A method of placing a logo on an article or substrate by placing a contrast sheet behind the logo and a blocking sheet therebetween to prevent a shadow effect. The contrast sheet and blocking sheet may be hidden within the hem of an article.
US08241732B2
Described is a transfer film, in particular a hot embossing film, which includes a carrier film and a transfer layer portion having a structure layer, the transfer layer portion being arranged on the carrier film and being detachable from the carrier film, wherein it is provided that the carrier film has a master relief structure on its side towards the structure layer and the structure layer on its side towards the carrier film has a relief structure complementary to the master relief structure of the carrier film. There is further provided a process for the production of the transfer film and a multi-layer body formed with the structure layer.
US08241725B2
A honeycomb structure whose shape is composed of plural honeycomb segments being bonded integrally by means of a bonding material; the honeycomb structure having inner partition walls with plural first pores and defining respective cells serving as flow channels for exhaust gas, outer circumferential wall having second pores, and surrounding the inner partition walls, and inner partition walls having third pores and contacting with a processed outer circumferential surface becoming an outermost circumference through processing of an outer circumferential portion. A filling composition for the second pores and a filling composition for the third pores having the specified functions respectively are also provided.
US08241719B2
The invention relates to an aluminum alloy product containing, in wt. %: Si 0.2 to 1.4; Fe+Mn 1.1 to 1.8; Cu 0.15 to 0.5; Mg<0.2; Ti<0.2; Zn<1.5; impurities<0.05 each, <0.2 total, balance aluminum. This aluminum alloy product has high resistance to internal pressure when used as core layer for welded multilayer tubing. The invention relates also to a method of manufacturing such alloy product, and the use of such alloy in welded multilayer tubes.
US08241713B2
A process for fabricating an amorphous diamond-like film layer for protection of a moisture or oxygen sensitive electronic device is described. The process includes forming a plasma from silicone oil, depositing an amorphous diamond-like film layer from the plasma, andcombining the amorphous diamond-like film layer with a moisture or oxygen sensitive electronic device to form a protected electronic device. Articles including the amorphous diamond-like film layer on an organic electronic device are also disclosed.
US08241711B2
Disclosed is a method of manufacturing a composite sheet. The method comprises (a) irradiating a sheet of fibers and a matrix film at an irradiation zone with a plasma at substantially atmospheric pressure, and (b) impregnating the sheet of fibers with the matrix at an adhesion zone. The processes (a) and (b) are performed simultaneously, and the matrix film is irradiated with a plasma at said irradiation zone after being unwound from a roller and prior to entering said adhesion zone.
US08241710B2
A method and an apparatus for spraying a track, in particular a conductor track, onto a substrate under mild conditions, includes generating a cold plasma having a plasma temperature of less than 3000 K in a spray lance, introducing a powder into the spray lance with the aid of a carrier gas and leading the powder to a frontal exit opening, where it exits and impinges on the substrate. An electrical component including an electrically conductive conductor track applied to a substrate, is also provided.
US08241705B2
A process for producing a polyurethane coated glove includes steps of: coating a knitted glove with a solvent, wherein the solvent is prepared by a polyurethane resin and a component selected from the group consisting of N-methyl pyrrolidone (NMP), dimethylacetamide (DMAC), and dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), wherein the component participates in synthesizing the polyurethane resin; treating the knitted glove with water bath; drying the knitted glove under 100˜110° C., for 50˜60 minutes; and recycling the component in the solvent from the water after treating with water bath by vacuum decompression.
US08241697B2
The invention is directed to enzyme immobilization compositions comprising: one or more enzymes, a humectant, an acrylic-based monomer, a water-soluble organic photo-initiator and a water-soluble acrylic-based cross-linker in a substantially homogeneous aqueous mixture. The invention is also directed to methods for forming sensors comprising such compositions and to apparati for forming arrays of immobilized layers on an array of sensors by dispensing such compositions onto a substrate.
US08241691B2
Methods for preparing cheese are provided that involve combining a slurry with a cheese precursor to form an admixture that is subsequently processed to form the cheese product. The slurry typically includes a liquid such as water, milk and/or cream and one or more ingredients that are useful for inclusion in the final cheese product. Systems for preparing such slurries and cheese products are also provided.
US08241682B2
Methods of improving a variety of health related factors including, but not limited to weight, cholesterol levels, triglyceride levels and HDL levels, is provided. In one embodiment, a method of reducing LDL cholesterol levels of a mammal in need thereof is provided, the method comprises administering a composition containing an effective amount of Dichrostachys glomerata, to a mammal, whereby the administering of the composition to the mammal is effective in reducing LDL cholesterol levels in the mammal.
US08241680B2
Nutraceutical compositions containing anatabine and Yerba maté extract are efficacious for temporarily reducing the desire to smoke, reducing nicotine cravings, the treatment of smoking cessation, tobacco withdrawal symptoms, tobacco dependence, weight loss, and/or related disorders.
US08241679B2
The present invention relates to a composition comprising an extract of crude drug complex comprising Panax ginseng C. A. Meyer, Acanthopanax senticosus HARMS, Angelica sinensis DIELS, Scutellaria baicalensis GEORGI, prevention and treatment of stroke and neurodegenerative diseases such apoplexy, Alzheimer's disease (AD), Parkinson's disease (PD), Pick's disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease and senile dementia.
US08241672B2
A composition is provided which includes an enriched fish oil as a lipid source. Also provided is a composition which includes a fatty acid of a fish oil and a medium-chain triglyceride, wherein the composition is an oil-in-water emulsion.
US08241670B2
This invention relates to novel penetrating compositions including one or more effectors included within a water soluble composition, immersed in a hydrophobic medium The invention also relates to methods of treating or preventing diseases by administering such penetrating compositions to affected subjects.
US08241667B2
A pharmaceutical composition and dosage form for the treatment of incontinence with oxybutynin and a second drug is provided. The second drug can be darifenacin or tolterodine. Depending upon the route of administration, the dosage form used, and the second drug used, the dosage form may independently include therapeutic or sub-therapeutic amounts of the oxybutynin and the second drug. Particular embodiments include a dosage form that provides a controlled release of oxybutynin and the second drug to maintain therapeutically effective levels oxybutynin and/or the second in a mammal for an extended period of time. An osmotic device containing a bi-layered core is provided. The osmotic device provides a dual controlled release of both drugs from the core. A method of treating urinary (stress or urge) incontinence with the pharmaceutical composition and dosage form is provided. Together, oxybutynin and the second drug provide an overall improved therapeutic benefit over either agent alone when administered at approximately the same dose.
US08241664B2
A drug delivery system for oral administration of hydrophobic drugs with enhanced and extended absorption and improved pharmacokinetics is provided. In one embodiment, formulations comprising testosterone and testosterone esters, e.g., testosterone palmitate, are disclosed. Methods of treating a hormone deficiency or effecting male contraception with the inventive formulations are also provided.
US08241662B2
The present invention provides compositions and methods for administering oxybutynin while minimizing the incidence and or severity of adverse drug experiences associated with oxybutynin therapy. In one aspect, these compositions and methods provide a lower plasma concentration of oxybutynin metabolites, such as N-desethyloxybutynin, which is presumed to be contributing at least in part to some of the adverse drug experiences, while maintaining sufficient oxybutynin plasma concentration to benefit a subject with oxybutynin therapy. The invention also provides isomers of oxybutynin and its metabolites that meet these characteristics of minimized incidence and/or severity of adverse drug experiences, and maintenance of beneficial and effective therapy for overactive bladder. In some aspects, the composition may be presented in the form of an unoccluded or free form topically administered gel.
US08241661B1
A biocompatible film includes a single layer having a plurality of components, at least one of the plurality of components having a predetermined non-uniform distribution in the thickness direction of the single layer. The at least one of the plurality of components that has a non-uniform distribution in the thickness direction of the single layer may have a substantially uniform distribution in the longitudinal and lateral directions of the single layer. The biocompatible film can be made by depositing a fluid composition including a film forming material and at least one other component immiscible with the film forming material and having a density different than the film forming material into a single layer, and drying the single layer such that the at least one other component has a predetermined non-uniform distribution in the thickness direction of the single layer after drying.
US08241660B2
This invention relates to a patch for the expulsion of insect poison from the skin after stings from membranous insects (Hymenoptera). The patch is characterized in comprising a poison-aspirating matrix comprising an expulsion agent as well as a swell layer, which swells after the addition of a liquid through a hole on the top of the patch and thus adds a light pressure to the poison-aspirating matrix towards the skin, whereby a local and relieving effect is achieved. In one embodiment, the matrix further comprises a local anesthetic. The expulsion agent is e.g. a carbohydrate. The swell layer consists e.g. of a silica gel.
US08241659B2
The invention relates to a liquid nutrition comprising short chain fatty acyl chains and a non-digestible, fermentable saccharide. The composition is particular suitable for use as an infant nutrition. The composition is also suitable for treatment and/or prevention of gut barrier related disorders.
US08241657B2
According to an aspect of the present invention, the present invention provides medical devices which contain one or more polymeric regions that are at least partially biodisintegrable in bodily fluid. These devices may be implanted or inserted into a subject for treatment of various diseases, disorders and conditions.
US08241655B2
Biodegradable coatings that include natural biodegradable polysaccharides are described. The coating is formed from a plurality of natural biodegradable polysaccharides having pendent coupling groups.
US08241649B2
Dermatological/cosmetic gel compositions suited for preventing or treating cell differentiation and/or proliferation and/or keratinization disorders, including preventing or treating common acne, comprise (i) at least one retinoid, (ii) dispersed benzoyl peroxide and (iii) at least one pH-independent gelling agent, formulated into (iv) a physiologically acceptable medium therefor.
US08241648B2
Described herein are synthetically modified fullerene molecules, wherein the fullerene is preferably ellipsoid in shape with an equatorial band and two opposing poles, comprising an adduct at one or both poles, at least one adduct being a hydrophobic chemical moiety capable of anchoring the fullerene on or in a lipid membrane.
US08241646B2
The present invention relates to the use of a milled homogenate and/or a suspension and/or a cell lysate, stemming from a tumor resistant to at least one anti-tumoral compound in order to immunize and generate in vitro an antibody, or one of its functional fragments, directed against a tumoral antigen specifically expressed at the surface of said resistant tumor and being possibly involved in the resistance of said resistant tumor. More particularly, the present invention is directed to such antibodies obtained by applying the method, such as the antibodies 1A6, 1A9, 2E11, 3C11 and 3G7, as well as to their use for treating cancer.
US08241638B2
The invention relates to methods for the induction of an immune response to dengue virus. The method of inducing an immune response against dengue virus comprises administration of a non-replicating immunogen followed by a boost with a tetravalent live attenuated viral vaccine. Another aspect of the inventive subject matter is a method of inducing an immune response against dengue virus using a heterologous prime-boost regimen with the priming immunogen comprising a DNA expression system, an adenovirus expression vector or a Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus replicon system and the boosting immunogen comprising the same without the DNA expression system. Each expression system contains DNA sequences encoding dengue viral proteins.
US08241636B2
This invention provides recombinant polypeptides comprising a fragment of a High Molecular Weight Melanoma-Associated Antigen (HMW-MAA), recombinant Listeria strains comprising same, and methods of inducing an immune response and treating and impeding the growth of tumors, comprising administering same.
US08241633B2
The invention provides anti-FGF19 antibodies, and compositions comprising and methods of using these antibodies, methods using anti-FGF19 antibodies, and methods comprising detection of FGF19 and/or FGFR4.
US08241624B2
The present invention relates to specially selected catalase enzymes and their use in reducing hydrogen peroxide in applications, and particularly in aseptic packaging applications.
US08241615B2
The present invention is directed to sunscreen composition comprising: (a) at least one oil- and water repellent emulsifier chosen from polyperfluoroethoxymethoxy difluoroethyl PEG phosphate; (b) at least one hydrophobically-modified emulsifier chosen from inulin lauryl carbamate; (c) at least one gelling agent; and (d) sunscreen actives, and wherein the composition is water-resistant, while not requiring the use of a film-former, and is a stable emulsion.
US08241606B2
The present invention encompasses a method of preparing a radiofluorinated compound by adding a photolabile protecting group, R, to an aminoxy group of a peptide based compound wherein the peptide based compound reacts with a light of a specified wavelength in an automated radiosynthesis apparatus to form a radiofluorinated compound. The present invention further relates to a photolabile peptide based compound.
US08241600B1
A method of catalytically reforming a reactant gas mixture using a pyrochlore catalyst material comprised of one or more pyrochlores having the composition A2B2-y-zB′yB″zO7-Δ, where y>0 and z≧0. Distribution of catalytically active metals throughout the structure at the B site creates an active and well dispersed metal locked into place in the crystal structure. This greatly reduces the metal sintering that typically occurs on supported catalysts used in reforming reactions, and reduces deactivation by sulfur and carbon. Further, oxygen mobility may also be enhanced by elemental exchange of promoters at sites in the pyrochlore. The pyrochlore catalyst material may be utilized in catalytic reforming reactions for the conversion of hydrocarbon fuels into synthesis gas (H2+CO) for fuel cells, among other uses.
US08241594B2
There are provided processes for extracting aluminum ions from aluminous ores. Such processes can be used with various types of aluminous ores such as aluminous ores comprising various types of metals such as Fe, K, Mg, Na, Ca, Mn, Ba, Zn, Li, Sr, V, Ni, Cr, Pb, Cu, Co, Sb, As, B, Sn, Be, Mo, or mixtures thereof.
US08241585B2
A refractory wall is provided. The refractory wall includes a plurality of wall bricks coupled together to define an inner surface of the refractory wall, and a sensor port coupled to the plurality of wall bricks. The sensor port includes an outer wall defining a radial cross-sectional shape of the sensor port and defining a top ridge of the sensor port, an inner wall defining an opening extending through the sensor port, and an end wall extending between the outer wall and the inner wall. The end wall is positioned radially inward a distance from the inner surface. A method for fabricating the refractory wall is also provided.
US08241569B2
This invention relates to lead-free piezoelectric ceramic films and a method of making thereof. Specifically, the invention is directed to a method for fabricating lead-free piezoelectric free standing films having enhanced piezoelectric properties. The films may be used for a number of applications including incorporation in microelectronic devices such as energy harvesting devices and sensor technologies.
US08241566B2
A device for sampling, transporting and/or disposal of fluid media in the nl and μl-range comprises a substrate with and open or closed capillary-like groove or channel respectively, the substrate with the open or closed groove or capillary respectively is bent or arcuated at least at one location. The substrate comprises at least one end into which the open closed capillary-like groove or channel respectively is extended, which end is shaped according to its application or use as e.g. needle-like, straight-lined cut, tip-like, at least most half circle-shape, rounded, etc.
US08241553B2
An injection moulded preform is disclosed which is then blown to form a bottle (16) for containing spices and other material which is ground before use. The preform is moulded with teeth (18, 20) which are on the inside of the part of the preform which constitutes the neck. A rotatable structure which fits onto the bottle has a core which fits into the neck. The core has external teeth which co-operate with the teeth (18, 20) of the preform to define a grinding gap.
US08241547B2
A method for adhering two layers of materials is described. An additional layer of material deposited on one of the layers is used. The additional layer of material is perforated and undercut by etching away one of the layers thereby generating anchor shaped holes. The other layer is then deposited on the additional layer filling the anchor shaped holes therefore, providing adhesion.
US08241539B2
The present invention provides a method of patterning, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a porous film; and (b) adding at least one structure to the porous film. The present invention also provides a patterned film prepared according to the method of the invention. The present invention also provides a method of preparing a porous film, and a porous film prepared according to the method of the invention.
US08241526B2
The present invention relates to electrically conductive polymer compositions, and their use in electronic devices. The compositions are an aqueous dispersion of at least one electrically conductive polymer doped with a non-fluorinated polymeric acid, at least one high-boiling polar organic solvent, and an additive selected from the group consisting of fullerenes, carbon nanotubes, and combinations thereof.
US08241506B1
A system and method for automatically removing debris from a surface of a pool. The apparatus for cleaning debris from a pool surface includes a support and a conveyor belt supported by the support. The conveyor belt is inclined and includes upper and lower ends. The conveyor belt is driven from the lower end to the upper end. A diverter is used for diverting debris from the pool surface to the lower end of the conveyor belt. The diverter is connected at the lower end of the support and configured to be positioned outside a skimmer opening of a pool. The apparatus is positioned at the skimmer opening to receive floating debris prior to entering the skimmer opening. The conveyor belt moves the floating debris to the upper end of the conveyor belt. The debris is then deposited into a receptacle.
US08241505B2
The invention includes ion exchange resins, methods of making ion exchange resins and their use in the removal of perchlorate from water. In one embodiment, the invention comprises a method for removing perchlorate from a water source by contacting the water with an ion exchange resin, wherein the ion exchange resin comprises particles of a crosslinked copolymer comprising: an interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) of at least two polymer components each having a styrenic content greater than 50 molar percent, and a quaternary ammonium functionality.
US08241504B2
A filter unit includes a flexible bag having permeable material on a first side and a second side that allows fluid to pass through the container. Granularized rubber is enclosed within the flexible bag. The granularized rubber filters hydrocarbon products from the fluid.
US08241497B2
The invention relates to a method for stirring and/or aerating fluids, particularly sewage, having the following cyclically repeated steps: aerating the fluid by means of an immersed aerator for a predetermined first period of time (t1) using an aeration device (1) disposed on a carrier (3, 43) designed as a floodable hollow body (2, 42), the hollow body (2, 42) being flooded and air being brought into the fluid by the aeration device, whereby the potential for nitrification is created in the fluid; stirring the fluid by means of the immersed aerator for a predetermined second period of time (t2), the air infeed by the aeration device (1) being throttled or turned off, and previously flooded hollow body being evacuated in order to fill the hollow body (2, 42) with gar or air, the immersed aerator assuming the function of mixing device in which fluid rises upward, thus mixing the fluid, where in the potential for denitrification is created in the fluid; and an immersed aerator.
US08241493B2
A filter system having a filter element ejection device is provided. Filter systems according to the present invention may include a filter element that includes an ejection receiver for receiving actuation action from an ejector of a filter housing. The ejector engages the ejection receiver when a user desires to eject the filter element from the filter housing. Typically, the ejector extends through the filter housing and axially ejects the filter element from the housing.
US08241491B1
Improved methods for removing arsenic from starting liquid hydrocarbons are provided which comprise contacting the hydrocarbons with a composition containing a triazine component and a glycol ether component, allowing the composition to react with the arsenic to create a treated hydrocarbon fraction and an arsenic-rich fraction, and separating the treated fraction from the arsenic-rich fraction. Preferably, the treating composition also includes an alcohol, and is used at a level of from about 1-10,000 ppm.
US08241490B2
A method of upgrading a heteroatom-containing hydrocarbon feed by removing heteroatom contaminants is disclosed. The method includes contacting the heteroatom-containing hydrocarbon feed with an oxidant to oxidize the heteroatoms, contacting the oxidized-heteroatom-containing hydrocarbon feed with caustic and a selectivity promoter, and removing the heteroatom contaminants from the heteroatom-containing hydrocarbon feed. The oxidant may be used in the presence of a catalyst.
US08241480B2
A method of making a housing, comprising the steps of: providing a transparent plastic substrate, the substrate having an outer surface and an inner surface; coating at least portions of the outer surface with a photosensitizer; activating the substrate by using an energy ray to irradiate areas of the outer surface covered with the photosensitizer to form a conductive medium layer thereon; electroplating the activated substrate, an electroplated coating formed on the irradiated area in a predetermined pattern; forming an electrophoretic coating on the surface of the electroplated coating by an electrophoresis process; and forming a paint coating on the inner surface of the substrate. A housing made by the present method is provided.
US08241478B2
An electrodeionization apparatus is provided comprising an ion-concentrating compartment partially bounded by an anion permeable membrane and also partially bounded by a cation permeable membrane, and a first ion exchange material domain disposed within the ion-concentrating compartment, wherein the first ion exchange material domain is contiguous with at least a portion of an ion-concentrating compartment side surface of one of the anion permeable membrane and the cation permeable membrane, and is spaced apart from the other one of the one of the anion permeable membrane and the cation permeable membrane. In the case where the one of the anion permeable membrane and the cation permeable membrane, having the at least a portion of an ion-concentrating compartment side surface with which the first ion exchange material domain is contiguous, is an anion permeable membrane, the first ion exchange material domain is an anion exchange material predominant domain. In the case where the one of the anion permeable membrane and the cation permeable membrane, having the at least a portion of an ion-concentrating compartment side surface with which the first ion exchange material domain is contiguous, is a cation permeable membrane, the first ion exchange material domain is a cation exchange material predominant domain.
US08241468B2
A method for applying a coating by a cathodic is provided. The method includes the steps of: a) providing a cathodic arc coater that includes a power source and utilizes a disk-shaped cathode, the cathode having an evaporative surface extending between a first end surface and a second end surface, wherein the evaporative surface has an area; b) determining a maximum acceptable power density for the evaporative surface; and c) applying a magnitude of electrical current from the power source to the cathode, wherein the electrical current magnitude divided by the area is equal to or less than the maximum acceptable power density for the evaporative surface.
US08241445B2
A method of sealing a construction joint is provided which comprises applying a polymeric sizing to the edges forming the joint, applying a mesh to the joint and applying a further coating of the sizing to said deposited mesh. The sizing material can comprise a styrene-butadiene latex, a filler and at least one of a colorant, an acrylic thickener, dispersant, biocide, defoamer, antifoamer, surfactant and an acid.
US08241441B2
An apparatus for thermally treating and coloring a plurality of curved suture needles. The apparatus includes a conveyer for transferring the plurality of curved suture needles from a source of curved suture needles to a receiver, a housing positioned adjacent the conveyer, the housing having a first end, a second end, and an opening running from the first end to the second end, the opening aligned with the conveyer to enable the plurality of curved suture needles to pass therethrough, a heat source located within the housing for heating the plurality of curved suture needles as the plurality of curved suture needles are transferred by the conveyer from the first end of the housing to the second end of the housing and a system for providing a gas mixture containing a fractional concentration of oxygen to oxidize and colorize the surfaces of the plurality of curved suture needles as the plurality of suture needles pass through the housing. A process for thermally treating and coloring a plurality of curved suture needles to colorize and enhance the stiffness and yield moment of the curved suture needles is also provided.
US08241437B2
The present invention provides a metal sheet rolling method of rolling a metal sheet with a pair of rolls, as well as a rolled sheet manufactured by the metal sheet rolling method. In the metal sheet rolling method, respective interfaces between the pair of rolls and the metal sheet have mutually different frictions. Additionally at least one of the interfaces may be lubricated by a procedure other than lubrication by coating of a liquid lubricant agent. Alternatively at least one of the interfaces may be subjected to surface treatment by a procedure other than lubrication, or otherwise the pair of rolls may be made of mutually different materials.
US08241434B2
A dishwasher which uses a high voltage DC motor to drive a pump. The dishwasher cleans dishes and cooking and eating utensils by the use of a high pressure water spray driven by an electric pump which circulates water. The DC motor may have a built in motor controller to allow the motor to have a soft start, multiple speeds, smooth ramping between speeds and load control. This allows for an energy efficient system and noise prevention.
US08241433B2
A method for dispensing a first treating agent and a second treating agent into the washing tub of a dishwasher includes providing each of first and second reservoirs with a sensor for monitoring its fill level. After a first dispensing operation, a controller compares the sensor signals and determines whether a ratio of the fill levels deviates from a ratio of the capacities of the reservoirs. The controller elects either a standard or an alternative subsequent dispensing operation based on whether the fill level ratio deviates from the capacity ratio. The controller chooses the standard subsequent dispensing operation if the fill level ratio does not deviate from the capacity ratio and chooses the alternative subsequent dispensing operation if it does. The alternative subsequent dispensing operation includes changing at least one amount dispensed by dispensing devices compared to a corresponding amount dispensed in the first dispensing operation.
US08241429B2
The invention relates to a method of removing aromatic hydrocarbons from coke-oven gas. The coke-oven gas is contacted with a wash liquid in a gas scrubber, and aromatic hydrocarbons are separated by absorption from the coke-oven gas. Subsequently the wash liquid enriched with aromatic hydrocarbons is heated, and the aromatic hydrocarbons are stripped from the wash liquid using water vapor. After cooling the wash liquid is finally returned to the gas scrubber. According to the invention biodiesel is used as the wash liquid.
US08241417B2
A nanocomposite coating and a method of coating for protecting a product with the nanocomposite coating are presented. Firstly, the nanocomposite coating is prepared, wherein the nanocomposite coating is formed by mixing 22.5˜49.5% nanometer inorganic oxide gel made by a sol-gel method, 45˜74.25% organic solvent and 1˜10% nanometer powder together. Next, the nanocomposite coating is coated onto surfaces of the product evenly by way of spraying, dipping or roll-to-rolling. Lastly, the product coated with the nanocomposite coating is subjected to a room temperature or a heating environment lower than 170 degrees centigrade to make the nanocomposite coating dry for forming nanometer protective films on the surfaces of the product.
US08241414B2
The present invention provides a water-based ink for ink-jet recording including a pigment, water, an anionic surfactant represented by the following general formula (1), and complex salt forming an anionic zirconium complex ion. R—O—(CH2CH2O)n—X−M+ (1)
US08241408B2
Disclosed is a CO capturing device for improving CO removal efficiency and use of a dry solid absorbent. The device comprises a CO recovery reactor 1 to permit CO containing gas externally supplied to be in contact with a dry solid absorbent to capture CO; a recovery cyclone 4 connected to the recovery reactor 1 to exhaust CO-free gas while separating a solid portion containing CO; a fluidized bed type regeneration reactor 2 which receives the solid portion through a solid feeding pipe 5 connected to the recovery cyclone 4 and divides the solid portion into CO and the other part containing the dry solid absorbent by using a fluidizing gas fed through a fluidizing gas supply pipe 8; a regeneration cyclone 6 to exhaust the separated CO outside in order to use CO in the regeneration reactor 2; and a water vapor pretreatment device 3 connected to the regeneration reactor 2 to absorb H O in the dry solid absorbent and feedback the H O containing absorbent to the recovery reactor 1.
US08241405B2
A wet scrubber for scrubbing a fluid. The wet scrubber may include an inlet for receiving the fluid and a vortex chamber, in communication with the inlet, for causing at least a portion of the fluid to circulate. The wet scrubber may also include at least one diffuser for exhausting the fluid from the vortex chamber, the diffuser configured to substantially prevent fluid exhausted from the diffuser from recirculating back into the diffuser. A paint booth and a method of scrubbing a fluid are also provided.
US08241402B2
A method of separation of hydrogen from gas mixtures consisting in that a gas mixture (3) with any hydrogen content is introduced into a closed space (4), in which a polymer foam (1) containing non-communicating pores (2) is placed. Due to the fact that the hydrogen partial pressure in pores (2) of the polymer foam (1) is lower, hydrogen penetrates into the pores. Hence, the gas mixture (3) leaving the closed space (4) is deficient in the hydrogen. The inlet of the gas mixture (3) into the closed space (4) can be interrupted at the time when the leaving mixture has the same composition as the introduced gas mixture (3) or earlier. Then the pressure in the closed space (4) is decreased and, due to the leveling of its partial pressure, hydrogen is released from the polymer foam (1) and can be received for further use. Its concentration is higher than in the starting gas mixture (3).
US08241397B2
An air scrubber, system, and method of use are provided. The air scrubber includes an electrospray nozzle for creating an ionic fluid electrospray plume; an air sample intake positioned to provide an air sample interacting with the ionic fluid electrospray plume; and a counter electrode positioned to collect the electrospray plume. The selected chemicals in the air sample are captured by ionic fluid electrospray plume and accumulate on the counter electrode.
US08241395B2
Disclosed are processes for preparing conductive glass-ceramic membranes and methods of using them in hydrogen or proton separation.
US08241390B2
A semi-liquid metal processing and sensing device comprising a crucible that is at least partially encircled by at least one induction coil. The one or more induction coils can be water cooled. The one or more induction coils can be designed to generate a variable power and/or variable frequency magnetic field which can be modulated to control the cooling of a molten metal charge in the crucible from the liquidus temperature to a selected heat content, resistivity and/or viscosity. The magnetic field can be designed to induce toroidal agitation of the metal charge in the crucible. The semi-liquid condition is sensed and can be actively controlled by the induction power supply via real time or non-real time analysis of electrical feedback signals that are obtained from the induction coil.
US08241382B2
A motor-vehicle air cleaner comprises the filter assembly, an air-cleaner housing configured to fittably and removably accommodate the filter assembly and to enclose the main filter and the auxiliary filter separately when the filter assembly is accommodated in the air-cleaner housing. The motor-vehicle air cleaner further comprises a flow restrictor configured to restrict air flow to the auxiliary filter.
US08241379B2
A natural gas reclaimer device includes a pressure vessel with an inlet port and an outlet port. A conditioner is disposed in the pressure vessel to remove contaminants and stabilize the flow of natural gas received by the inlet port and prior to releasing the natural gas from the outlet port for subsequent use.
US08241376B2
A self-cleaning device of a filtering net is disposed in a wall-hanging type air conditioner and includes a filtering net with an upper filtering net and a front filtering net, which is disposed outside a heat exchanger and is used for absorbing dust in the air passing through the heat exchanger. A dust sweeping assembly with a detachable brush is disposed outside the filtering net, and is used for sweeping the dust adhered on the filtering net. A drive device with a drive motor and a transmission mechanism is used for driving the dust sweeping assembly to slide on the filtering net to sweep off the dust. A dust box is used for collecting the dust and is detachably disposed in the air conditioner to clear up the dust in the box. A dust exchanging device is disposed on the left or right side of the filtering net, and is used for transferring the dust swept out by the sweeping assembly into the dust box. The self-cleaning device of a filtering net of an air conditioner can clean up the dust on the filtering net in a short time with good clearance effects, and less noise. The structure of the device has high reliability and durability, and is simple.
US08241371B2
Process for preparing a cocrystal of an active substance and a cocrystal former, the process involving precipitating the active substance and the cocrystal former together from solution or suspension, in the presence of a supercritical or near-critical fluid, in particular using a GAS, SAS, SEDS or SAS-EM process. The invention also provides a cocrystal prepared using such a process, and its use as a seed crystal in a subsequent process for precipitating a cocrystal of an active substance and a cocrystal former.
US08241363B2
An intervertebral expandable spacer having a pair of co-axial annuluses locked together by an engagement member having i) a set screw and ii) a pressure plate having an outer face contacting the set screw and an inner face having teeth adapted to mate with the ratchet notches of the second member.
US08241358B2
A radially expandable spinal interbody device for implantation between adjacent vertebrae of a spine is deliverable to an implant area in a radially collapsed state having minimum radial dimensions and once positioned is then radially expandable through and up to maximum radial dimensions. The expanded radially expandable spinal interbody device is configured to closely mimic the anatomical configuration of a vertebral face. The radially expandable spinal interbody device is formed of arced, pivoting linkages that allow transfiguration from the radially collapsed minimum radial dimensions through and up to the radially expanded maximum radial dimensions once deployed at the implant site (i.e. between adjacent vertebrae). The pivoting linkages have ends with locking features that inhibit or prevent overextension of the linkages. In one form of the locking features, one end of the linkage includes lobes that form a pocket while the other end of the linkage includes a projection that is adapted to be received in the pocket of the lobes of an adjacent linkage. A kit is also provided including a tool for the implantation and deployment of the spinal interbody device into an intervertebral space.
US08241353B2
Implantation of an accommodating intraocular lens in an eye may require the accurate measurement of the size, circumference, or diameter of the capsular bag of the eye. A flexible ring or ring portion may be temporarily or permanently inserted into the capsular bag for measuring the circumference of the capsular bag, for example, after extraction of a natural lens from the capsular bag. The ring or ring portion is generally compressible to fit through a surgical incision, then expands to fill the capsular bag along an equatorial region. The ring or ring portion includes a central component that changes shape and/or angle as the ring or ring portion is compressed. The shape change is generally correlated to the size of the capsular bag and may be visually measured through the cornea, the measurement being generally independent of corneal magnification. The measurement may be used to determine or calculate information about the capsular bag such as its size, elasticity, accommodative range, and so forth.
US08241351B2
Apparatus is provided that is configured to be implanted in a body of a subject, comprising an implant structure having first and second portions thereof, a spool coupled to the implant structure in a vicinity of the first portion thereof, and a flexible member coupled at a first end thereof to the spool, and not attached at a second end thereof to the spool. The flexible member, in response to rotation of the spool in a first direction thereof, is configured to be wound around the spool, and, responsively, to pull the second end of the flexible member toward the first end of the implant structure, and responsively to draw the first and second portions of the implant structure toward each other. Other embodiments are also described.
US08241347B2
A medical supporting implant, in particular a stent, comprises a tubular base body which is made up of bendable struts (2), such that at node points (4) of at least two struts (2), the bendable struts (2) form an acute angle (W) to one another which angle becomes larger on dilatation of the implant with plastic deformation of the struts (2) at the node point (4). At least a portion of the struts (2) between the plastic deformation areas (4) is provided with a telescoping ratchet mechanism (R) for irreversible lengthening of the respective struts (2) on dilatation.
US08241339B2
In an exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides an anchor assembly that can be used for the fixation or fastening of orthopedic devices or instruments to bone tissue. In particular, the present invention preferably provides a variable angle or fixed angle anchor assembly that is able to securely connect the orthopedic device to bone tissue even when there is a variance in the angle and position of the assembly with respect to the device. Furthermore, in an exemplary embodiment, the present invention provides an anchor assembly having a locking mechanism that will quickly and easily lock the anchor assembly with respect to the orthopedic device.
US08241327B1
An integral display for a child's pacifier indicates whether it is clean and safe for the child's use. The pacifier has a selectable dial on its exterior rear face that allows the care-giver to select between “CLEAN” or “DIRTY”, depending on the status of the pacifier. Once the pacifier is properly cleaned, the care-giver would slide the indicator to display “CLEAN”. In such a manner, the care-giver would always be aware of the cleanliness of the pacifier and whether it would be safe to give to the child.
US08241317B2
A rectal balloon apparatus has a shaft with a fluid passageway extending therethrough. A balloon is affixed over an end of the shaft such that the fluid passageway communicates with an interior of the balloon. The balloon has a laterally flat surface thereon when inflated. The laterally flat surface of the balloon has a longitudinal groove formed thereon. A valve assembly is affixed to the shaft at an end opposite the balloon. The valve assembly selectively allows a fluid to pass therethrough to move the balloon from a non-inflated condition to an inflated condition. A fluid introducing means is removably attached to the valve assembly to introduce the fluid into the valve assembly.
US08241308B2
The invention in certain aspects relates to a surgical fastener for fastening tissue segments having tissue surfaces. The fastener includes a first fastener member having a base and a piercing element connected to the base for piercing the tissue segments to be fastened, a second fastener member having an opening for receiving and retaining the piercing element of the first fastener member such that the tissue segments to be fastened are retained between the first and second fastening members, and means for promoting adhesion between the tissue surfaces. The invention also relates to related methods and devices for promoting adhesion of tissue segments and preventing fastener migration, especially in an endoscopic procedure for the treatment of GERD.
US08241305B2
A device for implanting a suture. The device includes an elongated shaft that extends from the main body and has a distal end that includes a pointed tissue piercing tip. A first suture support is mounted to the distal end. The first suture support has a first opening and is movable between a retracted position where the first suture support does not extend from the distal end and an extended position where the first suture support does extend from the distal end. A first suture capturing device is mounted to the distal end and is aligned with the first suture support. The first suture capturing device is movable between a retracted position in which it does not extend from the distal end and an extended position in which it does extend from the distal end. The first suture capturing device extends within the first opening of the first suture support when in the extended position.
US08241302B2
A biopsy system comprises a control module, a localization assembly, a biopsy device, and a targeting cube. The biopsy device comprises a probe and other components, which selectively couple with a targeting cube that is configured to selectively couple with a grid plate having apertures for receiving the targeting cube. The targeting cube comprises a body defined by faces. The targeting cube further comprises guide holes that originate and terminate at the faces and pass through the body of the targeting cube to provide passageways through the targeting cube. The faces of the targeting cube comprise a tapered profile from a proximal end to a distal end. The tapered profile of the targeting cube may be created by the faces themselves or by protruding elements from the faces. The body of the targeting cube and/or the protruding elements may be at least partially comprised of an elastomeric material.
US08241296B2
A system for assisting in a surgical process, comprising: (a) a surgical device taken from a group consisting of a surgical tool and a surgical implant; (b) a positional sensor carried by the surgical device, the positional sensor including a wireless transmitter and associated circuitry for transmitting sensor data from the transmitter; and (c) a computer system including a wireless receiver and signal conditioning circuitry and hardware for converting sensor data received by the wireless receiver into at least one of (i) audio feedback of positional information for the surgical device and (ii) visual feedback of positional information for the surgical device.
US08241295B2
Apparatus and method to dispense PMMA bone cement including a temperature controller, a disposable cement cartridge and a means for extracting cement from the cement cartridge so that the temperature of the extracted cement is first cooled to discourage polymerization and to prolong working time, then warmed so as to control viscosity of the cement flowing into the desired bone repair location. A first embodiment includes a spiral cement cartridge along with a means for extracting cement therefrom. A second embodiment includes a linear disposable cement cartridge along with a means for extracting cement therefrom. A color matching mechanism identifies cement temperature and viscosity during dispensation. A manual cement dispensing method includes a calibrated hand crank mechanism for causing calibrated delivery of cement. An automatic cement dispensing method uses a stepper motor and computer programmed means for causing calibrated flow of cement.
US08241288B2
A bone fixation assembly which may include a bone fixation element, a collet and a flexible line. The bone fixation element may comprise a first and second passageway and at least the first passageway is configured to receive the collet. The flexible line passes through both passageways and is secured through the second passageway. The collet may be advanced into the first passageway causing the collet to circumferentially engage the flexible line fixing it in place. Instrumentation for securing the collet includes a collet driver, a counter torque instrument and a tensioner.
US08241278B2
A system and apparatus for irrigating a surgical site during an electrosurgical procedure are disclosed. The system includes a hand piece having an elongated housing connected to a multi-lumen tube extending proximally from the housing and having an irrigation tube for delivering irrigation fluid, a suction tube for withdrawing irrigation fluid, and electrical wiring, a first controls for adjusting flow of irrigation fluid within the irrigation tube and second controls for adjusting flow of irrigation fluid within the suction tube. A valve cassette is connected to the multi-lumen tube, which includes an irrigation valve configured to control the flow within the irrigation tube and a suction valve configured to control the flow within the suction tube. A hardware control module controls the irrigation valve and the suction valve based on control signals from the first and second controls.
US08241277B2
An apparatus for use with a clamp including a base member configured to be secured to the clamp and at least one energy transmission device carried by the base member. An apparatus for use with a clamp and a probe that carries at least one energy transmission device including a base member configured to be secured to the clamp and an engagement device associated with the base member and configured to engage the probe. A clamp including first and second clamp members, at least one of which is malleable, and a movement apparatus that moves at least one of the first and second clamp members relative to the other. A surgical system including a clamp with first and second clamp members and a device that removably mounts at least one electrode on at least one of the first and second clamp members.
US08241274B2
A device and method for valve replacement or valve repair is disclosed comprising the steps of acquiring an anatomical image of a patient, correlating the image to the patient, guiding a valve replacement delivery member or a valve repair delivery member within the patient while tracking the position of the delivery member in the patient, positioning the valve replacement member or valve repair member in a desired position to place a valve or repair valve and removing the delivery member from the patient. In one aspect of the invention, a delivery system is provided for percutaneous delivery of a heart valve to a predetermined position in the heart of a patient, where the delivery system itself includes features that allow it to be accurately positioned in the heart. In another aspect of the invention, a delivery system is provided for percutaneous repair of a heart valve in the heart of a patient, where the repair system itself includes features that allow it to be accurately positioned in the heart. In another aspect of the invention, a method and device are provided that involve imaging a native root using an interoperative technique, then introducing a device that is easily visualized in a chosen imaging modality.
US08241272B2
A method of treating atrial fibrillation includes the step of positioning a distal portion of an ablation instrument in proximity to one or more pulmonary veins. The instrument has a hollow housing and an independently axially positionable energy emitter within the distal portion The energy emitter is configured and the distal portion is shaped such that a distance a beam of ablative energy travels from the energy emitter to the portion of the distal portion in contact with target tissue changes based on the energy emitter's location along the length of the instrument while the distal portion maintains its shape The energy emitter is a light emitting element and a beam-forming optical waveguide that receives light from the light emitting element. The waveguide projects onto the distal portion a hollow cone of radiation.
US08241268B2
A self-sealing male Luer connector attaches to any standard female Luer valve to open a flow channel between the two. The self-sealing male Luer connector includes a rigid housing having a distal end with a rigid male Luer connector and a proximal end at which a proximal seal is formed. The distal end of the housing includes a valve seat. Located within the housing is a resilient biasing member that biases an actuator into contact with the valve seat to prevent fluid flow through the male connector. Upon engagement with a female connector, the actuator is moved in the proximal direction to open the distal valve and then the proximal seal. A partial vacuum is formed within the male connector upon disengagement with the female connector that draws any fluids on the external surface of the distal end of the male Luer connector into the male tip.
US08241260B2
A liquid streaming device for treating a wound includes a body having a lower surface for application to skin region around the wound to be treated and to conform to the contour of the skin region, and an upper surface facing outwardly when the body is applied to the skin region; a recess formed in the lower surface of the body and configured to enclose the wound when the body is applied to the skin region, and to define a chamber closed on one side by the skin region and the wound, and on the opposite side by the body; an inlet in the body on one side of the recess for introducing a treating liquid into an inlet side of the chamber; and an outlet in the body on another side of the recess for outletting the treating liquid from an outlet side of the chamber.
US08241257B2
A pen needle assembly is provided herein for use with a medical injector containing an injector body and a reservoir sealed by a septum encased in the injector body. The pen needle assembly includes a hub and a needle fixed to the hub. The hub is formed to be telescopingly mounted onto a distal end of the injector body using a track that accommodates a guide key. When mounting the hub of the pen needle assembly onto the injector body, a first portion of the track is configured to receive the guide key and to guide the guide key in a straight line across sufficient distance to permit a proximal end of the needle to fully pierce through the septum, without rotation of the needle. A second portion of the track is configured to permit the pen needle assembly to be turned with the proximal end of the needle being located proximally of the septum.
US08241252B2
In one embodiment, the assembly is a low profile percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) device and comprises a body, a feeding tube, a cap and an inner sleeve assembly. The body includes a base portion and a sleeve portion, the base portion dimensioned to engage the skin of a patient, the sleeve portion extending upwardly from the base portion. The feeding tube has a distal end adapted to be anchored to the inside of a patient and a proximal end inserted up through the base portion and the sleeve portion. An inner sleeve, sized to engage the inside surface of the feeding tube, is removably inserted through the feeding tube, the inner sleeve having a proximal end to which a tubular fitting is secured. Food and/or medications are dispensed to the patient through the fitting and the inner sleeve and, in this manner, prevent clogging of the feeding tube.
US08241245B2
A co-axial catheter assembly including a first lumen having a first distal end and a first proximal end, and a second lumen having a second distal end and a second proximal end. The second lumen extends co-axially with the first lumen, wherein the second lumen is at least partially disposed within the first lumen and the second distal end extends distally of the first distal end. A catheter hub provides for fluid connections of the inner and outer lumens with respective extension tubes, and includes spacers that maintain the proximal end of the inner lumen concentrically within the proximal end of the outer lumen and the distal end of the inner lumen concentrically within the distal end of the outer lumen, respectively. Methods of manufacturing and of inserting the catheter are also disclosed.
US08241238B2
A cell sorting apparatus includes an extracorporeal circulation system 10 for sampling blood from a subject and circulating the blood outside a body; a cell measuring section 20 for supplying measurement light to cells contained in the blood to optically measure cell information on the physical quantity relating to the volume of the cell itself or a nucleus of the cell; and a cell separating section 30 for separating cells with reference to the cell information measured. The cell separating section 30 separates cells, based on the cell information measured by the cell measuring section 20 and a sorting condition set for sorting a specific type of cell such as a cancer cell, the cells satisfying the sorting condition, and returns the other cells into the body via the extracorporeal circulation system 10. Thus, a cell sorting apparatus can be realized which is capable of suitably sorting a target cell from the cells in blood.
US08241237B2
A system and device for monitoring pressure in a blood line. In such device, a pressure transducer line branches off a blood line to enable the connection of a pressure transducer. To avoid any contamination of the pressure transducer, a first pressure transducer protector filter is used that divides the pressure transducer line into a blood line section between the blood line and the filter, and a pressure transducer section between the filter and the pressure transducer. A sensor is provided for detecting the presence of liquid in the pressure transducer section of the pressure transducer line so as to provide a system by which an unnoticed failure of the first pressure transducer protector filter in a pressure transducer line is avoided as well as a device that can easily be re-used.
US08241236B2
A nasal cleaning apparatus is described that includes a grip portion and a cleaning portion. The grip portion may include a handle and one or more gripping members attached to the handle. Such gripping members may facilitate rotation of the grip portion or other handling of the apparatus. The cleaning portion includes a head that is attached to a nasal cleaning cloth. The nasal cleaning cloth is disposed around and attached to the head, and is formed of a flexible, anti-microbial material. An extension member connects the cleaning portion to the grip portion. The nasal cleaning apparatus may be disposable and/or modular to facilitate multiple uses of all or only portions of the apparatus.
US08241231B2
The profile of the spinal column and changes in the profile of the spinal column are continuously measured during movement along the entire spinal column in all degrees of freedom of its deformation.
US08241230B2
The present invention provides a wire guide having a variable stiffness region that may be selectively adjusted to vary the stiffness along a portion of the wire guide. The wire guide generally comprises an outer core member and an inner core member, wherein the inner core member is disposed for longitudinal movement with respect to the outer core member. The outer core member is attached to a proximal end of a coiled member, while the inner core member is attached to the coiled member at an attachment region between proximal and distal ends of the coiled member. In operation, distal advancement of the outer core member with respect to the inner core member causes the coiled member to compress at a location between the proximal end of the coiled member and the attachment region, thereby selectively increasing the stiffness along a portion of the length of the wire guide.
US08241226B2
A biopsy device comprises a probe body, a cannula extending distally from the probe body, a cutter moveable relative to the cannula to sever tissue, and a tissue sample holder coupled with the probe body. The tissue sample holder comprises a rotatable member and at least one removable member secured about the exterior of the rotatable member. The at least one removable member defines a plurality of tissue sample compartments. Each tissue sample compartment is configured to receive one or more tissue samples captured by the cutter. In some versions, the at least one removable member comprises a belt and a plurality of vials.
US08241210B2
A surgical apparatus includes an elongate cannula having a lumen extending therein between proximal and distal ends, a retractor disposed to slide within the lumen to extend a distal end thereof beyond the distal end of the cannula, an angling device connected to the retractor near the distal end of the retractor and extending within the cannula toward the proximal end thereof for selectively deflecting the distal end of the retractor away from a central axis of the cannula in response to manual manipulation of the angling device from near the proximal end of the cannula, wherein the distal end of the retractor is configured to move, upon extension, an object away from the central axis of the cannula.
US08241194B2
A process produces web sections from a flexible web material. The flexible web material is provided with tear-off lines at the distance of the length (L) of the web sections to be formed, which tear-off lines weaken the web material but do not bring about a complete separation of the web sections from the web material. The web sections are separated from the web material along the tear-off lines by tearing. The web material comprises a fabric made of small stretched plastic bands, and the tear-off lines are produced by laser beam processing.
US08241184B2
Methods and computer program products for providing audio performance feedback to a user during an athletic activity are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method for providing audio performance feedback to a user during an athletic activity using a portable fitness monitoring device includes the steps of the portable fitness monitoring device receiving one or more audio feedback files, the portable fitness monitoring device generating audio performance feedback during the athletic activity by reference to an index, wherein the index is associated with the one or more audio feedback files, and the portable fitness monitoring device providing the audio performance feedback to the user during the athletic activity audibly through an audio output device.
US08241181B2
An ECU executes a program including the steps of: setting a first throttle opening degree (S100), setting a low gear torque LTE based on an engine torque map for low gear having the first throttle opening degree and an engine speed (rpm) as parameters (S200), setting a high gear torque HTE based on an engine torque map for high gear having the first throttle opening degree and the engine speed as parameters (S300), setting a target engine torque TTE by combining the low gear torque LTE and the high gear torque HTE by using a correction ratio KGR determined by a gear step (S400), and controlling the engine to produce a required torque set by using the target engine torque TTE (S700). In this way a torque can be obtained in accordance with the engine speed.
US08241178B2
A continuously variable transmission includes a variator capable of varying a speed ratio continuously, and a subtransmission mechanism provided in series with the variator. When an actual through speed ratio passes a predetermined mode switch speed ratio, a transmission controller performs a coordinated shift in which a gear position of the subtransmission mechanism is changed and a speed ratio of the variator is varied in an opposite direction to a speed ratio variation direction of the subtransmission mechanism. When the rapid deceleration is determined to be underway, the transmission controller decreases a speed ratio variation amount of the variator in the direction of a High side accompanied by a downshift of the subtransmission mechanism compared with the coordinated shift.
US08241176B2
A method for restarting an engine in a hybrid electric powertrain includes using an auxiliary pump while the engine is shutdown to maintain stroke pressure in an oncoming transmission friction control element whose engagement is required to launch the vehicle following the restart, initiating an automatic engine restart, increasing a torque capacity of the control element while the engine is restarting, and using pressure produced by a transmission pump in the transmission to lock the control element after the engine restarts.
US08241171B2
A multi step transmission comprising a drive shaft, an output shaft, four planetary gear sets each having a sun gear, a carrier and a ring gear, third, four, fifth, six, seventh and eighth rotatable shafts and at least six shift elements for selectively engaging different transmission ratios between the drive shaft and the output shaft such that nine forward gears and one reverse gear can be implemented. For each one of the nine forward gears and one reverse gear only three of the at least six shift elements are engaged. The sixth shaft is operatively connectable to the sun gear of the third platentary gear set via either a direct connection or a releasable connection.
US08241170B2
A multi step transmission comprises planetary gearsets (P1, P2, P3, P4), shafts, and shift elements. The sun gear of gearset (P1) couples shaft (4) which couples housing (G) via brake (04), the carrier of gearset (P1) couples shaft (3) which couples housing (G) via brake (03), the drive shaft via clutch (13), and shaft (5) via clutch (35). Shaft (5) couples the ring gear of gearset (P2) and the sun gear of gearset (P4). Shaft (1) couples the sun gear of gearset (P2) and operatively couples the carrier of gearset (P3). Shaft (6) couples the ring gear and carrier of gearsets (P1, P2) respectively, and operatively couples the sun gear of gearset (P3). The ring gear of gearset (P4) couples housing (G) and output shaft (2) couples the ring gear of gearset (P3), and detachably couples, via clutch (28), shaft (8) which couples the carrier of gearset (P4).
US08241166B2
The present invention provides a power train for a hybrid vehicle that allows for multiple mode driving, which is combined with a way of driving at a fixed gear ratio such as the shift stages of a common transmission, and high-efficiency driving, thereby improving fuel efficiency of the vehicle.
US08241165B2
The problem to be solved is to provide a seat lifting assembly where lesser angular movement of the lifting means provide larger increase or decrease in the height of the seat and the problem is solved by providing a seat lifting assembly having a lifting means, an assembly of gears, arrangement of shafts and link which provides higher movement to seat with respect to smaller angular movement of lifting means.
US08241162B2
A sun gear of a first planetary gear train is connected to an input shaft. A carrier 9 of the first planetary gear train is connected to a sun gear of a second planetary gear train and to a first pump/motor. A ring gear of the first planetary gear train is connected to a second pump/motor, and a ring gear of the second planetary gear train is connected to an output shaft. A first clutch is provided for engaging and disengaging a carrier of the second planetary gear train and the ring gear of the first planetary gear train with and from each other, and a second clutch is provided for engaging and disengaging the carrier of the second planetary gear train and a fixed end with and from each other.
US08241155B1
The danger of damage caused by flying fragments from a shattered baseball bat is greatly reduced or eliminated by wrapping a portion of the bat with nearly invisible polymeric film. Although extremely thin, the film shows great tensile strength and retains wood fragments should the bat shatter in use. Preferably the region of the bat where the handle portion transitions into the barrel portion is wrapped because this area is the most prone to shatter. This leaves the barrel of the bat completely unaltered. Where game rules permit thin strips of film can also be applied to the sides of the barrel as an additional precaution although the barrel is relatively unlikely to shatter in use.
US08241153B2
A sports activity device playable, for example, as a device for launching and catching objects and as a tossable flying disc. Embodiments of the sports activity device includes an outer annular ring member and an inner annular ring assembly detachably engaged to the outer annular ring member. The inner annular ring assembly may include an inner annular ring member and an engagement assembly configured and operable to facilitate detachable engagement of the inner annular ring assembly with the outer annular ring member.
US08241149B2
The present invention is directed to golf balls consisting essentially of a dual-layer core and a cover. The core includes a center having a center hardness of 50 Shore C or greater and formed from a first HNP composition, and an outer core layer having a surface hardness of 75 Shore C or greater and formed from a second HNP composition. The first HNP composition has a material hardness of 55 Shore D or less and comprises a highly neutralized ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid/alkyl (meth)acrylate copolymer. The second HNP composition has a material hardness of 45 Shore D or greater and comprises a highly neutralized ethylene/(meth)acrylic acid copolymer. The material hardness of the first HNP composition is less than the material hardness of the second HNP composition. The cover includes an inner cover layer and an outer cover layer.
US08241148B2
Golf balls consisting of a multi-layer core and a cover are disclosed. The multi-layer core comprises a thermoset rubber center, a thermoplastic intermediate core layer, and a thermoset rubber outer core layer.
US08241143B2
A hollow golf club incorporating a stress reducing feature including a sole located stress reducing feature located on the sole of the club head. The location and size of the sole stress reducing feature, and their relationship to one another and other club head engineering variables, play a significant role in reducing the peak stress seen on the golf club's face during an impact with a golf ball, as well as selectively increasing deflection of the face.
US08241139B2
A golf club according to one or more aspects of the present invention may have a mass less than 300 g, a length greater than about 45 inches, a swing weight between D0 and D6, a head weighing less than about 200 g, a club-head volume of at least about 360 cm3, a grip weighing less than about 50 g, and a shaft having a tip end, a butt end, and a shaft balance point located no more than 24 inches from the butt end. The shaft may have a torsional displacement angle greater than about 5.5° and a mass less than about 50 g. A coordinate system having x-, y-, and z-axes may have its origin at the center of gravity of the club head. The golf club head may have a moment of inertia of at least about 4500 g·cm2 about the z-axis and a moment of inertia of at least about 3000 g·cm2 about the y-axis.
US08241136B2
A method of gaming comprising: providing a table game of the type where a player seeks to sink one or more balls of a set of balls in one or more pockets of the table by striking the balls with a cue ball in accordance with the rules of the table game; receiving a wager from a player additional to any amount required to play the table game, the wager entitling the player to receive at least one bonus associated with an event if the player achieves the event; and electronically monitoring play of the table game to determine whether the player achieves the event and the bonus should be awarded to the player.
US08241134B2
An extreme sports component having a support and at least a first member defining a maneuvering surface. The support and at least first member are operatively joined through at least one member on each of the support and at least first member that cooperate with each other so as to maintain the support and at least first member in a predetermined operative relationship. The support and at least first member are maintained in the predetermined operative relationship without requiring that any anchoring element be directed through the maneuvering surface.
US08241133B1
Systems, devices, apparatus and methods of using a simulator cabin module with an interior space which replicates a space ship, where the simulator module is mounted in a real aircraft, as a real airborne simulator. The aircraft lifts off to provide airborne maneuvers such as parabolic flight paths to cause G force and zero gravity effects to passengers in the cabin module. The cabin module includes rows of seats where passengers experience realistic sounds, lights, different temperatures, and physical effects (vibrations) of space ship liftoffs and space travel by having realistic simulation effects distributed over the seated passengers. Passengers can be seated in special reclinable seats with 5 point harnesses and pilot helmets with operable wireless communications and uniforms to add to the realistic simulation effects. Simulator modules can also be mounted in other moving vehicles, such as but not limited to submersibles, ships, and the like.
US08241126B2
A game controller is provided. One or more main control input interfaces on the game controller consist of generalized sockets. A variety of modular input interfaces can be plugged into these sockets. Hardware specific to the input type of the modular input is contained within the modular input itself, and plugged in via an interface. This allows for dual analog sticks, a combination of analog and trackball, or further any combination of touchpad, directional pad, or additional components.
US08241123B2
A gaming method for presenting both gaming content based video signals and secondary video signals over a single display using a Display Manager is disclosed. The Display Manager is placed between the Master Gaming Controller and its Main Game Display and any Secondary Display and between the Player Tracking Unit connected to the casino system network (e.g., player tracking device) and its System display. The Display Manager receives one or more video signals from the Master Gaming Controller and one or more video signals from the system device and displays one or multiple video signals on one or more shared displays. One of video signals may be presented alone on one of the displays, with the other signal absent from that shared display, or multiple signals may be simultaneously displayed on one of the shared displays. The screen may be split between multiple signals, or one or more signals may overlay one or more background signals. The overlaid signals may completely obscure the background signals, or they may provide a level of transparency by allowing the background signal to be partially or completely visible. Also, the overlaid signal may provide different levels of transparency in different areas of the display, effectively superimposing an image on top of the background signal. The Display Manager receives commands from a device, directing it how to split, overlay, superimpose, and otherwise share the display among the video input signals.
US08241114B2
A method and system is provided to permit placing a wager on a pari-mutuel event in which expert handicapper's prognoses are displayed to a player to permit them to formulate either simple or complicated exotic wagers, and to be able to aggregate a wager with those of other players to satisfy wagering minimums.
US08241111B2
A gaming machine award system acts over a gaming machine network having a plurality of gaming devices coupled thereto. The award system includes a bonus server coupled to the network and having stored thereon a trigger condition. A game play tracker tracks game play across the network of gaming devices and detects an occurrence of the trigger condition. The bonus server sends out a selection signal over the network to a selected gaming machine responsive to the detected trigger condition. A printer associated with the selected gaming machine is structured to generate a mystery ticket printed output responsive to receipt of said selection signal including machine-readable indicia corresponding to a record of value stored at the bonus server, and human readable indicia that indicates only a range of possible values of the ticket but not a specific value. The printed ticket is a cashless instrument that may be redeemed or played per the nature and characteristics of the award given with the specific value awarded to the player.
US08241109B2
An operating system for a gaming system includes a data producer which generates non-reproducible data relating to a transaction carried out in respect of the gaming system. A data consumer is in communication with the data producer for storing data relating to the non-reproducible data. A game controller is in communication with the data producer and the data consumer which effects communications between the data producer and the data consumer by means of a transaction-based protocol. The invention also relates to the use of data storage device for a gaming system that includes a local power supply.
US08241107B2
A method for use with a gaming machine arranged to provide a spinning reel game in which symbols are spun up on a plurality of reels to form at least one outcome and, if a winning outcome occurs, the gaming machine awards an award. The method includes (a) if at least one specified symbol is spun up and displayed in a resultant position on a reel, holding the specified symbol in the resultant position for at least one further game in which at least the reel carrying the specified symbol is re-spun; and (b) awarding the award if a winning outcome occurs, wherein a specified symbol comprising part of a winning outcome has the effect of increasing the award if the specified symbol is adjacent at least one other specified symbol.
US08241096B1
Chucks for a meat encasing machine that increase the holdback force on plastic casing sticks resulting in fully formed initial links. The invention also includes a method for controlling the deshirr rate of shirred plastic casing sticks inserted in a meat encasing machine to generate fully formed initial sausage links.
US08241095B2
An apparatus and method for abrading the surface of objects are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a chamber, an abrasive surface defining a wall of said chamber and drive means for moving the abrasive surface relative to the chamber. In use, the aforementioned relative movement promotes circulation of the objects within the chamber, wherein the chamber is shaped such that regions of flow stagnation of the objects within the chamber are avoided or minimized. Additionally or alternatively, the chamber may be shaped to approximate the peripheral flow path of the objects within the chamber.
US08241093B2
The component to be machined (2) is fixed with its axis in a position exactly determined in relation to the machine base (1) and the seat (3), by means of the sides (8) and the rear face (9) of the vee arranged on the seat and by means of the intermediate organ (11) in the form of a sector of ring, the concave cylindrical facets (23) of which are adapted to the component (2). The component (2) is pressed against the facets (23) by the finger (14) operated by the stirrup (15). The component (2) can be driven in rotation by a floating spindle operated by a servomotor into a position determined in relation to the machine seat (1).
