US08249080B1

A system and method are provided for transporting a serial stream via a lower speed network using multiple parallel paths. At a transmitter, an optical or electromagnetic waveform is accepted representing a serial stream of digital information, and unbundled into n virtual information streams. Each virtual information stream is divided into a sequence of segments. Each segment is encapsulated, creating a sequence of packets by adding a start indicator to the beginning of each segment, and a terminate indicator to the end of each segment. Each packet is disinterleaved across m lanes and reinterleaved into n branches of framed data. Optical or electromagnetic waveforms representing the framed data are transmitted via n network branches. A receiver is also provided, which essentially reverses the above-described transmission method.
US08249079B2

In accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure, a system for caching network traffic includes an interface configured to receive traffic from a plurality of nodes communicating in a network, a processor coupled to the interface and configured to identify each of the plurality of nodes communicating in the network, and a database. The database includes a node object dimension table that includes an entry for each identified node. Each entry in the node object dimension table includes a node identification and an address for locating the node in the network. The database also includes a communication fact table that includes an entry for each communication in the network. Each entry in the communication fact table includes a source node identification that includes the node identification for the source node, a communication identification, and a destination node identification that includes the node identification for the destination node.
US08249074B2

In a transmission environment, such as a wireless environment, the communication channel 23 may be subject to noise bursts 27, 28. When the transmitter 2 sends a frame 24(8) to the receiver, it may collide with a noise burst 28. The receiver 4 is adapted to send a retransmission request, 25(8) Original, when it receives corrupted data from transmitter 2. The duration of the noise may be sufficient to also interfere with the request, 25(8) Original. The receiver includes channel monitoring means to detect noise and to delay the sending of the retransmission request, 25(8) Delayed, based on the level of the noise.
US08249068B2

The invention includes a method and apparatus for dynamically establishing a multicast group. The method includes receiving, from a first user device, a request to establish a multicast group including a plurality of parameters adapted for establishing the multicast group, obtaining a multicast address for the multicast group, and establishing the multicast group using the assigned multicast address and the parameters. The parameters include at least one multicast group definition parameter and at least one multicast session description parameter. The multicast address and at least a portion of the parameters are adapted for being provided to a second user device to enable the second user device to dynamically join the multicast group.
US08249059B2

Network resources for a call between a calling party and a called party are allocated. The network resources for the call are reserved based on a reservation request. The network resources are reserved before any one network resource from the reserved network resources is committed. The reserved network resources for the call are committed when a called party indicates acceptance for the call.
US08249058B2

A system and method for establishing a multimedia session between a wireless user terminal and a network device. Embodiments include systems and methods for receiving a request from a wireless terminal initiating a call event to the network device; generating and sending a multimedia session invitation to a multimedia call control entity requesting a multimedia session with the network device; receiving a multimedia status message from the multimedia call control entity indicating the progress of initiating the multimedia session; and triggering setup of a radio access bearer to handle the multimedia session in response to the multimedia status message.
US08249057B1

A system and method for transferring Media over IP (MoIP) packets over an overlay network is provided. The system provides specially designed overlay network units located at key points in the IP network effectively creating an overlay network that is capable of interacting both on the overlay level as well as over the standard IP network.
US08249043B2

The invention concerns multi-carrier based digital telecommunication systems where the channel is used to transport several data streams according to the frequency division multiple access scheme.The proposed method concerns a mapping of data on physical resource in a transmission system where data of elementary streams is distributed over several physical resource blocks, and within each resource block in order to get data from a plurality of elementary streams on at least one sub-carrier and at least a symbol time of each physical resource block. This allows to achieve a good diversity of the allocation of the different streams, leading to the advantage, among others, that poor transmission conditions affecting a particular sub-carrier or a particular time duration, will not concentrate its effects on a particular stream.
US08249040B2

In a transmission device and method for a CDMA communication system, when a shorter frame message is generated during transmission of a longer frame message, the transmission of the longer frame message is interrupted, whereupon the shorter frame message is immediately transmitted in place of a portion of the longer frame message. In one embodiment, after the longer frame message is interrupted and the shorter frame message is transmitted, only the tail portion of the longer frame message is transmitted thereafter. That is, the replaced portion of the longer frame message is not transmitted following the shorter frame message transmission. In an alternative embodiment, following the shorter frame message transmission, the remainder of the longer frame message, from the point of interruption, is transmitted in its entirety. In the latter case, the longer frame message is delayed by the length of the shorter frame message.
US08249035B2

Disclosed herein is a technique for enhanced parameter negotiation in Evolution-Data Optimized (EVDO) communication systems that use Generic Configuration Protocol to negotiate session parameters or session attributes. The technique reduces the number of parameter negotiation cycles involved during the session configuration process. A new AlternateValueAllowed field is added in the attribute record. The Configuration Request message sent by the initiator allows the Configuration Response message responder to send the responder's preferred attribute value to the initiator, when the Configuration Request message does not contain the preferred attribute value of the responder. Such a modified attribute record structure obviates the need for multiple attribute negotiation cycles, and therefore saves session negotiation time.
US08249031B1

Wireless radio devices that communicate in close proximity to each other typically suffer from interference. Such interference between the wireless radio devices can result in performance degradation in either/both the wireless radio devices. Functionality can be implemented to schedule communications of one wireless radio device around communications of the other wireless radio device based on a coexistence table comprising scheduling information of the other wireless radio device. Communications of the wireless radio devices can also be controlled based on communication priorities. Functionality can also be implemented to dynamically control a number of packets transmitted in an aggregate based on the scheduling information.
US08249018B2

The invention relates to a method for managing the mobility of a mobile terminal, while receiving a service via an access node of a mobile communication network. The mobile communication network has overlapping pool areas, while the access node is assigned to at least two pool areas simultaneously. After the UE changes to the access node of the overlapping area, it is proposed that the mobility management entity serving the UE arbitrarily selects a prospect user plane entity for transporting service data into the next pool areas, and requests from the service provider information about UPEs handling this service. After the actual attachment to an access node within the new pool area, the handover is finalized by changing the UPE from the old one to the selected UPE in the new pool area. Thereby, the data path from the service provider to the UE is constantly being optimized.
US08249011B2

A wireless communication transceiver compensates a given received signal for retransmission interference, if (uncompensated) decoding of the given received signals fails. The transceiver estimates the retransmission interference bearing on the given received signal based on hypothesizing that another user (or users) mistakenly transmitted in the same time interval, using some or all of the same channel resources as were allocated to the given received signal. The transceiver may retain information in any given interval, indicating the channel allocations used for those user signals successfully received in that interval. The retained information allows the transceiver to determine, with respect to a given signal received in a current time interval, which other users would be interfering users if they mistakenly retransmitted in the current time interval. The transceiver may target its compensated decoding, which may be iterative, to the most likely and/or most significant ones of the potentially of interfering user(s).
US08249007B2

A network unit of an own cell is operated in a radio communication system utilizing a radio interface that includes a radio frame made up of a number of sub-frames. The own cell serves one or more user equipments. Operation includes obtaining information about a scheduling of MBSFN data transmissions in one or more neighboring cells. The information thereby obtained is used to generate an information signal that, for a given sub-frame, enables the one or more user equipments to determine whether neighboring cell measurements can be performed using a unicast group of Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple access (OFDM) symbols. The information signal is transmitted to the one or more user equipments, which can then use the information to determine how to locate cell-specific reference symbols when doing measurements of neighboring cells.
US08249006B2

A method and apparatus for allocating and processing sequences in a communication system is disclosed. The method includes: dividing sequences in a sequence group into multiple sub-groups, each sub-group corresponding to its own mode of occupying time frequency resources; selecting sequences from a candidate sequence collection corresponding to each sub-group to form the sequences in the sub-group by: the sequences in a sub-group i in a sequence group k being composed of n sequences in the candidate sequence collection, the n sequences making a |ri/Ni−ck/Np1| or |(ri/Ni−ck/Np1) modu mk,i| function value the smallest, second smallest, till the nth smallest respectively; allocating the sequence group to cells, users or channels. It prevents the sequences highly correlated with the sequences of a specific length from appearing in other sequence groups, thus reducing interference, avoiding the trouble of storing the lists of massive sequence groups.
US08248998B2

A telecommunication network transmission divergence system and method is disclosed. A first multi-service-packet-control-unit and a second multi-service-packet-control-unit are disposed between a base station and a radio network controller. Packets are diverged to one or more low-stability & long-delay routes based on priorities of the packets. The system and method reduce transmission load of a frame exchange protocol interface (Iub) while maintaining a stable quality of service for divergent packet transmissions. As a result, transmission load and cost are significantly reduced and transmission efficiency is improved.
US08248988B2

A plurality of antennas transmit a first spread spectrum signal having an associated code. The first spread spectrum signal is received at the wireless user. For each received first spread spectrum signal, a second spread spectrum signal is transmitted having an associated code having a same phase as that received first spread spectrum signal. The second spread spectrum signals are received at the plurality of antennas. A distance measurement is determined between each antenna and the wireless user based on in part a received timing of the second signals. The wireless user's location is determined based on in part the distance determinations.
US08248981B2

The present invention provides a method and system for establishing a highly mobile, long range secure wireless network with dynamic topologies and near full connectivity with acceptable latency using low cost, low power, compact and lightweight devices. One aspect of the system deals with a highly mobile network with dynamic network topologies and a time varying wireless medium that has neither absolute nor readily observable boundaries outside of which radio nodes are known to be unable to receive network frames, although the desirable open field boundary is 1 mile in radius from a base station node. A synchronous frequency hopping technique is used with mobile nodes that can become slave base station nodes to a master base station node to increase the effective range of the master base station without increasing the transmit power. Furthermore, the use of adjustable sleep times for the mobile nodes, as well as a novel clock calibration method, provides a substantial range increase with acceptable battery size and system latency.
US08248980B2

The invention provides a wireless communication method. The method comprises launching an application which requires a network service for a data transmission and generating a connection request. Then, a wireless communication function is turned on to implement a channel scan according to the connection request. When at least an access point of at least a wireless network is available, a network connection with the wireless network is established for the data transmission through the access point. When there is no available access point, the wireless communication function is terminated and a connection control mechanism is initiated. The connection control mechanism comprises forbidding re-turning on the wireless communication function within a connection suspension time and re-turning on the wireless communication function when the connection request is received after the connection suspension time.
US08248974B2

A multi-channel full-duplex transceiver is disclosed. The transceiver comprises: a clock generator for generating a first clock and a second clock based on a control code; a plurality of transmitters for transmitting a plurality of outgoing signals onto a plurality of channels, respectively; a plurality of receivers for receiving, sampling, and equalizing in parallel a plurality of incoming signals from said plurality of channels, respectively, to generate in parallel a plurality of equalized signals, respectively; a sampling rate converter for converting in parallel said equalized signals into a plurality of refined signals, respectively. In a first operation mode, the control code is established by detecting a timing difference between an output clock of the clock generator and a reference clock. In a second operation mode, the control code is established by detecting a timing embedded in one of said refined signals.
US08248964B2

A link is a software abstraction that represents a direct connection between two CoCo nodes. The link layer detects the presence of neighboring devices and establishes links to them. A protocol abstraction layer converts data frames that arrive on network interfaces into packet objects used by the COCO Protocol Suite.
US08248959B2

An enhanced-range beacon signal transmitted from a wireless terminal in a frequency band used by the wireless OFDM communications system for OFDM communications. The beacon may be received at each of a plurality of base stations of the wireless OFDM communications system. A location of the wireless terminal may be determined responsive to reception of the beacon signal at the plurality of base stations. In some embodiments, the beacon signal includes a narrowband beacon signal, which may be centered at a frequency offset with respect to a set of subcarriers used in the wireless OFDM communications system, for example, between adjacent subcarriers of the wireless OFDM system and/or in a guard band of the OFDM frequency band.
US08248958B1

In general, this disclosure describes techniques for testing and verifying the functionality of networks and network devices without requiring the deployment of specialized testing components. For example, as described herein, a device management protocol (e.g., SNMP or NETCONF) typically used for remote configuration of devices has been extended to allow traffic patterns to be seamlessly injected into the existing network devices that form the enterprise network. For instance, a network management device sends configuration data to a managed network device in accordance with a device management protocol and calls, using a test packet parameter, a device configuration function exposed by a managed device. When the device configuration function is called, the managed device processes the test packet to produce a result in accordance with the configuration data as if the test packet had been received from the network, and the managed device returns a test packet processing result.
US08248957B2

A system and method for sending long distance telephone calls over the Internet utilizes cost and quality of service data to optimize system performance and to minimize the cost of completing the calls. The system utilizes a network of gateways connected to the Internet. The gateways receive calls from various service providers and convert the analog calls into data packets which are then placed onto the Internet. Similarly, the gateways take data packets off the Internet, convert the data packets back into analog format, and provide the analog telephone calls to the same or another service provider. Then system periodically checks the quality of communications between each of the gateways, and uses this information, in combination with cost information, to determine how to route the calls over the Internet. Special addressing protocols can be used by a system embodying the invention to reduce or eliminate unnecessary signaling between gateways as call setup procedures are carried out. The system can also use information about calls that has been recorded in more than one location to determine how much to charge for completing a call.
US08248949B2

A method and device for providing an alternative backhaul portal at a mesh access point in a mesh network as provided enables improved backhaul services. The method includes processing a registration of the mesh access point as an alternative backhaul portal in the mesh network. It is then determined that additional backhaul capacity is required in the mesh network. Next, the mesh access point is activated as an alternative backhaul portal in the mesh network in response to determining that additional backhaul capacity is required. Mesh network data are then routed through the alternative backhaul portal at the mesh access point until it is determined that additional backhaul capacity is no longer required. The mesh access point is then deactivated as an alternative backhaul portal in the mesh network.
US08248939B1

In one embodiment, a system for communicating over a network is disclosed, the system comprising: a processor running a protocol processing stack to control a TCP connection; a first offload engine that receives control of the TCP connection from the stack to perform a first task corresponding to the TCP connection; and a second offload engine that receives control of the TCP connection from the first offload engine to perform a second task corresponding to the TCP connection. For example, the first offload engine can be protocol software such as an intermediate driver that can handle tasks such as teaming and/or reassembly of out-of-order data segments. As another example, the second offload engine can be a network interface card that provides hardware that accelerates data transfer.
US08248938B2

A communication system (100) transmits data packets from a sender (120A) to a receiver (130A) using hybrid automatic repeat request processes. The sender redundantly encodes each packet, divides the packet into subpackets, and sends the subpackets to the receiver in a time-interlaced manner. When the receiver returns a positive acknowledgement of a subpacket using an acknowledgement channel, the sender terminates transmission of the subpackets. The sender interprets the signals on the acknowledgement channel using a metric resulting from correlation of the signals with positive and negative acknowledgement symbols. The sender interprets low correlation of the acknowledgement channel signal with both positive and negative acknowledgement symbols as a preamble miss, and terminates transmission of the subpackets. After termination, the packet may be rescheduled for transmission. Early termination of packet transmission after a preamble miss improves bandwidth utilization and decreases latency of the packet with the missed preamble.
US08248929B2

In a network including at least two transmission paths whose bands are respectively managed, an RTT test of DTCP-IP may fail due to a relay wait time generated by the band management regardless of retrials. An objective of the present invention is to assure success of the RTT test. A master unit device manages bands of the transmission paths and includes an RTT test detection section detecting a failure of the RTT test, and a band management section modifying a band management (TXOP allocation) schedule based on an RTT test failure detection. With this configuration, a time band during which no TXOP is allocated is provided between the transmission paths whose bands are respectively managed, thereby assuring success of the RTT test.
US08248910B2

Aspects of the invention are directed to physical layer and data link layer signaling in digital video broadcast preamble symbols. Embodiments are directed to distributing physical layer pre-signalling data among preamble symbols. If physical layer data is larger than a predetermined number of preamble symbols, then excess physical layer data is written to data symbols immediately following the preamble symbols in top-down order symbol by symbol or the predetermined number of preamble symbols is increased. If physical layer data is not larger than the predetermined number of preamble symbols such that there is excess preamble symbol space, physical layer pipe 0 data comprising link layer signaling and notification data is carried in the excess preamble symbols or the excess preamble symbols are left empty. Different permutation rules may be used to frequency interleave odd-numbered versus even-numbered orthogonal frequency division multiplexing symbols.
US08248902B2

A reproduction signal evaluation unit includes a pattern detection section for extracting, from a binary signal, a specific state transition pattern which has a possibility of causing a bit error; a differential metric computing section for computing a differential metric based on the binary signal of the extracted state transition pattern; an error computing section for computing an error rate predicted based on an integration value that is integrated by an integration section, a count value that is counted by a pattern count section, an integration value that is integrated by another integration section, and a count value that is counted by another pattern count section, and a standard deviation computing section for computing a standard deviation based on the computed error rate.
US08248897B2

A method for manufacturing a thermally-assisted magnetic recording head is provided, in which a light source unit including a light source and a slider including an optical system are bonded. A unit substrate is made of a material transmitting light having a predetermined wavelength, and a unit adhesion material layer that contains Sn, Sn alloy, Pb alloy or Bi alloy is formed on the light source unit and/or the slider. The manufacturing method includes: aligning the light source unit and the slider in such a way that a light from the light source can enter the optical system and the unit adhesion material layer is sandwiched therebetween; and causing a light including the predetermined wavelength to enter the unit substrate to melt the unit adhesion material layer. The unit adhesion material layer melted by the light including the predetermined wavelength can ensure high alignment accuracy as well as higher bonding strength and less change with time.
US08248894B2

A thermally assisted magnetic head includes a main magnetic pole layer, a near-field light generating layer having a generating end part generating near-field light arranged within a medium-opposing surface, and an optical waveguide guiding light to the near-field light generating layer. The near-field light generating layer has a near-field light generating part in a triangle shape with the generating end part being one vertex, and is formed in a triangle pole shape. The optical waveguide is formed to be opposed to a ridge part of the near-field light generating layer via an interposed layer. The main magnetic pole layer is formed to be opposed to the generating end part via the interposed layer. The thermally assisted magnetic head further includes a heat radiating layer in contact with an opposite side of the near-field light generating layer from the optical waveguide.
US08248892B2

Provided is a head gimbal assembly (HGA) in which the electrodes for a thermally-assisted magnetic recording head comprising a light source, a photodetector and a magnetic head element, can be reliably electrically connected to wiring members by solder ball bonding (SBB). The HGA comprises a suspension comprising: a base; a first wiring member for the light source and the photodetector, provided on a side of one surface of the base; and a second wiring member for the magnetic head element, provided on the same surface side. The first and second wiring members protrude from the base toward the head to be fixed. As a result, the end portions (connection pads) of the first and second wiring members can be located close to electrodes for light-source and photodetector and electrodes for magnetic head element, respectively. This arrangement enables the end portions of the first and second wiring members to be reliably electrically connected to the electrodes by SBB.
US08248884B2

A memory device includes a clock receiver, a command interface, and a data interface separate from the command interface. A memory controller provides the command interface with a command that specifies a write operation. After a programmable latency period transpires from providing the command, data associated with the write operation is provided to the data interface by the memory controller. The memory controller provides power mode information that controls transitions between a plurality of power modes, where for each power mode of the plurality of power modes, less power is consumed than the amount of power consumed during the write operation. The power modes include a mode in which the clock receiver is on and the data interface is off; and a mode in which the clock receiver is off and the data interface is off.
US08248881B2

A method of managing power consumption by a memory in a memory device includes determining whether the device is powered by a depletable power supply, and if it is determined that the device is powered by a depletable power supply, changing a behavior of the memory to regulate power consumed by the memory.
US08248880B2

Circuits, devices and methods are provided, such as an amplifier (e.g., a voltage regulator) that includes a feedback circuit that supplies negative feedback through a feedback path. One such feedback path includes a capacitance coupled in series with a “one-way” isolation circuit through which a feedback signal is coupled. The “one-way” isolation circuit may allow the feedback signal to be coupled from a “downstream” node, such as an output node, to an “upstream” node, such as a node at which an error signal is generated to provide negative feedback. However, the “one-way” isolation circuit may substantially prevent variations in the voltage at the upstream node from being coupled to the capacitance in the isolation circuit. As a result, the voltage at the upstream node may quickly change since charging and discharging of the capacitance responsive to voltage variations at the upstream node may be avoided.
US08248875B2

A semiconductor memory device comprises a memory cell array and a sense amplifier circuit. The memory cell array includes a first NMOS transistor which has a gate electrode connected to a word line and has one source/drain region connected to a bit line. The sense amplifier circuit includes a second NMOS transistor which has a gate electrode connected to the bit line and has one source/drain region connected to a predetermined voltage. In the semiconductor memory device, each of the first and second MOS transistors is a floating body type NMOS transistor, and the predetermined voltage is supplied to the bit line at least in a precharge operation, thereby preventing characteristic deterioration due to accumulation of holes in the floating body.
US08248873B2

Semiconductor memory device with high-speed data transmission capability, system having the same includes a plurality of address input circuits and a plurality of data output circuits and a training driver configured to distribute address information input through the plurality of address input circuits together with a data loading signal for a read training, and generate data training patterns to be output through the plurality of data output circuits.
US08248866B2

A semiconductor storage device, in which successive reading and successive writing of data having a predetermined length from and to a memory cell specified by a certain address are performed, includes a plurality of memory cells, address input terminals through which the address is input, data output terminals through which read data having the predetermined length is output, and data input terminals through which write data having the predetermine length is input. Part of the address input terminals are also used as the data output terminals. In this way, the operation of successive reading and successive writing performed in succession at the same address can be made faster without increasing the number of terminals.
US08248860B2

A memory device includes a memory cell array including a plurality of memory blocks, each memory block including a plurality of memory cells, a plurality of word lines coupled to rows of the plurality of memory cells, a plurality of bit lines coupled to columns of the plurality of memory cells, and a control unit controlling an erase operation so that erase data is simultaneously written in the plurality of memory cells corresponding to an erase unit. A first erase mode may include a first erase unit and a first erase data pattern. A second erase mode may include a second erase unit and a second erase pattern. At least one of the first and second erase units and the first and second erase data patterns are different.
US08248858B2

A read method of a flash memory device is provided which comprises reading a plurality of adjacent memory cells connected with a word line different from a plurality of selected memory cells; reading the plurality of selected memory cells one or more times using a plurality of coupling compensation parameters; and selectively latching the read result of the selected memory cells based on the read result of the adjacent memory cells.
US08248856B2

The read channel of a solid state non-volatile memory may be configured to compensate for shifts in the threshold voltages of memory cells of the memory. A log of write time information and write temperature information from one or more write operations is stored in a data unit header. The read channel configuration, which may include reference voltages used for the read operation, is determined using the write time information and the write temperature information. Memory cells of the data unit are read using the configured read channel. A historical profile spanning multiple write operations may also be developed and used to configure the read channel.
US08248855B2

A memory chip includes memory cells storing data to be read, at least one reference cell having a reference cell current level, at least one reference gate voltage memory cell storing a reference gate voltage value and a read circuit to read the memory cells with a fixed gate voltage with respect to at least one reference cell activated at a voltage having its associated stored reference gate voltage value.
US08248852B2

A nonvolatile memory device includes a first address decoder and a second address decoder. The first address decoder includes a plurality of transistors disposed in a first well, and the second address decoder includes a plurality of transistors disposed in a second well that is electrically isolated from the first well. The first and second address decoders are associated with first and second memory blocks, respectively. A switch circuit is configured to provide a negative voltage to one of the first address decoder and the second address decoder on the basis of block address information that specifies an address included in one of the first memory block and the second memory block. Related methods of operation are also discussed.
US08248847B2

Disclosed herein is an information storage element including: a word electrode includes a first magnetic material that is continuously formed and is electrically conductive; a non-magnetic film formed in contact with the first magnetic material of the word electrode; a second magnetic material connected to the first magnetic material via the non-magnetic film; a magnetization setting mechanism disposed near at least one end part of both end parts of the word electrode and sets direction of magnetization of the end part of the word electrode; a coercivity decreasing mechanism decreases coercivity of the second magnetic material; and an electrically-conductive bit electrode so formed as to serve also as the second magnetic material or be formed in parallel to the second magnetic material, the bit electrode being so continuously formed as to intersect with the word electrode.
US08248846B2

To provide a magnetic memory device that can suppress the reduction of function of a magnetic memory element, and a manufacturing method thereof. A magnetic memory device includes a magnetic memory element capable of holding data based on a magnetized state thereof, and a digit line and a bit line which are capable of changing the magnetized state of the magnetic memory element by a magnetic field generated. The magnetic memory element is disposed above the digit line and the bit line at an intersection part of the digit line and the bit line. The digit line has a first width at the intersection part, and the bit line has a second width at the intersection part. The first width is larger than a third width of the magnetic memory element, and the second width is smaller than a fourth width of the magnetic memory element.
US08248845B2

A horizontally disposed elliptical or rectangular magnetic memory cell includes at least two conductive lines to carry current and a magnetic element disposed between the conductive lines. The current through the conductive lines induces a magnetic field, such that the magnetic element is directly accessible. The magnetic memory cell can be sensed with a GMR head.
US08248842B2

A method of biasing a memory cell array during a data writing operation and a semiconductor memory device, in which the semiconductor memory device includes: a memory cell array including a plurality of memory cells in which a first terminal of a memory cell is connected to a corresponding first line of a plurality of first lines and a second terminal of the memory cell is connected to a corresponding second line of a plurality of second lines; a bias circuit for biasing a selected second line of the second lines to a reference voltage and a non-selected second line to a first voltage; and a local word line address decoder applying the reference voltage or a pumping voltage corresponding to the first voltage to the bias circuit.
US08248829B2

Methods and systems for phase current reconstruction are disclosed. An example method comprises: sampling a current from a power stage comprising: three phase legs, a current sensor to measure a dc-link current, and three more current sensors configured to measure three summations of currents for the power stage, storing the sampled current into a current stack if the sampled current comes from a survived sensor and is one of the phase currents from the switching state in the state stack, and reconstructing an unknown phase current by using the previously stored currents along with the sampled current to calculate the unknown phase current. Other embodiments are described and claimed.
US08248823B2

A chip card holder for holding a chip card is disclosed including a base member, a mounting frame and a holding member. The mounting frame is made of metal materials and secured to the base member. The holding member is used to hold the chip card and is slidably mounted within the mounting frame. When the holding member is completely received in the mounting frame, the mounting frame and the base member cooperatively enclose and preventing the chip card from electromagnetic interference.
US08248821B2

A flat panel display device having improved drop characteristics, that minimize a drop shock of the flat panel display device by controlling the size of a shock-absorbing tape, the flat panel display device including: a display panel having a display part to display an image and a pad part; a supporting member configured to support the display panel; and the shock-absorbing tape disposed between the display panel and the supporting member. The shock-absorbing tape is in contact with the display part of the display panel and ⅓ to ⅚ of the pad part of the display panel.
US08248814B2

A PCB includes an outer layer and an inner layer. An electronic component is mounted on the outer layer. The outer layer further defines a first pad, a second pad, a third pad, a fourth pad, and a number of via holes. The electrical performances of the first pad and the second pad are the same to that of the inner layer. The first pad and the second pad are conducted to the electronic component. The third pad and the fourth pad are respectively conducted to the first pad and the second pad through the electronic component. The electrical performances of the third pad and the fourth pad are different from that of the inner layer. The via holes are respectively electrically connected to the third pad and the fourth pad.
US08248811B2

A server enclosure includes a top plate and a bottom plate. The top plate defines a guiding channel extending along a first direction. The bottom plate parallels to the top plate. The bottom plate protrudes a guiding member. The guiding channel and the guiding member are aligned long a direction perpendicular to the top plate, and the guiding channel is boarder than the guiding member.
US08248809B2

Systems and/or methods are provided for an inverter power module with distributed support for direct substrate cooling. An inverter module comprises a power electronic substrate. A first support frame is adapted to house the power electronic substrate and has a first region adapted to allow direct cooling of the power electronic substrate. A gasket is interposed between the power electronic substrate and the first support frame. The gasket is configured to provide a seal between the first region and the power electronic substrate. A second support frame is adapted to house the power electronic substrate and joined to the first support frame to form the seal.
US08248807B2

An electronic device includes a main body, a cover rotatably connected to the main body, at least one locking mechanism for fastening the cover to the main body, and a switch. The locking mechanism defines a locking hole in the main body and includes a locking member fixed to the cover. The locking member includes a magnetic member, an electromagnet, a compressed spring, and a locking pin. The electromagnet is electrically connected to the switch, and is operable to be powered off via switching the switch. The spring is disposed between the magnetic member and the electromagnet, and moves one of the magnetic member and the electromagnet when the electromagnet is powered off. The locking pin is inserted into the locking hole when the cover covers the main body and the electromagnet is powered off.
US08248801B2

Thermoelectric-enhanced, liquid-cooling apparatus and method are provided for facilitating cooling of one or more components of an electronics rack. The apparatus includes a liquid-cooled structure in thermal communication with the component(s) to be cooled, and a liquid-to-air heat exchanger coupled in fluid communication with the liquid-cooled structure via a coolant loop for receiving coolant from and supply coolant to the liquid-cooled structure. A thermoelectric array is disposed with first and second coolant loop portions in thermal contact with first and second sides of the array. The thermoelectric array operates to transfer heat from coolant passing through the first loop portion to coolant passing through the second loop portion, and cools coolant passing through the first loop portion before the coolant passes through the liquid-cooled structure. Coolant passing through the first and second loop portions passes through the liquid-to-air heat exchanger for cooling thereof.
US08248797B2

An electrical control cabinet includes a casing, a plurality of heat elements, a heat exchanger, and two fans. The casing includes a first receiving portion and a second receiving portion. The first receiving portion communicates outside of the casing through the heat exchanger. The fans are received in the second receiving portion. The heat elements include a plurality of first heat members received in first receiving portion and a plurality of second heat members received in the second receiving portion. The first heat members is isolated from airborne contaminants and moisture. The first heat members in the first receiving portion disperse heat by the heat exchanger, and the second heat members in the second receiving portion disperse heat by the fans.
US08248795B2

A data center includes a server module. The server module includes a housing, and a number of heat-generating elements arranged in the housing. The housing includes a front wall, a back wall, and left and right sidewalls. When the server module runs, cool air comes into the housing through the front wall and the back wall, for cooling the heat elements, then the heated air in the housing is vented out of the housing through the left and right sidewalls by a number of fans.
US08248775B2

A mounting apparatus includes a bracket for accommodating a data storage device, a first latch member, a second latch member, and a lock member. The bracket includes a pair of cutouts defined in opposite sides of the bracket. The first latch member is pivotably attached to a first end of the bracket and includes a pair of first latches movably extending in one of the pair of cutouts. The second latch member is pivotably attached to a second end of the bracket and includes a pair of second latches movably extending in the other one of the pair of cutouts. The second latch member is slidably attached to the first latch member. The lock member is slidably attached to the first latch member to releasably lock the first latch member to the bracket.
US08248773B2

A method executes an altimeter function to unlock a portable electronic device. A user can move the portable electronic device in an up-down direction to set a predetermined changed height for unlocking the portable electronic device. In an unlock procedure, an altimeter detects a changed height of the portable electronic device and outputs detected information of the portable electronic device. If the changed height is the same as the predetermined changed height, the locked portable electronic device is unlocked.
US08248772B2

An electronic device includes a cover, a body, and two sliding members. The body defines two sliding slots. Each sliding slot includes a first portion, and a second portion opposite to the first portion. The two sliding members are pivotally coupled to the cover and are slidably received in the two sliding slots. The cover is rotatably and slidably coupled to the body by the two sliding members engaging with the two sliding slots, and is capable of sliding along the two sliding slots from the first portion to the second portion.
US08248771B2

A power supply of personal computers equipped with a modular conversion circuit comprises a main circuit board, a conversion module board, a first conversion circuit and a first module slot located on the main circuit board, and a second conversion circuit and a second module slot located on the conversion module board. The first conversion circuit converts an input power to generate at least one output power. The first module slot outputs the output power. The second conversion circuit converts the output power and generates at least one conversion power. The second module slot outputs the conversion power to allow at least one external element to respectively electrically connect to the first module slot and the second module slot according to power requirement.
US08248768B2

An electronic device includes a bracket, a cover, a first sliding member, a second sliding member fixed to the cover, a resilient member positioned between the first and second sliding members, and fasteners. Each fastener includes an engaging portion and a hooking portion. The fasteners extend through the bracket and the first sliding member, to limit the first sliding member and the bracket between the engaging portions and the hooking portions.
US08248749B2

An ionic thermal dissipation device includes an ionic wind generation system and a power system. The power system first converts external direct current (DC) power signals into first alternating current (AC) power signals, and boosts, increases voltage, and rectifies the first AC power signals to generate high voltage DC power signals to drive the ionic wind generation system. The power system also detects current signals generated by ion excitation of the ionic wind generation system and voltage signals of the high voltage DC power signals, and regulates the high voltage DC power signals and time of driving the ionic wind generation system according to a first PWM signal and a first analog signal from an electronic device and the detected current signals and voltage signals.
US08248742B2

A semiconductor device has: a power supply line; a ground line; a signal line for transmitting a signal; a signal pad connected to the signal line; a protection element connected between the signal line and the ground line; and a trigger circuit configured to supply a trigger current to the protection element. The trigger circuit has: a PMOS transistor whose gate and backgate are connected to the power supply line and whose source is connected to the protection element; and an amplifier circuit part configured to amplify a first current flowing through the PMOS transistor to generate a second current. The trigger current includes the second current.
US08248738B2

Embodiments of the invention relate to a switching device, a high power supply system and methods for switching high power including a relay and a power semiconductor switch arranged in parallel to the relay.
US08248733B1

A disk drive under assembly is disclosed that comprises a suspension assembly that includes a head gimbal assembly (HGA) that has a lift tab and a shipping comb that includes a protruding member that extends from the shipping comb and a bearing member that supports the suspension assembly, in which the lift tab extends beyond the bearing member. The disk drive under assembly further comprises a ramp that includes a receiving portion to receive the protruding member as the shipping comb couples with the ramp to transfer the lift tab to the ramp.
US08248730B2

The magnetic head slider locking apparatus according to the present invention includes a fixed portion, a movable portion and paired right and left spring portions. Upon transition from an initial posture to an elastically deformed posture, the movable portion is wholly moved toward the proximal side in the suspension longitudinal direction and, at the same time, the inner end of each of paired proximal-side engagement regions in the suspension width direction is moved toward the inner side in the suspension width direction, so that the distal end and the proximal end of each of the proximal-side extending regions are moved toward the inner side and the outer side in the suspension width direction, respectively, while the proximal-side extending regions are wholly moved toward the proximal side in the suspension longitudinal direction.
US08248728B2

A magnetic pole of a magnetic head includes a narrow and a wide portion, and is formed of a plating film. An electrode film forms the plating film, and is provided only under at least a part of the wide portion. A manufacturing method for the magnetic head includes: forming a plating-film-accommodating layer with an accommodating groove; forming the electrode film in part of the accommodating groove; and forming the plating film in the accommodating groove by plating using the electrode film. The accommodating groove includes a narrow and a wide groove portion for accommodating the narrow and wide portions, respectively. The electrode film is provided only in at least a part of the wide groove portion. In the step of forming the plating film, the plating film grows from the surface of the electrode film, and the narrow groove portion is filled with a part of the plating film.
US08248720B2

The present invention relates to an image photographing device, and is invented to absorb vibration of the plate spring when the lens holder is moved, thereby stabilizing rapidly the lens holder. According to one example, the small camera provided with a damper includes a lens holder provided with lens and driven in an optical axial direction, a fixing unit housing the lens holder, a plate spring which is arranged to the upper part or lower part of the lens holder and connects the lens holder to the fixing unit and supports it so that the lens holder is moved in an optical axial direction, a driving unit for driving the lens holder in an optical axial direction, a support unit arranged on the lower parts of the lens holder and the fixing unit, and a damper member attached to the plate spring for absorbing vibrations of the plate spring wherein the damper member is made with polymer chemical having an elastic force and the elastic force of the damper member is smaller than that of the plate spring.
US08248718B2

A lens module includes a lens and a lens barrel receiving the lens therein with a gap maintained between a peripheral surface of the lens and an inner surface of the lens barrel. The lens barrel includes a plurality of hole portions with through holes defined therein and facing the peripheral surface of the lens, and a glue applied in the gap to adhere the lens to the hole portions.
US08248717B2

An exemplary camera module includes a lens holder and a lens barrel. The lens holder includes a cylindrical receiving cavity defined therein and an inner smooth surface in the cylindrical receiving cavity. The lens barrel is received in the cylindrical receiving cavity. The lens barrel includes a hollow cylinder and a plurality of spaced protrusions arranged on the outer cylindrical surface of the hollow cylinder. The outer cylindrical surface is spaced from the inner smooth surface. The protrusions abut against the inner smooth surface.
US08248716B2

An imaging optical system has, in order from the object side to the image side thereof, a front lens group, an aperture stop, and a rear lens group. A lens located closest to object side in said front lens group always remains fixed in position, with satisfaction of the following conditions (1) and (2): 1.15≦fb/IHω≦1.7   (1) −4.0≦fn/f≦−1.3   (2) where f is a focal length of the whole imaging optical system, fn is a focal length of a first negative lens in said front lens group, fb is a back focus of the imaging optical system upon focusing on an object point at infinity, and IHω is a distance from an optical axis of a position where a chief ray from a maximum incident half angle of view (ω) upon focusing on an object point at infinity is imaged at the imaging plane.
US08248714B2

The present disclosure relates to a projection lens system for a projector having a spatial light modulator (SLM). The projection lens system includes, in order from the magnified end to the minified end thereof, a first lens group with negative refraction power, a second lens group with positive refraction power, and a third lens group with positive refraction power. The projection lens system satisfies the following formulas: 3
US08248712B2

A light ray concentration device includes a concentrating lens and a base for holding the concentrating lens. The concentrating lens includes a planar surface defining a number of first Fresnel zones and a convex surface facing away from the planar surface and defining a number of second Fresnel zones. The first and second Fresnel zones are coaxial with each other.
US08248708B2

A zoom lens system includes a negative first lens group, a positive second lens group, and a positive third lens group, in this order from the object.Each of the negative first lens group, the positive second lens group and the positive third lens group moves along the optical axis upon zooming.The positive second lens group includes a positive first lens element, a negative second lens element, and a negative third lens element, in this order from the object.The zoom lens system satisfies the following conditions: 2
US08248706B2

A zoom lens system includes a first lens group with positive refractive power, a second lens group with negative refractive power, a third lens group with positive refractive power, and a fourth lens group with positive refractive power. The lens groups can move along the optical axis of the zoom lens system. The zoom lens system satisfies the formula: 0.15<|L3|/Lt<0.25. L3 is a movement vector of the third lens group during the zoom lens system moves from a wide-angle state to a telephoto state. The movement vector is a positive value when the zoom lens system moves from a subject side to an image side thereof. The movement vector is a negative value when the zoom lens system moves from the image side to the subject side. Lt is the total length of the zoom lens system along the optical axis in the telephoto state.
US08248704B2

A small zoom lens having a high zoom ratio and high optical performance over an entire zoom range is obtained. The zoom lens includes, in order from an object side to an image side: a first lens unit having a positive refractive power; a second lens unit having a negative refractive power; a third lens unit having a positive refractive power; a fourth lens unit having a negative refractive power; and a fifth lens unit having a positive refractive power, wherein intervals between the first lens unit, the second lens unit, the third lens unit, the fourth lens unit, and the fifth lens unit are changed during zooming, in which a focal length (fw) of an entire system at a wide angle end and a focal length (fn) of an n-th lens unit are set appropriately.
US08248702B2

A high definition thin lens dimensional image display device and methods of manufacturing the same. The thin lens dimensional image display device generally includes a lens array on a first surface of a film, such as a lenticular lens array or a fly's eye lens array, with a printed imaged either printed directly on a second planar surface of the film, or on a separate substrate that is laminated thereto. The resulting display device offers a lower cost display device having greater flexibility for a wider variety of applications than traditional image display devices, without compromising image quality. Processes for manufacturing the display device include printing on a pre-fabricated thin lens web, inline printing of an image and patterning of the lens array, and inline printing of a substrate and application of a coating to the substrate which is subsequently patterned or embossed.
US08248691B2

An infrared light transmission film includes a polymer matrix and at least one red colorant, blue colorant, and yellow colorant that are uniformly dispersed in the polymer matrix at amounts effective to allow transmission through the film of at least about 85% of light with wavelengths over about 800 nm while blocking transmission of at least about 90% of light with wavelengths less than about 750 nm.
US08248684B2

Adaptive optics (AO) elements in imaging system allow dynamic and precise control over the optical wavefront to reduce uncontrolled wavefront errors in imaging systems. Traditional control of such devices is based on inverting the wavefront function to minimize the RMS wavefront error. However, this approach is not always optimal, particularly when the wavefront error is near or exceeds the limit of the AO element's correction capability. In the current approach, the AO element is instead controlled based on a performance metric that takes into account image processing, and not just RMS wavefront error.
US08248683B2

A variable light transmittance window includes: a substrate configured to transmit light; a thermochromic layer on the substrate; first function thin film layers on opposite surfaces of the thermochromic layer; and second function thin film layers on respective surfaces of the first function thin film layers opposite the thermochromic layer, wherein a difference between refractive indices of the first function thin film layers and the second function thin film layers is greater than a difference between refractive indices of the first function thin film layers and the thermochromic layer.
US08248680B2

A cover for use in connection with a mirror of a vehicle is provided. The cover is provided with a lens having an electrically activatable material. The lens is positioned in front of the vehicle mirror. The electrically activatable material prevents the reflectivity of visible light off the mirror of the vehicle when the electrically activatable material is set to a light inhibiting state. A coupling device electrically couples the electrically activatable material to an electrical power source. An actuation device is adapted to set the electrically activatable material of the lens to the light inhibiting state in response to user operation such that the lens prevents the reflectivity of visible light off the mirror to reduce the observability of the vehicle mirror.
US08248679B2

A multibeam scanning device, comprising: a plurality of first optical systems, each of the plurality of optical systems including a light source unit configured to emit a non-collimated light beam, and an optical element having a predetermined power and having an optical effect on the laser beam; a second optical system arranged on a downstream side of the plurality of first optical systems, including a first deflector on which light beams emitted by the plurality of first optical systems are incident, the first deflector being to deflect the laser beams, and a common optical system configured to change degree of divergence of each of the plurality of light beams; and an optical path shifting system configured to translate an incident optical path of the light beam which is emitted by the light source and incident on the optical element, wherein all the light beams incident on the first deflector are incident on the first deflector at substantially the same position, and wherein the optical elements are arranged such that optical axes of the optical elements intersect at a position spaced from the optical element by a distance equal to a focal length of the optical element.
US08248675B2

An image-reading apparatus that reads an image of an original includes an array sensor including photoelectric-conversion elements linearly arranged; an optical system configured to form the image of the original onto the array sensor; a signal-processing circuit configured to convert outputs of the array sensor into digital signals and sequentially output pixel values of pixels that constitute a line; a sample-rate converter configured to sequentially receive the pixel values of the pixels that constitute the line output from the signal-processing circuit, convert spatial sample intervals of the line, and output the resultant pixel values; a data table created by reflecting aberration characteristics of the optical system therein; and a controller configured to control the sample-rate converter using data in the data table.
US08248670B2

An image scanning device includes a document table; a document pressing unit configured to press a document placed on the document table; a scanning unit including a light source for illuminating the document and configured to optically scan the document; an open/close detection unit configured to detect opening and closing of the document pressing unit; and a control unit configured to cause the scanning unit to move parallel to the document and thereby to detect a size of the document when the closing of the document pressing unit is detected by the open/close detection unit or when a scanning start signal is detected. The control unit detects the size of the document within a document size detection period that is changeable according to a speed of closing the document pressing unit, and turns on and off the light source based on the document size detection period.
US08248665B2

An information processing device includes: a document information receiving unit that receives document information; a placement region determining unit that selects a region from the document information and determines the region as a placement region where code information is to be placed, on the basis of the amount of information of a part of the document information; a code information generating unit that encodes additional information to be added to the document information and information for the placement region and generates code information; and a document information generating unit that generates code-information-bearing document information in which the code information is placed in the placement region of the document information.
US08248649B2

Disclosed is an information processing apparatus comprising: a storage section to store data; and a control section to detect whether a data access to the storage section exists or not, to detect whether unnecessary data stored in the storage section exists or not, and to overwrite/delete the unnecessary data in a case where the data access does not exist and the unnecessary data exists.
US08248633B2

An image forming apparatus is provided with a determination portion that, in response to operation for giving instructions to enhance a security level thereof, determines whether or not a job is kept which is not to satisfy security requirements after the enhancement, an execution portion that, if the determination portion determines that such a job is kept, performs predetermined processing for satisfying the security requirements on the job with execution of the job ensured, and a security mode switching portion that, if the determination portion determines that such a job is kept, enhances the security level after the execution portion finishes the predetermined processing, and, if the determination portion determines that such a job is not kept, enhances the security level promptly.
US08248632B2

A method and system for inserting dividers in a rendering job. A group of individual files can be compiled into a single document. The individual files can then be arranged in a preferred order. One or more dividers can then be inserted in-between each of the individual files in order to thereafter generate a template that includes a print layout associated therewith and render a complete document, which includes the individual files in the preferred order with the divider(s) automatically inserted therein and including text strings thereof.
US08248630B2

A multifunction machine according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a clock means for recognizing time; a settings information storing means that stores settings information and an updated time; a synchronization target information storing means that stores synchronization target information that specifies synchronization target multifunction machines whose settings information is to be synchronized; a sending means that sends updated settings information and the updated time of the settings information to the synchronization target multifunction machines when the settings information stored in the settings information storing means is updated by a user's operation; a receiving means that receives the settings information and the updated time sent from other multifunction machines; and a synchronization/update means that updates the settings information stored in the settings information storing means based on the received settings information.
US08248628B2

An image processor includes an image reading unit that reads source documents and converts read data into image data, an extracting unit that extracts password information and attribute information from the image data of each of the source documents read by the image reading unit, a password inputting unit that inputs the password information, a password determining unit that determines whether or not the password information inputted by the password inputting unit matches the password information extracted by the extracting unit, and a permitting unit that permits a source document to be subjected to image processing, if the attribute information of the source document is identical to the attribute information included in the source document of which the password determining unit has determined that there is a match between the inputted password information and the extracted password information.
US08248626B2

There are provided an image processing apparatus and its control method in which sheet size/type and options can be set every image without reducing the number of images written onto one index sheet. The options include image processes such as addition of a date, VIVID-photo, noise cancellation, automatic photograph correction, face-brightening correction, red-eye correction, etc. Only for the user who desires, a sheet SH2 is used in addition to a conventional index sheet. In the sheet SH2, there can be set every image the sheet size/type and the options of the image processes such as addition of a date, VIVID-photo, noise cancellation, automatic photograph correction, face-brightening correction, red-eye correction, etc.
US08248620B2

An object detecting device for detecting the existence and general placement of an object residing upon a surface. A preferred embodiment of the invention uses at least one laser measuring scanner operated positioned by a servo motor to allow the laser measuring scanner to generate signals related to the placement of an object on a surface. Those placement signals are then processed by a computer to make a two or three dimensional determination of the object in coordinates that show the object's location in relation to another device such as a robotic depalletizer that can then be moved into position near the object to allow removal of the object by the robotic depalletizer.
US08248609B2

A cylindrical illumination confocal spectroscopy system has a fluidic device having a fluid channel defined therein, an objective lens unit arranged proximate the fluidic device, an illumination system in optical communication with the objective lens unit to provide light to illuminate a sample through the objective lens unit, and a detection system in optical communication with the objective lens unit to receive at least a portion of light that passes through the objective lens unit from the sample. The illumination system includes a beam-shaping lens unit constructed and arranged to provide a substantially planar illumination beam that subtends across, and is longer than, a lateral dimension of the fluid channel.
US08248608B2

A method of determining the location of a lithographic substrate relative to an imprint template is disclosed. The method includes positioning the substrate adjacent to the imprint template such that an alignment grating on the substrate and an alignment grating on the imprint template form a composite diffraction grating, directing alignment radiation beam comprising radiation at a first wavelength and radiation at a second wavelength, the second wavelength being longer than the first wavelength, at the composite diffraction grating, detecting radiation diffracted from the composite grating during relative lateral movement between the imprint template and the substrate, using the detected radiation at the second wavelength to obtain information regarding a separation between the substrate alignment grating and the imprint template alignment grating, and using the detected radiation at the first wavelength to obtain information regarding the lateral position of the substrate alignment grating relative to the imprint template alignment grating.
US08248601B2

An optical mask positioned on a scintillator array. The optical mask includes a reflective layer. One or more windows can be positioned on the surface of optical mask.
US08248599B2

Special polarization states are generated that have unique focusing properties that may be used to create extremely strong longitudinal fields. Combined with surface plasmon excitation, these polarization states can be used in apertureless near-field scanning optical microscopy systems. A radially polarized beam is directed into a plasmon-generating optical fiber comprising a metal coated, tapered, apertureless tip. The apertureless tip excites surface plasmon waves and direct the surface plasmon waves to the tip when a radially polarized beam propagates along the plasmon-generating optical fiber. An objective lens collects the near field optical signals from a sample positioned adjacent to the apertureless. Potential spatial resolution of the apertureless NSOM could reach beyond 10 nm. Such strong field enhancement allows the development of a reliable nano-Raman system that can measure mechanical as well as chemical compositions of samples with resolution beyond 10 nm.
US08248598B2

According to the invention, a method for compensating for temperature related measurement errors in an optical arrangement, comprising at least one lens is designed with a view to an economical and reliable as possible compensation for temperature related measurement errors without significant increased production expense, wherein a multicolored beam is passed through the optical arrangement, which is focused at points at varying distances from the lens as a result of the chromatic aberration of the lens, at least a part of the spectrum of the light beam being at least partly reflected within the optical arrangement and directed to a detector device by means of which a determination of a spectrum is carried out, the temperature of the arrangement is determined from the spectrum recorded by the detection device and a compensation for temperature related measurement errors is carried out based on the temperature determined thus. A corresponding optical arrangement in disclosed.
US08248595B2

A surface inspecting method including irradiating a laser light to a test object to generate an ultrasonic wave, irradiating a second laser light at a position apart by a known distance from a position where the laser light is irradiated and receiving a reflection light thereof, and correcting a generation surface wave of a received ultrasonic wave by using an ultrasonic wave other than the generation surface wave to thereby detect a flaw of the test object. A characterization of the generation surface wave is divided or integrated by the same characterization of the ultrasonic wave other than the generation surface wave included in an output signal to obtain a performance index value and obtain a depth of the flaw by applying the performance index value to a calibration curve in which a corresponding relation between the performance index value and the depth of the flaw is obtained preliminarily.
US08248587B2

A testing method of a semiconductor laser emitting a wavelength under a test different from a reference wavelength in a given wavelength range includes: a first step of obtaining a length of an optical fiber under the test satisfying a reference dispersion condition at the wavelength under the test, based on the reference dispersion condition for the test and a unit dispersion amount of the optical fiber; and a second step of inputting a modulation signal that is a modulated laser light of the semiconductor laser having a wavelength as the wavelength under the test into an optical fiber having substantially the same length as the length obtained in the first step and evaluating an output of the optical fiber.
US08248586B2

A blood analysis apparatus is provided. The blood analysis apparatus includes: a chip holding portion having an aperture which allows light to pass therethrough and holding a μ-TAS chip for holding a measurement liquid; a rotary body on which the chip holding portion is mounted; a light source; and a light-receiving unit. A measurement position of the rotary body at which the measurement liquid is to be measured with the light from the light source is set by: rotating the rotary body to obtain a light value of light which is emitted from the light source and received by the light-receiving unit through the aperture; and setting a rotational position of the rotary body where the light value is a threshold value or more, as the measurement position.
US08248585B2

A laser capture microdissection system includes a laser illuminator, a fiber and an electric moving stage. The fiber has a probe terminal and a coupling terminal for being coupled to the laser illuminator. The electric moving stage includes a fiber probe holder, a driving mechanism for vertical shift, a stage unit, a driving mechanism for horizontal shift and an electronic control unit. The driving mechanism for vertical shift serves for driving the fiber probe holder to shift in microscale. The stage unit has a nanoscale shift controller, a placing portion, wherein the nano-scale shift controller is connected to the placing portion, and the placing portion is located under the fiber probe holder. The driving mechanism for horizontal shift serves for driving the stage unit to shift in microscale. The electronic control unit is electrically connected to the nanoscale shift controller and the driving mechanism for horizontal shift.
US08248581B2

In the case of an exposure system for substrate bodies which carry a photosensitive coating on a substrate surface, comprising a machine frame, a substrate carrier which carries the substrate body and has a substrate carrier surface, and an exposure device with an optics unit, the optics unit and the machine frame being movable relative to one another in a first direction and in a second direction, so that the photosensitive coating can be exposed by this relative movement in the first direction and in the second direction, in order to improve said system in such a way that a compact configuration is possible, despite in this case a substrate body with a very large extent in the first and the second direction, it is proposed that the exposure device has a guide cross-member for at least one guide carriage of the exposure device, the guide carriage carrying the optics unit, in that the guide carriage is guided on the guide cross-member to be movable in the first direction, and in that the guide cross-member is arranged on the machine frame to be movable in the second direction.
US08248567B2

A display device includes a display drain signal line which belongs to a display pixel is connected to a pixel electrode via a TFT, a first dummy drain signal line which belongs to a dummy pixel is connected to a dummy pixel electrode via a TFT, and a second dummy drain signal line is disposed outside of the dummy pixel. The second dummy drain signal line is not connected to a dummy pixel electrode.
US08248561B2

A liquid crystal display includes: a liquid crystal layer squeezed between first and second substrates and vertically aligned at a retardation of 300-1000 nm; first and second compensators disposed on the first substrate and having negative biaxial optical anisotropy; a first polarizer disposed on the first and second compensators; and a second polarizer on the second substrate disposed crossed-Nichol with said first polarizer, wherein: the second compensator is disposed between the first substrate and first compensator; an in-plane slow axis of the first compensator is disposed perpendicular to an absorption axis of the first polarizer; the in-plane slow axis of the first compensator is disposed perpendicular to an in-plane slow axis of the second compensator; and a retardation in an in-plane direction of the first compensator is larger than that of the second compensator.
US08248560B2

Improved apparatus and method for collecting and directing light from a source via a light guide and modulated display assembly in an efficient manner through the design and use of prismatic optical structures, diffusers and/or light redirectors.
US08248557B2

A display apparatus with a light-weight power providing unit that can be easily incorporated within an acceptable fastening-error range is disclosed. The display apparatus includes a display panel that displays an image, a backlight assembly that provides the display panel with light, a rear cover that is coupled to the backlight assembly and has a guide unit formed thereon, wherein the guide unit protrudes from a bottom surface of the rear cover by a predetermined height, and a top-receiving container that has an inner space to receive the display panel and the backlight assembly and that is combined with the rear cover. There is also a power providing unit that provides the backlight assembly with driving power. The power providing unit is coupled to the rear cover at a position guided by the guide unit.
US08248551B2

A first insulating thin film having a large dielectric constant such as a silicon nitride film is formed so as to cover a source line and a metal wiring that is in the same layer as the source line. A second insulating film that is high in flatness is formed on the first insulating film. An opening is formed in the second insulating film by etching the second insulating film, to selectively expose the first insulating film. A conductive film to serve as a light-interruptive film is formed on the second insulating film and in the opening, whereby an auxiliary capacitor of the pixel is formed between the conductive film and the metal wiring with first the insulating film serving as a dielectric. The effective aperture ratio can be increased by forming the auxiliary capacitor in a selected region where the influences of alignment disorder of liquid crystal molecules, i.e., disclination, are large.
US08248547B2

The invention relates to a vertical electric field type of the liquid crystal display and a driving method. The method comprising: during displaying each picture, driving first pixel and second pixel at adjacent two rows and the same column, comprising: step 101 of applying a format voltage to the first pixel and vertically arranging liquid crystal in the first pixel to form brightness mode; step 102 of applying a driving voltage to the first pixel to display a picture; step 103 of applying a format voltage to the second pixel and vertically arranging a liquid crystal in the second pixel to form brightness mode; step 104 of applying a driving voltage to second pixel to display a picture. The driving method employs a format voltage to form a brightness mode and employs a driving voltage to display a picture, enabling to form a brightness mode without alignment film.
US08248543B2

A vehicle having an overhead video display screen system includes a rear video screen that is swivelable between a rearward facing and a forward facing configuration. The vehicle further includes a second row of seats that can be swiveled to view the rear video screen when it is facing forward. The vehicle may further include a forward video screen configured to block a driver's rearview of the rear screen when in the forward facing configuration. A driver distraction interlock system is provided in communication with the rear screen and the forward screen to prevent video from being displayed on the rear screen if the rear screen is viewable by the driver in his or her rearview mirror. In a preferred method, video can be displayed on a front facing rear screen when the forward screen is deployed thereby obstructing the driver from being able to see the rear screen.
US08248541B2

A scanning projector includes a mirror that scans in two dimensions. The scanning mirror oscillates at a resonant frequency on a fast-scan axis, and is phase locked to an incoming frame rate on a slow-scan axis. An interpolation component interpolates pixel intensity data from adjacent pixels based on the position of the mirror when a pixel clock arrives. Incoming video data is stored in a buffer. Less than a complete frame of video data may be stored in the buffer.
US08248537B2

A video-signal processing method for measuring a noise level of an input video signal includes the steps of detecting an intra-field or intra-frame feature for each region that is set in the input video signal, the intra-field or intra-frame feature representing a noise level in the input video signal within a field or frame; checking the intra-field or intra-frame feature against a noise-free-region threshold, and excluding regions with which the infra-field or intra-frame feature is less than the noise-free-region threshold from subjects of noise-level measurement; and outputting a result of noise-level measurement by statistically processing the intra-field or intra-frame features of regions remaining without being excluded.
US08248535B2

A video processing system comprising a video frame buffer memory, a first video pipeline, a second video pipeline, a blender, and an overdrive processing unit. The video frame buffer memory has a first memory region and a second memory region, the first memory region being configured to store a first video data frame and the second memory region being configured to store a second video data frame. The first video pipeline is coupled to the video frame buffer memory and configured to receive and process the first video data frame. The second video pipeline is coupled to the video frame buffer memory and configured to receive and process the second video data frame. The blender is coupled to the first and second video pipelines and is configured to receive and blend the processed first video data frame and the processed second video data frame in a first mode of operation and to provide the blended processed first and second video data frame to a display. The overdrive processing unit is coupled to the first and second video pipelines, and is configured to receive the processed first video data frame and the processed second video data frame in a second mode of operation, to modify the processed first video data frame based upon pixel values of the processed second video data frame, and to provide the modified processed first current video data frame to the display.
US08248532B2

The “color stripe” process is well known in the video field for preventing copying by analog video tape recorders of video content, and operates by altering the phase of a portion of the video signal color burst. Here, a weakened version of the color stripe process is employed in a video signal whereby the color burst phase alterations are reduced or attenuated so there is no copy prevention effect on a typical video tape recorder. However the weakened color stripe process is still sufficient to be detectable by a suitable detector located in a compliant device, so the detected presence of the color stripe serves as an encoded indication of copy control or other content control for the video signal by the compliant device.
US08248531B2

A method with television (TV) tuning function applied on a digital photo frame (DPF) is provided. The method includes: fetching a prompt time of at least one particular TV program; determining whether a prompt time of a particular TV program is about to arrive or has already arrived at the current time; fetching a prompt signal of the particular TV program whose prompt time is about to arrive or has already arrived, and outputting the prompt signal to prompt a particular TV program is being aired or about to air; switching the DPF from the DPF mode to a TV mode and providing the channel parameter of the particular TV program upon receiving a mode switching signal during the outputting of the prompt signal; and; and receiving and playing the particular TV program according to the channel parameter. A related DPF is also provided.
US08248529B2

A method for displaying caption windows in a TV system is provided. The method includes steps of receiving a first window-defining command at a first time point, receiving a second window-defining command at a second time point, and determining an output state of the window-defining commands according to a comparison result between a first global priority value corresponding to the first window-defining command and a second global priority value corresponding to the second window-defining command. The first global priority value includes a first priority value of the first window-defining command and a first age parameter. The second global priority value includes a second priority value of the second window-defining command and a second age parameter. The first and second age parameters are associated with a sequence of the first and second time points.
US08248526B2

An imaging module includes an imaging substrate mounting an imaging device thereon, a resin holder including a substrate securing portion to which the imaging substrate is secured, a lens support barrel supporting a lens at an inside thereof, and a holding portion which protrudes toward a subject from the substrate securing portion and includes a through hole configured to permit retention of the holder in an external structure, a metal securing member disposed at a side of the substrate securing portion of the holder facing a subject, and a metal holding plate including a securing region which is secured to and electrically connected to the securing member, and a holding portion adjacent region which overlaps a part around the through hole of the holding portion and includes a through hole configured to communicate with the through hole.
US08248524B2

An image capturing device a circuit base, an image sensor, a cooling member, and an elastic member. The image sensor is disposed on the circuit base. The circuit board defines a first opening covered by the image sensor. The elastic member is interposed between the circuit board and the cooling member. The elastic member comprises a bulged elastic flange running through the first opening and compressively abutting against the image sensor and the circuit board and an elastic arm bent towards the cooling member and elastically abutting against the cooling member.
US08248512B2

The present invention provides full-parallax images having high spatial resolution in real time. An image-capturing optical unit (21) includes a plurality of prismatic mirrors (41) which rotate at a predetermined period. The side surface of each of the prismatic mirrors (41) reflects a light beam from an object. A camera receives the light beam from the object reflected by the prismatic mirrors (41) in order to capture an image of the object. On the other hand, a display optical unit (32) includes a plurality of prismatic mirrors (51) which rotate in phase with the prismatic mirrors (41) at the same period. A projector emits a light beam corresponding to the image of the object captured by the camera, and such a light beam is reflected by the prismatic mirrors (51). A user may view an image corresponding to the light beam reflected by the prismatic mirrors (51). The present invention, for example, can be applied to an image-capturing apparatus for capturing an image, and a display apparatus for displaying the image captured by the image-capturing apparatus.
US08248510B2

A lens is used in a camera module. The lens is made of piezoelectric material to miniaturize the size of the camera module.
US08248508B2

In a preparation operation of a distortion correcting method, actual measured lens position information obtained by an optical system at a time of shooting an image, an error range in the lens position information, and a relational expression between a distortion pattern and the lens position information, are respectively obtained. In a correcting operation, actual measured data of the lens position information is fit to the relational expression to estimate the distortion pattern of the image shot by the optical system, and a temporary corrected image is obtained. In a selection operation, a distortion correcting pattern to be applied in main correcting performed on the image is selected based on the temporary corrected image. In a repeating operation, when the distortion correcting pattern is not selected, a value of the actual measured data is adjusted within the error range and the correcting operation is repeated.
US08248506B2

An imaging apparatus for performing efficient signal processing depending on the operational mode. In the finder mode, a CCD interface 21a decimates horizontal components of image data supplied from an image generating unit 10 to one-third and moreover processes the decimated image data with data conversion and resolution conversion to produce Y, Cb and Cr image data which are routed to and written in an image memory 32 over a memory controller 22. In the recording mode, the CCD interface 21a causes the image data from the image generating unit 10 to be written in the image memory 32 via memory controller 22 after decimation and gamma correction etc. The camera DSP 21c reads out the image data via memory controller 22 from the image memory 32 to effect data conversion for writing the resulting data via memory controller 22 in the image memory 32.
US08248504B2

An image display device includes first and second image display units that display images, a video signal processing unit that executes a predetermined signal processing, a scanning direction instructing unit that instructs the second image display unit to execute a scanning, first and second color specifying units that specify a color of a graphics image, first and second position specifying units that specify a position of the graphics image to be synthesized, a first synthesizing unit that outputs a signal obtained by synthesizing a signal of a color stored when the first color specifying unit specifies a color with the video signal input from the video signal processing unit, and a second synthesizing unit that outputs a signal obtained by synthesizing a signal of a color stored when the second color specifying unit specifies a color with the video signal input from the video signal processing unit.
US08248501B2

The invention relates to an image sensor, in particular to a CMOS image sensor, for electronic cameras, having a plurality of light-sensitive pixels arranged in rows and columns, wherein the pixels of a respective column are divided into a first pixel group and a second pixel group, wherein, in each column, the pixels of the respective first pixel group are coupled to a common first column amplifier via a common first column line and the pixels of the respective pixel group are coupled to a common second column amplifier via a common second column line. The division of the pixels into the first pixel group and second pixel group is different for different columns.
US08248496B2

An image processing apparatus includes a unit to obtain mosaic image data by shooting a subject with use of a color image sensor in which five or more kinds of color filters are arranged in front of an image pickup device; a first interpolator to perform interpolation to color information of a high-definition color filter, in regard to the obtained mosaic image data; and a second interpolator to perform interpolation to color information of a low-definition color filter of which a peak wavelength in spectral transmittance is adjacent to that of the high-definition color filter, by using a result of the interpolation by the first interpolator, wherein the mosaic image data is image data which has one color information for each pixel, and the five or more kinds of color filters include the plural high-definition color filters and the plural low-definition color filters, thereby performing demosaicing without deteriorating definition.
US08248492B2

This present invention relates to an image processing apparatus capable of performing edge preserving smoothing processing with less operations, an image processing method, and a program. The block-histogram calculation unit 113 calculates the number of pixels, as a block histogram, included in each of luminance blocks which are obtained by dividing a luminance image in a spatial direction and a luminance direction. The block-integration value 115 calculates an integration value of luminance values of the pixels included in each of the luminance blocks as a block integration value. The weighted product-sum unit 117 calculates a general-luminance value representing average luminance of an object region to which a pixel being processed belongs using the block integration value, the block histogram, and the luminance value of the pixel being processed. This invention is applicable to digital video cameras.
US08248491B2

There is provided a moving image noise reduction processing apparatus for reducing noise in a digitalized time-series image signal, including: a spatial noise reduction unit applying spatial noise reduction processing to the image signal; a previous buffer unit storing an image signal to which at least the spatial noise reduction processing has been applied; and a temporal noise reduction unit performing temporal noise reduction processing based on an image signal to be processed to which the spatial noise reduction processing has been applied in the spatial noise reduction unit and an image signal which is stored in the previous buffer unit and is earlier than the image signal to be processed.
US08248490B2

An imaging sensor having reduced column fixed pattern noise includes a plurality of imaging pixels and a column sampling circuit. The plurality of imaging pixels are arranged in a column the column sampling circuit is coupled to the column. A plurality of sampling channels are included in the column sampling circuit, where the column sampling circuit randomly selects a first sampling channel from among the plurality of sampling channels to sample a first data signal from a pixel included in the plurality of imaging pixels and where the column sampling circuit randomly selects a second sampling channel from among the plurality of sampling channels to sample a second data signal from the pixel.
US08248489B2

The image playback device includes an input part that inputs images, an image output part that selects a plurality of images from the input images and sequentially outputs the plurality of images, and an output controlling part that, when an image is additionally input to the input part during output of the images by the image output part. Alternatively, the image playback device includes an image output part, an audio playback part a playback time calculation part, and an output controlling part that plays back the audio by the audio playback part while outputting the images from the image output part in accordance with the time calculated by the playback time calculation part, and when an image is added to the images, the playback time calculation part calculates time for outputting the images and the additional image in accordance with remaining playback time of the audio.
US08248486B1

Techniques are provided to encode and decode image data comprising a tone mapped (TM) image with HDR reconstruction data in the form of luminance ratios and color residual values. In an example embodiment, luminance ratio values and residual values in color channels of a color space are generated on an individual pixel basis based on a high dynamic range (HDR) image and a derivative tone-mapped (TM) image that comprises one or more color alterations that would not be recoverable from the TM image with a luminance ratio image. The TM image with HDR reconstruction data derived from the luminance ratio values and the color-channel residual values may be outputted in an image file to a downstream device, for example, for decoding, rendering, and/or storing. The image file may be decoded to generate a restored HDR image free of the color alterations.
US08248468B2

A support stand includes a support member, and a connecting module assembled on the support member. The connecting module includes a first adjustment member, a first connection member rotatably connected to the first adjustment member, a second adjustment member assembled on the support member, a second connection member rotatably connected to the second adjustment member, and a fixing member connecting the first adjustment member and the second connection member. The connecting module further includes two first clamping members assembled on the first adjustment member to clamp the first connection member, and two second clamping members assembled on the second adjustment member to clamp the second connection member. The first and second clamping members are capable of adjusting the rotating angle of the first and second connection member around a first and second axis, respectively. An imaging measurement device utilizing the support stand is also provided.
US08248432B2

A method of image enhancement includes acquiring color information from an image, determining a color distribution of the image based on the color information, and changing a brightness of the image based on the color distribution.
US08248426B2

The present invention enables a user to easily identify individual colors included in a color image. Specifically, a color image is divided into two or more areas based on colors, and based on the feature values for the individual areas obtained by division, the order of the colors is changed. Then, the colors of the individual areas are displayed in accordance with the changed order.
US08248421B2

Circuits, methods, and apparatus for registers to store information that may be used by devices in a display system. One example provides control and data registers in a display to store information pertaining to a display system that includes the display. The registers can store attributes of the display, a host device, and a branch device. The information may include an organizationally unique identifier, chip identification, major and minor chip revision information, and firmware major and minor revision information.
US08248416B2

Methods, systems and computer program code (software) products executable in a digital processor operable to simulate light transport in a scene by ray tracing (wherein the digital processor is operable to maintain an object list representing a list of objects associated with a boundary of the scene) include executing a ray tracing method that traces r rays through n objects by (1) partitioning the object list in a recursive manner to generate partitions and (2) culling away the partitions of objects from rays, without using an explicit auxiliary acceleration data structure.
US08248415B2

A method, system and computer program product for managing secondary rays during ray-tracing are presented. A non-visible unidirectional ray tracing object logically surrounds a user-selected virtual object in a computer generated illustration. This unidirectional ray tracing object prevents secondary tracing rays from emanating from the user-selected virtual object during ray tracing.
US08248413B2

An endoscopic surgical navigation system comprises a data acquisition subsystem, a tracking subsystem, a registration subsystem, a data processing subsystem and a user interface subsystem. The data acquisition subsystem inputs intra-operative scan data from a medical scanning device during an endoscopic procedure. The tracking subsystem captures data representing positions and orientations of a flexible endoscope during the endoscopic procedure. The registration subsystem determines transformation parameters for coregistering the intra-operative scan data and the data indicative of positions and orientations of the endoscope. The data processing subsystem coregisters the intra-operative scan data and the data indicative of positions and orientations of the endoscope based on the transformation parameters and generates real-time image data representing 3D internal views of a body that are coregistered with live video from an endoscopic video camera. The user interface subsystem receives input from a user for controlling the system and provides output to the user.
US08248410B2

Disclosed are embodiments of systems and methods for synthesizing a detailed depth map from a video image. In embodiments, the motion vectors decoded from a video stream may be classified into groups by the application of K-Model clustering techniques based on an affine model. In embodiments, a coarse depth map of the image pixels may be generated using the image segmented according to the motion vector clusters. In embodiments, high resolution gradient maps of the image may be generated using the coarse depth map as well as edge information from the image. In embodiments, a surface reconstruction algorithm, such as the Frankot-Chellappa algorithm, may be applied to the high resolution gradient maps to synthesize a detailed depth map of the image. A detailed depth map of an image may be used to render a three-dimensional surface, for example.
US08248408B2

A method for uniformizing surface normals of a three-dimensional model is provided. The method uniformizes the surface normals to surfaces in the three-dimensional model by determining intersection surfaces of each of the surfaces, and determining surfaces whose surface normals are to be reversed according to the intersection surfaces of each of the surfaces. The method may make surface normals consistent.
US08248407B2

A computer program, system and method of computer-aided design of a 3D object. The 3D object is modeled by: (i) cells, the cells being restrictions of geometries of the model; and (ii) a cell graph comprising relations between the cells, which relations capture a topology of the model. The invention system edits an initial model by interacting with a user to identify intended displacements of initial geometries of the model. The system then selects the cells which are restrictions of the geometries to be displaced. Cells adjacent to the selected cells are collected according to the cell graph. Some of the adjacent cells are excluded by means of predefined rules. A solver computes transformations to be applied to initial geometries, from the intended displacements and geometries whose collected cells are restrictions thereof. Lastly the system builds new geometries according to the transformations and initial geometries.
US08248404B2

An approach that determines events in a virtual universe is described. In one embodiment, there is a method for automatically determining an occurrence of an event in a virtual universe. The method includes monitoring a plurality of regions within the virtual universe and determining an occurrence of an event within at least one of the plurality of regions according to locations of avatars that are on-line in the virtual universe and fields of view that the avatars have from each of the locations.
US08248403B2

Three-dimensional data (120) is compressed at a high compression ratio without deteriorating resolution and accuracy, by computing a coupling coefficient from input three-dimensional data and a three-dimensional base data group obtained from a plurality of objects and outputting the coupling coefficient as compressed data (130). Specifically, the three-dimensional data (120) is input to corresponding point determination means (101). The corresponding point determination means (101) generates three-dimensional data to be synthesized (103) in which vertexes of the three-dimensional data (120) are made to correspond to vertexes of three-dimensional reference data (111) serving as a reference to determine association relationship between vertexes. Coefficient computation means (102) computes a coupling coefficient for coupling a three-dimensional base data group (112) used for synthesis of three-dimensional data to synthesize three-dimensional data to be synthesized (103), and outputs the computed coupling coefficient as the compressed data (130) of the three-dimensional data (120).
US08248401B2

A circuit arrangement, program product and method utilize the known view orientation for an image frame to be rendered to optimize the generation and/or use of an Accelerated Data Structure (ADS) used in physical rendering-based image processing. In particular, it has been found that while geometry primitives that are not within a view orientation generally cannot be culled from a scene when a physical rendering technique such as ray tracing is performed, those primitives nonetheless have a smaller impact on the resulting image frame, and as a result, less processing resources can be applied to such primitives, leaving greater processing resources available for processing those primitives that are located within the view orientation, and thereby improving overall rendering performance.
US08248400B2

A method and apparatus for displaying image data is disclosed. The method includes receiving one of a plurality of sets of stored image update data to be displayed on a display device, wherein each set corresponds to one image in a sequence of images and wherein the plurality of sets of image update data comprise information identifying pixels that change from a previous image in the sequence of images, wherein the display device comprises an array of bi-stable display elements. The method further includes updating a portion of the display device, the portion containing the pixels identified in the received set of stored image update data.
US08248396B2

An active matrix emissive display (ED) is disclosed that also includes optical scanning capability. Each display pixel is independently addressable and independently internally driven for light generation. Each display pixel is also given the ability to be coupled to detection circuitry in order to sense currents or voltages that are optically generated or leaked by its internal LED when exposed to light (and thus acting in a photodiode capacity). Since the intensity of the light illuminating the diode determines the magnitude of generated currents and/or voltages or leakage current through the diode (when reverse biased), these sensed currents or voltages give an indication of the intensity of the light striking the pixel. In this manner, active matrix ED pixels are configured to serve the dual purpose of being able to generate and detect light.
US08248395B2

An image display device includes an image display panel (4) with an image detection function, and includes a plurality of pixels disposed in a matrix and a plurality of photosensors (17) disposed in correspondence with the pixels in a display region. The pixels each have a plurality of sub-pixels (5), and a color filter in which colors of color layers are formed in correspondence with the sub-pixels (5) is provided. The photosensors (17) have an incident light wavelength characteristic in which a photoreception sensitivity to light that passes through, among the colors of color layers, the color layer whose color is most toward a short wavelength side is higher than a photoreception sensitivity to light that passes through, among the colors of color layers, the color layer whose color is most toward a long wavelength side, and the photosensors (17) are disposed such that, with respect to a thickness direction of the image display panel (4), photodetection regions (19) of the photosensors (17) overlap with, among the plurality of color layers, the color layer whose color is most toward the long wavelength side. The present invention enables reducing the reflection of a display image on sensor output caused by optical interference.
US08248390B2

An electronic device (200) comprises a touch screen (210), a pen-form stylus (170) for activating the touch screen (210), and a receptacle (220) located within or coupled to the electronic device (200) for storage of the pen-form stylus (170). The electronic device (200) comprises a flexible attachment mechanism (130) that is fixed to both the pen-form stylus (120) and the electronic device (230). The stylus (170) comprises a slot (150) such that the flexible attachment mechanism (130) is located within the slot (150). In this manner, an efficient geometry of the electronic device prevents the stylus being misplaced and enables the flexible attachment mechanism (130) to be located within the slot by the action of inserting the stylus (170) into the receptacle (220).
US08248388B2

A touch screen panel is disclosed, which is capable of sensing an exact position touched by a user or instrument, or a pressured applied to the touched position, wherein the touch screen panel comprises a core including a plurality of horizontal and vertical lines provided in a grid shape, wherein the core has a first refractive index, and an upper surface of the core is exposed to the atmosphere; an intermediate clad formed between each of gaps included in the core, wherein the intermediate clad has a second refractive index which is lower than the first refractive index, and a height of the intermediate clad is identical to a height of the core; an optical source configured to apply an optical signal to an input end of each of the plurality of horizontal and vertical lines; and a plurality of receivers configured to sense an intensity of the optical signal passing through an output end of each of the plurality of horizontal and vertical lines, the optical signal applied by the optical source.
US08248387B1

The efficient buffering of image data for a plurality of clients is disclosed. One disclosed embodiment comprises an optical touch-sensitive device configured to receive changed portions of a frame of data from a touch data acquisition system comprising a touch-sensitive display, to store the changed portions of the frame of data in a common data frame buffer, and to receive a bitmap header from the touch data acquisition system that specifies locations of the changed portions of the frame of data and store the bitmap header in each of a plurality of client header buffers. Clients can first obtain the bitmap header from buffers corresponding to those clients, and then obtain the changed portions of the frame of data from the common data frame buffer.
US08248381B2

A touch panel includes a substrate, a transparent conductive layer, and at least two electrodes. The transparent conductive layer is disposed on the substrate. The at least two electrodes is separately disposed, and electrically connected with the transparent conductive layer. At least one of the electrodes includes a carbon nanotube layer. Further a display device using the above-described touch panel is also included.
US08248380B2

A touch panel includes a first electrode plate and a second electrode plate. The first electrode plate includes a first substrate, and a first conductive layer disposed on a lower surface of the first substrate. The second electrode plate includes a second substrate, a second conductive layer disposed on an upper surface of the second substrate, two first-electrodes, and two second-electrodes. The two first-electrodes and the two second-electrodes are electrically connected to the second conductive layer. At least one of the first conductive layer and the second conductive layer includes a carbon nanotube layer. Each carbon nanotube layer includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes. Further, the present invention also relates to a display device. The display device includes a displaying unit and a touch panel.
US08248376B2

Apparatus comprising one or more inputs configured to receive a configurable control signal from a configurable signal generator; and a non-calibrated touch input signal from a touch sensor. Said non-calibrated touch input signal generated by detecting both internal and external forces applied to the touch sensor. The apparatus also comprises a calibrator configured to process the non-calibrated touch input signal and the configurable control signal to remove the contribution of the internal forces from the non-calibrated signal to generate a calibrated signal, the calibrated signal for use in the detection of an external force applied to the touch sensor.
US08248373B2

A computing system includes one or more input-device user-interface runtime applications to dynamically display images on a dynamic input device. The one or more input-device user-interface runtime applications are executed in a currently active desktop. The computing system further includes a dominant application configured to execute in the currently active desktop. The dominant application is configured to specify an input-device user-interface runtime application corresponding to a current context of the dominant application. The specified input-device user-interface runtime application is configured to dynamically display virtual controls on the dynamic input device. The specified input-device user-interface runtime application is also configured to report activation of the virtual controls to the dominant application.
US08248367B1

A wireless input device for playing an interactive motion-sensitive game using a wireless-compatible game console in which a virtual play environment is represented through one or more computer-animated visual, aural or tactile effects is provided wherein game play is conducted by moving, shaking, twisting, waving or pointing the input device in a particular manner. The input device can include motion-sensitive circuitry and/or command circuitry for generating control signals and/or an effects generator and associated control circuitry to enable the input device to selectively generate at least one visual, aural or tactile effect comprising sound, lighting or vibration. The input device can include a wireless transceiver for providing two-way wireless communication with the wireless-compatible game console. An optional display screen displays short text messages received through wireless communications with the wireless-compatible game console.
US08248363B2

Systems and methods for providing passive haptic feedback are described. Embodiments of the present invention comprise an actuator for bringing a manipulandum and braking surface into contact and thereby providing a resistance. The manipulandum includes scroll wheels, scroll drums, linear sliders and similar user input devices. The actuator may be, for example, electromagnetic or piezo-electric. An embodiment of the present invention may include a processor in communication with the actuator for providing the haptic effects.
US08248354B2

A driving circuit includes a plurality of output terminals to be electrically connected to scan wirings, respectively, a scan controlling unit for selecting one or plural output terminals to output a driving signal for the scan wiring from among the plurality of output terminals, and a potential correcting unit for controlling a potential of the driving signal on the basis of a difference voltage between the potential of the selected output terminal and a reference potential. In addition, a reference potential adjusting unit adjusts the reference potential in response to a current passing through the selected output terminal in order to correct a voltage drop caused by a member connected to the selected output terminal. The reference potential adjusting unit changes adjustment of the reference potential in response to the number of the selected output terminals and turns off adjustment of the reference potential in the case that the number of the selected output terminals is more than 1.
US08248351B2

A display apparatus includes a display section; latching sections configured to receive and hold display data to be displayed on the display section; input switches respectively connected with outputs of the latching sections, D/A converters respectively connected with the input switch groups; amplifiers configured to amplify and output the output gradation voltages from the D/A converters, respectively; output switches provided between outputs of the amplifiers and an output node, respectively; data line switches provided onto data lines, respectively; and a control section configured to sequentially supply input switching control signals to the input switches, sequentially supply output switching control signals to the output switches, and sequentially supplies data line switching control signals to the data line switches in synchronization with a Yth clock of the input switching control signal.
US08248348B2

A level shift circuit includes first and second level shifters which respectively output first and second output signals that are produced by level shifting two kinds of input clock signals whose high level periods do not overlap. The level shift circuit also includes control transistors and control lines which, together, prevent a feedthrough current from flowing into the second level shifter when the first output signal is high level, and prevent a feedthrough current from flowing into the first level shifter when the second output signal is high level, so as to suspend the level shift operation of the first and second level shifters. With the level shift circuit, power consumption during a specific time period in a non-active period of the clock signal can be eliminated, where the specific time period of one clock signal is the active period of the other clock signal.
US08248346B2

Disclosed is a liquid crystal display including a liquid crystal panel that includes a plurality of liquid crystal cells for controlling light transmission, a common electrode driving circuit for providing a common voltage signal to a common electrode provided in the liquid crystal panel and a first signal driving circuit for providing a first signal to a transparent electrode provided in the liquid crystal panel. The first signal and the common voltage signal have the same frequency and amplitude, but are out of phase with each other. The transparent electrode is designed to cancel an acoustic noise generated by the application of the common voltage signal. The liquid crystal panel includes two substrates that face each other. In one embodiment, the common electrode and the transparent electrode are formed in the same substrate, and in another embodiment, the common electrode and the transparent electrode are formed in different substrates.
US08248343B2

A liquid crystal display (LCD) panel and a method for driving pixels thereof are provided. The present invention uses a fixed voltage generated by a charge-sharing unit to perform charge-sharing with a second sub-pixel in a pixel, so as to make that the brightness of a second bright region corresponding to the second sub-pixel is darker than the brightness of a first bright region corresponding to a first sub-pixel in the pixel. Accordingly, the present invention can achieve the purpose of gray-levels space stacking without adding additional data lines and thus improving the color washout phenomenon of the LCD.
US08248339B2

A display controller is provided for controlling a display device, such as a liquid crystal device, to provide pixel overdrive for improving pixel response time. The controller comprises a threshold detector (2) which sets a flag having fewer bits than each pixel value indicating whether a pixel is in a predetermined range for which overdrive is required. The flags are delayed by a frame period in a suitable storage device (6) which does not store the display pixel data. The flags from the display device (6) are supplied to an overdrive selector (3) together with the current pixel data. When the flag is set, the overdrive selector (3) provides overdrive for the current pixel whereas, when the flag is unset, the current pixel value is used without overdrive.
US08248338B2

To enable a common inversion driving even in an LCD having a large size and a high definition. A common capacitance is significantly reduced by making most of scanning lines in a floating state during the common inversion. In addition, the timing for floating the scanning lines is changed depending on the polarity of the common potential. Specifically, if a pixel switching element is an N channel type, the scanning lines are floated when the common potential is high. If the pixel switching element is a P channel type, the scanning lines are floated when the common potential is low.
US08248336B2

A liquid crystal display device includes one or more data line on a substrate; first and second gate lines crossing the one or more data line to form first and second pixels, the one or more data line providing an image signal to a first electrode of each of the first and second pixels, and the first and second gate lines providing first and second scan signals to the first and second pixels, respectively; a first common voltage unit corresponding to the first gate line, the first common voltage unit for selectively applying a first common voltage to a second electrode of the first pixel via a first common voltage line in accordance with one of the first and second scan signals; and a second common voltage unit corresponding to the second gate line, the second common voltage unit for selectively applying a second common voltage to a second electrode of the second pixel via a second common voltage line in accordance with another one of the first and second scan signals.
US08248332B2

An active matrix display apparatus includes two-dimensionally arranged pixel circuits, each of which includes a display element, and a plurality of signal lines and scanning lines connected to the pixel circuits. Each of the pixel circuits include a drive transistor and a capacitor, with one terminal of the capacitor being connected to a control terminal of the drive transistor and a second terminal of the capacitor being connected to a first main conductive terminal of the drive transistor and a lighting power source. In a writing operation period, a current flowing to the signal line is conducted into the drive transistor, and in a lighting operation period, a current conducting in the drive transistor is injected into the display element. At a time during the writing operation period, a potential of the lighting power source is changed toward a potential of the signal line to depress the current conducting in the drive transistor and is kept for a period, during which the current conducting in the drive transistor partially recovers from the depression. After the writing operation period, the potential of the lighting power source is restored.
US08248328B1

Visual artifact reduction methods for a display including gamma corrections, error diffusion and/or dithering. The invention is described with reference to an AC gas discharge display (PDP) comprising a multiplicity of plasma-shells, but may be practiced with other display technologies. The methods of this invention are disclosed for use with a number of PDP structures and PDP electronic addressing architectures including ADS, AWD, SAS, and ALIS.
US08248325B2

A plurality of resistive paths are coupled in parallel to a common node. A high side driver is operable responsive to first control signals to selectively supply current to certain ones of the resistive paths. A low side driver, including a plurality of selectively actuated current sink paths, is provided to sink current from the common node. A control logic circuit actuates a current sink path within the low side driver for each resistive path that is selectively supplied current by the high side driver. A substantially constant low side voltage drop through these sink paths is provided regardless of the number of resistive paths that are supplied current by the high side driver. A switched high side and low side configuration operating in an analogous way is also disclosed.
US08248324B2

A display device that includes a housing that houses a display, and a control panel. Control panel and display are connected to a controller disposed inside of the housing. A control device can also be attached to display device. The control device is configured to resemble a welding gun. The control device is also connected to the controller. A viewer, such as welding mask viewer, is be mounted to the housing of display device.
US08248323B2

An antenna and methods for manufacturing the antenna is provided. The antenna (100) includes an electrically non-conductive substrate (102). The antenna further includes an electrically conductive strip (104). The electrically conductive strip (104) is wound around the electrically non-conductive substrate (102) so as to form an overlap (120) between adjacent turns of the electrically conductive strip (104), without creating a galvanic connection at the overlap.
US08248317B1

A system includes a first radio frequency (RF) lens having array ports and beam ports, and a second RF lens having array ports and beam ports. At least two of the second RF lens array ports are connected to at least two of the first RF lens array ports by phase-matched connectors. The RF lenses may be continuously steerable RF lenses, Rotman lenses, or discretely steerable RF lenses. The system may include first, second, third, and fourth RF switches, at least one transmitter with an associated controller, at least one receiver with associated controller, and an environment controller. The system may also include long-distance simulators connected between the RF switches of the directional simulator and the receiver or the transmitter and controlled by an environment controller. Other system embodiments include multi-pair RF lenses, as well as an RF lens connected to an antenna array system.
US08248316B2

Method and System for wireless communications is provided. The system includes an RF module, and a coupler. The coupler is coupled with the RF module. The coupler includes a member for conductive coupling with the user's body such that RF energy is coupled into and/or out of the user's body.
US08248315B2

An antenna assembly for installation to a mobile platform includes a base portion and an antenna module capable of being removably coupled to the base portion. The base portion includes a longitudinal axis and defines a channel extending along at least part of the longitudinal axis. The antenna module includes a mount and an antenna element coupled to the mount. The mount and antenna element can be received into the channel of the base portion, in electrical contact with the base portion, and then subsequently removed from the channel of the base portion as desired. Further, the base portion of the antenna assembly is configured to accommodate multiple different antenna modules as desired.
US08248313B2

An antenna module includes a radiator made of nanomaterials; the conductivity of the nanomaterials are greater than or equal to about 5.8×107 S/m. The present further discloses a wireless communication device using the antenna module.
US08248312B2

The present invention provides an antenna that is small in size and has band frequencies corresponding to multibands, and a wireless communication apparatus including the antenna. The antenna according to the present invention has two radiation elements 12a and 12b connected to a ground plate 11 via a shorting pin. The two radiation elements 12a and 12b each have a lower arm and an upper arm that are formed through bending. The lower arm is connected to the shorting pin and is located closer to the ground plate 11 than the upper arm is. At least one of the lower arm and the upper arm has a meandered structure.
US08248311B2

There is a need for preventing a feed line from generating undesirable radiation that may degrade array antenna characteristics. An array antenna is configured as a set of small planar conductor elements. Density distribution of the small planar conductor elements occurs at a cycle corresponding to a wavelength of a wireless system using the array antenna. The density distribution is formed along a specified length direction corresponding to a given azimuth angle.
US08248309B2

The present invention relates to an antenna arrangement, an electronic communication device and an electronic communication set. By using a parallel plate type antenna for coupling between two electronic communication devices, high speed data transfer between the electronic communication devices as well as wireless energy charging of at least one of the two electronic communication devices, can be provided.
US08248294B2

Methods of protecting location privacy of air traffic communications from unauthorized monitoring of aircraft locations in an uncontrolled airspace include designating a bounded region of uncontrolled airspace; ceasing transmission of a traffic beacon by each aircraft of a plurality of aircraft upon the aircraft entering the bounded region; and updating a unique identifier associated with each of the aircraft while the aircraft is traversing the bounded region.
US08248293B2

A method and a device for the spatially resolved detection and reconstruction of objects using microwaves is described, in which at least one object to be detected is subjected to microwaves that are generated by a plurality of microwave antennas and microwave fractions reflected by the object are detected and converted into microwave signals that can be analyzed, based on which an analysis for the spatially resolved object detection is carried out.
US08248291B2

An electronic apparatus with remote control functions including an operating module, a control module and a transmitting module is disclosed. The operating module generates at least one operating signal. The control module is coupled to the operating module and generates at least one first control signal and at least one second control signal according to the operating signal. The transmitting module is coupled to the control module and transmits the first control signal and the second control signal. The first control signal is within a first frequency range, and the second control signal is within a second frequency range.
US08248287B2

For voltage interpolation amplifiers used in digital-to-analog converter architecture, the number of input differential pairs required by the voltage interpolation amplifier may be reduced such that an N-bit voltage interpolation amplifier comprises N+1 input differential pairs connected through a resistor attenuation network to provide a binary-weighted effective transconductance. In comparison to conventional voltage interpolation amplifier designs, the number of input differential pairs and power consumed by the circuit is significantly reduced, thereby creating a more area- and power-efficient voltage interpolation amplifier.
US08248280B2

A system such as a mechanically tuned radio can have a signal path to receive and process an incoming radio frequency (RF) signal and to provide the processed signal to a first analog-to-digital converter (ADC) to convert the processed signal to a digital signal and to digitally demodulate the digital signal to obtain an audio signal, where this first ADC is separate from an auxiliary ADC not part of the signal path.
US08248275B2

A key coding circuit includes N keys, a signal processing unit, a bus, and a ground wire, and each key includes an input end and a ground end electrically connected to the ground wire. The signal processing unit includes M signal lines, where M is the smallest positive whole number not less than Log(N+1, 2), and at least one signal line is electrically connected to the corresponding input end. Each key is coded for M-bit binary, the floating signal lines correspond to the binary code 1, and the signal lines corresponding to binary code 0 are electrically connected to the input end of the corresponding keys.
US08248273B2

A vehicle presence alert apparatus for alerting a target object to a presence of the vehicle via an alert sound with a frequency in an audible range is disclosed. The vehicle presence alert apparatus includes: a sound emitter configured to (i) cause a carrier wave with a frequency in an ultrasonic range to carry the alert sound, and (ii) emit the carrier wave carrying the alert sound as a radiation wave toward the target object; a sound receiver configured to receive a reflected wave, the reflected wave being generated due to reflection of the radiation wave by the target object; and relative velocity calculation means for calculating a relative velocity of the target object with respect to the vehicle based on a frequency of the radiation wave and a frequency of the reflected wave.
US08248268B2

A system, method and device are provided for reducing consumption calculation errors caused due to time drift in an endpoint device. In one embodiment, the endpoint device transmits consumption data in response to a request for consumption data. The request generally includes a time period of the consumption data. The endpoint device adjusts the set of intervals based on the extent of the difference between the collection system time and the endpoint device time to obtain the most accurate intervals. The process for adjusting intervals can be implemented independently from time synchronization between the endpoint and collection systems. Further, the process for adjusting intervals does not result in updating the meter reading data that have been already logged and stored in the endpoint device.
US08248266B2

A system and method for communicating data between a downhole tool and a surface controller is provided that comprises a rotating drill string extending in a borehole and having a downhole telemetry module disposed proximate a bottom end thereof and transmitting a first signal across a telemetry channel. A surface telemetry module is disposed proximate a top end of the rotating drill string and is adapted to receive the first signal transmitted by the downhole telemetry module across the transmission channel. The surface telemetry module has a radio frequency transmitter disposed therein for transmitting a second signal related to the first signal. A stationary communication module has a radio frequency receiver adapted to receive the second signal.
US08248265B2

Display buttons and vehicle consoles include etched lenses operable to diffract light provided by a light source within a vehicle console such that the light emitted from the display button diverges from the first pathway within the button housing into a secondary pathway outside of the display button.
US08248263B2

A system to improve safety of workers who are in proximity to mobile machines includes a machine mountable radio-frequency identification reader that wirelessly monitors radio-frequency identification tags worn by workers moving relative to and in proximity to a mobile machine when the reader is mounted on the machine. The reader includes a processor and an antenna front-end which is switchable between an omni-directional antenna or at least one directional antenna. The omni-directional antenna is mountable so as to monitor a machine circumference completely around the mobile machine. Each directional antenna is mountable so as to monitor only either a front or a back of the mobile machine relative to the machine's direction of motion.
US08248258B2

A resume device is provided. The device detects voltage variation in standby mode. When a big voltage variation is detected, a resume process is run and a sound is played. Volume of the sound is adjustable and power is maintained within a proper range. Thus, power consumption is saved, efficiency is improved and resume process is enhanced.
US08248255B2

An optical fluid tester device for testing a fluid sample in an ampoule includes an ampoule cradle, a radiation source, a radiation detector and an analyzer. The ampoule cradle supports the ampoule. The ampoule with the fluid sample serves as a lens whose focal properties are dependent on the index of refraction of the fluid sample. The radiation source irradiates the ampoule. The radiation detector is located opposite the radiation source so that the ampoule, when supported by the ampoule cradle, lies between the radiation source and the radiation detector. The detector serves to detect the intensity of the incident radiation. The analyzer verifies the composition of the fluid sample based on the detected intensity, which is dependent on the focal properties of the ampoule and is, therefore, indicative of the composition of the fluid sample.
US08248250B2

A personal water safety device includes at least three base stations, at least one water sensing device, and an alarm apparatus. The at least one water sensing device wirelessly communicates with each of the at least three base stations. The alarm apparatus wirelessly communicates with each of the at least three base stations. Each water sensing device is worn by a swimmer and is triggered to measure elapsed time when the swimmer submerges in water, and transmits the measured time to the at least three base stations. The alarm apparatus receives the measured time transmitted from each of the at least three base stations, and generates an alarm when the measured time of one of the at least water sensing device exceeds a predetermined time limit.
US08248241B2

Detecting whether components are combined and coupled correctly in assembly work is performed by correct and simple operations. The proposed method includes reading a first IC tag attached to a joint part of a first component and a second IC tag attached to a joint part of a second component together in a manner of preventing collision and determining whether the first component and the second component are coupled correctly, based on information representing mating relations of IC tags memorized beforehand.
US08248239B2

In embodiments of the present invention improved capabilities are described for a Radio Frequency ID (RFID) tag that contains multiple Radio Frequency (RF) network nodes that provide enhanced memory capabilities, redundant functionality, and multiple frequency capabilities to the RFID tag using an inter-RF network node communication connection. The inter-RF network node communication may allow the coordination of RFID tag memory and functionality.
US08248232B2

An implantable radio frequency identification (RFID) tag includes a hermetically sealed biocompatible housing for an active implantable medical device (AIMD), an RFID microelectronics chip is disposed within the housing, and a biocompatible antenna extends from the RFID microelectronic chip and exteriorly of the housing. In a preferred form of the invention, the antenna is disposed within a header block of the AIMD, and the RFID chip is disposed within the AIMD housing.
US08248231B2

A monitoring system having a device on a person which can process and transmit signals from at least one biosensor and a receiver located close to the patient, which can receive these signals. The receiver, which may be a portable telephone, can process the signals and provide an indication of the parameter(s) being monitored and may also, or as an alternative, forward the received signals to a remote monitor. The monitoring system may further include a device for indicating when the transmitter is not receiving a signal from the transmitter and can also include a device so that when a parameter reaches a critical care level, a warning signal is given. The monitoring system is such that the person being monitored is effectively not limited to remaining within a required distance of a fixed part of the system.
US08248228B2

The disclosure relates to a method and device suitable in which historical process measurement values are evaluated and used for the generation of alarm suppression rules. In connection with predetermined requirements, alarm configuration parameters are tested, evaluated and optimized. The historical process measurement values are further used to identify predictive alarms. Results obtained in generating the alarm suppression rules and/or evaluating the alarm configuration parameters are utilized for the configuration of optimized alarm configuration parameters and alarm suppression rules in control systems.
US08248227B2

A method and apparatus for suppressing a duplicated alarm in a communications network are described. In one embodiment, at least one alarm message associated with at least one event is received. A determination of whether the at least one event exists in a database is subsequently made. The at least one event is recorded in the database if the at least one event does not exist in the database. Conversely, the at least one alarm message is suppressed if the at least one event exists in the database.
US08248226B2

Digital audio sensors receive and digitize audio signals and transmit the digitized signals to a central monitoring station for monitoring by an operator. The system can allow load balancing and other improvements.
US08248223B2

A business process is disclosed whereby the driver of a motor vehicle receives conditional treatment from an external organization based on his or her driving habits as recorded by a speed detection and logging system on the driver's vehicle and then transmitted to the organization. A government organization may provide a provisional or probationary license allowing a driver to operate a vehicle while the driver's driving habits meet certain requirements. An automobile insurance company may use this process to adjust insurance rates for a driver. A rental car company may use this process to offer lower rental rates and/or lower insurance rates to good drivers. A company employing professional drivers may use this process to monitor its drivers. Logs of driving habits, which may take into account weather conditions, may be shown using a map display in order to provide feedback regarding a driver's driving behavior.
US08248209B2

Device (D) for communicating between a mobile element and a fixed element, includes: an electromagnetic field-based reader (L) including a transmitter with a transmitting antenna and a receiver with a first antenna placed in a housing (1), and a beacon (B) including a receiver able to receive a signal originating from the transmitter of the reader (L) so as to provide energy to a transmitter able to dispatch a signal received by the receiver of the reader (L), the receiver of the reader (L) including at least one second antenna and signal comparison elements able to compare the signal received by the first antenna of the receiver with the signal received by the second antenna so as to determine the moment at which the reader (L) passes vertically in line with the beacon (B).
US08248207B2

A container has a lid and a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism includes a male wall with a switch. A female wall mounts to the inside wall of the container and, when closed, encompasses the male wall. The female wall has a magnet that activates the switch. A lever contained inside the male wall moves into and out of a slot formed in the female wall. The switch completes a circuit that generates a close signal to the lever when the lid is closed. A button extends through a hole in the lid such that the button can be depressed to indicate locking and cannot be depressed when unlocked. When unlocked, the button cannot be depressed because the lever blocks the button. To open the container when closed, the actuation mechanism moves the lever in response to an entered code that must match a stored code or calculated content-specific code.
US08248194B2

A disconnect switch includes a case having a movable contact, a stationary contact and a plurality of magnets. The movable contact is adapted to move from a first closed position where it is in physical contact with the stationary contact to a second open position. The magnets are located at predefined locations and in predefined orientations about the axis of movement of the movable contact, whereby upon the movement of the movable contact from the first position to the second open position, a current arc created by the movable contact is extinguished.
US08248180B2

A balun comprising first and second transmission lines having a shared intermediate conductor. The first transmission line may include first and second conductors. The first conductor may have a first end for conducting an unbalanced signal relative to a circuit ground and a second end for conducting a balanced signal. The second conductor may have first and second ends proximate the respective first and second ends of the first conductor. The first end of the second conductor is open circuited. The second transmission line may include the second conductor and a third conductor having a first end connected to circuit ground and a second end for conducting the balanced signal. A resistor may connect the second end of the second conductor to circuit ground.
US08248174B2

The invention relates to an oven controlled crystal oscillator for surface mounting with reduced height (low profile). The oven controlled crystal oscillator for surface mounting comprises: a flat first substrate made of ceramic and on which are installed a crystal device and a heat resistor; and a second substrate made of a glass epoxy resin which is quadrangular in plan view and which faces the first substrate and has a larger external shape in plan view than the first substrate. The second substrate has an opening into whose center the crystal device is inserted, and has terminal sections on four locations corresponding to the surface outer periphery of the first substrate and the peripheral surfaces of the opening in the second substrate, and the terminal sections of the first substrate and second substrate are connected by solder. A front end side head section of the crystal device inserted into the opening section of the second substrate is positioned inside the open surface of the opening section, and from terminal sections provided at four locations on the second substrate, conductive paths extend via the outside surface of the second substrate to external terminals formed on the outside bottom surface of the second substrate.
US08248152B2

An on-chip voltage conversion apparatus for integrated circuits includes a first capacitor; a first NFET device configured to selectively couple a first electrode of the first capacitor to a low side voltage rail of a first voltage domain; a first PFET device configured to selectively couple the first electrode of the first capacitor to a high side voltage rail of the first voltage domain; a second NFET device configured to selectively couple a second electrode of the first capacitor to a low side voltage rail of a second voltage domain, wherein the low side voltage rail of the second voltage domain corresponds to the high side voltage rail of the first voltage domain; and a second PFET device configured to selectively couple the second electrode of the first capacitor to a high side voltage rail of the second voltage domain.
US08248151B2

As provided herein, in some embodiments, power consumption and/or chip area is reduced by bias circuits configured to provide bias conditions for more than one active circuit, thereby reducing the number of bias circuits in a design. Shared bias circuits may reduce the aggregate amount of on-chip area utilized by bias circuitry and may also reduce the total power consumption of a chip. Additionally and/or alternatively, bias circuits disclosed herein are configured to provide outputs that are less susceptible to changes in the voltage supply level. In particular, in some embodiments, bias circuits are configured to provide relatively constant bias conditions despite changes in the voltage supply level. A bias circuit arrangement with an output substantially decoupled from changes in the voltage supply level may provide a more stable operating point in an active circuit. In some embodiments, bias circuits are configured to provide bias conditions that compensate for perturbations caused by changes other inputs, in order to stabilize a particular operating point.
US08248149B2

Embodiments of an electronic apparatus and method for are registering inputs from a user a generating corresponding output provided. The electronic apparatus may comprise a switching system and a monitoring system. The switching system may comprise a base surface, insulating blocks disposed on the base surface, an array of conductive pads, and conductive wires. The array of conductive pads comprises one or more rows and one or more columns of conductive pads that are provided with a first electric potential. The switching system may further comprise conductive wires suspended from the insulating blocks and may be suspended at a physical distance over the rows of conductive pads. The conductive wires are provided with a second electric potential. The inputs are registered when the user contacts the conductive wires with the conductive pads. Thereafter, the monitoring system analyzes the inputs to generate a corresponding output to the user.
US08248144B2

A high-frequency switch module includes a multi-layer substrate, and a switch circuit mounted on the multi-layer substrate. The multi-layer substrate includes a terminal through which a plurality of high-frequency signals in a plurality of frequency bands are input and output, a plurality of switch terminals, terminals to which control signals to control the switch circuit are supplied, current paths that connect the terminals to the switch circuit, and resistors that are provided on the current paths and have resistance values greater than the resistance values of the current paths. The switch circuit connects the terminal to the switch terminals corresponding to the frequency bands of high-frequency signals input and output through the terminal based on the control signals.
US08248140B2

A semiconductor device includes an internal circuit to perform a predetermined function at a plurality of different supply power voltages, a power supply voltage region detector to detect a supply power voltage to output a detection signal, a latch to store the signal output from the power supply voltage region detector and output the stored signal as a power supply voltage region signal, and a reset circuit to generate a reset signal to perform a predetermined reset operation on the internal circuit. The latch stores the output signal from the power supply voltage region detector just after the reset operation for the internal circuit is released, and the internal circuit changes an internal setting according to the power supply voltage region signal output from the latch.
US08248137B2

An apparatus for processing signals, in particular physiological measuring signals, wherein the apparatus is provided with different channels with signal inputs (1) for receiving input signals, which input signals each comprise a specific signal component and a signal component common to all input signals, wherein each channel is provided with an impedance transforming input amplifier (3), wherein the apparatus is configured for supplying to the non-inverting input of each input amplifier (3) a respective input signal and, to the inverting input an analogue reference signal common to all channels, wherein the apparatus is provided with a digital signal processor (10) and one more or analogue-digital converters (5) for supplying the signals provided by the input amplifiers (3) to the digital signal processor (10), wherein the signal processor (10) is designed for converting the signals received from the one or more analogue digital converters (5) into one or more output signals.
US08248134B2

An apparatus that is adapted to receive signals from an Inter-Integrated Circuit (I2C) bus is provided. The apparatus comprises a serial data (SDA) filter, a serial clock (SCL) filter, I2C interface logic, and operational circuitry. The SDA filter is adapted to receive an SDA signal from the I2C bus and includes a hold terminal and a disable terminal. The hold terminal of the SDA filter issues a disable signal when a transient in the SDA signal is detected. The SCL filter is adapted to receive an SCL signal from the I2C bus and includes a hold terminal and a disable terminal. The hold terminal of the SCL filter issues a disable signal when a transient in the SCL signal is detected. Additionally, the hold terminal of the SCL filter is coupled to the disable terminal of the SDA filter, and the hold terminal of the SDA filter is coupled to the disable terminal of the SCL filter. The I2C interface logic is coupled to the SDA filter and to the SCL filter, and operational circuitry is coupled the I2C interface logic.
US08248133B2

A timer circuit, comprises a delay indication circuit, a frequency indication circuit, and a plurality of counters. The delay indication circuit is for providing a delay time indication. The frequency indication circuit is for providing a frequency indication of a frequency of a clock signal. Each counter of the plurality of counters includes a load input to receive an initial value, and an indication output to provide a count complete indication of the counter. During operation a set of the counters of the plurality of counters is coupled in series to provide an indication that a delay time has expired. At least a portion of the frequency indication is provided to the load input of one counter of the set and at least a portion of the delay time indication is provided to the load input of another counter of the set.
US08248131B2

There are provided a timing generating circuit which can generate the rising edge or the falling edge of pulses with a resolution higher than the frequency of a repeat signal generating circuit, and a phase shift circuit which can be applied to the timing generating circuit. The phase shift circuit receiving a repeat signal generates a signal of which a phase is shifted by a predetermined quantity on the basis of the repeat signal, the phase shift controller controls what phase of signal the phase shift circuit output among first to M-th signals, and the counter circuit counts the number of output signals of the phase shift circuit and generates a count end signal when the count value reaches a set value, and thereby the counter circuit outputs a synthesized timing signal of the timing of the repeat signal and the timing shifted by the phase shift circuit.
US08248121B2

A phase lock loop (PLL) featuring automatic stabilization is provided, in which a first charge pump is coupled to a driving control signal to generate a first current, a filter with a zero-point path and the first charge pump are coupled at a first node, and a current adjustment circuit adjusts a current on the first node according to a voltage difference in the zero-point path.
US08248118B2

A frequency divider includes a least significant (LS) stage, multiple cascaded divider stages, and an output stage. The LS stage receives an input signal, a program bit and a first mode signal, and generates a first frequency-divided signal and an output mode signal. Each of the plurality of divider stages divides the frequency of an output of an immediately previous stage by a value specified by a corresponding program bit and a corresponding mode signal. A first divider stage in the plurality of divider stages is coupled to receive the first frequency-divided signal and to generate the first mode signal. The output stage receives the output mode signal and a control signal, and generates an output signal by dividing a frequency of the output mode signal by two if the control signal is at one logic level. The output stage forwards the output mode signal without division otherwise.
US08248116B2

A technique for a reverse conducting semiconductor device including an IGBT element domain and a diode element domain that utilize body regions having a mutual impurity concentration, that makes it possible to adjust an injection efficiency of holes or electrons to the diode element domain, is provided. When a return current flows in the reverse conducting semiconductor device that uses an NPNP-type IGBT, a second voltage that is higher than a voltage of an emitter electrode is applied to second trench gate electrodes of the diode element domain. N-type inversion layers are formed in the periphery of the second trench gate electrodes, and the electrons flow therethrough via a first body contact region and a drift region which are of the same n-type. The injection efficiency of the electrons to the return current is increased, and the injection efficiency of the holes is decreased. Due to this, an increase in a reverse recovery current can be prevented, and a switching loss caused in the diode element domain can be decreased.
US08248111B2

It is possible to provide a voltage-current converter which can realize a variable filter having a steep cut-off characteristic with a small area. The voltage-current converter includes: one or more sampling/holding units for sampling an inputted voltage and holding the sampled voltage; one or more separate voltage-current conversion units for outputting a current corresponding to the voltage held by the sampling/holding units; and a control unit for controlling the timing of the sampling and holding of the inputted voltage by the sampling/holding units.
US08248110B1

Clock switch-over circuits and methods provide clock signals to clock routing networks. According to one embodiment, a multiplexer selects between a first clock signal and a second clock signal in response to a switch select signal received from a control circuit. A storage circuit stores an enable signal in response to an output clock signal of the multiplexer. A logic circuit transmits the output clock signal of the multiplexer to a clock routing network in response to the enable signal from the storage circuit. At least one signal is transmitted from the clock switch-over circuit to the control circuit.
US08248097B2

A semiconductor wafer resting on a contact element has a spatially distributed force applied to its frontside and an equal and opposing force applied to its backside. The contact element comprises a solid immersion lens (SIL), and has an area less than the area of the wafer, but no less than the larger of the area of an optical collection area and an electrical probe assembly. The equal and opposing forces cause the wafer to conform to the shape of the contact element. Measurements, including electrical testing, optical probing and wafer characterization are performed on the wafer.
US08248079B2

A sensing circuit for sensing an electric fuse and a sensing method thereof are provided. The sensing circuit includes a capacitor, a detection circuit, and an output circuit. The capacitor is coupled to the electric fuse. The detection circuit is coupled to the capacitor and the electric fuse. The detection circuit controls the capacitor to discharge according to a pulse width and a present resistance value of the electric fuse so as to generate a detection voltage. The output circuit is coupled to the detection circuit. The output circuit outputs a state of the electric fuse according to the detection voltage and a reference voltage.
US08248078B2

A testing device for testing surface-mounted (SM) memory connectors on a circuit board is provided. The testing device includes a main control circuit storing standard pin information of the SM memory connectors. A data collecting circuit is connected to the main control circuit and to at least one SM memory connector of the circuit board. A display unit is connected to the main control unit. The main control circuit directs the at least one data collecting circuit to read pin information of the SM memory connector and transmit the pin information to the main control circuit. The main control circuit manages the collected pin information in accordance with the standard pin information and shows the results on the display unit.
US08248072B1

An automated screening device that performs standardized system suitability tests and evaluations and measures components of a submitted sample to assist in the quality control screening of raw materials, ingredients, pharmaceuticals, chemicals, polymers, food products, petroleum and many other materials. After determining the performance suitability of an NMR spectrometer, the system permits samples to be submitted for screening. An NMR spectrum of a sample is acquired and a qualitative analysis unit identifies at least one reference NMR spectrum corresponding a compound present in the sample and a quantitative analysis unit integrates relative signal intensity signals of the sample spectrum in regions of peak intensity in the one reference NMR spectrum and compares integration results to a number of atoms in each region in order to confirm identification of the compound.
US08248069B2

Implementations and examples of systems, apparatus and techniques for using magnetic resonance imaging to measure spin perturbations. In one implementation, a sample containing nuclear spins is magnetized using a principle magnetic field generated external to the sample. A periodic pulse sequence is applied to the sample. The pulse sequence includes multiple radio frequency (rf) pulses and multiple recovery times between the rf pulses. The pulse sequence is configured to generate, in the presence of a magnetic field perturbation, a sequence of multiple different steady states of magnetization in the sample during each period of the pulse sequence. A magnetic resonance signal acquired from the sample is processed to identify characteristics of a magnetic field perturbation in the sample. In some implementations, processing the signal to identify characteristics of a magnetic field perturbation in the sample includes processing the signal to identify characteristics of an electric current in the sample.
US08248068B2

The invention concerns a method for hyperpolarizing lithium atoms in a mixture by optically pumping, in a sampling cell, atoms of a first type or alkali metal and by spin exchange between the optically pumped electron of the alkali metal and the lithium atom electron. The lithium atoms are preferably oxidized into Li+ ions and accumulated. The nuclear spin polarization of the Li+ ions can be transmitted to a nuclear spin of an anion. The invention also concerns a method for producing substances with nuclear spin polarization in general. In accordance with said method, lithium atoms are optically pumped from atoms of a first type of alkali metal in a sampling cell and hyperpolarized by spin exchange between the optical pumped electron of the alkali metal and the lithium atom electron, the lithium atoms being then oxidized into Li+ ions. Then, the nuclear spin polarization of the Li+ ions is transmitted to another nucleus of an anion. Thus it is possible to obtain hyperpolarized nuclei such as, for example, 13C, 31P or 29Si in solid or liquid phase, in large amounts and at high polarizing levels.
US08248062B2

A rotational direction detector is specified which is provided for mounting to a circumferential segment of a wheel having at least one sensor, wherein a change in the output signal of the sensor occurs when the circumferential segment enters and/or leaves the wheel contact area. Furthermore a method is specified for determining the direction of rotation of a wheel, wherein the signal change is determined and a rotational direction signal is derived therefrom.
US08248058B2

A system for testing power line carrier signal integrity or strength in a building electrical system includes a transmitter module electrically coupled to a first electrical outlet and configured to transmit a power line carrier signal over the building electrical system. The system also includes a receiver module electrically coupled to a second electrical outlet and configured to receive the power line carrier signal from the transmitter module. The receiver module includes circuitry configured to determine whether at least one of the integrity and strength of the power line carrier signal is sufficient for a load control system installed in the building electrical system to communicate with relay modules installed in the building electrical system using power line carrier signals. The receiver module includes a user interface configured to provide an indication of at least one of the integrity and strength of the power line carrier signal.
US08248055B2

A voltage reference containing a programmable resistance portion at an output node at which an output reference voltage is provided. The desired magnitude of the programmable portion which provides optimum matching of an output resistance of the voltage reference and a series resistance of an output capacitor of the voltage reference is determined and hard-programmed. As a result, the output voltage of the voltage reference is provided with improved linearity. In an embodiment, the determination of the magnitude of the programmable portion is performed by providing an input to an analog to digital converter (ADC) with the voltage reference driving the ADC. The resistance setting corresponding to the third harmonic being less than a desired threshold is then hard-programmed. In an alternative embodiment, the programmable portion is set to specific resistance dynamically during operation.
US08248049B2

In an NMOSFET-base linear charger, a pair of common gate charging NMOSFET and sensing NMOSFET have their sources coupled together or virtually shorted to each other, so that these two NMOSFETs have a same gate-source voltage and thereby the sensing NMOSFET reflects the drain-source current of the charging NMOSFET on its drain-source current. From the drain-source current of the sensing NMOSFET, a current sensing signal is generated to control the gate voltage of the charging NMOSFET. By implementing the current source with NMOSFETs, the linear charger has smaller die area and less power loss.
US08248036B2

A battery charging circuit for charging a rechargeable battery and improving operating stability includes a plurality of resistors for generating a first voltage; a first reference voltage source for providing a first reference voltage; an error amplifier for generating a second voltage according to the voltage difference between the first reference voltage and the first voltage; a second reference voltage source for providing a second reference voltage; a modulator for generating a control voltage according to the second reference voltage and the second voltage; a voltage-to-current control unit for generating a control current according to the control voltage; and a current mirror for generating an output current which is equal to a multiple of the control current, wherein the output current and its corresponding output voltage is applied to charge the rechargeable battery.
US08248033B2

An ECU determines whether the ripple current is within a target range (S50). When it is determined that the ripple current is not within the target range (NO in S50), the ECU determines whether the ripple current is greater than or less than the target range (S80). When it is determined that the ripple current is less than the target range (NO in S80), the ECU reduces the carrier frequency of the boost converter that is a component of the ripple generating section (S90). On the other hand, when it is determined that the ripple current is greater than the target range (YES in S80), the ECU increases the carrier frequency of the boost converter (S100).
US08248032B2

A method for controlling a charging system having multiple loads is disclosed. Power is supplied from an AC/DC adapter to a first charger, a second charger, and system loads. The first charger is operated at a setting value having smaller power consumption than a setting value necessary for a first battery pack when output power of a power source reaches a first threshold value during a time when the first battery pack is required to be charged in a standard charging mode. The first charger is operated at a setting value according to a specific charging mode even when the output power of the power source reaches the first threshold value during a time when the first battery pack is required to be charged in the specific charging mode. A second charger is operated at a setting value having smaller power consumption than a setting value necessary for a second battery pack when the output power of the power source reaches a second threshold value larger than the first threshold value.
US08248031B2

A function extending apparatus for receiving a portable computer is disclosed. The function extending apparatus includes an AC/DC adapter, a second charging system and a controller. The AC/DC adapter is capable of supplying power to the portable computer equipped with a system load and a first charging system having a first charger and a first battery. The second charging system of the function extending apparatus includes a second charger and a second battery. The controller reduces power consumption of the second charging system when the output power of the AC/DC adapter reaches a first threshold value. The controller reduces power consumption of the first charging system when the output power of the AC/DC adapter reaches a second threshold value, wherein the second threshold value is higher than the first threshold value.
US08248027B2

A non-contact power transmission apparatus is disclosed. The non-contact power transmission apparatus includes an AC power source, a primary coil, a primary side resonance coil, a secondary side resonance coil, a secondary coil, a voltage measuring section, and a distance calculating section. AC voltage of the AC power source is applied to the primary coil. A load is connected to the secondary coil. The voltage measuring section measures the voltage of the primary coil. The distance calculating section calculates the distance between the primary side resonance coil and the secondary side resonance coil based on the voltage measured by the voltage measuring section.
US08248024B2

Systems and methodologies for efficient inductive charging of electronic devices are provided herein. A charging device as described herein can utilize a sensor-integrated resonating circuit with automatic frequency control to provide low-cost inductive charging functionality for electronic devices. As further described herein, a device to be charged can be equipped with a power receiver operable to receive power from the charging device via electromagnetic induction. The power receiver can additionally be utilized for initiation of charging such that charging for a device commences upon its associated power receiver being brought within range of an inductive charging surface at the charging device. Further, a charging device as described herein can have an inductive charging surface as well as a non-charging surface for providing other services such as information display. A charging device can integrate with an external information source to obtain items to be displayed at a non-charging surface thereon.
US08248020B2

A starting circuit for a single-phase AC motor, consisting at least-of a rectifying and voltage-stabilizing circuit, a control circuit with a zero-cross detecting circuit and a counter, and a bidirectional thyristor. The bidirectional thyristor is serially connected to a starting winding and a starting capacitor, the bidirectional thyristor, the starting winding and the starting capacitor are connected a utility power AC input. The input end of the rectifying and voltage-stabilizing circuit is connected to the utility power AC input. The output end of the rectifying and voltage-stabilizing circuit supplies power to the control circuit. The input end of the zero-cross detecting circuit is connected to the utility power AC input. The output end of the zero-cross detecting circuit is connected to the input end of the counter.
US08248016B2

A fan circuit controls a speed of a fan. A control chip outputs a pulse width modulation (PWM) signal that changes with the temperature of an electronic device that the fan is mounted in. An input circuit converts the PWM signal into a continual voltage signal. An amplifier circuit amplifies the voltage signal and outputs a control signal. When the control signal is less than a threshold voltage, the control circuit is turned on and the fan receives current which is less than preset current. When the control signal is greater than the threshold voltage, the control circuit is turned off and the fan receives current which is greater than the preset current.
US08248014B2

Automated shade systems comprise motorized window coverings, sensors, and controllers that use algorithms to control operation of the automated shade control system. These algorithms may include information such as: 3-D models of a building and surrounding structures, shadow information, reflectance information, lighting and radiation information, ASHRAE clear sky algorithms, log information related to manual overrides, occupant preference information, motion information, real-time sky conditions, solar radiation on a building, a total foot-candle load on a structure, brightness overrides, actual and/or calculated BTU load, time-of-year information, and microclimate analysis.
US08248009B2

A motor drive is provided that includes a control circuit or board and a one or more functional circuits or option boards coupled to the control board, and a profile that includes a configuration for the option board. A method of operating a motor drive that includes loading a profile for a option board coupled to a control board of the controller, wherein the profile comprises a configuration for the option board. A tangible machine-readable medium implementing the method is also provided.
US08248000B2

The present invention discloses a light emitting device array controller which controls a power stage to supply an output voltage to one end of each of a plurality of light emitting device strings. The other end of each of the light emitting device strings is coupled to a corresponding transistor having a current inflow end, a current outflow end and a control end. The present invention obtains signals from the control ends of the transistors instead of the current inflow ends, and feedback controls the output voltage according to the highest voltage of the control ends. Thus, the number of pins required for a circuit chip is reduced.
US08247998B2

A light-emitting device capable of being powered by an AC power supply or an unregulated DC power supply is disclosed. The light-emitting device, in an aspect, is coupled to a controller, a light-emitting diode (“LED”) array, and a power supply, wherein the power supply can be an AC power source or an unregulated DC power source. While the power supply provides electrical power, the controller generates various LED control signals in response to power fluctuation of the electrical power. The LED array allows at least a portion of LEDs to be activated in accordance with the logic states of the LED control signals.
US08247997B2

A ballast (10) for powering one or two gas discharge lamps (30,40) includes an inverter (100), an output circuit (200), and a control circuit (500). During a period prior to startup of inverter (100), control circuit (500) monitors a signal within output circuit (200) in order to determine the presence of lamps with intact filaments that are present at the ballast output connections (202,204, . . . ,210,212). Preferably, control circuit (500) is realized by a programmable microcontroller which implements a dual timing scheme in order to accurately determine the number of lamps with both filaments intact. The resulting determination may be used for various purposes, such providing appropriate levels of filament heating and/or for setting thresholds for accurately detecting and protecting against various lamp fault conditions.
US08247995B2

An exemplary control system for multiple light sources includes a clock circuit, a frequency dividing circuit, a recombining circuit, a power control circuit, and a triggering circuit. The clock circuit is configured to output a plurality of clock signals. The frequency dividing circuit is configured to divide the frequency of the clock signals to get a number of reference clock signals. The recombining circuit is configured to recombine the reference clock signals to get a plurality of timing signals. The power control circuit is configured to output electrical power to the multiple light sources according to the timing signals. The triggering circuit is configured to power on the light sources according to a received command.
US08247990B1

An apparatus, method, and system for switch control of power to light sources, particularly high power consumption light sources that may experience lumen depreciation, such that the power level to a light source may be increased or decreased as desired. Methods of switching utilizing robust mechanical components such as solenoids, coupled with accurate and rapid electronic control components such as microprocessors, may be combined with a combinational approach to capacitance changes to comprise a flexible method of power control to a light source or plurality of light sources. Power to a light source may be adjusted such that the amount of energy consumed and the quantity of light output may be adjusted, compensation may be made for lumen depreciation and other losses that occur during operational life of the light source, to maintain constant or near-constant light output, or otherwise.
US08247987B2

An induction lamp lighting device includes an induction coil arranged adjacent to an induction lamp; a direct current power supply circuit for outputting a direct current voltage; a high-frequency power supply circuit for converting the direct current voltage to an alternating current voltage and supplying the alternating current voltage to the induction coil; and a control circuit for controlling the direct current power supply circuit and the high-frequency power supply circuit. The control circuit performs a startup preparation operation by which to control the high-frequency power supply circuit so that, immediately after the alternating current voltage begins to be outputted from the high-frequency power supply circuit to the induction coil, the alternating current voltage is gradually increased to such a voltage value as not to generate arc discharge in the induction lamp and then kept at the voltage value for a specified time.
US08247982B2

A method of driving a light source includes; converting an externally supplied direct current voltage into a first alternating current voltage, boosting the first alternating current voltage to a second alternating current voltage having a higher voltage than the first alternating current voltage, turning on the light source using the second alternating current voltage, detecting an arc noise detection voltage by adding arc noise generated from a high voltage terminal of the light source and arc noise generated from a low voltage terminal of the light source, and blocking the high voltage from being provided to the light source based on the detected arc noise detection voltage.
US08247980B2

There is provided an LED driving circuit. The LED driving circuit according to an aspect of the invention may include: at least one ladder circuit including: (n−1) number (here, n is a positive integer satisfying n≧2) of first branches provided between first and second junction points, and connected in-line with each other by n number of first middle junction points, (n−1) number of second branches arranged in parallel with the first branches, and connected in-line with each other by n number of second middle junction points between the first and second junction points, and n number of middle branches connecting m-th first and second middle junction points to each other, wherein at least one LED device is disposed on each of the first, second, and middle branches. Here, the number of LED devices included in each of the first and second branches is greater than the number of LED devices included in each of the middle branches.
US08247976B2

An LED lamp set and a lighting bulb used thereon are provided. The LED lamp set comprises a plurality of circuit boards, a support post, an ignition circuit and two conducting wires. The circuit boards are spaced from each other in a parallel manner and mounted on the support post in series. Each of the circuit boards is connected to a plurality of LEDs surrounding the support post. The LEDs have a plurality of light emission surfaces tilted outwards. The ignition circuit receives an input power and transforms the input power to an ignition power. The two conducting wires have one end connected to the ignition circuit and linked to the circuit boards in series to ignite the LEDs. The LED lamp set further is coupled with a socket and a lamp shade to form a profile of a lighting bulb compatible to the socket of the ordinary lighting bulbs.
US08247975B2

A backlight assembly for a liquid crystal display device including an LED backlight unit including a plurality of light emitting diode strings coupled to a plurality of current balancing circuits, a backlight driver including a light emitting diode driver that supplies current to the light emitting diode strings, and a connector electrically connecting the plurality of current balancing circuits to the light emitting diode driver.
US08247972B2

A ceramic discharge lamp and a method of making the lamp includes a ceramic discharge chamber with two concave parts that are attached to each other at a seam, and a ceramic reflector directly attached to an exterior surface of the discharge chamber at the seam, or directly attached to a ceramic capillary that is attached to one of the two concave parts. The lamp finds particular application where focused light is required, such as injection of light into a fiber optic device. The lamp can be very small and has an advantage that the discharge chamber is isolated from the reflective surfaces so that the optically active parts of the reflector are not covered with salt from the preferred metal halide lamp fill.
US08247970B2

A PDP (Plasma Display Panel) comprising a front substrate structure (first substrate structure) in which two pairs of an X electrode and a Y electrode and a non-emission area therebetween are formed, and a plurality of light-shielding films formed with spacing from the X electrode and the Y electrode in the non-emission area. The light-shielding film contains a metal material common with a metal material forming the X electrode and the Y electrode. And, the light-shielding film is formed in an island-shape having spacing from a neighboring barrier rib formed to a rear substrate structure (second substrate structure). According to the above structure, the area of the light-shielding film which may cause a capacitance-coupled portion with the X electrode, the Y electrode, or an address electrode can be made small, thereby suppressing capacitance coupling even when a conductive material is used to the light-shielding film.
US08247967B2

A display device having a substrate, a power supply line, and a pixel electrode. The display device also having a transistor having a gate electrode and electrically coupled between the power supply line and the pixel electrode, a opposite electrode, and an organic semiconductor film disposed between the pixel electrode and the opposite electrode. The display device further having a holding capacitor having a first electrode electrically coupled to the gate electrode of the transistor, a second electrode, and a first insulation film disposed between the first electrode and second electrode and a second insulation film. The holding capacitor of the display device being disposed between the substrate and the second insulation film and at a part of the second insulation film being disposed between the pixel electrode and the substrate.
US08247966B2

An organic light emitting device, which includes a first substrate, scan lines and data lines arranged on the first substrate, and at least an unit pixel comprising a R sub-pixel corresponding to a Red color, a G sub-pixel corresponding to a Green color, and a B sub-pixel corresponding to a Blue color positioned in a region on the first substrate defined by a crossing of the scan and data lines.
US08247964B2

A light-emitting material comprises iridium and at least one ligand represented by the following formula: wherein R11 and R12 each represents an alkyl group, an aryl group, a heteroaryl group, an alkoxy group, a cyano group or a cyclic structure obtained by connection of one of a plurality of R11s to another of said plurality of R11s, or one of a plurality of R12s to another of said plurality of R12s, or one of the R11s to one of the R12s; m1 represents an integer from 0 to 4; m2 represents an integer from 0 to 6.
US08247956B2

An LED illuminating device includes a housing defining a sealed boiling room, an optical module and an adiabatic member. The boiling room has a lower room and annular room surrounding the lower room. A wick structure is received in and attached to an inner side of the housing. Working fluid is received in the boiling room and saturated in a bottom portion of the wick structure located at a bottom of the lower room. The optical module is provided with a plurality of LEDs attached to the housing at a position under the bottom portion of the wick structure. The adiabatic member is received in the boiling room and attached to a middle portion of the wick structure at a top of the lower room for avoiding thermal and flow interactions between liquid in the middle portion of the wick structure and vapor in the lower room.
US08247955B2

An electroacoustic component includes a substrate that includes a quartz single crystal. The quartz single crystal has a first Euler angle λ: −5°≦λ≦5°, a second Euler angle μ, and a third Euler angle θ. A contiguous region of the quartz single crystal has the following vertices Pi(μi, θi): (23°, 20°), (60°, 17°), (110°, 30°), (105°, 42°), (60°, 30°), (23°, 25°).
US08247952B2

A wheel includes a rim and a tire. The rim includes a ring body defining a central axis, two flanges, and two piezoelectric rings. The flanges extend from the circumference of the ring body around the central axis. A first annular groove is defined in the circumference of each flange around the central axis. The piezoelectric rings are mounted in the respective first annular grooves and configured for producing electric power under pressure. The tire encloses the rim.
US08247942B2

A multi-winding homopolar electric machine and method for converting between mechanical energy and electrical energy. The electric machine includes a shaft defining an axis of rotation, first and second magnets, a shielding portion, and a conductor. First and second magnets are coaxial with the shaft and include a charged pole surface and an oppositely charged pole surface, the charged pole surfaces facing one another to form a repulsive field therebetween. The shield portion extends between the magnets to confine at least a portion of the repulsive field to between the first and second magnets. The conductor extends between first and second end contacts and is toroidally coiled about the first and second magnets and the shield portion to develop a voltage across the first and second end contacts in response to rotation of the electric machine about the axis of rotation.
US08247927B2

In a device according to one aspect of the invention, plural communication ports switch appropriately between a power receiving port and a power feeding port, thereby dealing with supply of electric power through a network in various network configurations. Plural devices are connected to a network cable to form a network system. In an initial state before power receiving, all plural communication ports of the device are put in to a power receiving enabling state. When the electric power is supplied from one of the communication ports, other communication ports are put into a power receiving disabling state. The device feeds part of the received electric power to another adjacent device by utilizing the communication port put into the power receiving disabling state. The supply of electric power can sequentially be performed from the device that receives the supply of electric power from an external power feeding installation to an adjacent device, and finally all the devices receive the supply of electric power through the network.
US08247926B2

System and methods for wireless energy and data transmission are described. One aspect includes an emitter and receiver. The emitter may include primary and secondary emitting windings. The receiver may include primary and secondary receiver windings. In further aspects, the emitter may include a tertiary emitting winding and the receiver may include a tertiary receiver winding. In one aspect, the emitter uses driving circuitry and the receiver uses rectifying circuitry and one or more capacitors. In further aspects, the emitter and receiver are reversible.
US08247919B2

A combined-cycle power plant (10) has at least one power train (60) including a steam turbine (24) and a second generator (8) directly driven by the steam turbine (24) and generating alternating current, the output of which generator is connected to a power grid (21) having a given grid frequency (F), and at least one power train (11) of a gas turbine (12) and a first generator (18) driven directly by the gas turbine (12) and generating alternating current with an operating frequency, the output of which generator is connected to a power grid (21) having a predetermined grid frequency. An electronic decoupling device or a variable electronic gear unit (27) decouples the operating frequency from the grid frequency and is arranged between the first generator (18) and the power grid (21). Such a plant allows both flexible steady-state operation with high overall efficiency as well as flexible transient operation.
US08247918B2

The inventive technology described herein generally relates to the field of power generation. More specifically, methods and apparatus for a power generation coupler utilizing perhaps multiple generators coupled through a power generation coupler to at least one rotational movement element such that said coupled connection is dynamically movable across the surface the rotational movement element so as to maintain an electrical output at a constant generator rotation(s) per minute (RPM) according to the varying rotational velocity along the radius of a rotational movement element. In some embodiments such coupled generators may be sequentially loaded and disengaged to such rotational movement element to maintain an electrical output at a constant generator RPM. Certain embodiments may include a static power generation coupler as well as an electrically dynamic power generation coupler such that the current applied to the stator of a generator may dynamically alter that generators resistance.
US08247905B2

The present invention is related to a method for forming vertical conductive structures by electroplating. Specifically, a template structure is first formed, which includes a substrate, a discrete metal contact pad located on the substrate surface, an inter-level dielectric (ILD) layer over both the discrete metal contact pad and the substrate, and a metal via structure extending through the ILD layer onto the discrete metal contact pad. Next, a vertical via is formed in the template structure, which extends through the ILD layer onto the discrete metal contact pad. A vertical conductive structure is then formed in the vertical via by electroplating, which is conducted by applying an electroplating current to the discrete metal contact pad through the metal via structure. Preferably, the template structure comprises multiple discrete metal contact pads, multiple metal via structures, and multiple vertical vias for formation of multiple vertical conductive structures.
US08247900B2

A flip chip semiconductor package is provided. In one embodiment, the flip chip semiconductor package comprises a first substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite the first surface, a semiconductor chip mounted on the first surface of the first substrate by solder bumps, a thermally-conductive stiffener mounted above the first surface of the first substrate and around the chip to define a cavity region therebetween, one or more molding compound material disposed in the cavity region, and a second substrate mounted to the second surface of the first substrate by solder balls.
US08247899B2

A power semiconductor module comprises at least one power semiconductor component and a connection device which makes contact with the power semiconductor component. The connection device is composed of a layer assembly having at least one first electrically conductive layer facing the power semiconductor component and forming at least one first conductor track, and an insulating layer following in the layer assembly, and a second layer following further in the layer assembly and forming at least one second conductor track, the second layer being remote from the power semiconductor component. The power semiconductor module has at least one internal connection element, wherein the internal connection element is embodied as a contact spring having a first and a second contact section and a resilient section. The first contact section has a common contact area with a first or a second conductor track of the connection device.
US08247893B2

A mountable integrated circuit package system comprising: mounting a first integrated circuit device over a package carrier; mounting an interposer including a central aperture over the package carrier, an intra-stack interconnect connected between the interposer and the package carrier, and the first integrated circuit device within the central aperture; and forming an intra-stack encapsulation over the package carrier and surrounding the interposer.
US08247891B2

A chip package structure including a substrate, at least one chip, a plurality of leads, a heat dissipation device, a molding compound, and at least one insulating sheet is provided. The chip is disposed on the substrate. The leads are electrically connected to the substrate. The molding compound having a top surface encapsulates the chip, the substrate, and a portion of the leads. The heat dissipation device is disposed on the top surface of the molding compound. The insulating sheet disposed between the heat dissipation device and at least one of the leads has a bending line dividing the insulating sheet into a main body disposed on the molding compound and a bending portion extending from the main body.
US08247889B2

The present invention relates to a package having an inner shield and a method for making the same. The package includes a substrate, a plurality of electrical elements, a molding compound, an inner shield and a conformal shield. The electrical elements are disposed on the substrate. The molding compound is disposed on a surface of the substrate, encapsulates the electrical elements, and includes at least one groove. The groove penetrates a top surface and a bottom surface of the molding compound and is disposed between the electrical elements, and there is a gap between a short side of the groove and a side surface of the molding compound. The inner shield is disposed in the groove and electrically connected to the substrate. The conformal shield covers the molding compound and a side surface of the substrate, and electrically connects the substrate and the inner shield. Therefore, the inner shield enables the electrical elements to have low electromagnetic interference and high electromagnetic compatibility.
US08247888B2

Provided is a semiconductor device capable of preventing a semiconductor chip from being damaged by any sharp burrs of a metallic shielding plate. The semiconductor device includes a semiconductor chip and a metallic shielding plate provided on a circuit surface of the semiconductor chip. The metallic shielding plate is disposed in such a manner that a second surface of a shielding plate body is directed towards the circuit surface of the semiconductor chip, and burrs are positioned contiguous to the second surface of the shielding plate body. At distal ends of the burrs, cutting burrs are formed in a direction orthogonal to the second surface. The sharp burrs extend in a direction opposite to the semiconductor chip, so that the sharp burrs are prevented from damaging the circuit surface of the semiconductor chip.
US08247879B2

A micromechanical device assembly includes a micromechanical device enclosed within a processing region and a lubricant channel formed through an interior wall of the processing region and in fluid communication with the processing region. Lubricant is injected into the lubricant channel via capillary forces and held therein via surface tension of the lubricant against the internal surfaces of the lubrication channel. The lubricant channel containing the lubricant provides a ready supply of fresh lubricant to prevent stiction from occurring between interacting components of the micromechanical device disposed within the processing region.
US08247878B2

Disclosed are a semiconductor device with a metal gate and a method of manufacturing the same. The method of the present invention includes: preparing a semiconductor substrate having a isolation layer to define an active region; forming a gate insulation layer on the semiconductor substrate; sequentially forming a polysilicon layer, a first metal silicide layer, a metal nitride layer and a metal layer on the gate insulation layer including the isolation layer; etching the metal layer and the metal nitride layer so that the metal layer and the metal nitride layer have a narrower width than that of a desired gate; forming a second metal silicide layer on the first metal silicide layer including the etched metal nitride layer and the metal layer; forming a hard mask on the second metal silicide layer so that the hard mask has a desired gate width; and etching the second metal silicide layer, the first metal silicide layer, the polysilicon layer and the gate insulation layer by using the hard mask as an etching barrier, so as to form a metal gate with a structure in. which the metal nitride and the metal layer are enclosed with the first and second metal silicide layers.
US08247868B2

A power MOSFET is disclosed. In the power MOSFET, an epitaxial layer doped with dopants of a first conduction type is formed on a substrate. A first trench extends downward from a first region of the top surface of the epitaxial layer, and a second trench extends downward from the bottom of the first trench. The width of the second trench is smaller than that of the first trench. The first well is located adjacent to the bottom of the first trench and the bottom of the second trench, and is doped with dopants of a second conduction type. The second well extends downward from a second region of the top surface and is doped with dopants of the second conduction type. The first well and the second well are separated. A source region doped with dopants of the first conduction type is formed in the second well.
US08247866B2

An inventive semiconductor device includes: a semiconductor layer; a drift region of a first conductivity type provided in the semiconductor layer; a body region of a second conductivity type provided on the drift region in the semiconductor layer; a trench extending from a surface of the body region in the semiconductor layer with its bottom located in the drift region; a gate insulation film provided on an interior surface of the trench; a gate electrode provided in the trench with the intervention of the gate insulation film; a source region of the first conductivity type provided in the surface of the body region; a first impurity region of the second conductivity type provided around the bottom of the trench in spaced relation from the body region; and a second impurity region of the second conductivity type provided on a lateral side of the body region in the semiconductor layer, the second impurity region being isolated from the body region and electrically connected to the first impurity region.
US08247864B2

A semiconductor device with an amorphous silicon (a-Si) metal-oxide-nitride-oxide-silicon (MONOS) or metal-aluminum oxide-silicon (MAS) memory cell structure with one-time programmable (OTP) function. The device includes a substrate, a first dielectric layer overlying the substrate, and one or more source or drain regions embedded in the first dielectric layer with a co-planar surface of n-type a-Si and the first dielectric layer. Additionally, the device includes a p-i-n a-Si diode junction. The device further includes a second dielectric layer on the a-Si p-i-n diode junction and a metal control gate overlying the second dielectric layer. Optionally the device with OTP function includes a conductive path formed between n-type a-Si layer and the metal control gate. A method of making the same memory cell structure is provided and can be repeated to integrate the structure three-dimensionally.
US08247861B2

A semiconductor device and method of making a semiconductor device are disclosed. A semiconductor body, a floating gate poly and a source/drain region are provided. A metal interconnect region with a control gate node is provided that capacitively couples to the floating gate poly.
US08247853B2

A stratified photodiode for high resolution CMOS image sensors implemented with STI technology is provided. The photodiode includes a semi-conductive layer of a first conductivity type, multiple doping regions of a second conductivity type, multiple doping regions of the first conductivity type, and a pinning layer. The multiple doping regions of the second conductivity type are formed to different depths in the semi-conductive layer. The multiple doping regions of the first conductivity type are disposed between the multiple doping regions of the second conductivity type and form multiple junction capacitances without full depletion. In particular, the stratified doping arrangement allows the photodiode to have a small size, high charge storage capacity, low dark current, and low operation voltages.
US08247841B2

A semiconductor device includes: a plurality of semiconductor substrates that are layered; a through electrode penetrating through a predetermined semiconductor substrate of the semiconductor substrates and electrically connected with an external terminal of the semiconductor device; a circuit element provided on the predetermined semiconductor substrate; and an electrostatic discharge protection circuit also provided on the predetermined semiconductor substrate. In the device, wiring resistance between the electrostatic discharge protection circuit and the through electrode is smaller than wiring resistance between the circuit element and the through electrode.
US08247837B2

The invention discloses a light-emitting diode. In an embodiment, the light-emitting diode includes a substrate, a first doping type semiconductor layer, a second doping type semiconductor layer, a light-emitting layer and plural laminated structures. The first doping type semiconductor layer, the light-emitting layer and the second doping type semiconductor layer are formed on the substrate in sequence. The plural laminated structures are formed on the top surface of the second doping type semiconductor layer such that the top surface is partially exposed. Each laminated structure consists of plural transparent insulating layers which have their respective refractive indices. Additionally, each of the laminated structures is formed in a way of upwardly stacking the transparent insulating layers in sequence with the refractive indices of the transparent insulating layers decreasing gradually, so as to enhance the light-extraction efficiency and the lighting efficiency of the light-emitting diode.
US08247836B2

A light emitting diode structure is disclosed that includes a light emitting active portion formed of epitaxial layers and carrier substrate supporting the active portion. A bonding metal system that predominates in nickel and tin joins the active portion to the carrier substrate. At least one titanium adhesion layer is between the active portion and the carrier substrate and a platinum barrier layer is between the nickel-tin bonding system and the titanium adhesion layer. The platinum layer has a thickness sufficient to substantially prevent tin in the nickel tin bonding system from migrating into or through the titanium adhesion layer.
US08247823B2

A light-emitting element includes a semiconductor laminated structure including a first semiconductor layer, a light-emitting layer and a second semiconductor layer, an insulation layer provided on the semiconductor laminated structure, a first wiring including a first vertical conducting portion and a first planar conducting portion and being electrically connected to the first semiconductor layer, the first vertical conducting portion extending inside the insulation layer, the light-emitting layer and the second semiconductor layer in a vertical direction and the first planar conducting portion extending inside the insulation layer in a planar direction, and a second wiring including a second vertical conducting portion and a second planar conducting portion and being electrically connected to the second semiconductor layer, the second vertical conducting portion extending inside the insulation layer in a vertical direction and the second planar conducting portion extending inside the insulation layer in a planar direction.
US08247819B2

An organic light emitting diode display includes a substrate member, a plurality of pixel electrodes formed on the substrate member, an organic emission layer formed on the pixel electrodes, and a first common electrode formed on the organic emission. A transmitting layer may be formed on the first common electrode and is configured to be substantially antireflective. A second common electrode may be formed on the transmitting layer and the first common electrode is electrically connected with the second common electrode.
US08247815B2

A method of fabricating a thin film transistor includes forming a gate electrode on a substrate, forming a semiconductor layer on the gate electrode, forming a source electrode on the semiconductor layer, forming a drain electrode on the semiconductor layer spaced apart from the source electrode, forming a copper layer pattern on the source electrode and the drain electrode, exposing the copper layer pattern on the source electrode and the drain electrode to a fluorine-containing process gas to form a copper fluoride layer pattern thereon, and patterning the semiconductor layer.
US08247811B2

A thin-film transistor includes: a gate electrode formed on a substrate; an oxide semiconductor layer forming a channel region corresponding to the gate electrode; a first gate insulating film formed on the substrate and the gate electrode, and including a silicon nitride film; a second gate insulating film selectively formed to contact with the oxide semiconductor layer in a region, on the first gate insulating film, corresponding to the oxide semiconductor layer, and including one of a silicon oxide film and a silicon oxynitride film; a source/drain electrode; and a protecting film. An upper surface and a side surface of the oxide semiconductor layer and a side surface of the second gate insulating film are covered, on the first gate insulating film, by the source/drain electrode and the protecting film.
US08247803B2

The present invention provides an organic transistor that includes an organic semiconductor layer containing a material having conductive particles and an organic semiconductor polymer chemically bonded to each other and a method of producing the same.
US08247802B2

To provide a memory element, a memory device, and a semiconductor device, which can be easily manufactured at low cost; are nonvolatile and data-rewritable; and have preferable switching properties and low operating voltage. A memory element of the invention includes a first conductive layer, a second conductive layer facing the first conductive layer, and an organic compound layer provided between the first and the second conductive layers. For the organic compound layer, a high molecular material having an amide group at least at one kind of side chains is used.
US08247801B2

An organic photo-detecting field-effect device is presented, the device comprising a first layer comprising an organic semi-conducting material, the first layer acting as an accumulation layer and as a charge transport layer for a first type of charge carriers, and a second layer comprising a second material, the second layer acting as a an accumulation layer for a second type of charge carriers. Charges collected in the second layer influence the charge transport in the first layer. The second material may be an organic semi-conducting material or a metal. At the interface between the first layer and the second layer a heterojunction is formed in the case of an organic semi-conducting second material, and a Schottky barrier is formed in the case of a metal second material, giving rise to an efficient exciton splitting. Different geometries and operation modes facilitating the removal of the collected photo-generated charge carriers during the reset period of the device are presented. Furthermore, a method for operating an organic photo-detecting field-effect device is provided.
US08247797B2

A field-effect transistor has at least one electrode disposed independently of source and drain electrodes and in direct contact with the surface of a semiconductor channel to form a schottky barrier, so that it is possible to easily control the schottky barrier.
US08247794B2

According to one embodiment, a nitride semiconductor device includes a substrate, an Alx1Ga1-x1N first buried layer, an InyAlzGa1-y-zN buried layer and an Alx2Ga1-x2N second buried layer. The substrate has protrusions formed in an in-plane direction on a first major surface, and a depression between adjacent ones of the protrusions. The first buried layer is formed on the depression and one of the protrusions. The InyAlzGa1-y-zN buried layer is formed on the first buried layer. The second buried layer is formed on the InyAlzGa1-y-zN buried layer. A portion of the first buried layer formed on the depression and a portion of the first buried layer formed on the one of the protrusions are not connected to each other. A portion of the InyAlzGa1-y-zN buried layer formed above the depression and a portion of the InyAlzGa1-y-zN buried layer formed above the one of the protrusions are connected to each other.
US08247785B2

A particle beam device includes a movable carrier element with at least one receiving element for receiving a specimen and in which the receiving element is situated on the carrier element. In various embodiments, the receiving element may be situated removably on the carrier element and/or multiple receiving elements may be situated on the carrier element in such a way that a movement of the carrier element causes a movement of the multiple receiving elements in the same spatial direction or around the same axis. The carrier element may be movable in three spatial directions situated perpendicular to one another and rotatable around a first axis which is parallel to an optical axis of the particle beam device and around a second axis which is situated perpendicular to the optical axis. A method for using the particle beam device in connection with specimen study and preparation is also disclosed.
US08247783B2

An electron beam is moved a long distance along a straight line from a sub-deflection region 101a to a diagonally opposite sub-deflection region 123w by main deflection of the beam, and a pattern P is written in the sub-deflection region 123w. The former writing step is repeated a plurality of times each with a different main deflection settling time, thereby writing a plurality of patterns P. The amount of displacement of each pattern P from its designed position is then measured. Further, the latter writing step is also repeated a plurality of times each with a different main deflection settling time, thereby writing another plurality of patterns P. The amount of displacement of each pattern P from its designed position is then measured.
US08247780B2

The present invention is a photodetector including improved photosensors configured of an array of small (sub-millimeter) high-density avalanche photodiode cells utilized to readout a single scintillator. Each photosensor comprises a plurality of avalanche photodiodes cells arranged in an (n×n) array of avalanche photodiode cells (where, n>1) that are coupled to a single scintillation crystal. The overall (n×n) array area as the photosensor is the same as the area of a face of the scintillator and each avalanche photodiode cell has a surface area that is not greater than one square millimeter. The photosensor is also configured to facilitate reading the output of each avalanche photodiode cell in the array. By reading out each small avalanche photodiode cell independently, the noise and capacitance are minimized and thereby provide a more accurate determination of energy and timing.
US08247779B2

A radiation imaging apparatus having high frame rate and picture quality by offset correction has: a sensor array having matrix-shaped pixels each including a converting element and a TFT; a driver for supplying signals to control terminals of the TFTs row by row; a reader for holding a signal in a first or second sampling/holding (S/H) circuit and outputting an image signal; and a controller for controlling the driver and reader. Until the image signal is output after irradiation of the apparatus with pulsating radiation, the TFT of a pixel is driven so as to output a first signal, the TFT of the pixel to which the first signal has been output is driven so as to output a second electric signal, and the reader outputs the image signal of the signal showing a difference between the first and second signals held in the first and second S/H circuits.
US08247772B2

An infrared positioning apparatus comprises a plurality of infrared diodes, a plurality of amplifying units, a plurality of converting units and a positioning unit. The plurality of infrared diodes is configured to detect at least one infrared signal. The plurality of amplifying units are configured to amplify the at least one infrared signal for obtaining at least one amplified signal. The plurality of converting units are configured to convert the at least one amplified signal for obtaining at least one strength value of the at least one amplified signal. The positioning unit is configured to obtain the emitting direction of the at least one infrared signal in accordance with the at least one strength value of the at least one amplified signal.
US08247771B2

The device for detection and/or emission of radiation has an encapsulation micropackage in a vacuum or under reduced pressure that comprises a cap and a substrate delineating a sealed housing. The housing encapsulates at least one uncooled thermal detector and/or emitter having a membrane sensitive to electromagnetic radiation suspended above the substrate, a reflector and at least one getter. The getter is arranged on at least a part of a second main surface of the reflector to form a reflector/getter assembly. A free space, releasing an accessible surface of the getter and in communication with the housing, is also formed between the reflector/getter assembly and the front surface of the substrate.
US08247759B2

A projector apparatus includes: a case; a light source which is provided in the case and emits light by supply of power; an opening provided in the case; an image projection unit that generates image projection light from light of the light source and emits the image projection light through the opening in order to project an image onto a screen; a shutter which is moved to a block position at which the opening provided in the case is blocked or to an open position at which the opening is opened; and a light leakage section which provides notification that the power is being supplied to the light source by allowing some light beams of the light source or some light beams of the image projection unit to leak to the outside of the case in a state where the shutter is located at the block position.
US08247743B2

An electric resistance heating element for an oven is provided. The electric resistance heating element includes a sinuous-shaped element having a front side flank portion and a front side flank portion and at least one front side interior portion. The at least one front side interior portion is disposed intermediate the front side flank portion and the front side flank portion as viewed in a width direction perpendicular to the depth direction of the oven from the front of the oven to the rear of the oven and the front side flank portion and the front side flank portion each being located closer to the front of the oven than the at least one front side interior portion.
US08247741B2

A system is provided for heating or cooling discrete, linearly conveyed substrates having a gap between a trailing edge of a first substrate and a leading edge of a following substrate in a conveyance direction. The system includes a chamber, and a conveyor operably configured within the chamber to move the substrates through at a conveyance rate. A plurality of individually controlled temperature control units, for example heating or cooling units, are disposed linearly within the chamber along the conveyance direction. A controller is in communication with the temperature control units and is configured to cycle output of the temperature control units from a steady-state temperature output as a function of the spatial position of the conveyed substrates within the chamber relative to the temperature control units so as to decrease temperature variances in the substrates caused by movement of the substrates through the chamber.
US08247739B2

A heating element for metallic plastic injection nozzles with a tubular hollow metal body (2), which surrounds the nozzle body of an injection molding device in a heat-transmitting manner. The hollow body has an outer and/or inner jacket surface with one or more grooves (3, 4), extending in a thread-like manner at least in some sections, with inserted tubular heating body structure (with a heating body or bodies) (5). The heating body structure has electric terminals (6, 7) projecting away from the hollow body (2). In addition, a thermocouple, with a sensor tip (9) is in thermal contact with the material wall (15) of the plastic injection nozzle (17) in an end area of the tube wall, is arranged in a guide groove (4). To ensure that the temperature of the material tube, which temperature is to be regulated, is homogeneous at always the same measuring point and is shielded from the direct effect of heating, the sensor tip (9) is fixed in a heat-transmitting manner in a groove-like recess (11) of a tube wall section (20), which is thermally separated from the tube wall (2′) by two front-side notches (21, 22) and which, being subject to a radial pressing force in a radially flexible manner, is in gap-free, two-dimensional thermal contact with the nozzle body (15).
US08247738B2

The present invention relates to a welding booth that has a small foot print and can be joined to other booths for maximization of floor space use.
US08247731B2

Disclosed are systems and methods for directing laser energy to surfaces of materials via elements which have sharp points, and for reducing the adverse effects of particles which become dislodged by scribing and laser machining of materials.
US08247725B2

A vacuum switchgear has a vacuum valve including a movable conductor connected to an insulating rod, and a fixed conductor connected to a bus bar or to a load cable, a vacuum chamber encasing the vacuum valve, an insulating envelope covering the vacuum chamber, the outer surface thereof being covered with an electro-conductive layer thereby to earth the envelope, and an insulating lid gas-tightly fitted to the insulating envelope. The lid has an insulating bushing through which an insulating rod penetrates, the insulating rod being connected to an operating mechanism, wherein the insulating rod except a portion exposed from the bushing is gas-tightly confined in insulating gas atmosphere formed between the insulating envelope and the insulating lid.
US08247721B2

This invention is directed to a switch for use in an electronic device. As the user actuates the switch, different labels may be visible to indicate to the user the current state of the switch. To allow the switch to be positioned adjacent to an edge of the device, the switch may include only a single label that moves with the switch. For example, the switch may include a label positioned adjacent to a nub that the user may operate. The label may be sized such that only the label is visible when the switch is in a first position. The electronic device may also include a second label that is fixed to a non-moving portion of the electronic device. When the user moves the switch, the switch may move away from and uncover the second label while hiding the label that is included in the switch.
US08247707B2

A shielding assembly includes a hollow frame, a pair of first resilient clips and a cover. The frame defines a receiving room and includes a pair of opposite first sidewalls, a second sidewall, a third sidewall opposite to the second sidewall, and a plurality of platforms configured along at least two diagonal corners of the hollow frame. Each of the resilient clip includes a clamping portion extending to suspend in the receiving room. The first resilient clips and the platforms are cooperatively defining a pair of guiding grooves. The cover is inserted into the guiding grooves and positioned between the platforms and first resilient clips by the clamping portions and the platforms resisting on two sides of the cover respectively.
US08247705B2

A manufacturing method of a circuit substrate includes the following steps. A dielectric layer is formed on at least one surface of a substrate. An insulating layer is formed on the dielectric layer. A portion of the insulating layer and a portion of the dielectric layer are removed, so as to form at least one blind via in the dielectric layer and the insulating layer. An electroless plating layer is formed on the sidewall of the blind via and a remaining portion of the insulating layer, wherein the binding strength between the insulating layer and the electroless plating layer is greater than that between the dielectric layer and the electroless plating layer. A patterned conductive layer is plated to cover the electroless plating layer.
US08247698B2

An exemplary electronic device includes a circuit board defining apertures therein, an electronic component arranged on the circuit board and surrounded by the apertures, a heat spreader arranged on the electronic component, and a latching mechanism fixing the heat spreader to the electronic component. The latching mechanism includes latching arms extending outwards from the heat spreader and elastic poles. Each latching arm defines a latching hole aligned with one of the apertures of the circuit board. The poles respectively extend through the apertures and the latching holes in turn. Each pole includes a main body engaged in the corresponding latching hole and a head resiliently abutting against the latching arm.
US08247696B2

A crosslinkable polymer composition of an unsaturated polyolefin having a total amount of carbon-carbon double bonds/1000 carbon atoms of at least 0.38, and at least one crosslinking agent being a carbon-carbon initiator that is free of peroxide groups and capable of thermally decomposing into carbon-based free radicals by breaking at least one carbon-carbon single bond, such as 3,4-dimethyl-3,4-diphenylhexane.
US08247692B2

An electronic device includes a housing, at least two latching members, an inner frame received in the housing, and at least two bonding films. The latching members are fixed to the inner frame by the bonding films, the housing defines at least two locking portions latched with the at least two latching members.
US08247687B2

Provided are a newly developed dye-sensitizing type photoelectric conversion element employing a highly durable sensitizing dye, exhibiting high photoelectric conversion efficiency, and a solar cell fitted with the photoelectric conversion element. Also disclosed is a photoelectric conversion element comprising a compound represented by Formula (1) between a pair of facing electrodes.
US08247685B2

A solar energy harvesting apparatus is disclosed. An illustrative embodiment of the apparatus includes a generally elongated, rectangular body having a bottom portion and sidewalls extending from the bottom portion; at least one trough provided in the bottom portion and having a trough base and trough peaks; at least one mirror strip provided along at least one peak of the at least one trough; and a linear solar cell provided along the trough base of the at least one trough.
US08247684B2

A solar cell includes a graphite substrate, an amorphous carbon layer having a thickness of not less than 20 nm and not more than 60 nm formed on the graphite substrate, an AlN layer formed on the amorphous carbon layer, a n-type nitride semiconductor layer formed on the AlN layer; a light-absorption layer including a nitride semiconductor layer formed on the n-type nitride semiconductor layer; a p-type nitride semiconductor layer formed on the light-absorption layer; a p-side electrode electrically connected to the p-type nitride semiconductor layer; and an n-side electrode electrically connected to the n-type nitride semiconductor layer. The amorphous carbon layer is obtained by oxidizing the surface of the graphite substrate.
US08247682B2

Cadmium telluride based thin film photovoltaic devices are generally described. The device can include a transparent conductive oxide layer on a substrate. A plurality of metal gridlines can directly contact the transparent conductive oxide layer, and can be oriented in a first direction. A cadmium sulfide layer can be included on the transparent conductive oxide layer, and a cadmium telluride layer can be included on the cadmium sulfide layer. A plurality of scribe lines can be defined through the thickness of the cadmium sulfide layer and the cadmium telluride layer to define a plurality of photovoltaic cells such that the plurality of scribe lines are oriented in a second direction that intersects with the first direction.
US08247681B2

The invention relates to a solar cell connecting apparatus, for example a solar cell connecting apparatus, for manufacturing solar cell strings from individual solar cells and electrically conductive strips, having a first module for joining solar cells and strips together; a second module which is connected to the first module for connection, for example, soldering of the strips to the solar cells; and a third module for transportation of the solar cells from the first module through the second module. The connecting apparatus is characterized in that the first module has an apparatus for placing a strip retaining element on to a solar cell with strips, in order to fix the strips on the solar cell, and the third module is adapted in order to also transport the retaining element together with the solar cell.
US08247678B1

A system for changing the acoustical characteristics of a musical membranophone having a vibrating membrane or a stringed musical instrument having a sound box includes an overlay including indicia dividing a surface of the vibrating membrane or sound box into discrete zones enabling a user to position magnetic members to obtain predictable effects based on experimentation or a guide such as a diagram illustrating the position of magnetic members on the overlay, a first rare earth magnetic member is adapted to be disposed on a first side of the membrane or sound box, a second rare earth magnetic member is disposed on an opposed side of the membrane or sound box such that the first and second magnetic members are magnetically engaged on opposed sides of the membrane or sound box wherein the mass of the first and second magnetic member is sufficient to change the acoustical characteristics of the instrument.
US08247677B2

A data sonification system for representing a plurality of channels of numerical information is described. The data sonification system includes a plurality of audio waveform generator elements. Each of the audio waveform generator elements generates an associated audio frequency waveform. Each audio frequency waveform has an audio frequency parameter and at least one timbre modulation parameter having a settable value. The timbre modulation parameter affects the timbre of the audio waveform. The data sonification system includes a mapping element for associating aspects of multidimensional numerical data with the timbre modulation parameter of each audio frequency waveform. The mapping element sets the value of the timbre modulation parameter in response to multidimensional numerical data.
US08247675B2

In a brass musical instrument having two substantially parallel adjacent braces between portions of the instrument windpath tubing, the improvement comprising a cross-brace extending in planes substantially parallel to a plane of the parallel braces and having two opposed edges each with two spaced contact regions secured to a respective one of the parallel braces and a recessed region between the contact regions, thereby allowing elimination of other windpath bracing and providing a beneficial site for sound-modifying components.
US08247670B1

A novel maize variety designated X03A188 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof, produced by crossing Pioneer Hi-Bred International, Inc. proprietary inbred maize varieties. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprises crossing hybrid maize variety X03A188 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into X03A188 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. This invention relates to the maize variety X03A188, the seed, the plant produced from the seed, and variants, mutants, and minor modifications of maize variety X03A188. This invention further relates to methods for producing maize varieties derived from maize variety X03A188.
US08247669B1

A novel maize variety designated PH12KB and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH12KB with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH12KB through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH12KB or a locus conversion of PH12KB with another maize variety.
US08247666B1

A novel maize variety designated PH17B9 and seed, plants and plant parts thereof. Methods for producing a maize plant that comprise crossing maize variety PH17B9 with another maize plant. Methods for producing a maize plant containing in its genetic material one or more traits introgressed into PH17B9 through backcross conversion and/or transformation, and to the maize seed, plant and plant part produced thereby. Hybrid maize seed, plant or plant part produced by crossing the variety PH17B9 or a locus conversion of PH17B9 with another maize variety.
US08247664B2

According to the invention, there is provided seed and plants of the hybrid corn variety designated CH458156. The invention thus relates to the plants, seeds and tissue cultures of the variety CH458156, and to methods for producing a corn plant produced by crossing a corn plant of variety CH458156 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 CH458156.
US08247658B1

The present invention is in the field of soybean cultivar 05KG215810 breeding and development. The present invention particularly relates to the soybean cultivar 05KG215810 and its progeny, and methods of making 05KG215810.
US08247650B2

The invention provides isolated NUE (nitrogen utilization efficiency) nucleic acids and their encoded proteins. The present invention provides methods and compositions relating to altering nitrogen utilization and/or uptake in plants. The invention further provides recombinant expression cassettes, host cells and transgenic plants.
US08247649B2

The present invention provides compositions and methods for regulating expression of heterologous nucleotide sequences in a plant. Compositions are novel nucleotide sequences for a root-preferred promoter and terminator isolated from the maize MSY coding region. A method for expressing a heterologous nucleotide sequence in a plant using the regulatory sequences disclosed herein is provided. The method comprises transforming a plant cell to comprise a heterologous nucleotide sequence operably linked to one or more of the regulatory sequences of the present invention and regenerating a stably transformed plant from the transformed plant cell.
US08247639B2

An absorbent article 1 has an extensible absorbent member 4 and is extensible as a whole. The absorbent member 4 has three-dimensionally dispersed therein a large number of small absorbent clusters 10a or 10b containing a superabsorbent polymer 11 and fibers 12, 13, 14. The small clusters 10a or 10b are dispersively arranged in a web containing crimped fibers. The small clusters include those composed of a superabsorbent polymer particle 11 and a large number of fibers 12 adhered to the particle 11 and those composed of a helically crimped fiber 13, a superabsorbent polymer particle 11, and fibers 14, the polymer particle 11 and the fibers 14 being taken into the helix of the crimped fiber 13.
US08247637B2

A mini pad is provided with a chilled skim milk additive which is useful for reducing vulvar inflammation and lowering the acidity of a female's vulva which result from vaginal secretions which leak onto the tissue of the vulva. The mini pad can be provided with a self-contained cooling component which can be frozen or, when compressed and ruptured, will lower the temperature of the mini pad to provide the soothing cold. The skim milk can be incorporated into the mini pad in several different ways. The mini pad is useful for soothing and healing vulvar irritation, and it is mobile and can be easily used during normal daily activities without any problems whatsoever.
US08247635B2

A wound dressing includes an absorbent core defining opposed proximal and distal surfaces including a central portion and a border portion, and a liquid impervious, vapor permeable backing layer connected to the distal surface of the absorbent core. The backing layer defines a border portion extending beyond the periphery of the absorbent core. A skin adherent, perforated facing layer is secured to the proximal surface of the absorbent core. An adhesive layer is applied to at least a proximal segment of the border portion of the backing layer and has greater skin adherence properties than the facing layer.
US08247633B2

High energy reaction of halogen-containing carbon, boron, silicon and nitrogen compounds, with base component comprising at least one atom selected from Groups IA to VIA, transition metals, lanthanides and actinides of the Periodic Table of the Elements, excluding aluminum and aluminum oxide.
US08247629B2

A process for producing a monoalkylated aromatic compound in an alkylation reaction zone, said process comprising the steps of: (a) providing a first catalytic particulate material having a ratio of surface area over volume ratio greater than about 79 cm−1, (b) providing said alkylation reaction zone with an alkylatable aromatic compound, an alkylating agent, and said first catalytic particulate material; and (c) contacting said alkylatable aromatic compound and said alkylating agent with said catalytic particulate material in said alkylation reaction zone maintained under alkylation conditions, to form a product comprised of said monoalkylated aromatic compound and polyalkylated aromatic compound(s). The molar ratio of said polyalkylated aromatic compound(s) over said monoalkylated aromatic compound produced by said first catalytic particulate material is less than the molar ratio of polyalkylated aromatic compound(s) over monoalkylated aromatic compound produced by a second catalytic particulate material and said alkylation reaction zone is operated under the same alkylation conditions, wherein at least 51 wt. % of said second catalytic particulate material having a ratio of surface area over volume between 78 and 79 cm−1.
US08247625B2

A process is disclosed for making RR1R2CCR1R2F wherein R is selected from the group consisting of CH3, CH2F, C2H4F, and F(CF2)nCH2CH2 where n is an integer from 1 to 10, each R1 is independently selected from the group consisting of H, Cl, F and CF3, and each R2 is independently selected from the group consisting of H, F and CF3. The process involves reacting RF with R1R2C═CR1R2 in the presence of SbF5 to produce a product mixture comprising RR1R2CCR1R2F, wherein the reaction temperature is from about −60° C. to about −10° C., provided that total number of carbon atoms in R1R2C═CR1R2 is 5 or less.
US08247623B2

The present invention relates to an apparatus for the catalytic production of alkylene glycol from alkylene oxide, comprising: a reactor having at least one heat exchange element incorporated therein, wherein a catalyst for the hydration of alkylene oxide to alkylene glycol is coated on the outer surface of the heat exchange element. The present invention also relates to a process utilizing such an apparatus.
US08247622B2

A process is described for the preparation of phenol by the hydrodeoxygenation of polyhydroxylated benzene derivatives or by the selective hydroxylation of benzene under depletive conditions, characterized in that the above-mentioned reactions are carried out in the presence of a catalyst based on multi component metal oxides comprising at least one metal selected from the groups VB, VIB, VIII, IB, IIB, IVA, VA.
US08247621B2

The invention relates to the preparation of alkylated phenols. More specifically, the invention relates to an improved process for the manufacture of 2-secondary-alkyl-4,5-di-normal-alkylphenols.
US08247611B2

The present invention relates to a process for producing an aliphatic amine, comprising the step of contacting a linear or branched, or cyclic aliphatic alcohol having 6 to 22 carbon atoms with ammonia and hydrogen in the presence of a catalyst formed by supporting at least (A) a ruthenium component produced by hydrolysis of a ruthenium compound on a carrier, or by further supporting, in addition to the component (A), a specific second metal component or a specific third metal component on the carrier. According to the process of the present invention, an aliphatic primary amine can be produced from an aliphatic alcohol with a high catalytic activity and a high selectivity.
US08247601B2

A process for producing 2-acrylamide-2-methyl propane sulfonic acid (ATBS) which comprises reacting acrylonitrile, fuming sulfuric acid, and isobutylene. During the reaction, the concentration of 2-methyl-2-propenyl-1-sulfonic acid (IBSA) and/or that of 2-methylidene-1,3-propylenedisulfonic acid (IBDSA) in the reaction system are determined. When the IBSA concentration exceeds 12,000 mass ppm and/or the IBDSA concentration exceeds 6,000 mass ppm, then the concentration of sulfur trioxide in the reaction system is reduced. Thus, ATBS having an IBSA content of 100 mass ppm or lower and an IBDSA content of 100 mass ppm or lower is produced.
US08247591B2

A nanoparticle includes a chain oligomer section having a hydrophilic group and fluoroalkyl groups respectively at its opposite terminals, a three-dimensional silica network section, and an organic chain having fluorine or silicon, and is represented by the following formula (2): where R′ is independent H or independent alkyl group; X is the hydrophilic group and is selected from the group consisting of an OH group, an NCO group, an NH2 group, an NHR group (where R is alkyl group) and a COY group (where Y is a hydrophilic group); RF is the fluoroalkyl group having a carbon number of 2 to 10 and a molecular weight of 119 to 1000; 3D-SN is the three-dimensional silica network section; B is selected from the group consisting of an O, O═C—O, NH—C═O and NR—C═O (where R is alkyl group); E is O, O═C—O, NH—C═O or NR—C═O (where R is alkyl group); L is (CH2O)l—[Si(CH3)2O]k—(CH2O)l-α, (CF2)j-α or (CF2O)h-α where α is COY group (where Y is hydrophilic group), NCO group, NH2 group, NHR group (R is alkyl group), R group (or alkyl group) or H; n is 1≦n≦10; m is 1≦m≦n; k is 1≦k≦500; l is 0≦1≦10; j is 0≦j≦20; and h is 1≦h≦20.
US08247590B2

Undesired polymerization of (meth)acrylatoalkoxysilanes during their industrial preparation and handling is accomplished by avoiding contact with surfaces containing more than 1% by weight of iron.
US08247587B2

The present invention relates to monohydroindacenyl complexes as active catalytic components in the copolymerization of ethylene. The complexes are suitable for direct preparation of ethylene copolymers having a narrow molecular distribution as well as the desired levels of low density and preferably a predetermined value of glass transition temperature Tg. The produced copolymers showing improved elastomeric performance can be prepared in a single step during polymerization reaction, thus avoiding a blending step following the polymerization step.
US08247580B2

The present invention provides a process for preparing ε-caprolactone in a purity of more than 99% by cyclizing 6-hydroxycaproic esters in the liquid phase at from 150 to 400° C. and from 1 to 1020 hPa abs., and removing and condensing the compounds which are volatile under cyclization conditions, which comprises thermally treating the remaining bottom product of the cyclization in at least one further reactor, removing and condensing volatile compounds and obtaining ε-caprolactone by distillation from the condensates.
US08247579B2

The present invention relates to novel spirocyclic tetronic acid derivatives of the formula (I) in which R1, R2 and R3 have the meanings given in the description, to a plurality of processes for their preparation and to their use as pesticides.
US08247573B2

The invention relates to substituted N-(2-mercaptopyridin-3-yl)amides, methods for the preparation thereof, medicaments containing these compounds and the use of these compounds for the preparation of medicaments.
US08247568B2

The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of pure Rabeprazole sulfoxide using the solvent mixture for the extraction steps and this invention further relates to the process for the preparation of amorphous Rabeprazole sodium using pure rabeprazole base in presence of aqueous NaOH and water miscible solvent and adding an anti-solvent.
US08247567B2

The present invention relates to a process for removing an organic solvent from a salt of omeprazole, in particular a magnesium salt of omeprazole, a composition comprising a salt of omeprazole, in particular a magnesium salt of omeprazole obtainable by such a process, and pharmaceutical compositions comprising said composition or a salt of omeprazole, in particular a magnesium salt of omeprazole, in particular where omeprazole is S-omeprazole.
US08247557B2

The invention provides novel inhibitors of IAP that are useful as therapeutic agents for treating malignancies where the compounds have the general formula (I): wherein Q, X1, X2, Y, Z1, Z2, Z3, Z4, R1, R2, R3, R3′, R4, R4′, R5, R6, R6′ and n are as described herein.
US08247552B2

Compounds represented by the following structure (II) are disclosed: as are methods for making such compounds. Compositions and methods for treating various disease conditions including cancer and non-cancer diseases associated with vascular proliferation are also disclosed.
US08247531B2

The present invention is based, in part, on our discovery that EGF can be engineered to generate mutants that bind to the EGF receptor (EGFR) of a cell and that have a desirable effect on the activity of the cell. For example, the mutants can agonize the receptor (i.e., increase a biological activity of the receptor), or antagonize the receptor (i.e., decrease or inhibit a biological activity of the receptor). In turn, the rate at which the cell proliferates, for example, can be changed. Moreover, some of these mutants bind EGFR with a higher affinity than wild-type EGF exhibits. The affinity may increase by about, for example, 2-, 5-, 10-, 15-, 20-, 25-, 30-, 50-, or 100-fold relative to wild-type EGF.
US08247530B2

A melanocortin-4 receptor agonist cyclic peptide of the formula where R1, R2, R3, R4a, R4b, R5, R6, R7a, R7b, x, y and z are as defined in the specification, and a method of treating sexual dysfunction, including male erectile dysfunction and female sexual dysfunction, and other melanocortin 4 receptor responsive conditions and disorders.
US08247517B2

The use of 1,3-substituted imidazolium salts of the formula I in which R1 and R3 independently of one another are an organic radical having 1 to 20 C atoms, R2, R4, and R5 independently of one another are an H atom or an organic radical having 1 to 20 C atoms, it also being possible for R4 and R5 together to form an aliphatic or aromatic ring, and X is a dicyanamide anion as latent catalysts for curing compositions comprising epoxy compounds.
US08247516B2

A room-temperature curable organopolysiloxane composition comprising: (A) a diorganopolysiloxane capped at both molecular terminals with trialkoxysilyl groups and having viscosity of 100 to 1,000,000 mPas at 25° C.; (B) a diorganodimethoxysilane or a partially hydrolyzed product thereof; (C) a diorganodialkoxysilane having silicon-bonded alkoxy group with two or more carbon atoms or a partially hydrolyzed product thereof; and (D) a titanium chelate catalyst, exhibits excellent storage stability and easiness of controlling curing speed as well as by strong adhesion to a substrate with which this composition is in contact during curing along with the possibility of interfacial peeling of the cured product from the aforementioned substrate.
US08247507B2

The present invention relates to a method for producing polymers by radically polymerizing a mixture comprising 99.99 to 10% by weight of at least one α,β-ethylenically unsaturated compound with at least one cationogenic and/or cationic group per molecule, 0 to less than 25% by weight of at least one monoethylenically unsaturated amide-group-containing compound different from a) and also 0.01 to 5% by weight of a crosslinker using at least two different water-insoluble initiators.
US08247504B2

A polymer having high catalyst activity, excellent hydrogen response, high stereoregularity and high yield can be obtained by polymerizing olefins in the presence of a catalyst for olefin polymerization comprising (A) a solid catalyst component containing magnesium, titanium, a halogen, and an electron donor compound, (B) an organoaluminum compound shown by the formula R6pAlQ3-p(R1R2N)m, and (C) an aminosilane compound shown by the formula (R3HN)nR4pSi(OR5)q.
US08247490B1

This invention relates to improved adhesion compositions and textile materials and articles treated therewith. The improved adhesion composition comprises a non-crosslinked resorcinol-formaldehyde and/or resorcinol-furfural condensate (or a phenol-formaldehyde condensate that is soluble in water), a rubber latex, and an aldehyde component such as 2-furfuraldehyde. The composition may be applied to textile substrates and used for improving the adhesion between the treated textile substrates and rubber materials. End-use articles that contain the treated textile-rubber composite include, without limitation, automobile tires, belts, and hoses as well as printing blankets.
US08247477B2

Provided is a polybutylene terephthalate resin composition for insulating parts, which satisfies GWIT Standard over a thickness range of 0.75 to 3 mm, the thickness range having been accepted as difficult to satisfy the Standard. In detail, to (A) 100 parts by weight of a polybutylene terephthalate resin, there are added (B) 5 to 50 parts by weight of a halogen-based flame retardant, (C) 5 to 50 parts by weight of a flame retardant assistant, (D) 1 to 100 parts by weight of a nitrogen-based compound, and (E) 0 to 200 parts by weight of a fibrous reinforcement.
US08247475B2

According to the present invention, there are provided hydrotalcite-based compound particles surface-treated with an organic compound having not less than 3 carbon atoms, have a specific surface area of 5 to 150 m2/g, wherein a conceptual value x corresponding to micropores and ultramicropores, and a conceptual value y corresponding to volumes of macropores and micropores, both calculated from a water vapor adsorption curve thereof when exposed to a temperature of 25° C. and a humidity of 50% for 250 hours, are respectively within specific ranges. The hydrotalcite-based compound particles of the present invention are capable of capturing even a very small amount of halogens contained in various resins, and exhibiting an excellent effect of preventing deterioration of the resins. Further, the hydrotalcite-based compound particles of the present invention are used in the form of particles or a molded product and are capable of exhibiting a function for capturing an anionic organic or inorganic compound from a solution to a maximum extent without being dissolved, by themselves, in the solution.
US08247472B2

A friction material including: an amorphous resin that has a chain-like polymer structure; and other components that constitute the friction material and that are components other than the amorphous resin, wherein dispersion treatment is preliminarily carried out in which the amorphous resin is dispersed in at least one of the other components, and a manufacturing method of the friction material.
US08247469B2

Dental article for preparing a dental impression comprising (i) a first paste composition, and (ii) a second paste composition reactive upon mixing with the first paste composition in a curing reaction, characterized in that the dental article is obtainable by forming a predetermined amount of the first paste composition and a predetermined amount of the second paste composition into a body wherein the first and second paste compositions are separated by an interface preventing mixing and curing of the first paste composition and the second past composition during storage of the dental article.
US08247451B2

The present invention relates to a protein, ADAM10, ADAM10 nucleic acid sequences and ADAM10 proteins encoded by these sequences that are involved in infection by one or more pathogen such as a virus, a parasite, a bacteria or a fungus or are otherwise associated with the life cycle of a pathogen.
US08247447B2

The present invention relates to substances which can be used as cosmetic ingredients, especially for skin whitening and as cosmetic agents against signs of ageing skin. The present invention also relates to the use of such substances for the manufacture of a medicament for the treatment of disorders related to the pigmentation of the skin.
US08247443B2

A novel small molecule antagonizes two types of acyl homoserine lactone receptors: membrane-bound and cytoplasmic. A focused library of analogs and derivatives of the original antagonist was synthesized. Analog and derivative molecules harbor a range of activities. The novel small molecule and most potent antagonist protects the eukaryote Caenorhabditis elegans from quorum-sensing-mediated killing by the bacterial pathogen Chromobacterium violaceum. The saving of C. elegans demonstrates the use of these molecules as small molecule antimicrobials.
US08247433B2

The invention relates to processes and intermediates for preparing compounds of formula I: where a, R1, and R3-6 are as defined in the specification, or a salt thereof. The compounds of formula I are serotonin and norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors.
US08247431B2

A hydrazide compound represented by the formula (I), an N-oxide thereof or suitable salt thereof: has excellent pesticidal activity.
US08247430B2

Selected amines are effective for prophylaxis and treatment of diseases, such as angiogenesis mediated diseases. The invention encompasses novel compounds of Formula I and II wherein R, R1 and R2 for each formula are defined herein. The invention further includes analogs, prodrugs and pharmaceutically acceptable salts and derivatives of Formulas I and II, as well as pharmaceutical compositions, medicaments and methods thereof for prophylaxis and treatment of diseases and other maladies or conditions involving, cancer and the like. The subject invention also relates to processes for making such compounds as well as to intermediates useful in such processes.
US08247427B2

The present invention relates to conjugate comprising a carrier substituted with one or more occurrences of a moiety having the structure: wherein each occurrence of M is independently a modifier having a molecular weight ≦10 kDa; denotes direct of indirect attachment of M to linker LM; and each occurrence of LM is independently an optionally substituted succinamide-containing linker, whereby the modifier M is directly or indirectly attached to the succinamide linker through an amide bond, and the carrier is linked directly or indirectly to each occurrence of the succinamide linker through an ester bond. In another aspect, the invention provides compositions comprising the conjugates, methods for their preparation, and methods of use thereof in the treatment of various disorder, including, but not limited to cancer.
US08247413B2

Compounds of formula (I) are novel VR1 antagonists that are useful in treating pain, inflammatory thermal hyperalgesia, urinary incontinence and bladder overactivity, wherein X1, X2, X3, X4, X5, R5, R6, R7, R8a, R8b, R9, Z1, Z2 and L are as defined in the description.
US08247405B2

Skin lightening additives and skin lightening compositions having an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor are described. The compositions are suitable for topical application and may comprise inhibitors like galanthamine, taspine or both.
US08247401B2

The subject invention relates to novel P2X3 receptor antagonists that play a critical role in treating disease states associated with pain, in particular peripheral pain, inflammatory pain, or tissue injury pain that can be treated using a P2X3 receptor subunit modulator.
US08247399B2

Disclosed are nitric oxide delivery agents and methods of their use, more specifically to photoactive compounds, which are able to perform targeted delivery of nitric oxide in vitro and in vivo and are useful for medicinal applications including, but not limited, to blood pressure regulation and cancer treatment.
US08247398B2

The present invention relates to the use of zinc complexes of natural amino acids, especially L-arginine, L-lysine, L-ornithine, and other natural amino acids, in a molar ratio of about 1:2 (metal:amino acid), and formulations thereof. These pharmaceutical compositions offer better tolerated and faster acting regimens than common zinc salts (i.e., acetate, sulfate, etc.) for long term maintenance therapy of diseases caused by abnormal elevated copper levels, such as in Wilson's disease, inflammatory and fibrotic diseases and Alzheimer's disease.
US08247383B2

Drug-carrier complexes, drug carriers, pharmaceutical formulations, methods of delivery drugs to an organism or tissue culture, methods of increasing the solubility of a substance, targeted carriers, drug delivery systems and implants are described. The compositions and methods of the invention include forming complexes having reversible associations between nucleotides and drugs. The compositions and methods of the invention can be employed to target drugs to cells, organisms or combinations of cells to treat and to study the underlying mechanisms of diseases, and to test drug candidates.
US08247382B2

A method for increasing oxytocin release through direct action on the epidermal keratinocytes is provided. The method for increasing oxytocin release in the epidermis includes increasing the calcium ion concentration in the epidermal cells. In the method of the present invention, the increase of the calcium ion concentration in the epidermal cells may be achieved by physically stimulating the skin. The physical stimulation may be achieved by applying a heat stimulus and/or a massage. The increase of the calcium ion concentration in the epidermal cells may be achieved by stimulating the epidermal cells by at least one agent selected from the group consisting of ATP, UTP, 4 alpha-phorbol 12,13-didecanoate, and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof.
US08247378B2

This invention provides for a 9 mer peptide (CTPSPFSHC SEQ ID NO:1) that selectively binds to the tumor vasculature supporting tumors of the alimentary canal. The homing peptide has both diagnostic and therapeutic uses.
US08247371B2

The invention discloses high levels of receptors for Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin (CPE) have been found in ovarian cancer and uterine cancer tissue samples. In addition, successful in vivo treatment of a mouse model of ovarian cancer with intraperitoneal injection of CPE is disclosed. High levels of Ep-CAM protein is also disclosed in ovarian cancer tissue samples. Thus, the invention provides a method of treating ovarian cancer and uterine cancer by administering CPE. The invention also provides a method of treating cancer in a mammal involving intraperitoneal administration of CPE, where at least some cancerous cells are located in or adjacent to the peritoneal cavity of the mammal. The invention also provides a method of treating ovarian cancer involving administering an anti-Ep-CAM antibody. The invention also provides a method of treating cancers expressing claudin-3 or claudin-4 by administering an antibody against claudin-3 and/or an antibody against claudin-4. The invention also provides a method of protecting a mammal from CPE toxicity involving administering a protective agent that binds to claudin-3 and/or claudin-4 and inhibits CPE binding to claudin-3 and/or claudin-4.
US08247367B2

Material, composition, and manufacturing method alternatives for a solidification matrix that may be used, for example, in solid cleaning compositions, or other technologies. In at least some embodiments, the solidification matrix includes a binding agent that is formed by the use of MGDA, or a salt or derivative thereof, and water to produce a solid binding agent. In some embodiments, the MGDA and water combines and can solidify to act as a binder material or binding agent dispersed throughout a solid composition that may contain other functional ingredients that provide the desired properties and/or functionality to the solid composition.
US08247364B2

This invention relates to novel whitening agents for cellulosic substrates. The whitening agents are comprised of at least two components: at least one chromophore component and at least one polymeric component. Suitable chromophore components generally fluoresce blue, red, violet, or purple color when exposed to ultraviolet light, or they may absorb light to reflect these same shades. The whitening agents are further characterized by having a dispersion component value of the Hansen Solubility Parameter of less than or equal to about 17 MPa0.5. This invention also relates to laundry care compositions including but not limited to liquid and/or powder laundry detergent formulations and rinse added fabric softening (RAFS) compositions that comprise such whitening agents.
US08247361B2

A fluorine-based lubricant composition comprising a base oil and a fluorine-containing compound represented by the general formula: CF3(CF2)n O(CF2O)p(C2F4O)q(C3F6O)rRfCONHAr (wherein, Ar is a 2-benzimidazole group, Rf is a fluorocarbon group of carbon number of from 1 or 2, n is 0, 1 or 2, p, q and r are an integer satisfying the condition p+q+r≦100, where one or two of p, q and r may be 0, and the CF2O group, the CF2O4 group and the C3F6O group are the groups bound randomly in the main chain) as an additive containing in the base oil. The fluorine-based lubricant composition has an improved long term anti-rust property and thermal resistance property, and further the fluorine-based lubricant composition obtained by adding a thickening agent to the composition reduces abrasion of the sliding member such as electric contact having a noble metal surface including a gold or silver plating surface, a copper surface and a copper alloy surface.
US08247358B2

The invention relates to oil compositions containing metallocene catalyzed high viscosity index polyalphaolefins (HVI-PAO). In one embodiment the oil formulation comprises a metallocene catalyzed HVI-PAO with a viscosity greater than 125 cSt kv 100° C. and a viscosity index greater than 100, a second base stock with a viscosity of at least 2 cSt kv 100° C. and less than 60 cSt kv 100° C. wherein the second base stock is at least 60 cSt kv 100° C. less than the metallocene HVI-PAO, an ester with a viscosity of at least 2 and less than 6, the ester comprising more than 10 weight percent and less than 30 weight percent of the oil formulation, the oil formulation having a viscosity index of greater than 195. The use of metallocene catalyzed HVI-PAOs in a bimodal blend provides advantages in improved shear stability, and other properties related to shear stability.
US08247356B2

A cross-linking composition comprising (a) an aqueous liquid; (b) a pH buffer; (c) a cross-linkable organic polymer; and (d) a solution of a zirconium cross-linking agent comprising the product of contacting a zirconium complex with an alkanolamine and ethylene glycol wherein the mole ratio of alkanolamine to zirconium is 2:1 to 4:1 and the mole ratio of ethylene glycol to zirconium is 1:1 to 10:1. Optionally, water, hydroxyalkylated ethylenediamine, or both are added to the zirconium complex. The cross-linking composition of this invention is useful in oil field applications, for example, for hydraulically fracturing a subterranean formation and for plugging permeable zones or leaks in a subterranean formation.
US08247353B2

This invention concerns novel dispersants that are the reaction products of succinic anhydride-containing resins with certain amines. These water soluble dispersants have been found to be unique and highly effective dispersants for water insoluble agricultural suspension concentrate formulations.
US08247346B2

A solid air filtration medium includes an impregnate with an organic amine and an inorganic metal salt. The medium has from about 0.1 to about 25% by weight of impregnate. The impregnate contains from about 0.1 to about 5% by weight organic amine, and the organic amine includes aqueous urea, solid urea, melamine or mixtures thereof. The impregnate contains from about 0.1 to about 5% by weight metal salt, and the metal salt includes magnesium oxide, calcium oxide or mixtures thereof. The impregnate optionally further includes a surfactant such as polyacrylic acid. Methods for forming a solid air filtration medium having an impregnate containing an organic amine and an inorganic metal salt and methods for removing contaminants from a fluid stream are also provided.
US08247340B2

A composition and method for preparation of a catalyst for the liquid phase selective hydrogenation of alkynes to alkenes with high selectivity to alkenes relative to alkanes, high alkyne conversion, and sustained catalytic activity comprising a Group VIII metal and a Group IB, Group IIB, Group IIIA, and/or Group VIIB promoter on a particulate support.
US08247336B2

An optical glass composition contains, in % by mole, 0% or more and 25.0% or less of SiO2, 20.0% or more and 40.0% or less of B2O3, 0% or more and 5.0% or less of Li2O, 3.0% or more and 15.0% or less of ZnO, 0% or more and 10.0% or less of ZrO2, 2.0% or more and 7.0% or less of Ta2O5, 6.0% or more and 25.0% or less of La2O3, 5.0% or more and 22.0% or less of Gd2O3, 66.5% or less of La2O3+Gd2O3+B2O3 and 26.0% or more of La2O3+Gd2O3, and has nd of 1.83 or higher and 1.86 or lower, vd of 43 or higher and 46 or lower and a liquidus temperature of 1300° C. or lower, and a preform and an optical element are formed from the optical glass composition.
US08247332B2

Hardmask films having high hardness and low stress are provided. In some embodiments a film has a stress of between about −600 MPa and 600 MPa and hardness of at least about 12 GPa. In some embodiments, a hardmask film is prepared by depositing multiple sub-layers of doped or undoped silicon carbide using multiple densifying plasma post-treatments in a PECVD process chamber. In some embodiments, a hardmask film includes a high-hardness boron-containing film selected from the group consisting of SixByCz, SixByNz, SixByCzNw, BxCy, and BxNy. In some embodiments, a hardmask film includes a germanium-rich GeNx material comprising at least about 60 atomic % of germanium. These hardmasks can be used in a number of back-end and front-end processing schemes in integrated circuit fabrication.
US08247330B2

A micropattern is joined to a substrate (W1) by: a first group of covering step and micropattern forming step by etching in a transfer step; and a second group of covering step and micropattern forming step by etching in the transfer step.
US08247317B2

Embodiments of the present invention provide methods of solid phase recrystallization of thin film using a plurality of pulses of electromagnetic energy. In one embodiment, the methods of the present invention may be used to anneal an entire substrate surface or selected regions of a surface of a substrate by delivering a plurality of pluses of energy to a crystalline seed region or layer upon which an amorphous layer is deposited to recrystallize the amorphous layer so that it has the same grain structure and crystal orientation as that of the underlying crystalline seed region or layer.
US08247315B2

By an evacuation unit including first and second turbo molecular pumps connected in series, the ultimate pressure in a reaction chamber is reduced to ultra-high vacuum. By a knife-edge-type metal-seal flange, the amount of leakage in the reaction chamber is reduced. A microcrystalline semiconductor film and an amorphous semiconductor film are stacked in the same reaction chamber where the pressure is reduced to ultra-high vacuum. By forming the amorphous semiconductor film covering the surface of the microcrystalline semiconductor film, oxidation of the microcrystalline semiconductor film is prevented.
US08247305B2

A method of forming a capacitor structure includes forming a pad oxide layer overlying a substrate, a nitride layer overlying the pad oxide layer, an interlayer dielectric layer overlying the nitride layer, and a patterned polysilicon mask layer overlying the interlayer dielectric layer. The method then applies a first RIE process to form a trench region through a portion of the interlayer dielectric layer using the patterned polysilicon mask layer and maintaining the first RIE to etch through a portion of the nitride layer and through a portion of the pad oxide layer. The method stops the first RIE when a portion of the substrate has been exposed. The method then forms an oxide layer overlying the exposed portion of the substrate and applies a second RIE process to continue to form the trench region by removing the oxide layer and removing a portion of the substrate to a predetermined depth.
US08247297B2

A method is disclosed for creating a semiconductor device structure with an oxide-filled large deep trench (OFLDT) portion having trench size TCS and trench depth TCD. A bulk semiconductor layer (BSL) is provided with a thickness BSLT>TCD. A large trench top area (LTTA) is mapped out atop BSL with its geometry equal to OFLDT. The LTTA is partitioned into interspersed, complementary interim areas ITA-A and ITA-B. Numerous interim vertical trenches of depth TCD are created into the top BSL surface by removing bulk semiconductor materials corresponding to ITA-B. The remaining bulk semiconductor materials corresponding to ITA-A are converted into oxide. If any residual space is still left between the so-converted ITA-A, the residual space is filled up with oxide deposition. Importantly, the geometry of all ITA-A and ITA-B should be configured simple and small enough to facilitate fast and efficient processes of oxide conversion and oxide filling.
US08247296B2

A method for forming a transistor having insulated gate electrodes and insulated shield electrodes within trench regions includes forming dielectric stack overlying a substrate. The dielectric stack includes a first layer of one material overlying the substrate and a second layer of a different material overlying the first layer. Trench regions are formed adjacent to the dielectric stack. After the insulated shield electrodes are formed, the method includes removing the second layer and then forming the insulated gate electrodes. Portions of gate electrode material are removed to form first recessed regions, and dielectric plugs are formed in the first recessed regions using the first layer as a stop layer. The first layer is then removed, and spacers are formed adjacent the dielectric plugs. Second recessed regions are formed in the substrate self-aligned to the spacers.
US08247292B2

A method of making a uniform nanoparticle array, including performing diblock copolymer thin film self assembly over a first dielectric on silicon, creating a porous polymer film, transferring a pattern into the first dielectric, selectively growing epitaxial silicon off a silicon substrate from within pores to create a silicon nanoparticle array.
US08247290B2

A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device has forming a first conductive film over a semiconductor substrate, etching the first conductive film, forming a plurality of first conductive patterns arranged in a first direction, and forming a side surface on an outside of a conductive pattern positioned at an end among the plurality of first conductive patterns such that the side surface has a first inclination angle smaller than a second inclination angle of a side surface on an inside of the conductive pattern positioned at the end, forming a first insulation film over the plurality of first conductive patterns, and forming a second conductive pattern over the first insulation film.
US08247289B2

A capacitor having a high quality and a manufacturing method of the same are provided.A capacitor has a lower electrode formed on an oxide film, a dielectric layer formed on the lower electrode, an upper electrode formed so as to face the lower electrode with the dielectric layer between, and an upper electrode formed so as to cover the upper electrode, an opening portion of the upper electrode and an opening portion of the dielectric layer. By forming the upper electrode on the dielectric layer, it is possible to pattern the dielectric layer by using the upper electrode as a mask, and provide a capacitor having a high-quality dielectric layer by preventing impurity diffusion into the dielectric layer. By forming the upper electrode on the dielectric layer, it is possible to prevent the dielectric layer from being exposed to etching liquid, liquid developer, etc.
US08247282B2

In sophisticated transistor elements, long-term threshold voltage shifts in transistors comprising a threshold adjusting semiconductor alloy may be reduced by reducing the roughness of an interface formed between the threshold adjusting semiconductor material and the gate dielectric material. To this end, a portion of the threshold adjusting semiconductor material may be oxidized and may be removed prior to forming the high-k dielectric material.
US08247278B2

The present application discloses a method for manufacturing a semiconductor device, comprising the steps of: forming a semiconductor substrate, a gate stack and a second protection layer in sequence on a first insulating layer; after defining a gate region and removing portions of the second protection layer and the gate stack outside the gate region, while keeping portions of the stop layer, the semiconductor layer and the second insulating layer which covers sidewalls of the patterned semiconductor layer outside the gate region and exposing the sacrificial layer, performing source/drain ion implementation in the semiconductor layer; after forming a second sidewall spacer so as to cover at least the exposed portion of the sacrificial layer, removing the first protection layer and the second protection layer so as to expose the semiconductor layer and the gate stack; and forming a contact layer on the exposed portion of the semiconductor layer and the gate stack; performing planarization so as to expose the first protection layer, and then removing the first protection layer, the sacrificial layer, the stop layer and the semiconductor layer with the first sidewall spacer and the second sidewall spacer as a mask, so as to form a cavity which exposes the first insulating layer. It facilitates reduction of short channel effects, resistance of source/drain regions, and parasite capacitance.
US08247274B2

A method of manufacturing an organic light-emitting display apparatus contemplates preparing a first substrate, preparing a second substrate, forming a first sealant and a second sealant on the second substrate, the first sealant having a height different from a height of the second sealant, injecting a filling material into a space surrounded by the first sealant and the second sealant, adhering the first substrate to the second substrate, and radiating an energy beam onto at least one of the first sealant and the second sealant.
US08247261B2

A method for manufacturing a thin film direct bandgap semiconductor active solar cell device comprises providing a source substrate having a surface and disposing on the surface a stress layer having a stress layer surface area in contact with and bonded to the surface of the source substrate. Operatively associating a handle foil with the stress layer and applying force to the handle foil separates the stress layer from the source substrate, and leaves a portion of the source substrate on the stress layer surface substantially corresponding to the area in contact with the surface of the source substrate. The portion is less thick than the source layer. The stress layer thickness is below that which results in spontaneous spalling of the source substrate. The source substrate may comprise an inorganic single crystal or polycrystalline material such as Si, Ge, GaAs, SiC, sapphire, or GaN. In one embodiment the stress layer comprises a flexible material.
US08247253B2

A method for fabricating MEMS package structure includes the following steps. Firstly, a substrate is provided. Next, a plurality of lower metallic layers and first oxide layers are formed to compose a MEMS structure and an interconnecting structure. Next, an upper metallic layer is formed on the MEMS structure and the interconnecting structure. The upper metallic layer has a first opening and a second opening. Next, the first opening and the second opening are employed as etching channels to remove a portion of the first oxide layers so as to form a first cavity surrounding the MEMS structure and form a second cavity above the interconnecting structure. The first cavity communicates with the second cavity. Next, the second opening is sealed in a vacuum environment. Next, a packaging element is formed on the upper metallic layer in a non-vacuum environment to seal the first opening.
US08247250B2

An object is to uniformly align liquid crystal molecules without requiring a step of forming an alignment film. A material for forming a self-assembled monolayer is dispersed in a liquid crystal material, and the mixture is interposed between a pair of substrates by a liquid crystal injection method or a liquid crystal dropping method. A silane coupling agent (the material for forming a self-assembled monolayer) injected or dropped with the liquid crystal material adsorbs to a substrate interface (or a surface of an electrode formed over a substrate) after the injection or dropping, thereby forming a self-assembled monolayer. This self-assembled monolayer serves as an alignment film, and enables long axes of liquid crystal molecules to be approximately perpendicular to a substrate and the liquid crystal molecules to be uniformly aligned.
US08247247B2

A method for manufacturing an LED module, including steps of: providing a heat conductive plate and an LED die, the heat conductive plate defining a concave groove therein; forming an electrode circuit layer on the heat conductive plate around the concave groove; plating one metal layer on a bottom of the concave groove of the heat conductive plate, and plating another metal layer on the LED die; eutectically bonding the metal layer of the heat conducting plate and the metal layer of the LED die together to form into an eutectic layer; forming electrodes on the LED die, and connecting the electrodes with the electrode circuit layer; and encapsulating the LED die in the concave groove.
US08247229B2

Methods are described to more efficiently produce cells of the endoderm and pancreatic lineage from mammalian pluripotent stem cells. These methods provide a simple, reproducible culture protocol using defined media components to enable consistent, large-scale production of pancreatic cell types for research or therapeutic uses.
US08247221B2

A thermal cycling device for thermally cycling samples of biological material contained in a microcard having a top and bottom surface. The thermal cycling device can include a sample block having an upper surface configured for engaging the bottom surface of a microcard, a vacuum device, and a temperature control system operatively connected with the sample block. The upper surface of the sample block may include a plurality of channels, the channels defining spaces between the sample block and the bottom surface of a microcard that may be positioned thereon. The vacuum device may be in fluid communication with the sample block for drawing gas out of the spaces defined by the channels in the sample block. The vacuum device may be configured for substantially maintaining a vacuum between the sample block and microcard so that a retention force is imparted on the microcard to urge the microcard toward the sample block. Methods of maintaining a microcard on a sample block of a thermal cycling device are also provided.
US08247219B2

The invention is directed to a method and device for simultaneously testing a sample for the presence, absence, and/or amounts of one or more of a plurality of selected analytes. The invention includes, in one aspect, a device for detecting or quantitating a plurality of different analytes in a liquid sample. Each chamber may include an analyte-specific reagent effective to react with a selected analyte that may be present in the sample, and detection means for detecting the signal. Also disclosed are methods utilizing the device.
US08247211B2

The invention provides compounds of formula Wherein R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6a, R6b, R6c, R6d, R6e and R7 are defined in the specification. These compounds are useful as antibiotic agents.
US08247208B2

Strains of xylose utilizing Zymomonas with improved xylose utilization and ethanol production during fermentation in stress conditions were obtained using an adaptation method. The adaptation involved continuously growing xylose utilizing Zymomonas in media containing high sugars, acetic acid, ammonia, and ethanol.
US08247206B2

The invention discloses the cloning, expression and uses of a chimeric fusion protein with superior chaperone and folding activities compared to the wild type chaperones. This invention relates to a chimeric fusion protein encoded by a recombinant DNA molecule containing nucleotide sequences coding for a polypeptide binding segment of a non-human chaperone protein and nucleotide sequences coding for an FK506 binding protein (FKBP) or an FK506-binding-protein-like domain (FKBP-like domain). In particular, this invention relates to a chimeric fusion protein encoded by a recombinant DNA molecule containing nucleotide sequences coding for a polypeptide binding segment of a non-human chaperone protein and nucleotide sequences coding for a human FKBP type peptidyl-prolyl-cis/trans isomerase (PPIase), methods of producing these chimeric fusion proteins and their uses as folding helpers in the production of other proteins and in the process of the production of vaccines or pharmaceuticals, and as folding helpers for performing immunoassays.
US08247197B2

An aptamer-probe complex for detecting the presence of a target molecule is disclosed. The complex of the present invention contains an aptamer moiety which is able to bind to an indicator protein and change the properties of the indicator protein, and a probe moiety which is able to bind to a target molecule, wherein the aptamer moiety and the probe moiety are combined in such a manner that the binding mode between the aptamer moiety and the indicator protein changes when the probe moiety binds to the target molecule. A target molecule can be detected with combination of an aptamer which binds to a certain protein, and a probe which binds to the target molecule, utilizing the properties of that protein as an indicator.
US08247188B2

The disclosed invention relates to monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) which recognize human fatty acid synthase (hFAS) and are distinct from previously known anti-hFAS antibodies. Compositions, devices and kits comprising the MAbs are provided along with methods of using the MAbs in a variety of applications.
US08247185B2

The disclosure provides, inter alia, binding proteins (e.g., antibodies) that bind to an integrin in an activated conformation, e.g., activated LFA-1 (“aLFA-1 ”), e.g., relative to a non-activated conformation of LFA-1. In one embodiment, the binding proteins inhibit at least one function of an aLFA-1, e.g., inhibit a binding interaction between aLFA-1 and a cognate ligand of aLFA-1, e.g., an ICAM protein. The binding proteins can be used to treat or prevent an inflammatory disorder or other disorder.
US08247181B2

Compositions and methods of detecting Borrelia proteins, nucleic acid sequences encoding these proteins, and subject antibodies to these proteins in a sample are disclosed.
US08247179B2

This invention provides for compositions for use in real time nucleic acid detection processes. Such real time nucleic acid detection processes are carried out with energy transfer elements attached to nucleic acid primers, nucleotides, nucleic acid probes or nucleic acid binding agents. Real time nucleic acid detection allows for the qualitative or quantitative detection or determination of single-stranded or double-stranded nucleic acids of interest in a sample. Other processes are provided by this invention including processes for removing a portion of a homopolymeric sequence, e.g., poly A sequence or tail, from an analyte or library of analytes. Compositions useful in carrying out such removal processes are also described and provided.
US08247176B2

An analyte is separated from a fluid sample by introducing the sample into a cartridge having a sample port and a first flow path extending from the sample port. The first flow path includes an extraction chamber containing a solid support for capturing the analyte from the sample. The cartridge has a second flow path for eluting the captured analyte from the extraction chamber, the second flow diverging from the first flow path after passing through the extraction chamber. The sample is forced to flow through the extraction chamber and into a waste chamber, thereby capturing the analyte with the solid support as the sample flows through the extraction chamber. The captured analyte is then eluted from the extraction chamber by forcing an elution fluid to flow through the extraction chamber and along the second flow path.
US08247170B2

Disclosed are methods of detecting penicillin tolerance in Group B Streptococcus by detecting at least one of two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) in penicillin binding protein 4. Also disclosed are primers and hybridization probes that may be used in such methods.
US08247166B2

A double pattern is formed by coating a first positive resist composition onto a substrate, patternwise exposure to radiation, and development with alkaline developer to form a first resist pattern; applying heat and/or radiation to render the first resist pattern insoluble in a second solvent and in a second developer; coating a second resist composition on the first resist pattern, patternwise exposure to radiation, and development with second developer to form a second resist pattern. The resin in the first resist composition comprises recurring units of formula (1) wherein R1 is H, CH3 or CF3, m=1 or 2, n=0 or 1.
US08247159B2

A positive resist composition including a resin component (A) which exhibits increased alkali solubility under action of acid and an acid-generator component (B) which generates acid upon exposure, the resin component (A) including a structural unit (a0) represented by general formula (a0) shown below and a structural unit (a1) derived from an acrylate ester having a polycyclic group-containing, acid dissociable, dissolution inhibiting group of a tertiary alkyl ester-type: wherein: R represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a lower alkyl group or a halogenated lower alkyl group; Y1 represents an aliphatic cyclic group; Z represents a tertiary alkyl group-containing group; a represents an integer of 1 to 3, and b represents an integer of 0 to 2, such that a+b=1 to 3; and each of c, d and e independently represents an integer of 0 to 3.
US08247149B2

To provide an electrophotographic developer carrier including a carrier core material, and a coat layer containing a binder resin and conductivity-imparted microparticles which are produced by imparting conductivity to inorganic microparticles, the coat layer being formed over the carrier core material, wherein the electrophotographic developer carrier has a static resistivity of 10 [Log (Ω·cm)] or higher and a dynamic resistivity of 9 [Log (Ω)] or lower, and is used in an electrophotographic developer together with a negatively chargeable toner having an average circularity of 0.925 to 0.970, and wherein the toner includes a resin, a colorant and an inorganic layered mineral in which at least part of interlayer ions is modified with organic ions, and is granulated by dispersing and/or emulsifying an oil phase and/or a monomer phase containing at least a toner composition and/or a toner composition precursor in an aqueous medium.
US08247146B2

Use of a wax in a toner, such as carnauba wax, to give an increase in charge control agent in a toner, such as a magenta toner, to give an increased glass transition temperature is disclosed. The toner may contain a resin comprising amorphous and crystalline polyesters to provide good low melt characteristics.
US08247144B2

An object of the invention is to provide a photoreceptor for electrophotography which has a low residual potential in an initial stage, is inhibited from increasing in residual potential, is prevented from decreasing in charge potential, and undergoes little fatigue deterioration even upon repeated use. The invention relates to a photoreceptor for electrophotography which has a photosensitive layer containing a cyclic phenol sulfide represented by the following general formula (1): and one or more charge-transporting agents each having an arylamino group in the molecule, and which has excellent durability.
US08247140B2

A method of fabricating a mask includes sequentially depositing a phase shift layer and a light shielding layer on a transparent substrate; forming a light shielding layer pattern and a phase shift layer pattern by selectively etching the light shielding layer and the phase shift layer; forming side walls on side faces of the phase shift layer pattern; cleaning the substrate formed with the side walls; and selectively removing a portion of the light shielding layer. The side wall can be formed of an oxide formed by oxidizing the side faces of the phase shift layer pattern.
US08247137B2

Separators (5A, 5B, 6) and membrane-electrode assemblies (2) of a fuel cell stack (1) are alternately stacked in a guide box (40). The separators (5A, 5B, 6) each have groove-like gas paths (10A, 10B). Powder of an adhesive agent (7) is adhered in advance to the surfaces of the separators (5A, 5B, 6), except the gas paths (10A, 10B), through photosensitive drums (31A, 31B) to which the powder is adsorbed in a given pattern. The separators (5A, 5B, 6) and the membrane-electrode assemblies (2), stacked in the guide box (40), are heated and compressed by a press (43) and heaters (40C) to obtain a unitized fuel cell stack (1).
US08247134B2

A fuel cell is provided. The fuel cell includes a medium member. Unit areas are formed at both sides of the medium member. The unit areas include outlets and inlets which allow a fuel to flow. First path members which have first flowpaths for circulating the fuel are disposed at the unit areas. Membrane-electrode assemblies are connected to the respective first path members. Second path members which have second flowpaths for circulating air are connected to the respective membrane-electrode assemblies.
US08247115B2

A positive electrode sheet including a positive electrode mixture layer formed on one surface is provided at one of the outermost layers of an electrode sheet group, while a positive electrode sheet including a positive electrode mixture layer formed at one surface is provided at the other outermost layer of the electrode sheet group. A negative electrode sheet including negative electrode mixture layers formed on both surfaces is provided between the positive electrode sheets. A lithium electrode sheet including metal lithium foils formed on both surfaces is overlapped onto the electrode sheet group formed by stacking the three sheets. When a wound-type electric storage device is produced, the electrode sheet group is wound together with the lithium electrode sheet.
US08247113B2

Materials of the titanate type of perovskite or derived structure and their uses for the production of electrodes, more particularly in the cell elements of an SOFC cell or the cell elements of a high-temperature steam electrolysis cell.
US08247106B2

A battery device to be loaded on an electronic apparatus comprises a casing configured to house at least one battery cell therein and having upper and lower surfaces, first and second longitudinal side surfaces disposed between the upper and lower surfaces, and an end wall disposed between the upper and lower surfaces and also disposed between the first and second longitudinal side surfaces. A step is disposed in the end wall and a storage element is disposed in the step to receive an electric contact portion, the step extending to the first longitudinal side surface, and the end wall extends from the second longitudinal side surface to the step and projects beyond the step.
US08247103B2

A battery cover mechanism for a portable electronic device includes a housing, a door, two first elastic members and a holding unit, the housing defines a cutout, the door slidably engage with the cutout, the cutout is closed by the door with the elastic resisting the door, the door can be opened by external force and not be removed from the housing, thus, a battery can be assembled in the housing.
US08247101B2

A non-aqueous electrolyte battery includes a container, a positive electrode housed in the container, a negative electrode housed in the container with a space from the positive electrode and containing an active material, and a non-aqueous electrolyte housed in the container. The active material includes a lithium-titanium composite oxide particle and a coating layer formed on at least a part of the surface of the particle, the coating layer being contained at least one element selected from the group consisting of phosphorous and sulfur or a phosphorous compound or a sulfur compound.
US08247100B2

An electrochemical device having an electrode matrix including a multilayer structure laminating positive and negative electrodes with a separator interposed therebetween; wherein at least one of the positive and negative electrodes has a resistance control layer at least at an edge part exposed when the separator thermally shrinks on a surface on the separator side; and wherein the resistance control layer has a resistance value as a total resistance value of the electrode matrix falling in such a range that an estimated internal short circuit current between the positive and negative electrodes is equivalent to 0.09 C to 1 C.
US08247094B2

The present invention relates to a perpendicular magnetic recording medium including a nonmagnetic substrate, and at least a soft magnetic layer (SUL), an alignment control layer, a magnetic recording layer and a protective layer formed on the nonmagnetic substrate; wherein the magnetic recording layer is constituted of three or more layers and includes a first magnetic recording layer, a second magnetic recording layer and a third magnetic recording layer from the substrate side, and also includes an exchange coupling reduction layer for reducing exchange coupling of both layers between the second magnetic recording layer and the third magnetic recording layer and, regarding magnetocrystalline anisotropic energy Ku of each magnetic recording layer, the first magnetic recording layer has 4×106 erg/cc or higher, the second magnetic recording layer has 2×106 erg/cc or lower and the third magnetic recording layer has 1×106 erg/cc or lower. The present invention also relates to a magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus using the perpendicular magnetic recording medium.
US08247086B2

An organometallic complex having a structure represented by the general formula (G1) is synthesized and applied to a light-emitting element. In the formula, R1 represents either an alkyl group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, an alkoxy group having 1 to 4 carbon atoms, or an alkoxycarbonyl group having 1 to 5 carbon atoms; R2 and R3 each show either hydrogen or an alkyl group 1 to 4 carbon atoms; Ar represents an arylene group having 6 to 25 carbon atoms; M is a center metal selected from Group 9 element and Group 10 element.
US08247084B2

An aluminum alloy brazing sheet includes a core material containing Si, Cu and Mn by a predetermined amount, the balance being Al and inevitable impurities, a sacrificial anode material disposed on one face side of the core material and containing Si, Zn and Mg by a predetermined amount, the balance being Al and inevitable impurities, and a brazing filler material disposed on the other face side of the core material and formed of an aluminum alloy, and the area fraction of Zn—Mg-based intermetallic compounds with 2.0 μm or above particle size on the surface of the sacrificial anode material may be 1.0% or below. Or otherwise, in the aluminum alloy brazing sheet, the number density of Al—Cu-based intermetallic compounds with 0.5 μm or above particle size inside the core material may be 1.0 piece/μm2 or below.
US08247083B2

To provide an aluminum alloy brazing sheet which can improve erosion resistance while maintaining post-braze strength, brazability, formability, corrosion resistance and other properties even when Mg is added to the core material. The aluminum alloy brazing sheet comprises an Al—Si-based or Al—Si—Zn-based filler material cladded on at least one side of a core material. The core material comprises Si: 0.3 to 1.0% by mass, Mn: 0.6 to 2.0% by mass, Cu: 0.3 to 1.0% by mass, Mg: 0.15 to 0.5% by mass, Ti: 0.05 to 0.25% by mass, with the remainder being Al and inevitable impurities, and has the density of an Mg—Si-based, Al—Mg—Cu-based, Al—Cu—Mg—Si-based intermetallic compound with a particle size smaller than 0.5 μm of 10000/mm2 or higher, or has the density of the Mg—Si-based, Al—Mg—Cu-based and Al—Cu—Mg—Si-based intermetallic compounds with a particle size of 1.0 μm or larger lower than 5000/mm2.
US08247078B2

Photocurable fluorine compound, compatible with non-fluorine organic compounds, of formula (1), wherein: a is 1-4, b is 0-3, c is 1-4, provided that a+b+c is 3-5; e is 2-8; R1 has formula (2), (C4H8O)f(C3H6O)g(C2H4O)h(CH2O)iR3  (2) wherein f, g, h, and i are independently 0-100, and R1 has an MW of 30-3000, these repeating units may be sequenced at random, and R3 is C1-10 hydrocarbon; R2 is independently H, F, CH3, or CF3; Rf is a perfluoropolyether residue represented by the following formula (3), wherein j, k, l, and m are independently of each other integers of 0 to 50, provided that a molecular weight of Rf is in a range of 200 to 6000, X is F or CF3, and these repeating units may be sequenced at random; Z is a divalent organic group; and d is 0 or 1.
US08247076B2

Composition comprising fluoropolymers, such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), poly(hexafluoroethylene), poly(tetrafluoroethylene-hexafluoroethylene), and poly(tetrafluoroethylene-ethylene-propylene), which are dispersed in flame retardants, such as organic, bromine compounds and/or organic phosphorus compounds, and that consist of particles that comprise one or more fluoropolymers and flame retardants. The fluoropolymers may be enveloped by the flame retardant.
US08247072B2

Resol beads are disclosed that are prepared in high yield by reaction of a phenol with an aldehyde, with a base as catalyst, a colloidal stabilizer, and optionally a surfactant. The resol beads have a variety of uses, and may be thermally treated and carbonized to obtain activated carbon beads.
US08247071B2

An insulating coating composition that improves lubricity without reduction of the varnish adhesion strength and an insulated wire using the insulating coating composition, and a coil using the insulated wire are provided. An insulating coating composition comprises a polyamide-imide resin, which is obtained through a synthetic reaction of isocyanate component with acid component, and a lubricant component, wherein the terminal isocyanate group of the polyamide-imide resin is capped with a blocking agent of higher alcohol having a carbon number of eight or more.
US08247070B2

The present invention comprises nano obelisks and nanostructures and methods and processes for same. The nano obelisks of the present invention are advantageous structures for use as electron source emitters. For example, the ultra sharp obelisks can be used as an emitter source to generate highly coherent and high energy electrons with high current.
US08247069B2

The invention relates to a web or filter structure such as the filtration media comprising a collection of fiber comprising a first polymer and a second polymer in a fine fiber or fine fiber web structure. The combination of two polymers provides improved fiber rheology in that the fiber has excellent temperature and mechanical stability. The combination of polymers imparts the properties of elasticity or tackiness, which is desirable for adhering particles to the fiber web, with high temperature resistance.
US08247068B2

Disclosed is a coating material for forming a gas barrier. The coating material includes a polyalcohol polymer, a polycarboxylic acid polymer, and a divalent or higher-valent metal compound whose surface is coated with a poorly water-soluble component, or alternatively a monovalent metal compound whose surface is coated with a poorly water-soluble component and a divalent or higher-valent metal compound whose surface is coated with a poorly water-soluble component. By applying this coating material to a plastic substrate layer, a gas-barrier multilayer body having a gas-barrier layer formed thereon is obtained.
US08247067B2

A coating composition, coated articles, and methods of coating, wherein the composition includes: a resin system comprising a polysilazane and optionally a polysiloxane and/or optionally an aromatic hydrocarbon; and glass particles having a softening point below operating temperature, a coefficient of thermal expansion of at least 80, and a dielectric constant of at least 5.
US08247066B2

Exemplary embodiments provide a coating composition for an outermost layer of a fuser member that can include a plurality of fluorinated diamond-containing particles dispersed in a fluororesin matrix.
US08247063B2

A material and related methods that include a first layer and a second layer that is coupled to the first layer with the first layer disposed on the second layer, and an interface between the first layer and the second layer. The interface is configured to allow the first layer to be separated from the second layer. The first layer, after separation from the second layer, is configured to be repositioned and re-coupled to the second layer.
US08247062B2

Methodology and tooling arrangements for increasing interlaminar shear strength in a ceramic matrix composite (CMC) structure are provided. The CMC structure may be formed by a plurality of layers of ceramic fibers disposed between a top surface and a bottom surface of the composite structure. A plurality of surface recesses are formed on the surfaces of the structure. For example, each of the surfaces of the composite structure may be urged against corresponding top and bottom surfaces of a tool having a plurality of asperities. The plurality of surface recesses causes an out-of-plane sub-surface fiber displacement along an entire thickness of the structure, and the sub-surface fiber displacement is arranged to increase an interlaminar shear strength of the structure.
US08247048B2

An injection mold 70 includes a first portion 71, a second portion 72, a third portion 73, and a fourth portion 79. The first portion 71 has three high-density regions H in which there is the highest proportion of the axial direction dimension accounted for by the portion corresponding to cam grooves with respect to the axial direction dimension of a cavity 71a. First gates 74b are disposed at locations corresponding to the high-density regions H, or closer to the high-density regions H than second gates 75b. The average channel sectional area of first runners 74a is larger than the average channel sectional area of second runners 75a.
US08247047B2

A deep drawn container with a top film made of a first heat shrinkable multilayer film, and a bottom film made of a second heat shrinkable multilayer film. The deep drawn container having a drawing ratio (D1) of the top film and a drawing ratio (D2) of the bottom film satisfying conditions: D1=1.1 to 4.0; D2=1.5 to 5.0; and (D2/D1)=1.05 to 4.55. A hot-water shrinkability of the first heat shrinkable multilayer film in a longitudinal direction (SM1) and in a transverse direction (ST1), and a hot-water shrinkability of the second heat shrinkable multilayer film in a longitudinal direction (SM2) and in a transverse direction (ST2) satisfy conditions: SM1=5 to 40%; ST1=5 to 40%; SM2=2 to 25%; ST2=2 to 25%; (SM1/SM2)=1.2 to 12; and (ST1/ST2)=1.2 to 12.
US08247040B2

The process for manufacturing a platinum temperature-measuring resistance element comprises the step of preparing a thermosensitive part having a portion to be sealed coated with a glaze; the step of placing a pre-sealing element on a tray and inserting the same in a chamber; the step of enclosing a purge gas containing an inert gas and oxygen in the chamber; the step of raising the internal temperature of the chamber to a region in which the platinum is in reduced form at a partial pressure of oxygen in the purge gas as determined from platinum oxide formation free energy; the step of replacing the purge gas with an inert gas wherein oxygen is 1 kPa or below; and the step of under the replaced condition, rapidly heating the furnace interior (interior of the chamber) to a fit melting temperature by means of a lamp heating unit to thereby seal the portion to be sealed of the thermosensitive part.
US08247039B2

A method for the partial or total modification of functional groups on the surface of polymeric materials or polymer-containing materials, by means of combined plasma functionalization and localized thermal defunctionalization, is disclosed. At first, a surface of a polymer material is exposed to a cold plasma, whereby a desired polymer functionalization is achieved. After the plasma treatment, the surface is locally heated in an optional manner, primarily by means of an electron beam, resulting in local defunctionalization of the heated surface area. The directing of the electron beam across the surface of the material results in any desired distribution of functional groups on the surface. Also disclosed is a device for performing such a treatment.
US08247034B2

A method for whisker formation on the surface of aluminum-containing metallic alloy fibers and substrates provides a support structure for many technical, medical and pharmaceutical applications. The novel surface modification of metallic alloy fibers and other metallic substrates involves heating the fiber or substrate in air at temperatures ranging from approximately 800° C. to approximately 1000° C. for a period of time ranging from approximately 10 hours to approximately 100 hours to form whiskers. The use of a metal oxide coating with large ions, such as zirconium oxide, allows the formation of alumina whiskers while preserving the structural integrity of the metallic alloy substrate. Uses of the present invention include, but are not limited to an advanced catalyst support, a highly efficient filter medium, a support for implants and the like.
US08247033B2

Highly-ordered block copolymer films are prepared by a method that includes forming a polymeric replica of a topographically patterned crystalline surface, forming a block copolymer film on the topographically patterned surface of the polymeric replica, and annealing the block copolymer film. The resulting structures can be used in a variety of different applications, including the fabrication of high density data storage media. The ability to use flexible polymers to form the polymeric replica facilitates industrial-scale processes utilizing the highly-ordered block copolymer films.
US08247017B2

A process for making frozen sweet potatoes includes the steps of slicing sweet potatoes, and then applying citric acid juice, preferably, lemon juice, to the slices. A coating then is applied to the slices, the coating including a mixture of corn syrup, honey, brown sugar, lemon flavor and vanilla flavor. The slices are pan-fried, cooled to room temperature, and then frozen. If desired, a flavor-enhancing mixture can be applied to the slices while they are being cooled. The flavor-enhancing mixture preferably includes cinnamon, cane sugar, allspice, and nutmeg. The invention does not require that the sweet potatoes be water-blanched in order to maintain the flavor and color of the sweet potatoes, and it provides coated sweet potato slices that are both flavorful and attractive. The sweet potato slices can be stored for long periods of time by freezing, and they can be cooked easily and quickly by conventional techniques immediately upon removal from the freezer.
US08247016B2

A vegetable drink composition containing (A) from 0.1 to 15% by weight of one or more substances selected from the group consisting of water-soluble acidic polysaccharide dietary fiber, water-soluble neutral polysaccharide dietary fiber, and indigestible oligosaccharide; (B) 65% by weight or more of water; and (C) one or more vegetable juices; which is subjected to a heat sterilization treatment; has a vegetable solid content of from 0.001 to 0.09% by weight, wherein said vegetable solid is a solid material having a particle size of 833 μm or smaller; and has a pH of from 3 to 5.
US08247013B2

The present invention provides a method for producing frozen dough which can be directly transferred from freezer to oven without a proofing or thawing step. The process comprises mixing the dough ingredients, forming gas nucleation sites, exercising the dough by subjecting to cycles of pressure differentials and freezing the dough. The frozen product can be transferred directly from the freezer to an oven for baking.
US08247009B2

The present invention provides a method for generating methane from a carbonaceous fuel source with simultaneous sequestration of carbon dioxide, the method comprising anaerobically incubating a particulate alkaline earth metal salt in contact with a particulate and/or dissolved carbonaceous feedstock in a neutral or alkaline aqueous culture medium containing a culture of methanogenic bacteria consortia and collecting methane generated therefrom. At least a portion of carbon dioxide produced during the incubation reacts with the alkaline earth metal salt to form an alkaline earth metal carbonate, thereby sequestering the carbon dioxide.
US08247006B2

A method of treating a patient infected with a lipid encapsulated virus by administering to the patient about 1000 mg to about 5000 mg per day of a nutritional supplement having from about 40 to about 80 wt. % L-lysine, from about 20 to about 50 wt. % butylated hydroxytoluene and from about 1 to about 10 wt. % Echinacea. Administration of the nutritional supplement inhibits ulcer formation resulting from lipid encapsulated virus infections such as herpes simplex I and II infections.
US08247002B2

An antioxidant material of the present invention contains flavonoid aglycon and vitamin C. The flavonoid aglycon is eriodictyol and/or diosmetin obtained by treatment of a raw material containing flavonoid glycoside derived from lemons, limes, or sudachis to form the aglycones thereof. It is preferred that this antioxidant material be produced through a step of mixing the flavonoid aglycon and the vitamin C after the treatment to form the aglycones. The treatment to form the aglycones is glycosidase treatment using a β-glycosidase derived from a microorganism of the genus Aspergillus or Penicillium multicolor, or microbial fermentative treatment using a microorganism of the genus Aspergillus. An anti-deterioration agent and a food or beverage of the present invention contain the antioxidant material.
US08246996B2

An antibiotic product is comprised of at least three dosage forms, each of which has a different release profile, with the Cmax for the antibiotic product being reached in less than about twelve hours after the initial release of antibiotic. In one embodiment, there are two delayed release dosage forms, as well as a delayed sustained release dosage form, with each of the dosage forms having a different release profile, wherein each reaches a Cmax at different times.
US08246988B2

In one aspect, the present invention features a tablet including a first drug layer, a second drug layer, and a third drug layer, wherein (i) the first drug layer includes naproxen; (ii) a second drug layer including pseudoephedrine; and (iii) the third drug layer includes cetirizine; wherein the first drug layer is in contact with the second drug layer, the third drug layer is in contact with the second drug layer, and the first drug layer is not in contact with the third drug layer, and wherein the second drug layer is a sustained release layer adapted to deliver a therapeutically effective amount of pseudoephedrine for a period of at least twelve hours.
US08246980B2

An improved transdermal delivery system (TDS) comprises a self-adhesive matrix comprising a solid or semi-solid semi-permeable polymer which contains an amine-functional drug in its free base form as a multitude of microreservoirs within the matrix. The self-adhesive matrix is highly permeable to the free base of the amine-functional drug and is impermeable to the protonated form of the amine-functional drug.
US08246967B2

Compositions and methods for modifying one or more biologic targets are provided. Suitable targets include cells, DNA, proteins, enzymes, and/or a subject in need thereof. The compositions may exist as a monomer or multimer and are active in a biologic environment with enhanced activity in hypoxic environments and, thus, exhibit improved specificity for hypoxic biologic targets (e.g., tumorigenic cells and those undergoing uncontrolled cell growth). A composition typically comprises a complex with an overall charge of 2+ or greater having at least one ruthenium atom attached to a redox active ligand. The redox active ligand helps maintain separation of more than one ruthenium atom. Suitable compositions may further include a terminal ligand comprising a heterocyclic aromatic compound. When provided to a biologic target, the composition modifies the biologic target and no additional compounds need be provided. Suitable compositions are typically catalytic and regenerative in the presence of a reducing agent.
US08246964B2

Antigenic protein fragments of Streptococcus pneumoniae to be used for the preparation of a medicament for the prevention and the treatment of bacterial infections and a method for the detection thereof, and related compositions using said epitopes, are disclosed.
US08246956B2

Method for the humanization of the VH and VL variable regions of an animal antibody of known sequence, humanized animal antibody obtainable according to the method, in particular anti-NGF and anti-TrkA humanized animal antibodies.
US08246951B2

The invention relates to a composition comprising at least one collagenolytic active enzyme with enzymatic activity at acidic pH for drilless enzymatic caries removal. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a process of producing this collagenolytic active enzyme comprising composition and to processes of removing caries. The invention also relates to the use of collagenolytic active enzyme comprising compositions for producing a treatment agent for dental applications.
US08246950B2

Compositions of the present invention, comprising at least one digestive enzyme (e.g., pancrelipase) are useful for treating or preventing disorders associated with digestive enzyme deficiencies. The compositions of the present invention can comprise a plurality of coated particles, each of which is comprised of a core coated with an enteric coating comprising at least one enteric polymer and 4-10% of at least one alkalinizing agent, or have moisture contents of about 3% or less, water activities of about 0.6 or less, or exhibit a loss of activity of no more than about 15% after six months of accelerated stability testing.
US08246948B2

A method of inducing new cartilage growth from periosteum in a mammal is provided. The method includes positioning a foam manifold in contact with the periosteum and positioning a drape over the foam manifold and the periosteum to create a sealed space between the drape and the periosteum. A reduced pressure is applied to the sealed space.
US08246935B2

A dry powder suitable for inhalation n a dry powder inhaler, the powder comprising a carrier, an active agent and at least 0.5% by weight of magnesium stearate, the powder being further characterized in that the less than 10% of the surface of the carrier material is covered with particles of magnesium stearate. The invention is also directed to a method of making dry powders by blending together the ingredients mentioned in a diffusion blender for a period of time that is less than 60 minutes.
US08246930B2

An organized mobile multicomponent conjugate (OMMC) and method of using to enhance binding of weakly binding compounds to a target. A lamellar structure containing at least two binding compounds is assembled under conditions in which the binding compounds self-regulate in or on the lamellar structure, forming a cooperative ensemble that is capable of binding with enhanced affinity to a complementary affinity site on a target. Each binding compound is bound to the lamellar surface, and may be connected by a linker. The OMMC may contain an effector molecule, such as a diagnostic or therapeutic agent, for administration to a patent who is then diagnosed or treated using the effector molecule.
US08246928B1

Embodiments herein describe a composition including at least one water-soluble complex having a water-soluble separation agent including a planar portion, at least one pi electron on the planar portion and at least one electron withdrawing group; and a semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotube in an aqueous solution. Further embodiments describe a method of separating metallic single-walled carbon nanotubes and semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes including providing carbon nanotubes having an admixture of semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes and metallic single-walled carbon nanotubes; and combining the admixture with a water-soluble separation agent in an aqueous solution to form a mixture, in which the water-soluble separation agent includes a planar portion, at least one pi electron on the planar portion and at least one electron withdrawing group.
US08246914B2

One exemplary embodiment can be a fluid catalytic cracking system. The system can include a reaction zone operating at conditions to facilitate olefin production and including at least one riser. The at least one riser can receive a first feed having a boiling point of about 180-about 800° C., and a second feed having more than about 70%, by weight, of one or more C4+ olefins.
US08246905B2

A method for disinfecting a microtome cryostat (1) comprises a defrosting phase (11), provision (13) of a vaporous disinfection agent (2) which acts upon the closed cryostat chamber (3) and a period of time (14) during which said disinfection agent (2) acts, and having an associated device for carrying out the method. According to the invention, fast and effective disinfection and rapid restarting of a microtome cryostat (1) is possible with secure drying, the temperature difference (ΔT1, ΔT2) being produced after the period of time (14) in the cryostat chamber (3) whereupon the precipitated disinfection agent (2) is removed (18) to a cold area.
US08246901B2

A furnace (1), which, for the heat treatment of metal workpieces, has a tubular metal retort (3) and a furnace housing (2) enclosing the retort (3), the retort (3) comprising a gastight closable treatment or batch space (10), which receives the protective and reactive gases, for the heat treatment of the workpieces and a receptacle framework (8) as a batch receptacle for the positioning thereof, the weight of the batch and the receptacle framework (8) is decoupled from the retort (3), the receptacle framework (8) is connected to means (5) for support on the furnace housing (2), and the means (5) are guided gastight in passages (6) of a wall (2.1) of the furnace housing (2) and a wall (3.1) of the retort (3).
US08246900B2

Provided is an annealing apparatus, which is free from a problem of reduced light energy efficiency resulted by the reduction of light emission amount due to a heat generation and capable of maintaining stable performance. The apparatus includes: a processing chamber 1 for accommodating a wafer W; heating sources 17a and 17b including LEDs 33 and facing the surface of the wafer W to irradiate light on the wafer W; light-transmitting members 18a and 18b arranged in alignment with the heating sources 17a and 17b to transmit the light emitted from the LEDs 33; cooling members 4a and 4b supporting the light-transmitting members 18a and 18b at opposite side to the processing chamber 1 to make direct contact with the heating sources 17a and 17b and made of a material of high thermal conductivity; and a cooling mechanism for cooling the cooling members 4a and 4b with a coolant.
US08246899B2

A device and a process are employed to prepare sheets from a film tube. The process steps include extruding the film tube, laying the film tube flat and squeezing it, reversing the film tube, and cutting the extruded film tube. The film tube is cut before the squeezing step and at least one resulting sheet runs through only one reversing device before the sheet is fed to a stationary processing device or storage device.
US08246891B2

A method manufactures molded fatty acid based material products by forming a fatty acid based material paste and injecting the paste into a mold having internal cavities. The method includes generating a fatty acid based material paste, injecting a portion of the fatty acid based material paste under pressure into a cooled mold having at least two separable shells that form product cavities, and separating the shells of the cooled mold to release molded fatty acid based material products from the product cavities.
US08246883B2

A filter cartridge includes a one-piece housing having a port and a filtration element disposed in the housing. The filtration element is a coherent filter block that can be larger in cross dimension than the port. The filtration element can be a coherent filter block that generally conforms to the shape of the hollow interior, but is slightly smaller than the hollow interior so as to define a gap between the filtration element and the inner surface. One method for constructing a filter cartridge includes providing a housing having a hollow interior and at least one port, introducing a granular material into the hollow interior via the port, and transforming the granular material in the hollow material into a coherent filter block. Another method for constructing a filter cartridge includes providing a filtration element in the form of a coherent filter block, and overmolding a housing around the filtration element.
US08246882B2

Materials and methods are provided for producing preform materials for impact-resistant composite materials suitable for liquid molding. Interlayers formed of nonwoven, continuous fibers, such as spunbonded, spunlaced, or mesh fabric, are introduced between non-crimped layers of unidirectional reinforcing fibers to produce a preform for use in liquid-molding processes to produce a composite member. Curing of the preform provides increased impact resistance by increasing the amount of energy required to propagate localized fractures due to impact.
US08246879B2

A method and system for feeding a continuous rod of elastomeric material automatically to a user unit along a feed line having at least one powered portion and extending between an extruder, for forming the rod, and the user unit, and wherein, upstream from the powered portion, the rod is fed along a supporting device defining, for the rod and when at rest, a first path of given fixed length; and wherein, once the rod reaches and is engaged by the powered portion, a movable part of the supporting device is withdrawn from the first path to feed the rod along a second path, one portion of which is a bend of variable length.
US08246878B2

A method comprising extrusion compounding a styrenic polymer and a layered compound to produce a composite, and orienting the composite to produce an oriented composite wherein the layered compound comprises natural clay, synthetic clay, natural colloid, synthetic colloid, natural sol, synthetic sol, natural gel, synthetic gel, natural fumes, synthetic fumes, or combinations thereof. A method of preparing an oriented film comprising extrusion compounding a styrenic polymer and a clay to produce a nanocomposite, casting the nanocomposite into a film, and orienting the film in at least one direction.
US08246873B1

Making foamed polyolefin tapes can include combining a polyolefin resin and a chemical blowing agent to form a mixture. This mixture can then be heated in an extruder to create a supersaturated solution of gas within the polyolefin resin. A cooling device can be positioned adjacent to a die at a set distance for receiving extruded resin and for allowing exposure of the extruded resin to ambient air between a die outlet and the cooling device. This predetermined distance or space between the cooling device and die outlet allows bubbles to grow in the extruded resin and to be shaped such that voids or empty spaces can be generated within the extruded polyolefin resin. The voids or empty spaces allow the formation of tapes which use less material but have adequate strength for various applications, such as for carpet backings, geotextiles, packaging, housewrap, bags, wire insulation, and reinforcement elements in concrete.
US08246870B2

A dental implant system includes an implant having a well and an abutment having a post shaped to be received in the tapered well. Both the implant and the abutment are made from a millable ceramic, and the abutment post and/or the implant well have grooves carved therein. In one embodiment, the implant and the abutment are joined one to the other with a retentive elastomeric product containing micro-bubbles and micro-spacers. The dental implant system may be produced using a computer-readable medium containing instructions for analyzing surface data and X-ray data, for developing contour data of the implant and of the abutment according to the anatomy of the patient, and for generating machine instruction for milling the implant and the abutment from blocks of the millable ceramic. The invention provides the dentist with total flexibility in determining the most appropriate contours of the implant system and in reducing inventory.
US08246856B2

A process for preparing oxidized graphite that provides exfoliated graphene, preferably with high surface area. The process uses considerably less chlorate than previously known systems.
US08246846B1

A method for fabricating integrated MEMS switches and filters includes forming cavities in a silicon substrate, metalizing a first pattern on a quartz substrate to form first switch and filter elements, bonding the quartz substrate to the silicon substrate so that the first switch and filter elements are located within one of the cavities, thinning the quartz substrate, forming conductive vias in the quartz substrate, metalizing a second pattern on a second surface of the quartz substrate to form second switch and filter elements, etching the quartz substrate to separate MEMS switches from filters, forming protrusions on a host substrate, metalizing a third metal pattern on the host substrate to form metal anchors and third switch elements, compression bonding the metal anchors on the host substrate to second switch and filter elements, forming signal lines to integrate the MEMS switches and filters and removing the silicon substrate.
US08246843B2

The invention describes a process for the separation of an oil/water mixture into an oil rich phase and a water rich phase using an inline separation device, an inlet, a vortex generating chamber, a central separation chamber, and an outlet and providing an oil rich phase discharge pipe and a water rich phase discharge pipe. The process further also comprising a) the provision of an additional tangential or axial inlet into the vortex generating chamber or the central separation chamber and introducing an additional amount of oil/water mixture tangentially and/or axially into the vortex generating chamber or the central separation chamber, or b) adjusting the vortex generating means to control the rotation of the vortex, or a combination of a) and b). The invention further relates to a device for carrying out the above process and to the use of such a device in the separation of oil/water mixtures.
US08246840B1

A fuel removal device comprising: means for establishing releasable fluid communication with an interior volume of an engine-mounted diesel fuel filter; a first conduit affixed to the releasable communication means for conveying diesel fuel contained in the interior volume of the engine-mounted diesel fuel filter out of the fuel filter; a collection receptacle in fluid communication with the fuel conveying conduit, the collection receptacle having a plurality of walls and located external to the automotive vehicle associated with the engine-mounted diesel fuel filter and at least on pneumatic system controlling the removal of fuel from the diesel fuel filter.
US08246839B2

The object of the invention is a double-walled chamber for the UV disinfection of liquids, preferably drinking water and/or waste water. It realizes a rectangular and/or square cross-sectional shape of the UV radiation chamber even at higher pressures, whereby the radiation chamber can moreover be provided with a thin-walled configuration and allows an optimal and close arrangement of UV radiators as compared with a round chamber. By applying the inventive idea, the known dead zones at the entrance are completely eliminated and an entrance turbulence is produced which runs simultaneously with the piston flow in the chamber.
US08246830B2

Provided is a biological nitrogen removal method which includes, causing to flow a support having, on the surface portion thereof, a two-layered microbial film which holes, in the outer layer, nitrite type nitrifying bacteria or aerobic bacteria and nitrite type nitrifying bacteria as a dominant species and, in the inner layer, anaerobic ammonia oxidizing bacteria as a dominant species while being surrounded with the nitrite type nitrifying bacteria; and thereby carrying out denitrification of the water to be treated by making use of the anaerobic ammonia oxidation reaction. In the biological nitrogen removal method, a feed rate of the support (total surface area of the support per unit capacity of the reaction tank) is adjusted so that an amount of nitrous acid produced by the nitrite type nitrification reaction through the action of the nitrite type nitrifying bacteria reaches a level to inhibit a nitrate type nitrification reaction.
US08246828B2

The present invention provides a method for selective production of hydrogen and methane from a biomass feedstock in a reactor vessel maintained under anaerobic conditions by controlling moisture concentration in the reactor vessel. The method comprises the steps of introducing a biomass feedstock into the reactor vessel maintained under anaerobic conditions; introducing a bacterial inoculum into the reactor vessel to facilitate digestion of the biomass feedstock; setting a moisture concentration of the contents of the reactor vessel at a first moisture level; and collecting hydrogen gas from the reactor vessel. The method may further comprise maintaining the moisture concentration at a first moisture level or within a first moisture range. The method may additionally comprise increasing the moisture concentration of the contents of the reactor vessel to a second moisture concentration; and collecting methane gas from the reactor vessel. Switching between hydrogen and methane production is controlled by adjusting the moisture concentration of the contents of the reactor vessel.
US08246820B2

Apparatuses and methods for removing volatiles from fluid systems. The apparatuses and methods include evaporator sections. The apparatuses and methods may furthermore include a heater disposed at least in part in the evaporator section, which may have a ridge on its surface. The apparatuses and methods may furthermore include an evaporation tube positioned around the heater, which may have a conically shaped outer surface. The apparatuses and methods may also include an air inlet and an air outlet in the evaporator section.
US08246818B2

A syphon filtration system is a low head, small foot print, long operating cycle, gravity filtration system for treatment of water and wastewater, with one-stage or two-stage filtration in one vessel with different filtration media of sand, anthracite, granular activated carbon or other proprietary filtration media. The one-stage filtration system removes suspended solids or dissolved impurities and the two-stage filtration system removes suspended solids and dissolved impurities. In the two-stage filtration system, each filtration stage can be backwashed independently or both stages can be backwashed simultaneously. Novel syphon piping and controls design extend the filtration operating cycle and reduce the filter apparatus headroom, and the filter backwash water volume requirements.
US08246813B2

The invention provides a method of removing sulfides from viscous petroleum streams such as asphalt, crude oil, and oil slurry using zinc octoate in which the molar ratio of zinc complexed with octanoic acid is not 1:2. Because zinc has a +2 charge and carboxylic acid has a −1 charge, it was previously assumed that all zinc octoates must have a 1:2 ratio of zinc moieties to carboxylic acid. Zinc octoate formulations however, that contain a non 1:2 ratio, and those with 2.1:3 to 1.97:3 in particular, have in fact been shown to work better. In addition, these non 1:2 formulations have lower viscosity and therefore are easier to use than the previous formulations including a 1:2 ratio.
US08246812B2

A catalyst is provided comprising nickel in a reduced valence state on a carrier comprising zinc oxide and alumina, wherein the Zn:Ni atomic ratio is at least 12, and the catalyst particles are prepared by: mixing zinc oxide in the form of a powder and alumina or an alumina precursor in the form of a powder; peptizing the powder mixture and forming an extrudable dough by adding acid and water to the powder mixture in such amounts that the dough contains 0.8-1.2 moles acid equivalents per kg powder; extruding the extrudable dough to form extrudates; drying and calcining the extrudates; impregnating the extrudates with an aqueous solution of a nickel compound; drying, calcining and reducing the impregnated extrudates. Further provided is a process for desulphurization of a hydrocarbonaceous feedstock using such catalyst.
US08246811B2

Process for the production of a hydrocarbon fraction with a high octane number and a low sulfur content from a hydrocarbon feedstock, comprising at least the following stages: 1) a hydrodesulfurization stage of the hydrocarbon feedstock, and 2) at least one stage for extracting aromatic compounds on all or part of the effluent that is obtained from the hydrodesulfurization stage, whereby said extraction leads to a paraffin-enriched raffinate and an aromatic compound-enriched extract sent to a gasoline pool to improve its octane number, wherein a portion of the paraffinic raffinate can be used in a mixture with the aromatic extract; another portion can be used as a petrochemistry base either for producing aromatic compounds or for producing olefins.
US08246810B2

Disclosed is a DNA analysis method and a DNA analyzer whose signal intensity is not lowered even when a material at a higher density is measured. There is supplied dATP, dTTP, dGTP, or dCTP from a dATP solution vessel, a dTTP solution vessel, a dGTP solution vessel, or a dCTP solution vessel, and this causes an extension reaction of a double-stranded DNA immobilized to a bead, to yield pyrophosphoric acid. The pyrophosphoric acid is converted into a redox compound by the actions of a reagent and an enzyme contained in a reaction buffer in a reaction buffer vessel. The redox compound causes a variation in surface potential of a measuring electrode bearing an electrochemically active material immobilized thereto through an insulating molecule, and this variation causes a variation in drain current of a field-effect transistor electrically connected to the measuring electrode. Thus, the extension reaction is detected.
US08246808B2

One exemplary embodiment includes a method of selectively electroplating an electrically conductive coating on portions of a first face of a bipolar plate for use in a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell. The first face of the bipolar plate defines at least one reactant gas flow channel and a plurality of lands adjacent the at least one channel. The electrically conductive coating may be selectively electroplated on a plurality of first portions of the lands leaving second portions of the lands uncoated by the electrically conductive coating.
US08246804B2

A method for the treatment of an aqueous stream containing both anionic and cationic species is provided. The method comprises the following steps. Circulating water continuously through an essentially closed loop, the loop incorporating an ion adsorption unit which, in turn, comprises a water permeable layer of an ion adsorbing material. Feeding an aqueous solution containing the anionic and the cationic species to the essentially closed loop. Passing the circulating water, including the aqueous solution containing the ionic and the cationic species, through the ion adsorbing material in the ion adsorption unit in a continuous manner. While at the same time applying an electric potential across the thickness of the layer of ion adsorbing material and removing from the ion adsorption unit more concentrated aqueous solutions of the separate ionic species. Discharging each of the aqueous solutions from the ion adsorption unit. Passing the more concentrated solution of the other ionic species through a reaction unit in which the ionic species reacts to form a water-insoluble solid material. Recycling eluate from the reaction unit to the ion adsorption unit; and, if necessary, adding a quantity of water to the closed loop, this quantity corresponding the quantity of aqueous solution removed from the reaction unit.
US08246803B2

An object of the present invention is to provide a capillary electrophoresis apparatus in which simultaneity can be ensured between sensitivity and data acquisition to decrease a pull-up signal while spectral data acquisition is eliminated in each capillary exchange. The invention relates to a capillary electrophoresis apparatus characterized in that a multi-bandpass filter is provided in an optical detection system. In one aspect of the invention, a signal detection area of a two-dimensional detector is divided into plural regions corresponding to wavelength transmission regions of the multi-bandpass filter. An integrated value of the fluorescence spectrum signal is determined in the region including a fluorescence spectrum peak of an analysis sample in the plural regions. The analysis is performed with the integrated value.
US08246799B2

Devices and methods for detecting the length of analytes and/or sequencing analytes are provided in which two or more electrical signals are obtained as an analyte traverses a nanopore or fluidic channel. Detection of the relative position of probes hybridized to a biomolecule and/or the length of the analyte (e.g., a biomolecule) rely on detection events to determine a distance associated with the biomolecule. Multiple signals may be obtained (e.g., as functions of time) corresponding to a plurality of detector volumes at known locations along a fluidic channel through which the biomolecule passes, and the distances may be determined from the multiple signals.
US08246789B2

A treatment system for a watery material that includes: a dewatering tank in which liquefied matter of a material that is gaseous at a normal temperature and a normal pressure is contacted with the watery material and the watery material is separated into the resultant watery material and a liquid phase that contains an aqueous component from the watery material; an evaporator that vaporizes the material that is gaseous at a normal temperature and a normal pressure from the liquid phase; a separator that separates a gas of the material thus vaporized from effluent water; a condenser that condenses the gas into liquefied matter, two or more external heat sources selected from atmosphere, sewage, warm effluent water, and ground water; an external heat temperature detector that detects temperatures of external heats of the external heat sources; and an external heat supply destination controlling unit.
US08246773B2

An RFID webstock containing a relatively high pitch-density array of semiconductive chips is provided and joined to a web bearing relatively widely spaced antennas in a continuous process. The RFID webstock is separated or cut into individual chip sections, with the spacing of the chips being increased as the RFID webstock is die cut. The individual chips on the sections are then joined to corresponding antennas to form an RFID inlay stock. This process is conducive to high speed roll-to-roll production of RFID tag and label roll stock.
US08246772B2

A programmable machine and method for adhering a flexible photovoltaic film panel onto metal supplied from a roll for forming a combination solar and roof panel is provided. The voltaic film panels and metal to which is adhered are supplied on rolls which are fed from reels. The rollformer can form male and female edges on the metal which are necessary for a metal roof. The angle at which the exit cutter can cut is calculated by the programmable computer. A measuring device for measuring the roofing and transferring the data to the programmable machine or the placement of the solar film panels and the cutting of the panels is also provided.
US08246771B2

A method of manufacturing two screens in a jig by laying a length of woven wire cloth across two rectangular frames laid side by side in the jig with longer edges abutting, and orientating the cloth so that the warp wires extend continuously across the two screens. The cloth is tensioned and bonded to the frames after which it is severed along the join and surplus cloth is trimmed away from the edges of the frame. If the cloth has a square mesh and the warp wires are of greater cross-section than the weft wires, the warp wires will extend across the width of the frame, and if the cloth has a rectangular mesh, the greater number of warp wires per unit length also extends across the width of the frame. In each case warp wires will resist the stresses across the width of the central region of each opening.
US08246763B2

A high strength aluminum alloy casting obtained by casting an aluminum alloy comprised of 7.5 to 11.5 wt % of Si, 3.8 to 4.8 wt % of Cu, 0.45 to 0.65 wt % of Mg, 0.4 to 0.7 wt % of Fe, 0.35 to 0.45 wt % of Mn, and the balance of Al and not more than 0.2 wt % of unavoidable impurities, wherein this aluminum alloy has 0.1 to 0.3 wt % of Ag added to it or contains 0.1 to 1.0 wt % of at least one element selected from the group of second additive elements comprised of Rb, K, Ba, Sr, Zr, Nb, Ta, V, and Pd and rare earth elements, and a method of production of a high strength aluminum alloy casting comprising the steps of filling a melt of an aluminum alloy in a mold to obtain a casting, taking out the aluminum alloy casting from the mold, solubilizing the high strength aluminum alloy casting by heating in a temperature range of 495 to 505° C. for 2 to 6 hours, quenching the high strength aluminum alloy casting after the solubilization, and age hardening the high strength aluminum alloy casting by heating in a temperature range of 160 to 220° C. for 2 to 6 hours after quenching.
US08246753B2

A method for cleaning a jet engine comprises storing fluid comprising water in a water holding tank. The water is heated to create heated fluid. The let engine desired to be cleaned is at least partially covered with a waterproof cover, and a J-hook is inserted into the jet engine and affixed to a front compressor stator of a second compressor stage of the jet engine. An input hose is coupled between the storage tank and the waterproof cover and the J-hook is coupled to the input hose. The heated fluid is injected into the jet engine via the input hose and J-hook, which directs the heated fluid inside the jet engine. The resultant effluent is collected in the waterproof cover.
US08246750B2

A system and method for extracting C5 sugars including pentose and/or C6 sugars including hexose from a slurry of cellulosic material comprising cellulose, water, and optionally acid.
US08246745B2

A method and device for producing metal foils using the foil-casting principle includes the steps of filling a casting frame with liquid metal, moving a substrate through the bottom of the casting frame, with the substrate belt being at a lower temperature than the melting point of the liquid metal in the bottom of the casting frame, so that a bottom layer of the liquid metal crystallizes on the substrate and a metal foil is formed on the substrate on one side of the casting frame. The method further includes the steps of measuring at least one of a thickness and weight of the metal foil, and adjusting the contact surface area between the liquid metal and the substrate as a function of the measured value for the thickness and/or weight of the foils produced.
US08246743B2

Single-crystal silicon carbide nanowires and a method for producing the nanowires are provided. The single-crystal silicon carbide nanowires have a very high aspect ratio and can be used for the fabrication of nanoelectronic devices, including electron gun emitters and MEMS probe tips, for use in a variety of displays and analyzers. Further provided is a filter comprising the nanowires. The filter is applied to systems for filtering vehicle engine exhaust gases to achieve improved filtering performance and increased lifetime.
US08246740B2

Spent Claus catalyst having a high alumina content is used as an ingredient in the manufacture of Portland cements in place of all or a portion of a conventional source of alumina. The spent Claus catalyst is preferably of a small particle size and can be ground to the desired fineness before mixing with the other ingredients that are heated in a conventional kiln to produce the cement composition. Finely ground spent Claus catalyst can also be used as an additive at levels of 0.1% to 2% by weight to increase the thickening time of shallow casing cement slurries.
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